Your friend asks if you like their new haircut. You definitely don't, but you say, “Yeah, it looks great!” because you don't want to hurt their feelings.
#9. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”
Question: Does every untrue statement automatically violate the ninth commandment?
You secretly take your sibling's hoodie because you wanted one just like it.
#8 + #10: Stealing + coveting.
Someone says God's name constantly as an expression: “Oh my ___!”
#3: “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
Read Matthew 5:21–22.
Which commandment is Jesus talking about, and what does He say goes deeper than the physical action?
#6 — Do not murder. Jesus shows that anger and how we treat others matters too.
Someone works seven days a week because they say, “If I stop, I'll fall behind everyone else.”
Question: Which commandment might challenge their thinking, and why?
#4: Sabbath. The issue isn't simply “working on Sunday”; Sabbath involves stopping and trusting God rather than acting as though everything depends on you.
Someone finds $20 on the classroom floor. Nobody saw them pick it up, and they have no idea whose it is. They keep it.
#8: “You must not steal.”
Question: But they didn't take it from someone. Is keeping it stealing?
You lie to your parents about where you were because you knew they wouldn't have allowed you to go.
#5 + #9: Honor parents + false witness.
Someone never murders anyone but absolutely hates another person and wishes something terrible would happen to them.
#6: “You must not murder.”-- Matthew 5:21–22.
Read Colossians 3:5.
Paul connects something on the Ten Commandments list with idolatry. What is it?
Coveting/greed: connects #10 with idolatry (#1/#2).
Someone says, “God told me you're supposed to forgive me,” after hurting a friend who isn't ready to trust them again.
Question: Which commandment could be relevant?
#3: Misusing God's name. They're invoking God's authority to support what they want
Your parents tell you that you can't go somewhere with your friends. You obey and stay home, but complain about how ridiculous your parents are in the group chat all night.
#5: “Honor your father and mother.”
Someone is so jealous of another person's relationship that they begin spreading rumors hoping they'll break up.
#9 + #10, possibly #7 depending on their argument.
Someone never physically steals anything, but they regularly take credit for other people's ideas and work.
#8: “You must not steal.”
Read Matthew 22:37–40.
Jesus summarizes God's commands into two big ideas. What are they?
Love God and love your neighbor.
Israel makes the golden calf in Exodus 32 and says, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the LORD.”
Question: They haven't necessarily decided the LORD doesn't exist. So which commandment have they broken—#1, #2, or both?
There's a strong case for both, but especially #2. They're attempting to worship through an image God expressly prohibited.
You’re determined to become the best athlete at your school. You rarely miss a workout, spend a lot of your free time training, and your performance affects how you feel about yourself. You still attend church and believe in God. Which commandment, if any, could apply?
#1: “You must not have any other god but me.”
Explain....
A person becomes obsessed with money, cheats customers in their business, and lies about what they're doing.
#1/#2 + #8 + #9 + #10.
Someone talks about being a Christian, wears Christian shirts, and posts Bible verses—but intentionally treats people terribly at school.
3: “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God.”
Question: Could you misuse God's name without ever saying God's name?
Read Romans 13:8–10.
Paul lists several of the Ten Commandments. According to this passage, what one principle ties them together?
Love your neighbor. Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the law.
A student lets their friend copy their homework because they think they're being kind. The friend submits it as their own work. Who violated a commandment? The copier, the person who allowed it, both, or neither? Explain
Both
Someone shares a true story about another student that makes that person look terrible. Everything they said actually happened.
#9: “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.”
Question: Can you violate the heart of the ninth commandment while technically telling the truth?
King David sees Bathsheba, desires her, sleeps with her, attempts to deceive Uriah, and eventually arranges Uriah's death. Find as many commandments as you can connect to 2 Samuel 11.
Your friend accidentally leaves their test answers open where you can see them. You don't copy their answers, but you use them to check whether your own answers are correct.
#8: Do not steal.
Read James 2:8–11.
Someone says, “I keep most of God's commands, so breaking one isn't that big of a deal.” According to James, what's wrong with that argument?
God's law isn't a points system where keeping enough commands cancels out breaking others; James emphasizes that the commandments come from the same Lawgiver.
Read Exodus 20:2–3. Before God gives the first commandment, what does He remind the Israelites He has already done for them?
God reminded them that He rescued them from slavery in Egypt.