Christian Ethics: Ten Commandments, Sermon on the Mount and Moral Decision-Making
This domain tests how Christians use the Decalogue, the Sermon on the Mount and conscience to make moral decisions. Questions often ask for the meaning of commandments, the radical teaching of Jesus, and how to apply principles to cases.
Ten Commandments
The Decalogue (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5) is divided into duties to God and duties to neighbour. The first four concern exclusive worship, images, God's name and the Sabbath; the last six concern parents, murder, adultery, theft, false witness and covetousness. Jesus summarises the law as love of God and neighbour (Matthew 22:37–40). The commandments are not merely negative rules; they protect relationships and community life.
Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5–7 presents kingdom ethics: the Beatitudes, salt and light, reconciliation, teaching on anger, adultery, divorce, oaths, retaliation and love of enemies. Jesus calls for inner righteousness, not outward show. The Lord's Prayer, treasure in heaven, worry, judging, the golden rule and the wise builder all show a life rooted in God's rule.
Moral decision-making
Christians use Scripture, conscience, church teaching, reason, experience and the likely consequences of actions. Conscience must be formed, not merely followed. Love is the guiding norm, but love does not cancel specific commands. A good decision considers the action itself, the intention and the circumstances.
Worked example
Question: 'How should a Christian decide whether to steal food for a hungry family?' Answer: theft remains wrong, but love calls for urgent help; the person should seek lawful alternatives such as family support, church aid, charity or government help, and examine motive and consequences. Reasoning: the answer must avoid both rigid legalism and the claim that need makes theft right.
Traps
- Treating the commandments as only prohibitions.
- Confusing the Sermon on the Mount with the Sermon on the Plain.
- Saying conscience is always infallible.
- Choosing either legalism or antinomianism instead of a reasoned biblical balance.