Section D

Quick References to the Ten Commandments: Recognize Harmful Behaviors, Habits, and Life Patterns for What They Are

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Introduction

The BNL process is grounded in Judeo-Christian Scripture as explored in the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. In four of his works, Swedenborg examines the deeper meanings of the Ten Commandments. In this Sourcebook and on the accompanying website, these works are referred to as Resource 1, Resource 2, Resource 3, and Resource 4:

Resource 1
Extracts from Secrets of Heaven (also known as Arcana Caelestia), Volume 10, in which Swedenborg explores the inner meaning of Genesis and Exodus.

Resource 2
Extracts from The Apocalypse Explained, Volume 5, in which Swedenborg examines the inner meaning of the book of Revelation.

Resource 3
Extracts from Principles of Life (traditionally known as The Doctrine of Life), in which Swedenborg clarifies a central doctrine of Christianity.

Resource 4
Extracts from True Christianity, Volume 1, in which Swedenborg presents the universal theology of a new Christianity.

All four resources are compiled in the book 10 Commandments: The Secrets of Spiritual Growth Found in God’s Principles for Living.

Within these resources, Swedenborg interprets each commandment on three levels of meaning. The first is the earthly level (or as Swedenborg calls it, the “Earthly sense”), which refers to the literal meaning of the commandment and concerns outward conduct, behavior, and human feelings or emotions. The second is the spiritual level (the “Spiritual sense”), which concerns our relationship with the human spirit in others and in ourselves. The third is the heavenly level (the “Heavenly sense”), which concerns our relationship with God.

For example, consider the commandment, You shall not murder. According to Swedenborg, the earthly meaning includes not only refraining from physical harm but also avoiding harm to a person’s reputation (such as character assassination), as well as resisting resentment, hatred, or revenge. The spiritual meaning involves not “murdering” another person’s spirit—for example, by turning them away from God, crushing their hope, or belittling what they sincerely value. The heavenly meaning involves refraining from hatred toward God, or the desire to deny or extinguish the Divine.

Swedenborg’s understanding of the Ten Commandments developed and crystallized over time. The clear division of each commandment into three succinct levels appears most fully in Resource 4—extracts from True Christianity. For this reason, when first exploring Swedenborg’s explanation of a commandment, it may be helpful to begin there and then return to earlier works. Alternatively, you may read the explanations in chronological order, allowing clarity and insight to deepen along the way.

In summary, Swedenborg discusses each commandment on three levels—earthly, spiritual, and heavenly—relating respectively to literal conduct, our relationship with the human spirit, and our relationship with God. His explanations also grow in clarity over the course of his writings.

As You Go Through the Process

Each time you move through the BNL process—specifically Step 2.1—you will be invited to compare what you uncovered in Step 1 (self-examination) with one of the Ten Commandments as explored by Swedenborg. However, reading Swedenborg’s full treatment of a commandment each time would be time-consuming and impractical.

For this reason, a bullet-point outline has been created for each commandment. Each outline, called a Quick Reference, summarizes the key material on that commandment from the four resources listed above. These Quick References are contained in this section of the Sourcebook.

The value of these Quick References is that they provide a comprehensive view of a commandment in just a few minutes. This enables you to complete Step 2.1 quickly, efficiently, and with precision.

For example, imagine that during Step 1 of the BNL process you identify a habit of slandering people you dislike or behaving in passive-aggressive ways toward them. In Step 2.1 you are asked:

Do the things you uncovered during self-examination go against any of the Ten Commandments? If so, which one do they seem to go against the most, and what are one, two, or a few ways in which they do so?

In this case, you might recognize that such behavior relates most directly to the commandment against murder, which, among other things, addresses attitudes such as resentment, hatred, and the desire for revenge. You would therefore turn to Section D of the Sourcebook and consult the Quick Reference for the Fifth Commandment. As you read, you would identify descriptions that apply to the issue of slander, and transfer to the Step 2.1 worksheet the ones that seem most meaningful or relevant. This will help you form a clear and concise picture of how your habits conflict with that commandment, preparing you for the rest of the process.

If you are unfamiliar with Swedenborg’s interpretation of the commandments, it may not always be obvious which Quick Reference applies to a particular behavior, habit, or life pattern. For example, if you are working on an issue of worry, the relevant commandment may not be immediately clear. For this reason, each Quick Reference begins with a brief overview to guide you toward the most appropriate commandment.

In the case of worry, the overview for the commandment against stealing (the Seventh Commandment) notes that worry can conflict with this principle. However, worry may also relate to the First Commandment (You shall have no other gods before My faces) and the Third Commandment (Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy). Any of these Quick References could therefore be used effectively.

The important point is that most behaviors, habits, or life patterns can relate to more than one commandment. Your task is to select the commandment your behavior, habit, or pattern seems to go against most clearly and use that as the focus for Step 2.1.

Helpful Notes

  1. If you find yourself transferring more than a few descriptions to the worksheet, you may wish to highlight on the worksheet the ones that seem most meaningful. Focusing on a few key insights can make them easier to remember and put into practice throughout the process and beyond.

  2. Some people like to have a printed copy of the Sourcebook. A physical copy can make it easier to consult the Quick References whenever you need them. For instructions on printing, see Sourcebook Extras—“How to Make a Printed Sourcebook.”

  3. If you make a printed copy of the Sourcebook, you may also enjoy personalizing it by marking or highlighting—in your printed copy—the descriptions that feel most meaningful. This can make those insights quicker and easier to access, helping them become more immediately useful as you work through the process.

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments appear twice in Judaic Scripture, first in Exodus 20:1–17. They are stated there as follows:

  1. You shall have no other gods before My faces.

  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

  3. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

  4. Honor your father and your mother….

  5. You shall not murder.

  6. You shall not commit adultery.

  7. You shall not steal.

  8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife … nor anything that is your neighbor’s.


These commandments are also reflected in the Christian Scriptures, including the Gospels and the writings of Paul and John, as follows:

  1. You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. (Matthew 4:10)

  2. Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)

  3. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

  4. Honor your father and your mother. (Matthew 19:19)

    Note: Jesus’ command to “honor your father,” which can also include our heavenly Father, can be understood as a call to obey each of the prior commandments.

  5. You shall not murder. (Matthew 19:18)

    He who hates his brother is a murderer. (1 John 3:15)

  6. You shall not commit adultery. (Matthew 19:18)

    Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

  7. You shall not steal. (Matthew 19:18)

  8. You shall not bear false witness. (Matthew 19:18)

    For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. (John 18:37)

  9. You shall not covet [your neighbor’s house]. (Matthew 19:21)

    Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things they possess. (Luke 12:15)

  10. You shall not covet [your neighbor's wife,…nor anything that is your neighbor's]. (Matthew 19:21)

    See Luke 12:15, as noted above under #9.

A Suggestion and an Observation

Two final points may be useful to consider.

First, the BNL program suggests that the Ten Commandments summarize every harmful or destructive form of behavior, thought, intention, or will. If this is so, they can serve as a powerful tool for recognizing any form of evil uncovered during self-examination.

Second, in the New Testament, Jesus often deepened people’s understanding of existing commandments. He did this in two ways: explicitly, in statements such as, “You have heard that it was said… but I say to you…” (see Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 44; Luke 6:27), and implicitly, through His teachings, parables, and example. These contributions broaden and enrich the meaning and application of the commandments.

Thus, the Ten Commandments are not only present in both Old and New Testament Scripture; their meaning becomes more profound and more applicable to daily life as we move through the sacred text.

In summary, both this suggestion and this observation highlight the central role of the Ten Commandments as a primary instrument for life change and spiritual transformation.

Key to Quick References

  • Within each Quick Reference, non-bracketed words and phrases are direct quotations from the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg.

  • Square brackets [ ] indicate wording that has either been adjusted for smoother reading in outline form or added for clarity, based on contextual inference or a broader understanding of Swedenborg’s thought.