Why is the First Commandment First? by Hunter Leonard (May 12, 2022)

By Hunter Leonard, Catholic Stand, May 12, 2022

Hunter Leonard holds an M.A. in Theology from the Augustine Institute and a B.A. in Creative Writing. His essays, articles, and poetry have been featured in publications such as St. Austin Review, Crisis Magazine, and Voyage Comics. Hunter is the author of the brand new children’s book “When God Speaks” from Our Sunday Visitor. You can learn more about Hunter and his writings at SacredVision.org.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me (Exodus 20:2-3).

Have you ever wondered why the first commandment is first? Why isn’t the commandment against stealing, adultery, or even murder listed first? The commandment against idolatry – a prohibition that to many seems to be a non-issue today – is the first commandment for good reason.

The commandment against idolatry is given its primacy among the Ten Commandments because this command is intimately linked to the Lord’s moral authority over our lives and thus is at the heart of all the commandments. Far from being irrelevant today, the sin of idolatry is real and rampant today and is deeply connected to our day-to-day moral life, and adherence to the first commandment is necessary for true growth in the spiritual life. …