Words of Life: Jesus and the Promise of the Ten Commandments Today

What if the Ten Commandments were not just a set of ancient rules, but a guide to experiencing the good life today? In this landmark work, Kansas Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton offers a modern exploration on how to interpret these holy mandates for a happier, more fulfilled life.

“Adam Hamilton is a teacher of the highest order, able to bridge the gap between very old divine teaching and very current human reality.”—Barbara Brown Taylor, author of Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far from Home

Nearly everyone has heard of the Ten Commandments, the list of “thou-shalt-nots” found in the Bible. Jesus saw these commandments not as onerous burdens, but as guideposts to help us experience a good and beautiful life. These ten ancient “words” were given to us by a loving God who longed to set safe boundaries, create order out of chaos, help communities live peacefully, and protect us—often from ourselves.

In this book of Scripture and inspiration, bestselling author Adam Hamilton brings modern eyes to the most important set of ethics in history. He considers the commandments in their historical context, considering the meaning of each commandment in Hebrew, unpacking how Jesus reinterpreted them, and showing how every thou-shalt-not was intended to point to a life-giving “thou shalt.” He also explores how the latest research in science and psychology illuminates these commandments, rightly understood, as a way of ordering one's life beautifully in the present day. In a culture marked by workaholism, materialism, and social media-driven envy, God has given us a time-tested path that leads to gratitude, confidence, and peace.

Words of Life is an inspiring, thought-provoking read from one of our most trusted biblical thinkers for anyone seeking to live a meaningful and joyful life.

Democratic Senate candidate Adam Hamilton is senior pastor of the 20,000-member Church of the Resurrection, Kansas City, which NPR described as “one of the most influential churches in America.” Reverend Hamilton is a leading voice for reconciliation and renewal in the Church, and the bestselling author of more than thirty books, including Unafraid and Making Sense of the Bible. He and his wife, LaVon, have two grown daughters.