(From the book The Ten Commandments in the Christian Concept)

Number Ten:

The number 10 symbolizes perfection. Therefore, the Ten Commandments — although they are literally ten — symbolize the whole Law, that is, all the commandments.

Let us take a few examples that indicate the perfection of the number 10!

In the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1), we see that this number symbolized the whole world, all people, both good and evil. Perhaps this parable also resembles the parable of the servants whom their master left until he should come.

In this regard, the Scripture says about the master that he “called his ten servants and delivered to them ten minas, and said unto them, Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). These ten servants symbolize all people: good and evil.

It is also noteworthy in this latter parable that the most perfect among those servants is the one who said to the master, “Your mina, lord, has earned ten minas.” Thus, by this matter, he symbolizes the perfection of the one who trades with his talent and gains. Observe also the perfection of his reward and its relation to this number as well: the master said to him, “Because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.”

That this number symbolizes perfection is also clearly seen in the Parable of the Lost Coin. For the Scripture says that “a woman having ten pieces of silver” (Luke 15:8) lost one piece. The ten coins symbolized all that she possessed. Perhaps from this comes the commandment of tithes, assuming that all a man’s wealth is ten parts, from which he gives one part to God.

We also see this number in the story of the Prophet Daniel, when he said to the chief of the eunuchs, “Prove your servants ten days” (Daniel 1:12). The number 10 here was the perfection of the period during which a man could test them. Perhaps this also resembles what Jacob said to his two wives concerning Laban his uncle: “Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times” (Genesis 31:7). By this he meant many times that reached completeness in number, and it is not necessary that they were literally ten times. Perhaps this also resembles what righteous Job said to his three friends: “These ten times you have reproached me” (Job 19:3)…

What we say about the number 10, we also say about its multiples such as one hundred and one thousand.

In the parable of the Good Shepherd who searched for the lost sheep, the phrase “a hundred sheep” symbolized all the believers (Luke 15). Likewise, this applies to what the Apostle Paul said: “I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19). By this he meant the perfection of what is said in speaking with tongues, not the literal 10,000. Perhaps this also resembles what the Lord mentioned about the servant who owed ten thousand talents (Matthew 18:24), referring to the sinner who committed the greatest possible number of sins.

An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – in Al-Keraza Magazine – Year Eight (Issue Sixteen) – 22-4-1977.

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