Ten Funny Commandments

Many people have asked if I would help create a more modern version of the rather old-fashioned Ten Commandments.

Liven them up and add a couple of jokes to the tedious Moses version to lighten the load a little. Plus, people love listicles, even religious ones, so there could be some money in it.

Fabulous as the original Commandments were, they have long exceeded their sell-by date. God would want to see His people moving forward instead of looking back all the time.

As one of the leading theologians of our time and a bit of an internet time-waster, it has behooved me to attempt this task. I say "behooved"—God told me to do it. Or my editor, as she prefers to be known.

So here are the Best Funny Ten Commandments since last week, and before the Huffington Post version comes out.

​Don't worry—there won't be a collection.
Moses receives the Ten Commandments

Moses and the Ten Commandments Gifts >>

Short Version of the Ten Commandments

Here’s a short version for the time-pressed, or "lazy," as they prefer to be known:​

  1. God rules
  2. Images are copyrighted
  3. Swear in moderation
  4. Sunday double time
  5. Honor stuff
  6. Only kill what you eat or dislike
  7. Cheat not unless pushed
  8. Steal considerately
  9. Don't lie much
  10. Coveting - don't go there

This simple list of rules is regularly and repeatedly broken by politicians, bankers, media commentators, celebrities, and religious leaders.

The Long Version With Explanation

Most Biblical stuff goes on for a very long time. There's a lot of "begat this" and "don't do that" and hardly ever a decent punchline. This page also contains several words and a picture, so it may prove exhausting for internet users.

Interestingly, that is what an "exhaustive" list means—it wears you out looking at it.

Enough education. Here begins the commandment stuff.

1. Worship No One

Gods have largely been replaced by the latest manufactured pop star or jumped-up internet vlogger.

If you live in the West, you are free to worship pretty much anyone—mostly vacuous, talentless celebrities or virtue-signaling idiot politicians.

In some other countries, it’s best to take a straw poll as to who they all follow and jump on the same bandwagon.

​If that means growing a beard—so be it.

2. Image Rights

Do not use God’s image or any image that you have obtained from Flickr or another website without first asking the owner’s permission. Videos may be linked in the usual way via YouTube.

And for Christ’s sake, do NOT use a Mohammed picture for any reason. Don’t give me a lecture about free speech—I prefer my head to stay attached to my body.

3. Swearing and the Lord's Name

Swearing is cool.

When the first set of commandments was written, there was a lot less traffic on the road. Times change.
​
It is beneficial to utter an occasional Holy Oath when under duress—this repetition helps keep the Lord’s name in popular circulation.
Jesus Carrying the Cross shows a stickman Jesus carrying the wooden cross to the Crucifixion. A fun, humorous and respectful Christian image for Easter or anytime.

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4. Keep Sunday Special

​It’s important not to work on a Sunday because it’s good to have a free day to go shopping, watch sport, and get drunk. Those people who do have to work should get paid a bit extra or stop moaning about it.

Oh yeah, some people actually go to church! Go figure.

5. Honor Your Parents

Obviously, you should honor your folks, especially if you want a loan or a lift somewhere.

Mostly, though, you should honor the latest celebrity, Royal birth, politician, or dictator we happen to be friends with.

Don’t worry—these things never last very long, and eventually, you end up back with your parents.

And God.

6. Thou Shalt Not Kill

​Whoops!

Well, look—if THEY want to kill US, then WE need to kill THEM. That goes without saying, which is why God didn’t put it into His original outdated commandments.

Clearly, He would have mentioned collateral damage and how hospitals and cribs are used by terrorists to conceal deadly weapons.

​And the kill order does not apply to animals, obviously. So we can kill as many of those as we like, except for the nice ones that are fluffy and on YouTube.

Commandments are about being flexible.  Save the whale, eat the tuna - that sort of deal.

7. Do Not Cheat

This was going to be called "Cheats never prosper," except they do. So that could have led to problems with the Google Law of Misleading Content—the penalties for which are having to use Bing for searching.


Only cheat on your partner if they don’t understand you.

8. Do Not Steal

Tax is not stealing. Neither is begging unless you use a handgun. With those, and another 300 exceptions available in a separate document, the deal is you should not take from others that which they claim to own.

It is OK for large corporations to channel their money through deserted islands so the government cannot steal from them.

But it is not OK for you.

9. Do Not Lie

The original text of this seemed quite simple. It was dangerously misleading. We need to lie all the time.

“Do I look fat?”
“Does this dress suit me?”
“Are you seeing someone else?”

These questions are designed to trick us, and therefore we are entitled to be generous with our reply.

Governments, politicians, media, celebrities, and bosses are expected to lie openly and continuously because they have all the power and money.
Praying design shows figure offering a silent prayer to God - kneeling with head bowed, hands together and eyes shut. A respectful image of the act of praying.

Praying Gifts >>

10. Thou Shalt Not Covet

"Covet" is an old word that no one remembers the meaning of. Scholars have struggled to understand the correct theological definition of this commandment for centuries.

We now know the expression originally referred to a donkey. That worked well while people still had them. There’s less demand these days.

​I did try complimenting the next-door neighbor on her donkey, but it did not go well. Any hopeful coveting was terminated by her husband appearing.

Bit More Commandment Stuff

The version for Islamic scholars is similar, with an additional commandment on goat husbandry and wifery.


There are supplementary teachings about drones, beards, and Salman Rushdie - lol and smiley face for added offensiveness.


My excuse for having reworked the Ten Commandments is that I act according to my God. This justification is good enough for all kinds of wrongdoings perpetrated in the name of religion—and my God feels the same way as I do.

I Love Jesus design shows Jesus carrying the Easter Cross in front of a large I Love symbol. A simple strong graphic of Love for Jesus and the Christian message.

I Love Jesus Gifts >>

End of the Sermon

​That’s enough ten commandment stuff for now. A few final thoughts:


A lot of harm has been done in the name of religion. Man has used it as a reason to attack others—non-believers, infidels, and heretics.


In this betrayal of what are essentially decent beliefs, religion becomes another tool for the misuse of power by our leaders. The sham of democracy. Endless war. Poverty, crime, and fear.


Writing this piece gave me pause for thought. The Ten Commandments are not a bad set of rules. No killing, no cheating, no coveting.


Live your life and show respect to others. It’s a reasonable way to conduct yourself.


Thanks for reading. And sorry for preaching.


Created by Mark Ewbie. Last Updated: September 7, 2025.

Seek Further Teachings

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Scary Things from A - Z - a light-hearted list


All Puns - the complete collection