I was advised to prepare using the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

Building an edifice of spiritual life requires a firm foundation, and there is no better starting point than the Law given to Moses and the fulfillment of that Law by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, we view these not merely as rules, but as the "Commandments of Life" that prepare the soul for union with God.

The Foundation: The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments serve as the "fence" that protects the soul from falling into the abyss. They are the elementary stones of the spiritual building. As St. Philoxenus notes, it is essential for one who begins in the way of the Commandments to know where to start, lest they place the last things first and the first things last.

When preparing your life through the Commandments, focus on two directions:

1. Love for God (The first 4): Ensuring no idols (passions, wealth, or ego) take the place of `` (God).
2. Love for Neighbor (The last 6): As the Desert Fathers teach, we must examine our consciences: Have we truly loved our enemies? Have we kept ourselves from the "evil thoughts" that arise in the heart, as mentioned in the prophecies?

The Fulfillment: The Sermon on the Mount

If the Ten Commandments are the foundation, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is the structure of the spiritual house. While the Old Law forbade the act of sin, Christ’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount heals the source of sin—the heart.

• The Beatitudes: These are the qualities of a citizen of the Kingdom. The Coptic Church emphasizes humility as the primary virtue. One of the Desert Fathers, Abba Tithoes, taught that the "path of a monk is humility." If you are honored beyond your merits, you suffer; if you are held of no account, you receive glory in heaven.
• The Inner Judgment: Unlike the Greek intellectualizing of faith, the Orthodox perspective focuses on the mystical and ethical union with Christ. As seen in the Johannine discourses, our judgment is often determined by our own choices—whether we choose light or darkness.
• Active Virtue: Preparation involves not just avoiding "biting serpents and scorpions" (sin) in the desert of this world, but actively digging for "copper and iron" (virtue) in the land God has given us. We must beware that when we are "full" and have "built beautiful houses," we do not forget `` (The Lord) who brought us out of the house of bondage.

Practical Advice for Preparation

1. Examine the Conscience: Use the advice of the elders: Ask if you have counted yourself an "unprofitable servant" and the "worst of all sinners." If you find you have done well, do not think well of yourself, as pride is totally destructive.
2. Take Responsibility: In all temptations or failures to keep these commandments, do not complain about others. Instead, say, "These things happen to me because of my sins."
3. Intellectual and Mystical Balance: Your preparation should not be merely reading the text (intellectual) but living the "splendid development of the mystical side of religion," which is trust and love.

By aligning your life with the Decalogue and the Beatitudes, you are following the St. Didymus-like discipline of spiritual growth—moving at a manageable pace but with a steadfast commitment to the curricula of the Kingdom of Heaven.