Division of the Ten Commandments

[JM]

Why do the Lutherans and RC's divide the Ten Commandments the way they do?

link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethical_Decalogue)

[DaRev]

The Scriptures do not enumerate the Commandments, but it does say that there are ten of them. While many will count "You shall not make any carved or graven image..." as a seperate commandment, the Lutheran Church maintains that that is actually part of the First Commandment.
In the Hebrew text the first commandment is not a command but rather a statement, "There will be for you no ther gods before Me." It then goes on to say "You will not make any images..." In other words, "I'm the One and Only God, so don't make any other ones."
The Ninth and Tenth both deal with coveting, but one deals with inheritence and the other with relationships. They are distinct in that way, thus the Church teaches them seperately

[JM]

Thank you Rev, that was helpful.