The Ten Commandments were split up into two tablets, with five commandments engraved on each tablet. The first five commandments (faith in G-d, not worshipping idolatry, not saying G-d's name in vain, Shabbat, and honoring parents) are categorized as "between man and G-d," while the second five (not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, no testifying falsely, and not coveting) are "between man and his fellow."
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (1808-1888, Germany) notes that there is a major discrepancy between the progression of each tablet's commandments. In the five "between man and G-d," it begins with commandments that are based on the mind and heart (e.g. Faith) and steadily progresses to commandments which call for action (e.g. Shabbat, honoring parents.) However, those "between man and his fellow" go in the reverse way. First come the "action" mitzvot (e.g. Do not kill, do not steal,) and then it progresses to commandments that are based in though (e.g. Do not covet.)
Based on this, Rabbi Hirsch suggests that there is a major difference between Mitzvot between man and G-d, and Mitzvot between man and his fellow. When it comes to man's relationship with G-d, the first step is to work on our mind (e.g. To acquire faith) and then the next step is to act by expressing this through doing Mitzvot. But when it comes to interpersonal Mitzvot between human beings, one must first go out and do the active commandments, and then afterwards the good character traits will become engrained into one's personality.
Rabbi Michael Macks will be contributing weekly divrei torah as he is able