THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

The
Ten Commandments

Gods 10 Commandments Introduction Today it is often believed by many Christians that Gods Ten Commandments were meant for those who lived in Old Testament times, and do not apply to Christians who are under grace in the New Testament. The Bible has much to say on the subject of law and grace, but even though it is true that Christians are saved by faith in Christ, nowhere in the Bible does it say God's laws are not binding upon man. Keeping the commandments of the Decalogue is not the method of salvation, but the fruit of it. Obedience to God is the test of the genuine Christian. 1 John 3:4 "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and SIN IS LAWLESSNESS." Some say that Gods Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross of Christ: but this cannot be so. This scripture defines sin as the "breaking of God's law". You see, if the law is abolished, then so is sin and if sin is abolished, then the need of a Saviour becomes unnecessary. Why did Christ die on the cross? To save us from our sins, which are transgressions of God's law. If it were possible to do away with the law, Christ need not have died, but the fact that He was prepared to make this supreme sacrifice proves the unchanging character of God's law that shows us how to love God and man. If the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross then love was nailed to the cross along with them. Thankfully this was not the case. Romans 3:20 "Therefore BY THE DEEDS OF THE LAW NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." We are saved because of our faith in Jesus Christ, and not because we keep God's law. This scripture does not say it is unnecessary to keep the law, but it says we are not justified by keeping it. We are justified by the blood of Jesus. This scripture in no way says it is unnecessary to obey Gods 10 commandments. Romans 6:14,15 "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for YOU ARE NOT UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE. What then? SHALL WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER LAW but under grace? CERTAINLY NOT!" We are not under the condemnation of the law because of the grace (Gods unmerited favour) of Christ. His blood covers our sins so that the law cannot condemn us. The question is asked by Paul; "Shall we sin (or break the law) because we are not under the law but under grace?" and the reply is most definite - "God forbid". God's forgiveness to us does not give license to sin. Romans 3:31 "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, WE ESTABLISH THE LAW." Genuine Christians will not seek to break God's law, instead they establish it; uphold it and keep it. It is only as one breaks the law that he comes under the condemnation of it. For example, one is not affected by the roads speed limit law while driving, until he exceeds the limit - then he is condemned by it. Simply because we are under grace, does not give us free rein to break the law rather we are under greater obligation to keep it. We are only under grace so long as we keep the law. For example, if a prisoner is given a pardon and is released from prison, does his freedom allow him to break the law? If he does, he is no longer free. The law of the land condemns him and he goes back to prison. In the same way, God's law will condemn us when we break it. Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then? IS THE LAW SIN? CERTAINLY NOT! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." Paul is emphatic. There is nothing wrong with the law. In fact he says that he would not be conscious of sin without the law to show him his errors. Here Paul quotes from the 10th commandment. The Ten Commandments can be likened to a mirror. If a person with a dirty face looks in the mirror, then the mirror tells him his face is dirty - but it won't clean it for him, he needs soap and water. As we look at the Ten Commandments they show us our sins, but they do not cleanse us. We need the blood of Christ to make us clean. When we are cleansed and look into the Ten Commandments, they no longer condemn us. Romans 7:12 "Therefore the LAW IS HOLY, and the COMMANDMENT HOLY and just and good." God's law is perfect and cannot be faulted. What change did take place at the cross concerning the law? Colossians 2:14-17 "HAVING WIPED OUT THE HANDWRITING OF REQUIREMENTS that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, HAVING NAILED IT TO THE CROSS. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in FOOD or in DRINK, or regarding a FESTIVAL or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." An ordinance is a rite or a ceremony. In Old Testament times animal sacrifices were made, symbolising the supreme sacrifice Christ or the Messiah would make one day. There were many ceremonies that revolved around these sacrifices, such as partaking of certain foods and drinks. Why do we not offer animal sacrifices today? Because this would show we have no faith in Christ's sacrifice. Just as it is no longer necessary to shed, the blood of animals, so it is no longer necessary to partake in the ceremonial system associated with the killing of animals. Christ fulfilled the law of ceremonies. When He died, the temple veil tore in two as an indication that the temple services had come to an end. Generally speaking, the Bible does not try to differentiate between Gods 10 commandments and the law of Moses. To the Jew there was one law of God, and all details of the law were important, whether ceremonial or moral. However, the New Testament in many instances mentions specific parts of the law. This text mentions the ceremonial system, and not the moral law. Even the sabbaths mentioned were not necessarily the seventh day Sabbath of the fourth Commandment. The Jews had several ceremonial sabbaths which fell on certain dates of the year, each one occurring once a year. THE TWO LAWS When God led the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, He delivered to them in fiery majesty the Ten Commandments. This holy law was spoken by God, written by God, recorded on tables of stone, and is of eternal duration. At the same time another law, of temporary usage, was also delivered to the children of Israel. This law dealt with the ceremonial rites of the Jewish sanctuary service, and concerned itself with a system of religion that passed away at the cross. Large sections of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy describe in detail this temporary ceremonial system. This Law can easily be identified in the Scriptures. It talks about circumcision (a religious Jewish rite), sacrifices, offerings, purifications, ceremonial holy days, and other rites associated with the Hebrew sanctuary service. To the unbiased reader of God's Word, it becomes more than clear that Gods Ten Commandments are binding upon all men for all time in every place, whereas no man is bound to keep the Ceremonial Law that was fulfilled in Christ. The Ceremonial Law with its sacrificial system pointed God's people to the coming of Christ. Every time the blood of a beast was shed in the old Jewish temple, it was a dramatic reminder to the onlooker that One would come and die for his sin. Hence, John the Baptist pointed to our Lord and declared the significant words, "Behold the Lamb of God". When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, the veil of the great temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, to signify the entire ceremonial system was forever finished. (See Matthew 27:50-51). No longer did the priests need to offer sacrifices. The One great and perfect Sacrifice was offered that Friday afternoon, when the true Passover Lamb bowed His head and died. When Jesus cried out, "It is finished", the old Ceremonial Law that pointed the people to His sacrificial death was nailed to the cross. But NOT SO with The Ten Commandments. There was nothing temporary about any of Gods 10 Commandments. They are to last as long as heaven and earth. Matthew 5:17-19 "DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO DESTROY THE LAW or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore BREAKS ONE OF the least of THESE commandments, and teaches men so, shall be CALLED LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus certainly did not have any intentions of making any change, in fact, He condemned men who taught that it was in order to break God's law, and commended those who taught the necessity of keeping it. THE BIBLE TEN COMMANDMENTS Exodus 24:12 "Then the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the LAW AND COMMANDMENTS WHICH I HAVE WRITTEN, that you may teach them." Exodus 31:18 "And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, TABLETS OF STONE, WRITTEN WITH THE FINGER OF GOD." The whole Bible has been written by man, yet inspired by God. The Ten Commandments, however, were written by God Himself. Surely He must have regarded them very highly. Where were the Ten Commandments located? Exodus 25:16 "And you shall put INTO THE ARK THE TESTIMONY which I will give you." A small box called the "Ark", which was situated in the sanctuary, was the resting place of the Ten Commandments. The law of Moses was placed in the "SIDE" of the ark. The Ten Commandments are often referred to as the "testimony". The Ten Commandments are recorded in full in Exodus 20:3-17. Briefly they are as follows: 1. You shall have no other gods before Me. 2. You shall not make unto thee any graven image. 3. You shall not take the name of the Lord God in vain. 4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 5. Honour your father and your mother. 6. You shall not murder. 7. You shall not commit adultery. 8. You shall not steal. 9. You shall not bear false witness. 10. You shall not covet. The first four commandments deal with our love to God, and the last six deal with our love for our fellowman. They can be divided into these two sections. There is one underlying principle behind these commands - "LOVE". In these commands we see a transcript of God's character: "God is love". At first they may appear to be a list of don'ts, but when a Christian is motivated by love, he wants to please God and love his fellowman. James 2:8-12 "If you really fulfill the ROYAL LAW according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall KEEP THE WHOLE LAW, AND YET STUMBLE IN ONE POINT, HE IS GUILTY OF ALL. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be JUDGED BY THE LAW OF LIBERTY." There is no virtue in keeping 9 instead of 10 commandments. If a man is hanging from a great height by a chain with ten links, and only one link breaks, he falls. The strength of the chain is dependent on its weakest link. If we willingly break one of Gods Ten Commandments, we are as guilty as if we break them all. True, we are not saved by keeping the law, but this scripture shows we will be judged by it. If Jesus reigns within, He will give us the strength to keep His law. Psalm 111:7-8 "The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure. THEY STAND FAST FOREVER AND EVER, and are done in truth and uprightness." Gods Ten Commandments are eternal. Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints; HERE ARE THOSE WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD and the faith of Jesus" God's last people on earth before the end of time are commandment keepers. There is no thought that the law is abolished, instead they establish it. Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." In the New Testament age we no longer need the Bible Ten Commandments on stone. We have something better. Those who are led by the Spirit have these laws written in their minds and on their hearts. This is the promise of the New Covenant. They are firmly established in the Christian way of life. Hebrews 5:9 "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM." We are not saved because we are obedient - but because we are saved, we are obedient. Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, FOR THIS IS MAN'S ALL." Jesus said in John 14:15 "IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." The test of love is obedience. Friend, do you love Jesus enough to obey Him? Remember, He loved you enough to die for you. His plea to you today is to keep His Ten Commandments. They are not grievous - in fact to keep them, will keep you out of trouble in this life, and bring you happiness. God's way of willing obedience is the best way, and if Jesus is supreme in your life, He will give you the strength to keep all Gods 10 Commandments.

Gods 10 Commandments and His Character Notice how God's moral law (Gods 10 Commandments) is a reflection of God's most beautiful and holy character. To declare that the God's moral law is no longer relevant is an insult and attack on love, God and His Holy character. Gods 10 Commandments equals God's Holy Character » Romans 16:26: God is Eternal » Psalms 111:7-8: The law is Eternal » Luke 18:19: God is Good » Romans 7:12: The law is Good » John 4:24: God is Spiritual » Romans 7:14: The law is Spiritual » Deuteronomy 32:4: God is Just » Romans 7:12: The law is Just » Psalms 145:17: God is Righteous » Psalms 119:172: The law is Righteous » 1 John 3:3: God is Pure » Psalms 19:8: The law is Pure » Matthew 5:48: God is Perfect » Psalms 19:7: The law is Perfect » I John 4:8: God is Love » Romans 13:10: The law is Love » I John 1:5: God is Light » Proverbs 6:23: The law is Light » Psalms 48:1: God is Great » Hosea 8:12: The law is Great » Deuteronomy 32:4: God is Truth » Psalms 119:142: The law is Truth » Isaiah 5:16: God is Holy » Romans 7:12: The law is Holy Gods 10 Commandments and the Ceremonial law This table shows the differences between the two laws. Please notice each text carefully. See also the Roman Catholic Ten Commandments table and description or use the menu option 'Catholic Version'. The Moral Law (The Ten Commandments) The Ceremonial Law (A temporary Jewish law) 1. Spoken by God Himself. Exodus 20:1,22. 1. Spoken by Moses. Exodus 24:3. 2. Was written by God. Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:16. 2. Written by Moses. Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 31:9. 3. On stones. Exodus 31:18. 3. In a book. Exodus 24:3, 7; Deuteronomy 31:24. 4. Handed by God its writer, to Moses. Exodus 31:18. 4. Handed by Moses, its writer to Levites. Deuteronomy 31:25, 26. 5. Deposited by Moses "in the ark". Deuteronomy 10:5. 5. Deposited by the Levites "by the side of the ark". Deuteronomy 31:26, ARV. 6. Deals with moral precepts. Exodus 20:3-17. 6. Deals with ceremonial, ritual matters. (See parts of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). 7. Reveals sin. Romans 7:7. 7. Prescribes offerings for sins. (See book of Leviticus). 8. Breaking of "the law" is "sin". 1 John 3:4. 8. No sin in breaking, for now "abolished". Ephesians 2:15. (Where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15.) 9. Should "keep the whole law". James 2:10. 9. Apostles gave "no such commandment" to "keep the law". Acts 15:24. 10. Because we "shall be judged" by this law. James 2:12 10. Not to be judged by it. Colossians 2:16. 11. The Christian who keeps this law is "blessed in his deed". James 1:25. 11. The Christian who keeps this law is not blessed. (See for example, Galatians 5:1-6). 12. "The perfect law of liberty". James 1:25 (Cf. James 2:12). 12. The Christian who keeps this law loses his liberty. Galatians 5:1,3. 13. Paul said, "I delight in the law of God". Romans 7:22 (Cf. verse 7). 13. Paul called this law a "yoke of bondage". Galatians 5:1; Galatians 4:3, 9 (See Acts 15:10). 14. Established by faith in Christ. Romans 3:31. 14. Abolished by Christ. Ephesians 2:15. 15. Christ was to "magnify the law and make it honorable". Isaiah 42:21. 15. Blotted "out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us". Colossians 2:14. Ten Commandment Scriptures Here are the most relevant scriptures that refer to the Ten Commandments in the New Testament. All scriptures quoted are from the King James Bible. Where Gods 10 Commandments are been referred to and perhaps not obvious to all, [10 Commandments] has been added. Also, in appropriate places where the word "commandments" has been used and it refers to the Ten Commandments, "ten" has been added and both words shown are now in italics. Old Testament scriptures can be found on this page. New Testament Scriptures Matthew Gods 10 Commandments are eternal and will not change till heaven and earth pass. Matthew 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the Ten Commandments. All the law hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Mark Mark 10:19 You knowest the Ten Commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour your father and mother. Luke A very similar verse to Matthew 5:18. Heaven and Earth will pass before Gods 10 Commandments change by even a tittle which is the smallest change you can have to a single Hebrew character. Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. John If we love Jesus we will keep all Gods 10 Commandments. John 14:15 If you love me, keep my Ten Commandments. He that keeps God's Commandments is he that loves God. John 14:21 He that has my Ten Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 15:10 If you keep my Ten Commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Romans Romans 2:12-13 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. Paul asks if the law is nullified just because we have faith in Christ's saving grace. His answer is that the law is established and reinforced in the life of a grace saved Christian. Romans 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yes, we establish the law. Romans 6:14-15 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Paul tells us that Gods 10 Commandments are just, holy and good. Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet. Loving your neighbour as yourself covers anything not mentioned in Gods 10 Commandments. Romans 13:9-10 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 1 Corinthians Keeping God's Commandments is what is important. 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the Ten Commandments of God. Hebrews With the new covenant, God's Commandments are now written on our hearts. Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: See also Jeremiah 31:33 Hebrews 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; [10 Commandments] Again we are told with the new covenant, Gods 10 Commandments are written on our hearts. Hebrews 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; James Gods Commandments are the perfect law of liberty we will be judged by. James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If we break one of Gods Commandments were guilty of all. James 2:8-12 If you fulfil the royal law [10 Commandments] according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbour as thyself, you do well: 9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 1 John Jesus is the truth and if we don’t keep Gods 10 Commandments we do not know Christ. 1 John 2:3-4 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Ten Commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Sin is breaking of God's Commandments. 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Those that keep Gods 10 Commandments receive what they ask of Him. 1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his Ten Commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. It should not grieve us to keep God's Commandments. We should desire to love God and man. 1 John 5:2-3 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his Commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his Ten Commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it. Revelation Satan hates those that keep God's Commandments. Revelation 12:17 And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [Church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Ten Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Those that don't get the mark of the beast obey Gods 10 Commandments. Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Ten Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. The original Ark containing Gods original Ten Commandments are in the heavenly temple. Revelation 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony [10 Commandments] in heaven was opened: Blessed are those that keep God's Commandments and may have access to the tree of life. Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his Ten Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Old Testament Scriptures

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