The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments were given by God to His people. He spoke it with His mouth and then wrote it with His own finger twice on stone. The Ten Commandments stand high above all other moral and spiritual laws. It is the manual of human conduct and covers the field of human duty to God and to man (Matthew 22:34–40): Man was made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), made to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15, 16). The Ten Commandments are Heaven’s standard of holiness (Romans 7:7–25).
I would not have known sin except through the law.”
Romans 7:7
The Ten Commandments don’t save or cleanse anyone. It only serves as a mirror that points to sin in the life (James 1:23-25) so that the sinner may go to Christ for cleansing and forgiveness (1 John 1:7).
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7
Jesus Kept the Ten Commandments
Jesus taught that those that are obedient to His law through His enabling grace will obtain eternal life (Matthew 19:16–19).
“… if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Matthew 19:17
And the key to the spiritual understanding of the law was shown by Christ in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5 to 7).
Revelation speaks of the saints as those that Keep the Commandments and Faith of Jesus Christ:
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 14:12
The Ten Commandments can never change, for they are the absolute expression of God’s will and character. For this reason, God personally gave them to His children both orally and in writing on stone (Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 4:13).
The Decalogue is not only the revelation of God’s holiness but also of His love (Matthew 22:34–40; John 15:10; Romans 13:8–10; 1 John 2:4). Whatever we give to God or man, if it be without love, then the law is not fulfilled.
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
John 15:10
Love the foundation of God’s law
It is love that guards us from breaking the Ten Commandments, for how could we worship other gods, take His name in vain, and neglect the observance of the Sabbath if we truly love Him? And how can we steal from our neighbor, testify against him, or covet his possessions if we love him? Love is the root of loyalty to God, and respect for men. It should ever be the great motive that prompts us to obedience (John 14:15; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Galatians 5:6).
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The Ten Commandments confirm the truth of Christian freedom (James 2:12; 2 Corinthians 3:17). Though the letter of the law may appear to be narrow in scope, its spirit is “exceeding broad” (Psalm 119:96).
God’s Law vs. Man’s Law
The Ten Commandments are excluded from the other parts of the law of Moses, (Exodus 25:16; Deuteronomy 4:13; Exodus 34:28; Exodus 31:18; 32:15; Deuteronomy 9:9–11). They were the only commandments that were placed inside the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:21; 1 Kings 8:9), while Moses law was placed on the side of the ark:
“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there as a witness against you”
Deuteronomy 31:26
The Ten Commandments were placed under the mercy seat which signifies that the law is the foundation of the covenant. Nevertheless, over the law is the mercy seat, sprinkled with the blood which means there is forgiveness and cleansing from sin through the blood of Jesus.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
