Taking a brief look at the Ten Commandments.
The most powerful doctrine in the Bible is that of the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are different from the laws written by Moses. The laws written by Moses were written in a book and placed in the side of the Ark of the Covenant while the Ten Commandments were written by God on tables of stone and were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. Please read Deut. 31: 9 - 26, Exod.24:12; 32: 15-19; Deut. 10:1-5 to get a better understanding about the origination and differences between these two laws.
The Ten Commandments are also called The Law of Liberty, The Royal Law and The Moral Laws. From these laws of God, we get knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20 tells us that by the law is the knowledge of sin. In Psalm 119:142, 172 we are told that the Commandments are righteousness and truth. Psalm 111: 7-8 tells us that God’s laws will live forever and ever. James 2:10 reminds us that if we offend in one point, we are guilty of all.
The Moral Laws were instituted by God as way marks and guidelines for Believers. If we obey them we are assured of immortality.
The Law of the Ordinances was added because of man’s disobedience to God’s Ten Commandments. The Law of the Ordinances was inclusive of animal sacrifices. Jesus, the Lamb of God became the sacrifice when He died on the cross. He became our High Priest; therefore, we have no need of an earthly priest to make sacrifices for us.
We will examine a few Scriptures which should help us to understand the importance of obeying God’s Ten Commandments.
The Moral Law/ Ten Commandments
It is called the Royal Law. James 2:8 -If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
It was written by God. Deut. 4:12-13 - And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
It was written with the finger of God. Exod. 31:18 -And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
It is perfect and converts the soul. Psalm19:7-The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
It is pure. Psalm 19:8 -The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
It is holy, just and good. Romans 7:12- Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
It is spiritual. Romans 7:14- For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Those who keep them will get eternal life. Rev. 22:14- Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Christ magnifies it. Matt. 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.
The Lord magnifies it and makes it honourable. Isaiah 42:21- The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.
If you break one you are guilty of all. James 2:10 - For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
It is a light and a lamp. Proverbs 6 :23- For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life
It can be sectioned as love to God and love to man. Matt. 22 : 37-40 -Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
We keep them if we love God. John 14:15- If ye love Me, keep My commandments
1st John 5:2 - By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.
They are not grievous (burdensome) 1st John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.
It was placed in the Ark. Exod. 40:20; -And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
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;It abides forever.
Psa. 111:7-8 -The works of His hands are verity and judgment; all His commandments are sure.
They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
We are advised to fear God and keep His Commandments. Ecclesiastes 12:13 -Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Some believe that the Ten Commandments of God are obsolete but be reminded that Rev. 12:17 tells us that Satan is angry with the people of God who keep God’s Commandments and who have the testimony of Jesus.
Rev. 22:14 reminds us that those who keep God’s Commandments will enter into the City of God. Obedience in serving God means keeping all Ten Commandments. These Commandments are from the creation of this world and can be read from Genesis to Revelation.
I invite you to align a few New Testament Scriptures with the Commandments as listed in Exodus 20.
1
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3; Matthew 4:10
2
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments. 1st John 5:21; Acts17:16-25; 1st Corinthians 8:4-6; 6:9; Exodus 20:4-6
3
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. Matthew 5:33-37; 6:9; 23:16-22; Exodus 20:7
4
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11; Acts 13:42,44; Luke 4:16; Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 12:8; Revelation 1:10
5
Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12; Mark 7:9-13; Colossians 3:20; Ephesians 6:1-3; Mark 10;19
6
Thou shalt not kill. Luke 18:20; Mark 10:19; Romans 13:9; James 2:11; Exodus 20:13
7
Thou shalt not commit adultery. Romans 13:9; James 2:11; Mark 10:4-2,19, 1st Corinthians 6:9; Exodus 20:14
8
Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15; Romans 13:9; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 4:28
9
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Romans 13:9 Mark 10:19; Ephesians 4:29, 31, Exodus 20:16
10
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant. Nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s. Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:17; Hebrews 13:5; James 4:1-2; Romans 7:7
What does the Ten Commandments teach us?
The first Commandment reminds us that we should only worship the True and Living God. If we worship otherwise, it is idolatry. Jesus told Satan in Matthew 4:10, ‘thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve. If we love God, we will serve Him in spirit and in truth.
The second tells us not to make and worship images. We must not bow down and show reverence to images; this includes the cross. When we do this, we are not honouring God we are denouncing Him. This is idolatry. Those who do not worship images will be rewarded with His mercy but if we worship images, we will leave a sinful legacy for our children and will not inherit everlasting life.
The third Commandment tells us not to take God’s name in vain. We must reverence His name. Our society is guilty of this practise; we defame God’s name for the simplest thing. If you listen you often hear expletives alongside God’s name, songs which are not in tune with godliness incorporates God’s name. This is totally unacceptable. God’s name is to be held in awe and reverence. If this is your habit, please stop now, before God’s wrath is turned on you.
In the fourth Commandment we are told to remember God’s Sabbath. From creation the Sabbath has been kept but God knew that false teachers would arise therefore He told us to Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. When we keep the Sabbath, we remember God as Creator of heaven and earth. We recognise His sovereignty. Man does not have the power to change God’s time and select any day as the Sabbath. We should follow God’s guidelines. We must put aside all cares and toils and worship God on the day that He has especially set aside for holy communion with God.
The 5th Commandments tells us to “Honour our father and our mother that our days may be long upon the land which the Lord our God hath given us.” It doesn’t matter how the child was reared or the behaviour of the parent the child must honour the parent. As a matter of fact, the child should be respectful to all and should be given due respect. If we want to live and be blessed by God, we must honour our parents.
The sixth Commandment says, Thou shalt not kill. No unrepentant murderer will enter eternal life. Jesus said if we keep hate in our hearts we are murderers. Therefore, a murderer is not only the one who takes out a life by a gun, knife etc. A murderer is also one who defames person’s character and cuts the throat with the tongue.
The 7th points to adultery; It says Thou shalt not commit adultery. Jesus said that if one looks at another who is not the spouse and lust after him/her that person has already committed adultery in his/her heart. Marriage is a lasting covenant between God and the couple. Married partners must be faithful to each other and outsiders must not interfere with their relationship. Under the Mosaic law persons who committed adultery were instantly stoned to death. You might not be put to death now, but remember that God still detest adulterous behaviour.
The 8th Commandment tells us not to steal. It is a crime to take something which does not belong to you. Stealing is not only taking tangible things such as money, and car. People’s happiness is stolen when their loved ones are raped or murdered, or when marriages are broken because of unfaithfulness and varied other ways. Time can also be stolen in various ways.
The ninth Commandment tells us not to lie. Many persons love to suss and while gossiping they run out of facts, therefore, they tell lies. Lies are even told while persons are under oath in the courthouse. Bearing false witness has gotten many innocent people in trouble. Speak the truth always. If you’re a liar your father is the Devil John 8:44
Most problems begin with coveting others. The 10th Commandment tells us not to covet anyone’s property. Satan coveted God’s position and raised an insurrection in heaven. That is why he is here on earth creating havoc and working assiduously to prevent us from inheriting eternal life with Christ. Covetousness began with him and will end when God destroys him and his demons.
God expect us to obey His laws. We were created for such purpose. If you are not walking in total obedience to God’s Commandments, submit yourself to Him and ask for His forgiveness. Whatever changes are to be made in your life allow God’s grace to guide you through all situations. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says ‘Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep His Commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgement with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil.’
Writer - A. E. Fisher
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