The Ten Today

After the Sunday service three visitors made positive comments about our Ten Commandments stone at the church entrance.  They noted that such is pretty rare these days, to which I agreed.  So, what has happened?  Are the Ten Commandments still legit or part of the law abolished in Jesus?

I Timothy 3:16 boldly declares that ALL Scripture is given by God and profitable.  That point alone settles, or should settle, much of the discussion.  The Ten matter to us today!

But!  Isn’t some of the Bible for a time and a people past?  Yes!  Some!

Israel, from Moses to Jesus, was under civil and religious orders given by God which today have been laid aside since Jesus.  So, 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 (Colossians 2:14).

So, what about the Ten Commandments?

One point for keeping the Ten today is that only the civil and religious (ceremonial) orders to the Jews were ended with the death of Jesus, the moral law was not.  [Note the difference in Deuteronomy 31:26, “put it [this Book of the Law] beside the ark of the covenant” (which contained the Ten) – both sacred, but held differently.]

Another way to see that the Ten still matter is to see that they are all found in the New Testament.

Let’s start with the second tablet – those laws regulating life among people.  You know, the do not murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness, and covet laws.  Look at Romans 13.  Those five are listed and then it is declared that they are fulfilled in this one law – love your neighbor as yourself.  Does “fulfilled” mean ended or trumped or summarized?  No!

Rather, the second five find a new expression in one law – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Which means what?  The second five tell you what!  You don’t hate others, you protect each gender, you don’t steal, you seek justice for all, and you aren’t troubled that someone else has more.

And what about the first five?

The first of the Ten is to not have any other gods.  That should not need clarification or repeating, but it is in I Corinthians 8:4, We know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.

The second law is to not make images of God for worship.  I Corinthians 10:14, Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  In other words, don’t worship any idol, image, or replacement for God.

Third is to not abuse or misuse God’s name and thus mar His reputation.  II Thessalonians 1:12, That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him.

Fourth, keep the Sabbath.  God gave us the pattern long before the Ten existed when He rested one day in seven (Genesis 2:1-4).  I Corinthians 16:2, On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside.  Acts 2:1, When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  This was a Sunday when God chose to come boldly upon His people.

Number five is to honor father and mother.  Ephesians 6:1-2 clearly repeats that charge: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” which is the first commandment with promise.

Thus, the concepts of all Ten are found in the New Testament.

Furthermore, Jesus declared, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill,” (Matthew 5:17).  Not “destroy!”  Fulfill!

We should join David and declare, “Oh, how I love Your law!”  (Psalm 119:97).