And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me(Ex. 20:1-3).
Today’s reading introduces us to the Ten Commandments— the ten basic laws upon which all of Israel’s civil, criminal, and ceremonial laws would come to be based. As they gathered at the base of Mt. Sinai, the children of Israel heard the voice of God for the first time and trembled at the raw power it contained. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die (Ex. 20:19). In that moment, they understood that to willfully ignore these commandments would be the same as denying God. The undercurrent of the message was clear: God’s laws must be obeyed, or the punishment incurred would be severe.
When you mention the Ten Commandments in a mixed group of Christians today, chances are you will be opening yourself up to an extended debate. While an overwhelming majority agree that these laws are morally sound, many believe that we, as Christians, are no longer under any spiritual obligation to observe them. Those who hold this belief are quick to quote Scripture that they believe clearly explains their position. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14). The Ten Commandments, they claim, no longer hold any power over us.
This belief is correct as far as it goes, but it is woefully incomplete. There is indeed no salvation to be found within the Commandments. Even if a person were to keep them perfectly, without a single slip, they would still perish, unredeemed, without the saving grace of Jesus (John 14:6). But just because they are not the source of grace does not mean they are irrelevant. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid (6:15). Jesus Himself stated: If ye love Me, keep My commandments (John 14:15).
Where once the Israelites observed the law in fear and trembling, Jesus asks that we embrace it out of love and respect. Where once the Israelites struggled—and failed—to keep the 51 law based on their own strength, Jesus has imbued us with His strength, in the form of the Holy Spirit, so that we might live forever in Him (14:16-21). To the person wholly committed to Christ, the Ten Commandments are much more than morally sound historical laws; they are an integrated part of our living faith, an unerring moral compass given as a gift of righteousness from a merciful God. We follow them not in a vain attempt to save ourselves, but because doing so allows us to daily experience the joy and love of God.
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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).
Thought for Today: Observing His commandments does not open the gates of Heaven, but without them, we may find our hearts are too hard to truly accept Him.
Christ Revealed: The perfection of Christ is revealed through the Ten Commandments, for He kept all of them (Ex. 20:1-17). He was perfect and without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Word Studies: 20:10 Sabbath = day of rest to honor God; 20:13 kill = murder; 21:8 strange nation = foreign people; 21:14 presumptuously = willfully, overstepping due bounds; with guile = treacherously; 21:19 be quit = be acquitted, blameless; 21:22 her fruit depart from her = she suffered a miscarriage
Pray For Staff:Tifany Parisi • Government Officials: Gov. Laura Kelly(KS), Rep. John Garamendi(CA), Rep. Mike Thompson(CA), Rep. Lou Correa(CA), Rep. Jake Ellzey(TX) • Country: Papua New Guinea (6,552,730) Southwestern Pacific • Major Languages: Tok Pisin, English • Religious Freedom • 69.4% Protestant; 27% Roman Catholic; 0.3% Bahai; 3.3% Indigenous Beliefs/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Glory in the Lord. He is Victor over Satan (Zech. 3:2).
Optional ReadingMatthew 24