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The Ten Commandments - Are They Required Today?
Section 3
Was the Law Only for Ancient Israel?
Today, thousands of preachers profess a belief in Jesus Christ and the Bible. Ironically, these same individuals also believe that the law was only given to ancient Israel. By this teaching, they claim that the law became obsolete once Jesus was crucified.
But, consider the reasoning of such logic. Would any preacher ever suggest that murder, adultery, lying, and stealing were now acceptable as a result of Jesus’ death? Certainly not! And yet most believe that certain laws within the Ten Commandments are outdated. However, Jesus revealed the truth regarding this matter when He stated:
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 (Matthew 5:18).
Christ’s mention of jots and tittles is a reference to Hebrew grammatical strokes similar to our English comma, the dotting of an “i” or the crossing of a “t.” In this context, think of the truly awesome meaning of this statement. Not one dot of the law would pass away until the heavens and earth expire!
The heavens and earth still exist. Therefore, we can logically conclude that God’s law has not passed away. The Ten Commandments are still binding on mankind today, and those who claim to be followers of Christ should uphold them by living by their divine dictates.
Those Who Teach Against the Law
In this same passage, Jesus goes on to say that anyone who willingly breaks the Commandments, and teaches others to do likewise, will be considered inferior in the kingdom. His divine judgment is:
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 5:19).
Those who break even one of the commandments and promote the idea that we are allowed to do so will be labeled as having been unfaithful. Those who keep the Commandments, and teach that they are required, shall be called true and faithful servants (Mt. 25:21). This statement alone should be enough to end all arguments. Sadly, many are not convinced.
The Law before Sinai
Another false precept that many religious teachers avidly preach is that the Ten Commandments did not exist until God gave them to Israel in the wilderness. Could this possibly be true? Absolutely not! While Jesus said that the law would extend until the end of the earth, the law actually existed before the creation of mankind—long before its revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Consider that most people are willing to admit that Adam and Eve sinned. Obviously this means that they transgressed laws instituted by God. However, the Bible reveals that another being sinned long before man’s first parents. The once beautiful, great, and powerful spirit being Lucifer broke God’s law, and he led one-third of the angels in his rebellion. As Peter explained:
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (2 Peter 2:4).
Those who followed Lucifer, mounted an attack on God’s throne (Isa. 14:12-13). By turning against God’s law abiding way of life, they became rebellious demons! These wicked angels sinned before man ever breathed his first breath of air.
Sin is defined as the transgression of the law (1 Jn. 3:4). Therefore, in order for these angels to have sinned, God’s law must have been a reality long before the existence of mankind.
Next consider the fourth day of the creation week. On this day, God set the sun and moon in their respective positions for signs and seasons (Gen. 1:14). The word “signs” is oweth in Hebrew—the same word God uses to describe the Sabbath as the sign between Him and His people (Ex. 31:16-17). The word “seasons” is mowdah, and literally means holy day assemblies. Thus the fourth commandment to keep the Sabbath and the holy days existed in the mind of God before a single human being was created.
After the creation of Adam and Eve, the devil led these first humans to sin. Remember—in order for our first parents to have sinned, the law had to exist. As the apostle Paul wrote:
For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law (Romans 5:13).
Paul’s words are completely free of ambiguity. There was sin in the world before man’s creation. As demonstrated earlier, sin is the transgression of the law, yet sin is not imputed unless there is law. Therefore, the Almighty’s Commandments existed prior to Adam and Eve.
This becomes even more obvious as we examine the nature of Adam and Eve’s sin. The initial human transgression actually broke at least nine of the Ten Commandments. By taking from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the first humans stole what was not theirs thereby transgressing the eighth commandment. They coveted the forbidden fruit, breaking the tenth commandment. They believed Satan’s lie in violation of the ninth command. Motivated by the devil, their sin brought death upon themselves and the rest of mankind. This was no less than murder—shattering the sixth commandment. They contravened the fifth by dishonoring their Father—Almighty God.
Further, by deliberately going against God’s instructions, they placed Satan’s word above the Almighty. By this they transgressed the first three commandments. In their eyes, the devil became another god. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil became an idol to them. Finally, as mortal children of the Almighty Father, their disobedience took His name in vain (Lk. 3:38).
As man’s history continued, Cain murdered his brother Abel. Because God punished him for this, it is clear that the sixth commandment was in existence (Gen. 4:8-12).
On the other hand, the righteous followers of the Almighty kept His law. For example, Enoch walked with God (Gen. 5:22). Walking with the Eternal is simply a term that refers to going the same way He does. Two cannot walk together unless they are in agreement (Am. 3:3). Thus Enoch lived in conformity to God’s way of life. In other words, he kept God’s law!
Noah found favor in the eyes of God and was seen as righteous in a time when the rest of mankind exhibited wickedness (Gen. 6:5-8, 7:1). Righteous is a term used to describe those who are living the right way. According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, it is a term that means “just and lawful.” In the scriptures, it refers directly to those who keep God’s commandments (Ps. 119:172). Thus, we find that Noah also obeyed God’s law contained in the Ten Commandments.
In another example, God made a far reaching promise to Abraham. In the book of Genesis He foretold that the patriarch’s seed would be a blessing to all nations—but why? The Almighty explains:
Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws (Genesis 26:5).
Enoch walked with God. Noah was righteous. Abraham obeyed God and kept His Commandments. These examples reveal something of enormous importance—God’s law existed before Israel ever did!
These verses insure us of a vital truth—the Ten Commandments existed before the sun, moon, and earth were positioned in the heavens. They were in effect before man took his first steps on the earth. God’s laws existed prior to being written in stone on Mount Sinai. Further, they will continue to be mankind’s rule of faith until that historic mountain, the entire earth, and all the spiraling galaxies no longer exist!
The Only Way to Live!
Christ Himself warned us to not break the Commandments or teach others to do so (Mt. 5:19). In spite of this fact, numerous religious leaders continue to argue against the truth. They wrest, twist and misuse verses in an attempt to squeeze a lawless gospel out of the scriptures.
We must not let false teachers deceive us into abandoning the Almighty’s way of life. Christ tells us that His holy law will never pass away. Even after the heavens and earth have served their purpose, God’s law of love will remain as the only real basis for living. All who attain eternal life will be those who have lived by the Creator’s law (1 Cor. 6:9-10). Therefore, they will continue to honor the rules of God’s kingdom.
The citizens of God’s magnificent future realm will not lie, steal, murder, or covet. They will not have idols or false gods. They will only worship the Creator and will not take His name in vain.
The heavens and earth will ultimately succumb, but the way of love toward God and neighbor will never end (1 Cor. 13:8). God’s ways are everlasting (Ps. 52:1, 100:5, 111:3, 117:2, 119:160). He changes not (Mal. 3:6). His Ten Commandments are not to be discarded or taken lightly. They are not to be put on a shelf as a relic that no longer applies in our day and age. They are just as important today as they were to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the apostles. They are to be kept in the letter and lived in the spirit as long as we exist!
A Matter of Life or Death
It must be understood that this issue is not simply a theological argument. It is actually a matter of life or death. It is critical to salvation! We must live by God’s commandments in order to obtain eternal life. This is clearly illustrated by the story of the affluent Jewish man living during Christ’s time. This bright, young individual came to the Savior with a burning desire to know what he needed in order to attain eternal life. Matthew records the story, saying:
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments (Matthew 19:16-17).
Jesus revealed a vital truth to this man and His words speak this same fundamental certainty to us today! If we desire eternal life, we must keep the Commandments!
This man realized that the Scribes and Pharisees had devised many of their own human traditions and rules—adding them to God’s law. Therefore, he wondered which commandments Jesus was referring to. Seeking further clarification:
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew 19:18-19).
Jesus answered this individual’s enquiry by citing several of the Ten Commandments. By His response, there could be no question in the young man’s mind regarding which law Christ was speaking of. Anyone desiring to enter into eternal life must observe the Ten Commandments.
As this conversation played out, Jesus also revealed deeper insight into the spiritual intent of the law. As the rich man replied:
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? (Matthew 19:20).
In other words, he claimed that he had kept the Commandments since his boyhood. What more could he possibly need? Jesus responded by telling him:
If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. When the young man heard these words, he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:21-22).
In a piercing blow to this man’s ego, Christ revealed that he had not actually kept the law in its spiritual intent. His possessions had become far too important to him. They were separating him from a full relationship with the Eternal. Thus, he was putting materialism before God and this was clearly idolatry (Col. 3:5).