Why do we still obey the 10 Commandments today?

THE 10 Commandments

The Ten Commandments

Why do we still obey the 10 Commandments today?

The 10 Commandments are a special set of commandments that have been set apart by Yahuah Himself.

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1. Unlike the giving of the other laws and ordinances, which God gave to His people through Moses, Yahuah personally and directly spoke to His people the 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1-19).

2. The 10 Commandments were written by the finger of God on two tablets, called the two tablets of testimony. No other laws were written by the very finger of God. (Exodus 31:18; 32:15-17, Deuteronomy 9:10; 10:4).

3. The tablets that contain the 10 Commandments have been placed in the Ark of the Covenant, which implies the continuation of the 10 Commandments from the first and into the new covenant (Hebrews 9:4; 8:7-10).

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Clearly, the 10 Commandments have been set apart by Yahuah Himself and was given to us for freedom and righteousness (Psalm 1119:7, 142-144). The 10 Commandments were also given the highest endorsement from the Savior, Yahusha Himself. When our King was asked how one can receive eternal life, He gave the following response:

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Matthew 19:16–19 (NLT)* — 16 Someone came to oswjy with this question:

“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why ask me about what is good?” oswjy replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And oswjy replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Yahusha answered the rich man’s question by saying “if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments”, which was an obvious reference to the 10 Commandments.

Is there a difference between the 10 Commandments and the Law of Moses?

Although the Law of Moses and the 10 Commandments can sometimes be used interchangeably (Romans 7:7-10), there are clear differences between the two. First, the Law of Moses refers to a system of living built around the first covenant.

The Law of Moses is detailed in the first five books written by Moses, the Torah. In it Moses describes how the people of God, Israel, are to live a holy and righteous life centered around the 10 Commandments.

The 10 commandments were foundational as a guide for Israel in their relationship with Yahuah and with their fellow men.

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1. To maintain a relationship with Yahuah, a ritual based system of ceremonial laws was given. These laws, administered by priests and Levites, determine how a person can be made ritually clean to appear before Yahuah for worship.

2. To maintain community relationships as a people and nation of God, Yahuah gave Moses social laws that were administered by appointed elders and judges. Ordinances and judgments called mispatim were given to guide Israel to maintain peace and social order. Mispatim means "guiding decisions." These are illustrative laws, intended to provide future generations of judges with precedents that can serve as guides for their decisions.

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Ceremonial and social laws account for 613 specific laws and rulings in the Torah. They are part of the Law of Moses under the first covenant. These laws are regarded as specific application of the 10 Commandments within the context of Israel as a covenant community. Thus, the 10 Commandments are the fundamental building blocks of the Law of Moses. Stated another way, the Law of Moses is the application of the 10 Commandments under the first covenant specifically for the covenant people of Israel.

Didn’t Christ make the 10 Commandments obsolete?

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Nowhere in the Bible can we find Yahusha rendering the 10 Commandments obsolete. What we do find in the Bible is Yahusha repeatedly affirming the 10 Commandments. In Matthew 5:17-19 Yahusha not only confirms the 10 Commandments, He even elevates them.

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Matthew 5:17–19 (NIV84) —

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Our King confirms that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill them. As with many of our King’s statements, this one is loaded with meaning. One way to fully discern this revelatory material from Messiah is by examining some of the Greek words used. For example, the Greek word translated “fulfill” is the word pleroo which, when applied to a teaching context, means to fully preach. Yahusha was affirming the 10 commandments when He said that those who practice and teach these commandments will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

However, Yahusha does not stop there. In the succeeding verse He fully preaches (pleroo) the 10 Commandments by including how the 10 Commandments should be obeyed. For example, He taught that a type of anger towards someone is already the equivalent of murder and that by looking at a woman in lust is considered adultery. In His treatise on the 10 Commandments, He clearly does not abolish them, but elevates them so that the spiritual intent of love behind the commandments is fully preached and practiced.

Does Ephesians 2:15 abolish the 10 Commandments?

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One Biblical passage used to teach that the 10 Commandments have been abolished in the New Testament is Ephesians 2:15.

Ephesians 2:15 (NKJV) — 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

Nowhere does it state in Ephesians 2:15 that the Commandments have been abolished. What has been abolished is the enmity that results by violating the Commandments. In the Old Testament, ordinances (mispatim) were given as guidelines for future generations in handling cases that involve the violation of the commandments. These judgments against sin create enmity between the sinner and God and between the sinner and his or her fellowmen. It is this enmity, the result of a judgment against sin determined by ordinances, that has been abolished.

Did Christ nail the 10 Commandments on the cross to make it obsolete in Colossians 2:14?

Among the passages regularly used by those who believe that the 10 Commandments are obsolete is Colossians

Colossians 2:14 (NIV84) — 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

According to some, the written code that was nailed on the cross was the 10 Commandments. They say that by nailing the 10 Commandments to the cross it was rendered obsolete in the Christian era. But is this the case? What was the written code that was nailed on the cross? It is certainly not the 10 Commandments. Reading Psalm 119 reveals that the 10 Commandments are not “against us”, but are for us, since they bring him wisdom, understanding, life, light, delight, and freedom to mankind.

The written code with its regulations is better understood by looking at the Greek word dogma that was used, which refers to civil and ceremonial laws that guide to the severity of judgment appointed against sin. What was nailed on the cross was not the 10 commandments, but the consequences of sin that come from breaking the commandments of God. This is illustrated by looking at Colossians 2:14 in context.

Colossians 2:13–14 (NIV84) — 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.

Based on context, “the written code with its regulations, that was against us” are the sins and consequences of sins that bring death. By nailing sins and its consequences on the cross, our sins are forgiven, which brings us life. God made us alive with Christ not by making the 10 Commandments obsolete, but cancelling our debts brought about by sin, by nailing them on the cross. A better translation of Colossians 2 makes this even clearer:

Colossians 2:13–14 (NLT) — 13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.

According to the NLT translation, what was nailed on the cross are not the commandments but the record of charges against us.

Aren’t the 10 Commandments obsolete because we are under grace and not under law?

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Some incorrectly conclude that the 10 Commandments have been abolished because of what Apostle Paul stated that we are no longer under law but under grace. This is written in Romans 6:14.

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Romans 6:14 (NKJV)
14  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

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When a person is baptized into Yahusha (Romans 6:3-4 for context), that person is no longer under law but under grace. The phrase “under law” is an idiom that refers to the condition of being subject to punishment whenever a law is broken.

The “law” in this context does not refer to the 10 Commandments but punishment determined by law for violators of the commandments. Those who have been baptized into Yahusha are no longer subject to punishment or condemnation for breaking the commandments because the penalty of their sin has already been paid for. That is what it means to be “under grace”.

Being “under grace” does not abolish the 10 Commandments, it abolishes the condemnation appointed for breaking the commandments for those not in fellowship with Yahusha through the covenant of baptism.  Thus, Apostle Paul confirms, in the same passage, that “sin shall not have dominion over (those baptized in Yahusha)”. Does it mean, however, that those in Yahusha have the license to commit sin now that they are under grace? Apostle Paul answers:

Romans 6:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

Those who live under grace should not keep on sinning. Apostle Paul specifically defined sin to be the breaking of the 10 Commandments, which he describes as holy, just, and good (Romans 7:7-12). What Romans 6 and Romans 7 tell us is that those who are under grace because of their union with Yahusha, should use their freedom from the condemnation of the law to uphold, not abolish, the 10 Commandments. This is why Apostle Paul also says in Romans:

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Romans 3:31 (NKJV) — 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

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Take note of the difference between “the law” and “under law”. When Apostle Paul refers to “the Law” it is in reference to the 10 Commandments. The phrase “under the law”, on the other hand, refers to the condemnation for breaking the law, the 10 Commandments. Taken in context, Apostle Paul does not abolish, but affirms the 10 Commandments.

Are we saved by obeying the 10 Commandments?

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The short answer to this question is no. We are not saved by obeying the 10 Commandments. We are saved by grace through faith in Yahusha and not by works so that we cannot boast and give credit to ourselves for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

To whom is salvation given as a free gift?

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John 3:16 (NKJV) — 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Those who will receive salvation and everlasting life are those who believe in Yahusha. The word translated “believe” is the Greek word pisteuo which connotes not just an intellectual belief in Yahusha but an entrusting of one’s soul Him. In other words, those who truly believe in Yahusha for salvation are those who are committed to a covenant relationship with Him.

The free gift of salvation is granted to those who enter into this relationship with Yahusha. Thus, Yahusha is the Savior of those who truly believe Him. We are not saved by obeying the 10 Commandments. However, obeying the 10 Commandments indicates that we are committed to a loving covenant relationship with our Savior, Yahusha.

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John 14:21 (NLT) — 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

What is the purpose of the 10 Commandments?

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The 10 Commandments are not simply a random set of rules to live by that God imposes upon us. The 10 Commandments teach us how to obey the greatest duty of a human being-to love Yahuah our God. When asked which is the most important of all the commandments, Yahusha gave the following answer:

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Mark 12:29–31 (NIV84)* — 29 “The most important one,” answered oswjy, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel,  jwjy our God, jwjy is one. 30 Love jwjy your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

The most important command is to love Yahuah our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. There are some who say that the 10 Commandments are obsolete since Yahusha reduced them to just two commandments: love God and love your neighbor. But did Yahusha abolish the 10 Commandments when He mentioned the two great commands? Certainly not!

The first and greatest commandment is to love God and the second follows from it. Apostle John tells us that we cannot love God whom we cannot see without loving people we can see (1 John 4:20). Essentially then what we have is one command (to love God) which we cannot fulfill without loving people too. But how does one actually love God and one’s neighbor as yourself?

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1 John 5:3 (NLT) — 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome.

Loving God (whom we cannot see), which by extension means also loving people we can see, is done more specifically by fulfilling the 10 Commandments. The first 4 commandments teach us how to directly love God, while the next 6 commandments teach us how we can directly love our neighbor as ourselves, which in an indirect way is also a way of loving God.

Simply stated, the 10 Commandments are an elaboration of the two love commands identified by Yahusha as the two greatest commands. Therefore, to reject the 10 Commandments is to reject the two greatest commandments.

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