Articles
The Ten Commandments
When people think of divine rules, the Ten Commandments usually come to mind. What about these ancient rules? What is their proper place? What does the Bible say about them?
What are they?
Two passages list the Ten Commandments: Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
When were they given?
According to the book of Exodus, the Ten Commandments were given three different times. First, God spoke them at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20), just after leading the nation of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Not long after that, Moses went up on the mountain and was given the Ten Commandments in written form, written by God on two stone tablets (Exodus 24). Moses later broke those tablets in anger and had to go back and get another set (Exodus 34). Historians usually date these events around 1450 B.C.
Were all these commandments altogether new at this point? No, God had long before denounced murder (Genesis 9:5-6) and most other misconduct addressed in these rules.
To whom were they given?
The Ten Commandments were God’s covenant with the nation of Israel. If they would keep them, they would be His special people (Exodus 19:3-6). Note especially Exodus 34:27-28: God told Moses, “‘Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.’ So he . . . wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.”
The Sabbath, the fourth commandment, was itself a covenant with Israel, a sign of their special relation to God (Exodus 31:12-17). It was also a memorial of their deliverance from bondage (Deuteronomy 5:15). Thus, the Ten Commandments as a whole were not given for universal application by mankind!
Why were they given?
The Ten Commandments were not given so people could be saved by keeping them. Galatians 3 explains that salvation is in Christ, the promised seed of Abraham. The Law (the Ten Commandments were its basis) was added 430 years after that promise. Why? “Because of transgressions” (v. 19). The Law was intended to create an awareness of sin, to restrain sin, and to show man his inability to save himself by his own works.
For how long were they given?
Galatians 3:19 says, “Until the seed [Christ] should come.” A few verses later Paul wrote, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (vv. 24-25). Could that be clearer? The Law and the Ten Commandments are no longer in effect!
It is noteworthy that the Law was not taken out of the way until Jesus died (Colossians 2:14). That is why He kept it during His lifetime and taught others to do so.
Are these commandments still valid?
With one exception, the conduct required by the Ten Commandments is also required by Christ, whose authority and new covenant are universal (Matthew 28:18). But do not misunderstand: it is Jesus’ authority, not that of the Ten Commandments, that now mandates this conduct. The one exception is keeping the Sabbath; that is no part of Christ’s new covenant (Colossians 2:16-17).
As important as it was for the ancient Israelites to obey God, they were not saved by keeping commandments, and neither are we. They needed the blood of Jesus, and so do we. Salvation is in Him. Are you?
