The Ten Commandments

Let’s briefly look at the relevance of Deuteronomy and the Ten Commandments.

There are many different ways of counting the Ten Commandments. In their excellent commentary A Survey of the Old Testament, Hill and Walton offer the standard Protestant numbering of the Ten Commandments as an outline of Deuteronomy.

1. Deuteronomy 6-11

2. Deuteronomy 12

3. Deuteronomy 13:1-14:21

4. Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17

5. Deuteronomy 16:18-18:22

6. Deuteronomy 19-21

7. Deuteronomy 22:1-23:14

8. Deuteronomy 23:15-24:7

9. Deuteronomy 24:8-16

10. Deuteronomy 24:17-26:15

Paul explained how the Jews had attempted to make the law a vehicle of salvation. Under the new covenant the letter of the law is transformed into the spirit of the law. What has Christ done?

He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6 NIV)

Upon what two great commandments did Jesus teach that the entire Old Testament hangs, that is the law and the prophets?

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV)

Jesus explained some spiritual applications of the law in the sermon on the mount. Let’s briefly examine the Ten Commandments.

1. No other gods before Me

No other “Elohim” meaning gods, angels, judges and other great and mighty ones before the God of heaven. What about the gods of money, status, and self-righteous legalism?

2. No idols

This bans bowing down to and worshiping statues and pictures. Idols are variously described as vile, disgusting, detestable, vain, worthless and useless in the Bible.

3. No taking God’s name in vain

The common expression OMG is among the worst swear words. Some people avoid God’s name lest they take it in vain, but in the Lord’s Prayer we are encouraged to use God’s name rightly, to hallow God’s name (Matthew 6:9). We cannot hallow that which we avoid.

4. Remember the Sabbath day

Not explicitly commanded in the New Testament, a day of rest and worship was a blessing. The Sabbath was a foretaste of the only rest command in the New Testament, our true rest in Jesus (Matthew 11:28) now and forever (Hebrews 3-4).

5. Honor your father and mother

This commandment is repeated in Ephesians 6:1-3 and the reasons are that it may be well with us and that we may live long. What happens when parents are dishonored and abused? Jesus kept His Father’s commandments (John 15:9-17).

6. You shall not murder

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus describes even verbal abuse as the spirit of murder. What is the opposite of murder? Could it be love of neighbor, valuing every human life from conception on?

7. You shall not commit adultery

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus describes lust in our hearts as the spirit of adultery. Even an inappropriate glance or touch should be avoided as if the hand or eye were gone. This commandment encompasses every misuse of sex. The opposite of adultery is to protect and preserve the sacred marriage bed between one man and one woman.

8. You shall not steal

Theft encompasses all of life from fair wages, fair prices to diligent workers. What is the worst theft of all history? Perhaps it would be an exclusive sect keeping the Gospel of the kingdom of God from the world.

9. You shall not bear false witness

The commandment against lying protects the marketplace and economy. The spirit of lying is well-known. Lying is a delusion stealing the truth. Let us follow the way, and the truth, and the life, Jesus.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s

Covetousness can be a spirit of theft, adultery, or lack of trust in God’s provision. Jesus encourages us to be content with our wages (Luke 3:14) and look to God for our food and clothing needs (Matthew 6:25-34).

What about those who claim to be without sin?

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 NIV)

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus taught us that even the most faithful can fail the spirit of the Ten Commandments. Point by embarrassing point we all fail. Does the law show us our sin? What did Paul say?

Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.” (Romans 7:7 NLT)