23 “But when you heard the voice
(LORD God) from the heart of the darkness, while the mountain was blazing with
fire, all your tribal leaders and elders came to me. 24 They said, ‘Look,
the LORD our God has shown us His glory and greatness, and we have heard His
voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to
us humans, and yet we live!’ . . . 29 Oh, that they (Israel)
would always have hearts (and minds) like this, that they might (reverently) fear
Me and obey all My commands! If they did, they and their descendants would
prosper forever. . . . 32 So Moses told the people, ‘You must be
careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, following His
instructions in every detail. 33 Stay on the path (walk) that the
LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and
prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.’”
Deuteronomy 5:23-24, 29-30, 32-33 (NLT)
Beginning with Deuteronomy 5, the LORD
God through His servant Moses gives the people of Israel the heart of His laws.
In Deuteronomy chapters 1 through 4, Moses gave a new generation of Israelites a
history lesson and a farewell address before they entered God’s Promised Land
after 40 years of wilderness wandering (see Deuteronomy 1:1-4:43). Sadly, the
first generation of Israelites leaving Egyptian slavery repeatedly rejected
God’s love, rebelled against His authority, and ignored His commands for right
living (e.g., see Exodus 32:1-35; Numbers 14:9-12; Numbers 21:4-7; Numbers
25:1-9; Deuteronomy 1:28; Deuteronomy 9:23-24; Deuteronomy 32:8-14; Psalm
106:24-27; Acts 7:39-43). Because of their repeated disobedience and rebellion,
the first generation of Israelites wandered the wilderness desert for 40 years
and eventually died in the wilderness (see Numbers 14:21-23, 28-30; Deuteronomy
1:35-38; Deuteronomy 32:13; Joshua 5:6). Now, a new generation of Israelites
listened to Moses’ farewell address in Deuteronomy as they prepared to enter
God’s Promised Land (Deuteronomy 1:1-3, 5, 39-40).
Before given the heart of the laws,
Moses once again remained Israel how the living God fought for Israel and
defeated King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, two Amorite kings east of
God’s Promised Land (Deuteronomy 4:46-47; see also Deuteronomy 2:24-37;
Deuteronomy 3:1-11; Deuteronomy 7:2). God gave this conquered land east of His
Promised Land to the tribe of Gad, the tribe of Reuben, and the tribe of
Manasseh, a descendant of Joseph (Deuteronomy 4:41-44; see also Deuteronomy 3:12-20).
The land east of God’s Promised Land refers to
what is now known as the kingdom of Jordan, or traditionally the Transjordan
(see Deuteronomy 1:1). Also, Moses instructed the people of Israel to set apart
three cities east of the Promised Land for anyone who accidentally killed
someone could flee for safety (see Deuteronomy 4:41-43).
Beginning with Deuteronomy 5, Moses
issued to Israel the Law of God, also known as the covenant or promise, for Israel
to do and obey (see Deuteronomy 5:1-26:19). As a reminder, the living God first
gave Israel His righteous commands after His gracious deliverance and
redemption from Egyptian slavery (e.g., see Exodus 6:1-14:31; Exodus 13:3; Exodus
20:2; Exodus 29:46; Psalm 81:10). Originally, the LORD God made a covenant with
Israel at Mount Sinai (also known as Mount Horeb) (Deuteronomy 5:2; see also
Exodus 19:5-6). At Mount Sinai, the living God spoke to Israel face to face
from the center of the fire (Deuteronomy 5:4; see also Deuteronomy 4:12; Exodus
19:16-19). Moses acted only as an intermediary or mediator between Israel and
the living God (Deuteronomy 5:5; see also Exodus 20:18-21). In Deuteronomy,
Moses is reaffirming the covenant given to the second generation of Israelites
about to enter God’s Promised Land.
The heart of Law is found most
famously in the Ten Commandments, also known
as the Ten Words or the Decalogue (Deuteronomy 5:6-21; see also Exodus 20:1-17),
and most succinctly in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Many biblical
scholars liken the Ten Commandments to the United States Constitution. In fact,
the rest of the Old Testament builds on what took place at Mount Sinai with the
giving of the covenant. Exodus chapters 20 through 23 contain the actual
covenant – a treaty or promise between God and Israel (see Exodus 20:1-23:19). The
Ten Commandments given in Exodus 20, repeated at Deuteronomy 5, reaffirmed by
Joshua at Joshua 24, and explained by Jesus Christ on the Sermon on the Mount
at Matthew chapters 5 through 7 summarize the central core of morality, faith,
and worship for all generations. All other laws of the Holy Scriptures are
interpretations and applications of these primary principles. Jesus Christ our
Savior also taught His disciples to obey His Father’s Ten Commandments and the
demands of the Shema (see Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 22:37-40) as an expression
of love, commitment, and faithfulness to His gracious Father, the living LORD
God (see John 14:15-16, 20-21, 23; John 15:9-10; 1 John 2:3-5; 2 John 1:6). The
essence of the covenant - the Ten Commandments – is to love, faithfulness, and
obey the LORD God which leads to life, salvation, and righteousness (e.g.,
see Genesis 15:6; Leviticus 18:3-5; Matthew 19:17; Galatians 3:6-9). The
covenant given at Mount Sinai is the outgrowth and extension of God’s covenant
with Abraham and his descendants (see Genesis 17:9)
From Mount Sinai, the living God proclaimed
His covenant – the Ten Commandments – to Israel through His servant Moses that
Israel must obey (Deuteronomy 4:13; see also Exodus 20:1-Exodus 23:19). The LORD
God’s finger personally wrote the Ten Commandments, which is the essence of
God’s covenant with Israel (see Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; Exodus 34:1,
27-28; Deuteronomy 4:13; Deuteronomy 9:10; Deuteronomy 10:1-4). Though many of
the subsequent laws that were given to Israel at Mount Sinai are no longer
relevant, what God’s finger wrote on tablets of stone – the Ten Commandments – are
indeed God’s will for all time for all people – Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles).
From Mount Sinai, the LORD God
declared to Israel the following:
6 “I am the LORD your God; I
brought you out of the land of Egypt where you were slaves. 7 You
must not have any other gods except Me.
8 You must not make for yourselves any idols or anything to worship
that looks like something in the sky above or on the earth below or in the
water below the land. 9 You must not worship or serve any idol,
because I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God. If people sin against Me
and hate Me, I will punish their children, even their grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. 10 But I will be very kind for a thousand
lifetimes to those who love Me and obey My commands. 11 You
must not use the Name of the LORD your God thoughtlessly, because the LORD
will punish anyone who uses His Name in this way. 12 Keep the
Sabbath as a holy day, as the LORD your God has commanded you. 13
You may work and get everything done during six days each week, 14
but the seventh day is a day of rest to honor the LORD your God. On that day,
no one may do any work: not you, your son or daughter, your male or female
slaves, your ox, your donkey, or any of your animals, or the foreigners living
in your cities. That way your servants may rest as you do. 15
Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you
out of there by His great power and strength. So the LORD your God has
commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. 16 Honor your
father and your mother as the LORD your God has commanded you. Then you
will live a long time, and things will go well for you in the land that the
LORD your God is going to give you. 17 You must not murder anyone.
18 You must not be guilty of adultery. 19 You
must not steal. 20 You must not tell lies (falsehood) about
your neighbor. 21 You must not want to take your neighbor’s
wife. You must not want to take your neighbor’s house or land, his male or
female slaves, his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your
neighbor.” Deuteronomy 5:6-21 (NCV)
First, the LORD God commanded Israel never
to worship any other god but Him (Deuteronomy 5:6-7; see also Exodus 20:2-3;
Deuteronomy 6:4-6). Jesus Christ has also commanded the church to worship,
love, and serve His Father, the LORD God FIRST (e.g., see Matthew 4:10; Matthew
6:33; Matthew 22:37). The very essence of the covenant – the Law – is the
truth that there is only one God, who is the Father of Jesus, and we must
worship Him FIRST and ONLY (e.g., see Deuteronomy 6:4-6, 13; Matthew 4:10; Matthew
6:33; Luke 4:4; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6). The living LORD God and His Son Jesus
Christ are One (e.g., see John 10:38; John 14:10-11, 20; John 17:21). The true
and living God is reigning, sovereign, omnipotent, and omnipresent (Revelation
4:1-11; Revelation 19:6; see also Exodus 15:11; 2 Chronicles 6:14, 18; Isaiah
6:1-8; Ezekiel 1:26-28; 1 Timothy 6:15-16).
Next, the living God commanded Israel never
make and worship any idols, including worshipping any images, whether of birds,
animals, or fish (Deuteronomy 5:8-9; see also Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy
4:15-18). The Holy Scriptures forbid the making of idols or setting up any
images or sacred stones to worship (see also Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 4:15-18).
The LORD God is a jealous God, and He commands Israel’s wholehearted love,
affection, allegiance, and worship first and exclusively (Deuteronomy 5:9;
see also Exodus 20:5; Exodus 34:14). God will not share His worship with
another. The living God warned Israel that worshipping other gods, craves
images, or idols would lead to His anger, punishment and wrath on them and
their descendants (Deuteronomy 5:9; see also Exodus 20:5). At Mount Sinai, the
living God entered into a covenant or marriage with Israel, and idolatry was a
breach of that marriage covenant and the equivalent of adultery (see Exodus
19:1-6; Jeremiah 31:32). However, the LORD God promised to shower His goodness,
mercy, and love on Israel and their descendants to a thousand generations for
those who love Him and obey His commandments (Deuteronomy 5:10; see also
Exodus 20:6; Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 7:9). The sins of one
generation have aftermaths for generations to come (e.g., see Exodus 20:5;
Exodus
34:7). God does permit the sad consequences of those sins to affect future
generations, physically, mentally, and spiritually (see Exodus 34:7). The impact
of David’s sins with Bathsheba on his children is a classic example of sins’ consequences
(see 2 Samuel 11:1-13:29). The living God forgave David after his sins with
Bathsheba, but David paid the penalties! The good news of the Gospel is that
through faith and belief in God’s Son Jesus we are grafted and adopted into
God’s family line with all His inheritances (e.g., see John 1:12-13; John
3:3-8; Romans 8:14-16, 21; 1 John 5:1-5).
Next, the LORD God commanded Israel
never to misuse His Name to make a promise they do not intend to keep and never
to use His Name thoughtless, profanely, and vulgarly nor as a magic charm (Deuteronomy
5:11; see also Exodus 20:7; Leviticus 19:12). The LORD God’s Name must be
kept holy and respected. Using God’s Name under oath to defend a dishonest or
false statement, as well as cursing and swearing, are ways of dishonoring the LORD
God’s Name. Jesus Christ also extended His Father’s command on the Sermon on
the Mount regarding oaths (see Matthew 5:33-37). However, we can always use the
LORD God’s Name in praise and worship because the LORD God is our praise and
our song (see Exodus 15:2; Deuteronomy 10:21). The LORD God is God of gods and
Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, and His Name must always be
honored and respected (see Deuteronomy 10:17, 20-21).
The LORD God’s Name represents His
character, nature, and very goodness (see Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:5). Truly,
the living God is patient, forgiving, good, and full of compassion and mercy
(see Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:17-18; Psalm 145:8-9; Nahum 1:3; James 5:11).
The living God does not stay angry forever but delights to show His mercy and
compassion (see Micah 7:18). Moreover, the Name of the LORD is
a strong tower, and everyone finds safety and salvation in the LORD’s Name (see
Proverbs 18:10). Everyone who calls on the Name of the LORD shall be saved
and adopted into God’s family (see Joel 2:32; John 1:12-13; Acts 2:21; Acts
4:10-12; Acts 10:43; Romans 10:12-13). The LORD God richly blesses all who call
on Him (see Romans 10:12).
In the Fourth Commandment, the LORD
God commanded Israel to observe the Sabbath and keep the Sabbath day holy (Deuteronomy
5:12-16; see also Exodus 20:8-11). The Sabbath day celebrated God’s rested
after the work of creation (see Genesis 2:1-3). The living God wanted Israel to
work the other six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath dedicated to the LORD
God, and everyone – men, women, Jews, aliens, servants, employees, and
animals – must rest (Deuteronomy 5:13-15; see also Exodus 16:23-30; Exodus
20:9-11; Exodus 31:13-17). The living God made Sabbath for all His creation to
rest (see Genesis 2:2; Exodus 23:12; Jeremiah 17:21-24; Mark 2:27-28). The
Sabbath is Saturday, the seventh day of the week.
For centuries, some scholars debate
whether the Sabbath applies to the church to obey. Nine of the Ten Commandments
are repeated in the New Testament for the church to obey except the Sabbath
day. The Sabbath day is the only one of the Ten Commandments not repeated after
the day of Pentecost. However, the Sabbath day is part of God’s covenant that
equally applies to all people – Jews and non-Jews (see Matthew 5:17-20). Even
more, all faithful believers of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, has rest in Jesus (see
Matthew 11:28-30). Today, many faithful believers of Jesus honor the Sabbath on
Sunday, the first day of the week (e.g., see Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25). Sunday
is called the “Lord’s Day” (see Revelation 1:10). On the first day of the week,
God the Father through His Holy Spirit resurrected His Son Jesus Christ from
complete death (see Mark 16:9; Luke 24:13-15; John 20:19; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
Every Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from complete death for
all believers’ salvation and redemption. Whether you rest on Saturday or
Sunday, the Fourth Commandment of God emphasizes the importance of devoting one
day in seven to the living God in worship and service. Every day belongs to
the LORD God!
The Fifth Commandment of God moves us
from our relationship to the LORD God to living out that relationship with other
people, beginning in the home (Deuteronomy 5:16; see also Exodus 20:12). The
LORD God commanded Israel to honor their father and mother and that honoring
their parents would lead to a long and prosperous life (see also Matthew 19:19;
Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Galatians 6:1-4). Jesus Christ specifically judged the
religious leaders for disregarding the Fifth Commandment of God to obey their
many man-made rules not from His Father (see Matthew 15:3-4; Mark 7:10). As
God’s Son Jesus Christ stated, the LORD God commanded everyone to love Him
FIRST and also equally love our neighbors (see Matthew 22:34-40; Mark
12:28-34). True religion begins at home with loving, caring, obeying,
honoring, and respecting one’s father and mother (e.g., see also; Exodus
21:15, 17; Leviticus 19:3, 32; Deuteronomy 27:16; Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 20:20;
Proverbs 23:22; Proverbs 30:17; Ephesians 6:1-3; 1 Timothy 5:1-2).
In the Sixth Commandment, the LORD God
commanded Israel not to murder (Deuteronomy 5:17; see also Exodus 20:13; Matthew
19:19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11). All human life must be
honored because God made all humans in His image (see Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6).
The LORD God is the Giver of life (e.g., see Genesis 2:7; Zechariah 12:1; Acts
14:15; Acts 17:24-25). Jesus Christ also explained that hateful anger against
anyone breaks this commandment, even if someone has mistreated you (see Matthew
5:21-22). Anger is the moral equivalent of murder because murder often begins
with hateful anger in our hearts (Matthew 5:21-26; see also 1 John 3:14-15). The
Holy Scripture speaks against taking revenge or bearing a grudge against anyone
(see Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 20:22; Romans 12:17-19; Hebrews 10:30). All sin
usually starts from a wrong desire or thought within the heart (see James
1:13-15). Instead of anger, Jesus teaches that we must continually seek
love, peace, and forgiveness from our hearts with all people, even our enemies (see
Matthew 5:23-23; 43-48; Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 6:27-36; John 13:34-35; John
15:17; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12-13). Moreover, God differentiated
accidental killing from deliberate murder. If someone accidentally killed
someone, the living God provided the people of Israel three cities east of the
Jordan River, where they could flee for safety (see Deuteronomy 4:41-43). However,
intentional and deliberate murder required death because God made all humans in
His image (see Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6; see Exodus 21:12-14; Leviticus
24:17).
Also, the LORD God commanded Israel
not commit adultery the Seventh Commandment (Deuteronomy 5:18; see also Exodus
20:14; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11). The
living God places a high priority on the holiness of marriage between a man and
woman, and He wanted to protect the marriage covenant (e.g., see Leviticus
18:20, 22-23; Deuteronomy 22:22; Malachi 2:15; Hebrews 13:4). The LORD God
hates divorce because of the destructive nature divorces cause on the family
household (see Malachi 2:16). Even more, sexual sins also bring God’s judgment,
destruction, and devastation on oneself (see Proverbs 6:32). The living God
will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral (e.g., see Leviticus
20:10-21; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Hebrews 13:4; Revelation 22:15). As with all sins,
LORD God can graciously forgive sexual sins (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11), but He
does not promise to interfere with sin’s painful consequences (e.g., 2 Samuel
12:13-14; Proverbs 6:20-35; Galatians 6:7-8). Even more, Jesus Christ also
warned that anyone who looks at another person lustfully has already committed
adultery with one’s heart (see Matthew 5:27-30).
Moreover, the living God commanded
Israel not to steal from others in His Eighth Commandment (Deuteronomy 5:19;
see also Exodus 20:15; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9). The
LORD God wanted His people not to steal, take away, or defraud one another (see
also Leviticus 19:11, 13). Instead of stealing, the living God wants everyone
to work, doing something useful with one’s own hands, so to share with those in
need (see Ephesians 4:28).
In the Ninth Commandment, the living
God commanded His people not to tell lies and falsehoods (Deuteronomy 5:20; see
also Exodus 20:16; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9). The
LORD God places a high priority on truth and honesty (e.g., see Exodus 23:1, 7;
Leviticus 19:11-13), and He forbids all forms of lying, deception, falsehood,
slander, and trickery (e.g. see Deuteronomy 19:16-20; Proverbs 10:18; Proverbs
12:17; Proverbs 19:9; Proverbs 24:28; Titus 3:1-2; James 4:11; 1 Peter 2:1). In
essence and action, the living God – the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the
Holy Spirit – is Truth (e.g., see Psalm 31:5; Isaiah 65:16; John 4:24; John
14:6, 17). God wants His people to also be known by truth (see Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians
4:15, 25; Colossians 3:9, 15). However, the devil and his evil cohorts are all
liars, murderers, and deceivers, and there is no truth in the devil and his
evil followers (e.g., see Genesis 3:4; John 8:44; 2 Corinthians 11:3). The LORD
God will bring His wrath and punishment on those who practice falsehood and
tell lies (e.g., see Proverbs 19:5, 9; Proverbs 21:28; also Revelation 21:8,
27; Revelation 22:15).
Finally, the living God commanded
Israel not to envy, desire, or covet another person’s spouse, nor envy another
person’s home, land, servants, oxen, donkeys, nor anything else another person owns
(Deuteronomy 5:21; see also Exodus 20:17; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke
18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11). Not only can such jealous and envy make us
miserable, they can also lead us to other sins such as adultery and stealing. Thus,
the Apostle Paul encouraged the church to be content of God’s blessings He has
given us (see Philippians 4:11; 1 Timothy 6:6, 8). The living God promises to
provide all our needs, and He will never leave us and never forsake us (see
Hebrews 13:5). Notably, the other Commandments concerned actions, but the final
Commandment deals with one’s thought life. As mentioned earlier, all sin
usually starts from a wrong desire or thought (see James 1:13-15).
The question many New Testament
believers of Jesus ask is whether the covenant given to Israel still applies to
today. The answer is YES (see Matthew 5:17-20). As New Testament
believers, Jesus taught His disciples to practice keeping God’s direct commandments
and to teach them to our children (e.g., see Matthew 5:19; Matthew 15:3; Matthew
19:18-19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20). Jesus taught that the greatest and first
commandment of the Law and the Prophets is to “love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
mind” (see Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:27-28; quoting
Deuteronomy 6:4-6). Then, Jesus taught that the second greatest commandment is to
“love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39; quoting Leviticus
19:18; see also Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36; Romans 13:9). All the Old
Testament –the Law and the Prophets – hang on these two great commandments from
Jesus – to love God and love one another (Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:40; Luke
6:31; John 13:34-35; John 15:17; see also Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14). Love
does not harm to its neighbor, but good (see Romans 13:10). Therefore, love
is the fulfillment of the covenant – the Ten Commandments (see Romans 13:8, 10;
Colossians 3:14; James 2:8)! If you love the LORD God and love you neighbor
as yourself, you are doing right and perfect (see Matthew 5:43; James 2:8).
In his New Testament letters, the
Apostle Paul repeatedly taught the church to be imitators of God and live a
life of full allegiance to God and love and goodness with others (e.g., see
Romans 13:8-10; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 5:1-2; Titus 2:14; quoting Leviticus
19:18). Moreover, the Apostle Paul encouraged the church to stay free of all adultery,
sexual immorality, murder, lying, falsehood, theft, greed, jealousy, drunkenness,
anger, covetousness, and envy because these actions are improper for God's holy
people (e.g., see Romans 13:9, 13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians
5:3; Colossians 3:5, 8-9; see also Exodus 20:13-17; Deuteronomy 5:17-21).
According to the Apostle Paul, no such evildoers will have any inheritance
in the Kingdom of Christ and of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians
5:5; Colossians 3:6; see also Revelation 21:8, 27; Revelation 22:15).
The living God gives all believers in His
Son Jesus the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to obey His commandments (John
3:3-8; see also Joel 2:28). Through faith in Jesus, God now writes His covenant
on our hearts – this is the new covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31-34; Jeremiah
32:37-41; Ezekiel 11:19-21; Ezekiel 36:24-27; Hebrews 8:8-12; Hebrews 10:16).
In other words, the God’s transforming Spirit gives believers new hearts to
obey God and His good Law through our faith in His Son Christ Jesus (e.g.,
see Acts 1:4-5; Acts 11:16; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 3:30-31; 2 Corinthians 3:17;
Philippians 2:12-13). Under God’s new covenant, God’s covenant is now engraved
inwardly onto believers’ hearts and minds, and it is no longer on stone tablets
(2 Corinthians 3:3-4; e.g., see also Jeremiah 31:33; Jeremiah 32:37-41; Ezekiel
11:19-21; Ezekiel 36:24-27). The Holy Spirit works inside believer to activate
our consciences, influence our motives and desires, and make us want to obey
God (see Romans 8:2, 5). Now doing God’s will is something believers genuinely desire
with all our heart and mind (see Romans 8:1-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Galatians
5:22-26; Philippians 2:12-13). Through faith in God’s Son Jesus, believers are born
again into God’s family and receive God’s divine nature within which enabled
believers by the Spirit to obey God’s commandments and live godly lives (see 1
John 3:1-9).
The living LORD God spoke His Ten
Commandments from the heart of the fire, surrounded by the clouds and thick
darkness that engulfed Mount Sinai (see Deuteronomy 5:22-24, 26). These Ten
Commandments were directly and personally spoken and written by the living God on
two stone tablets and then given them to Moses to give to the people to obey
continually from their whole hearts (Deuteronomy 5:22, 28-29, 32-33; see
also Exodus 32:15-16). On Mount Sinai, the living God revealed His glory and
greatness to Israel when giving His Ten Commandments (see Deuteronomy 5:24). Obedience
to God’s Ten Commandments would lead to a long and prosperous life and God’s
blessings (see Deuteronomy 5:32-33). The Ten
Commandments were God's standards for right living. The rest of the Old
Testament and into the New Testament reveals the tragic consequences and
punishment that occurred because of violating God’s Ten Commandments.
Sadly, during Jesus’ years on earth
and even today, many religious leaders are guilty of taking away from God’s Law
– the Ten Commandments – by replacing God’s Law with their own traditions and
rituals that were not given by God (e.g., see Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:1-13). Such
rules and regulations may seem holy, but they are legalism. Jesus rebuked these
religious leaders for adding to God’s laws (see Matthew 23:1-4).
However, the sacrificial system of the
Old Testament based on the forgiveness of sins through the shedding of blood has
been fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrificial death on Calvary’s Cross (see Leviticus
17:11; Hebrews 9:22). Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death became our final and
perfect sacrifice for human sins through faith in Him — past, present, and
future (see Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 10:1-10; Hebrews 13:11-12; 1 John 2:1-2).
In
Romans 10:4, the Apostle Paul states, “Christ is the end of the law so that
there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4, NIV). This
statement is simply but ambiguous. How is Jesus Christ the end of the Law? The
Greek word for end is “telos”.
So
some scholars argue that Apostle Paul means that in Jesus Christ we see the
perfect fulfillment of the Law because Jesus Christ lived up to the purpose and
goal of the Law perfectly (see Matthew 5:17). In this respect, this
interpretation would mean that the Law was aimed at bringing us to Jesus Christ
and that He came to fulfill the Law and thus gives the Law validity. At Matthew
5:17, Jesus Christ said, “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” (Matthew
5:17, NIV). Yet other scholars argue that while the Jews tried to earn their
righteous by keeping the Law they failed; Jesus Christ obeyed the Law
completely by the Spirit and the letter. Therefore, Jesus Christ is the end of
the Law in the sense He has fulfilled the Law and the Law is powerless to
save. On the other hand, some scholars
argue that Jesus Christ brought an end to the Law because Jesus Christ’s advent
or arrival brought the Law to humans and the Law has no more validity after
Jesus Christ arrived. Yet, this interpretation is not likely because the
Apostle Paul continued to follow the Law of God even after his Damascus Road
experience with the risen Christ. So, it is highly unlikely that the Apostle
Paul interpreted Romans 10:4 that the Law was shut down after Jesus Christ’s
arrival to earth in human form.
The
Greek word “telos” can mean either (1) “termination,” “cessation,” or (2)
“goal,” culmination,” “fulfillment.” Most scholars believe that Jesus Christ is
the goal, culmination, and fulfillment of the Law. Jesus Christ is the
fulfillment of the Law (see Matthew 5:17) in the sense that He brought the Law
to completion by obeying perfectly the Laws’ demands and by fulfilling the
Laws’ types and prophecies. Even more,
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law in the sense that He gave the Law its full
meaning. Jesus Christ emphasized the Spirit of the Law and not the mere
external acknowledgment and obedience.
Based
upon the entire teaching of the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul probably means
that with the coming of Jesus Christ, people do not have to make oneself
righteous with by the Law (see Romans 6:14; Romans 7:4, 6; Ephesians 2:15).
With the coming (advent) of Jesus Christ, the Law no longer justifies or
declares one righteous before God because the saving work of Jesus Christ has
brought to a close any attempt to attain righteousness by way of the Law. The
Apostle Paul probably did not mean at Romans 10:4 that Jesus Christ’s arrival
abolished or shut down the Law (e.g., see Romans 7:7).
Throughout
the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul states that he is establishing the Law and
that the Law has value for all people (e.g., see Romans 5:20-21; Romans 8:3-4;
Romans 13:9-10; see also Galatians 3:24-29; 1 Timothy 1:8). The Law reveals the
mind of God and the intentions of God. Besides, the Apostle Paul never preached
in the book of Romans that there is no validity to the Law. Instead, the
Apostle Paul reveals that justification or righteous comes to EVERYONE WHO
BELIEVE in Jesus Christ and this statement of Apostle Paul is repeated
throughout Romans (e.g., see Romans 1:16-17; Romans 3:21-4:25).
According
to the Apostle Paul, faith in God’s saving activity in Jesus Christ’s life,
death and resurrection obtains righteousness. The kind of righteousness God
requires is wholeheartedly seeking Him as the true and living God (Romans
10:13; see also Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21). Sadly, some Jews had established many
rituals, customs, and traditions in addition to God’s Law to try to make
themselves righteous in God's sight. But, human work such a trying to obey the
Law, no matter how sincere, can never be a substitute for the righteousness God
freely gives to EVERYONE by faith. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living
within a believer’s life, the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled (Romans
8:4). According to Apostle Paul, through our faith in Jesus Christ God sends true
believers His Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2, 5). The moment one believes from the
heart that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ); one also receives the Holy Spirit.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the unmistakable evidence of salvation (see
Romans 8:9; I Corinthians 3:16; I Corinthians 6:19–20). God’s Holy Spirit gives
believers the power and strength to live and obey God (see Romans 1:16-17).
References
ESV Study
Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).
KJV Bible
Commentary
(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994).
Life
Application Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).
Life
Essentials Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible
Publishers, 2011).
New Student
Bible
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992).
Ryrie Study
Bible: New American Standard Bible (Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).
Zondervan NIV
Study Bible
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).
Morris,
Leon. The Epistle to the Romans.
Grand Rapids, Eerdmans Pub., 2012.
Wiersbe,
Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary.
Victor Books, 1989.
Loyd,
Melton, Ph.D., Senior Professor of the New Testament (Due West, SC: Erskine Theological
Seminary, 2016).
Wiersbe,
Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary – Old Testament (Victor Books, 1989).
