Ten Commandment Day

I always presumed the Ten Commandments were for the israelites. well at least the first four. I think all the commandments are summed up in these for everyone else when Jesus said:

Great Commandments — Mt. 22:37-40

1. "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.

1. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
2. "The first is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." — Mark 12:29-31

• "Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. [6] Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. [7] Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest. [8] Bind them at your wrist as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. [9] Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates." — Deut. 6:5-9
• "Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." — Leviticus 19:18

I think it would be wonderful if we did imprint these commandments on our children, put them on our fences, told people about them, I say replace the 10 commandments with these

capnator said:

Are Christians obligated to keep the Ten Commandments?

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Rev 14:12Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Mat 19:17 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.

Jesus divided the commandments into two parts; The last five concern our physical life on earth and relationship with fellow man, the law. The first five our relationship with God and ultimate destiny, the prophe(cy). Our civil authorities have charge of the last five, and our laws reflect these. The church is responsible for explaining the first five.

I always presumed the Ten Commandments were for the israelites. well at least the first four. I think all the commandments are summed up in these for everyone else when Jesus said:

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And what if we are Israel? Mosaic law was never done away with. When Jesus said "this is the greatest commandment", he never said "to replace the old" or anything along those lines. That means that yes, old testament law is still to be practiced today.
"But it was given to the Israelites", that is true, and are we not israel?

Romans 11:13-24 (in scripture, Israel is ofter referred to as the olive tree)Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.The rich, nourishing root of the tree is the blessings that flow from the covenant made with Abraham. Gentiles are now the offspring of Abraham. If you are Christian, you are an heir of Abraham. (aka israelite)So yes, keep the 10 commandments. Also, ask any God-honoring Jew, the people of God, whom God intrusted to keep the law, what day sabbath is? I will assure you that you will receive a lecture about the Roman pagan gods and the 'sun god' day worship and how Christians began worship on Sunday to avoid problems with Roman law. Sabbath is on Saturday (well mostly, sunset Friday to sunset Saturday, biblical days aren't measured in hours).

oldwiseguy said:

Jesus divided the commandments into two parts; The last five concern our physical life on earth and relationship with fellow man, the law. The first five our relationship with God and ultimate destiny, the prophe(cy). Our civil authorities have charge of the last five, and our laws reflect these. The church is responsible for explaining the first five.

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How does the 5th commandment not concern our physical life on earth and our relationship with man???

Why do you think the 5th commandment concerns "our relationship with God and ultimate destiny".?????

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

ThreeAM said:

How does the 5th commandment not concern our physical life on earth and our relationship with man???


Why do you think the 5th commandment concerns "our relationship with God and ultimate destiny".?????

Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

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All the commandments have a higher spiritual meaning. Consider that the commandments are actually stated in reverse order, from God's point of view. Covetness is the starting point of the great sins that follow: lying, adultery, theft, and finally murder. All have a negative result.

In like manner honouring parents is the first commandment with promise, or a positive result. The long life on earth is a physical reward for obedience, but the spiritual meaning is that it will lead to a long life with God in his kingdom, the first commandment being the culmination, or result, of keeping all the rest.

Of course we shouldn't break the literal commandments that concern behavior, but the first five should be understood and kept in their spiritual sense.

Consider as well that the first five commandments, when fully understood spiritually, reveals that they are the marriage vows between Christ and the Bride. Our own marriage vows reflect some of those found in these commandments, mainly the theme of faithfulness.

The 10 commandments are still as valid today as they were back when G-d spoke them to Moses. You don't need to super-spiritualize them or put them into catagories to have them "make sense".

And it Is a shame that Christians don't literally keep all the commandments, even though Jesus Himself said to "Keep My Commandments."

jgonz said:

The 10 commandments are still as valid today as they were back when G-d spoke them to Moses. You don't need to super-spiritualize them or put them into catagories to have them "make sense".

And it Is a shame that Christians don't literally keep all the commandments, even though Jesus Himself said to "Keep My Commandments."

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Jan, (my sister's name is Jan)

I haven't stolen anything since I was about 28 years old. I am now 65. I don't have to walk around with my hands in my pockets to assure people that I am not a thief. Therefore the commandment has a higher meaning for me. The 'super spiritual' meaning to me is that I must now obey the commands antithesis. In other words I must now give to those in need, instead of stealing from others. The antithesis of lying is telling the truth.

'Cease thou from evil' is not good enough. God insists that we 'do what is good'. That is the true spiritual intent of all the commandments. We are (or should be) in the spirit, not under the law.

The ark of the tesimony contained the Ten commandments. God has an ark of the testament in heaven I wonder what it contains


Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Exd 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

2Ch 5:10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

ThreeAM said:

The ark of the tesimony contained the Ten commandments. God has an ark of the testament in heaven I wonder what it contains


Rev 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Exd 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

2Ch 5:10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

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The stone tablets represent the 'stoney heart' of the nation of Israel, upon which God imposed the legalistic commandments. Today he has written those laws, now spiritual in nature, upon hearts of flesh.

Many believe that because the commandments were 'carved in stone' that they must be obeyed forever as originally written. But, obedience in now a matter of conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit, following the higher principles of the law.

Remember that Christ changed the symbols of Passover to bread and wine. It is no longer necessary to kill an animal, as he fulfilled that symbolism with reality on Calvary. Apply the antithesis to the commandments, that's what God desires from you as a christian.

This is what many "churchians" do, in effect:

jgonz said:

The 10 commandments are still as valid today as they were back when G-d spoke them to Moses. You don't need to super-spiritualize them or put them into catagories to have them "make sense".

And it Is a shame that Christians don't literally keep all the commandments, even though Jesus Himself said to "Keep My Commandments."

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oldwiseguy said:

The stone tablets represent the 'stoney heart' of the nation of Israel, upon which God imposed the legalistic commandments. Today he has written those laws, now spiritual in nature, upon hearts of flesh.

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Could you post the text that says the 'stone tablets' represent the 'stony heart' of the nation of Israel?

oldwiseguy said:

Many believe that because the commandments were 'carved in stone' that they must be obeyed forever as originally written. But, obedience in now a matter of conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit, following the higher principles of the law.

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ok, now this really doesn't make sense to me, you say that "obedience is now a matter of conscience" then state "guided by the Holy Spirit" Ok, this is a conflict, because if it is a matter of conscience then you make the choice, but if the Holy Spirit tells you then God makes the choice, which is it? you decide or God?
Now, what higher principles are there than God's Law? God has always looked at the intent of a person to see where they heart lies.

Now, if you are the one deciding or I am the one deciding, and we have no absolute standard which to judge from, who is to say who is right? How can we correct one another? How can we teach one another? Well, you could say the Holy Spirit will tell us, but if you look through the world today, or just do a sampling on the forum you can see the Holy Spirit seems to be telling people different things.

So, from my view, if the Ten Commandments are the same today as they were when God spoke of from the Mount, and wrote it on the tablets, then we have an absolute standard in which we can judge, guide, teach, and correct people. There isn't anyway to spiritualize it and then ignore what is plainly says, that wouldn't make any sense.

oldwiseguy said:

Remember that Christ changed the symbols of Passover to bread and wine. It is no longer necessary to kill an animal, as he fulfilled that symbolism with reality on Calvary. Apply the antithesis to the commandments, that's what God desires from you as a christian.

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The Passover represented the coming Messiah and the sacrifice of Jesus, so they were prophetic in the sense of getting those involved to know and see the Messiah when He came.

The Ten Commandments are not symbolic, they don't point to some future fulfillment, the reflect the character of God, they tell us right from wrong, they tell us God's will, it is the standard of right and wrong. To brush them aside is to say that moral decadence is ok.

I really don't know how I can stress this any stronger but I hope and prayer that people can see the importance of God's law in the Christian life.

Chris

Being Christian, I prefer the Boy Scout Law which covers the topics of the Jewish 10 Words.

billwald said:

Being Christian, I prefer the Boy Scout Law which covers the topics of the Jewish 10 Words.

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The scout law isn't bad, but it certainly isn't divinely revealed either



The 12 points of the Scout law are as follows:

a Scout is

trustworthy
loyal
helpful
friendly
courteous
kind
obedient
cheerful
thrifty
brave
clean
reverent

However, the scout law, though comprising 12 points, is as you said, dependent on the previous commandments. For instance, a scout is to be obedient to what? Parents? God? How do you know? A scout is to be reverent-towards what? God? How do you know?

So while it is an interesting code for life, it is dependent on other sources to define its true meaning. Given that this code was developed within a judeo-christian framework, I would say that you are correct in citing the 10 sayings as the defnining document.

(I think I need to take a break from GT, I just spent 4 minutes of my life giving a theological commantary of the Scout law as a life code. Maybe this place does make us argue : ) )