The 4th is a part of the 10, I've never said any differently but they do not innately describe moral behavior, the moral component is of obedience but the practice of resting or working does not describe moral behaviour.Damian, in English, the word Moral are principles and beliefs concerning right and wrong behaviour. this is used by theologians mostly and scholars mostly and many here on this forum use them also they are a point of reference but are they necessary, not really. the fact is GOD said clearly that the Ten Commandments are the Covenant. They all come together and are part of a whole, you can try to take them apart saying one is ceremonial sand does not belong in the Ten?? but it is not what God said. As for the sabbath day is also a test of Faith to see what we will do, Obey or disobey in this life. This is a serious matter and we should consider what GOD said and no one else. Are you afraid to obey God and do his will, How much Longer will you or any of us deny him? and try and find excuses like this commandment is Moral, no Ceremonial, it does not belong there and we should not obey it since it is ceremonial?
We can label the Commandments in different ways or not, but the fact remains, the Ten Commandments are the Covenant! God declared it! Labels men put on them is Nothing!
God's request is so simple, no labels required. He made the commandments known to man for a reason, Jesus was teaching the ten commandments for a reason and a very good one at that;
if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.(mat 19:17)
The Ten Commandments are written in our bibles for a reason, Psalms contains so many verses on their beauty perfection and purity. They are the way to eternal life, here is only one of these Psalms;
Psalm 19:7-10
"The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb."
Yes Jesus summarized the ten commandments in 2 parts but it is a summary, for the first part, Jesus Who is Never Wrong tells us the greatest commandment is to Love GOD with all our heart, it also means to follow the first 4 commandments if you Love HIM. Can you remove the ones that you do not like to follow? the second commandment to love our neighbour is described in the last six Commandments. Can you remove any of them and still love your neighbour?
The rest of the law of Moses are derived from the Ten commandments. Jesus our Lord, Went further and explained to all or us they are all from Love , Compassion, this must be taken in consideration when applying the concepts of these commandments First and above all else. this is what he came to do also to Magnify the Commandments and explain the core of the Commandments ls is LOVE. the link explains more ion how Jesus magnified the Commandments.
Circumcision is an everlasting sign of the Abrahamic covenant explicitly in the flesh and for generations to come (see Gen 17) it is no less moral than sabbath is, it is no less a commandment. Near identical language is used for the Sabbath.
I do not reject the covenants, nor to a split apart law under categories. Christ instructs us of new lawful practice (or arguably old) in the two greats commandments, at other times he signals out specific laws of the 10 to show how they are lacking and how goodness/live is better way of keeping law.
This all boils down to faith in Christ living and breathing his works and being guided by the spirit in our steps. This is the intrinsic message of the gospel, these are the commandments that keep law.
Paul tells us in 1 Cor 7:19 that circumcision is nothing and to keep the commandments of God. So what are the commandments? We can conflate all sorts of stuff in there, in deed this was probably the motivation of asking Christ what the greatest commandment is. But there is no need to search for Paul's context of "commandments" as mirror versions of this verse are in Gal 5:6 and 6:15. They point to faith expressed through love (5:6) and the new creation (6:15). Context of the rest of galations helps, what Paul is describing is Christ's law. These are the "commandments" he says we should keep. And Christ says they are lawful in the sense they cover all the law and the prophets so their actions are not just lawful for do not murder, or do not lie, but in sabbath practice as well and circumcision. If we keep Christ's law, we are lawful, regardless how you may judge the action on the outside.
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