The 10 Commandments, also known as the Law, are 10 explicit commands, God gave Moses. The first 4 commandments deal with man’s relationship with God and the last 6 deal with man’s relationship with others. This event is recorded in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament of the Bible. These same commandments are repeated in verses in the New Testament.
Jesus very own words in the Sermon on the Mount, written in the New Testament (Matthew 5:17-19), shows undeniably how important it is to obey God’s 10 Commandments:
“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. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
And God spoke all these words:
“I am the LORD your God,who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
–Exodus 20:1-2
List of The 10 Commandments –Exodus 20: 3-17
1st Commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me”
2nd Commandment: “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
3rd Commandment: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
4th Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5th Commandment: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
6th Commandment: “You shall not murder.”
7th Commandment: “You shall not commit adultery.”
8th Commandment: “You shall not steal.”
9th Commandment: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.”
10th Commandment: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
The essence of Ten Commandments is repeated in various verses in the New Testament. The following verses serve only as a few examples:
1st Commandment-
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” -Matthew 4:10
“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38
2nd Commandment-
“Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” -1 Corinthians 10:14
3rd Commandment-
“all who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.” -1 Timothy 6:1
4th Commandment-
“For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.” -Hebrews 4:4
“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.” -Hebrews 4:9
5th Commandment- “Honour your father and your mother.” -Matthew 19:19
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—” Ephesians 6:1-2
6th Commandment- “You shall not kill.” Romans 13:9
7th Commandment- “You shall not commit adultery.” Matthew 19:18
8th Commandment- “You shall not steal.” Romans 13:9
9th Commandment- “You shall not bear false witness.” Romans 13:9
10th Commandment– “You shall not covet.” Romans 7:7
There are many other verses in the New Testament which also make it clear that each of the 10 Commandments are to be followed. In Romans 13:9 it is written: The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
If we Love God we all our heart then our heart’s desire should be to follow His desires which he has given to us in the 10 Commandments.
Click here to view Exodus 20:1-20 at Biblegateway.com
Sources:
The HOLY BIBLE- NIV
the-ten-commandments.org
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