Exodus 20:1-26 – Moses received the Ten Commandments
Background: The ten commandments form the basic concept of the “Mosaic Covenant.” A “covenant” simply means a contract, a treaty between a people and God.
The purpose of the Mosaic Covenant was to:
Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. The Jews have counted 613 commandments in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament): 248 are positive and 365 are negative. What are the 613 commandments in the Old Testament Law? | GotQuestions.org
The Law was like a school master pointing the Israelites to Christ (Gal 3:24). Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes (Rom 10:4-5). Jesus the Christ says, “Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luk 24:44).
Church-age Christians categorise the Law into moral law, civil and ceremonial laws. When Christians maintained that the Ten Commandments must be obeyed, they still have a problem with obeying the Sabbath law. Many aspects of the ceremonial law are Jewish. What is the difference between the ceremonial law, the moral law, and the judicial law in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org
Christ Jesus fulfilled all the just requirements of the Law. What does it mean that Jesus fulfilled the law, but did not abolish it? | GotQuestions.org
He is the Lord of the Sabbath. He is our Sabbath rest (Matt 12:8; Heb 3:11; 4:10). Sabbath was meant for the Israelites to maintain the rhythm of work and rest for both man, animals and land (Exod 23:11-12; Deut 5:14; 25:4; Lev 25:1-7; Mark 2:27).
Those who want to obey the Ten Commandments cannot ignore the 4th Commandment, the Sabbath Day. In fact, James explains, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it” (James 2:10). The epistle to the Galatians warns that going back to the Law is slavery to sin which is held in check by the Law. Christ has fulfilled all the just requirements of Law . We trust in Christ’s completed works by faith and live by God’s grace alone.
Christians study the Old Testament laws because they are instructive concerning the human sin nature and God’s desire for holiness (2 Tim 3:16). We are not under the Law (Rom 10:4). Rather we obey the law of the Spirit of life (Rom 8:2). The law of the Spirit sets standards that are higher than the Law (Mat 5:20). We can obey the spirit of the Law and exceed the standards of the Law because of our position in the perfected righteousness of Christ. We practise God’s righteousness by walking in step with the Spirit and by walking in the light of Christ, in the love of God and love for fellow men. What is the law of Christ? | GotQuestions.org
Reflections
