Ten Commandments

"Father God, please guide me as I write this article based on Your Word. Help me to write this to glorify You, and let Your words bring clarity to those who seek You. May Your truth help people discern and embrace correct beliefs. I pray and seek everything in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen."

Hi there my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Diving in

Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry, made a profound statement about His relationship to the Mosaic Law. In His Sermon on the Mount, He declared, "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). This declaration was pivotal, as it underscored His respect for the existing Jewish laws and the continuity of God's covenant with Israel. Jesus' purpose was not to discard the law but to complete its intended purpose and deepen its meaning. By fulfilling the law, Jesus aimed to reveal its true spiritual and moral essence, thus guiding believers to a higher standard of righteousness rooted in love, grace, and inner transformation.

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.
   
   • Exodus 20:3: "You shall have no other gods before me."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus emphasized loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind as the greatest commandment.
     • Matthew 22:37-38: "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.’"
       
2. You shall not make for yourself a carved image.
   
   • Exodus 20:4-6: "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."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus emphasized worshiping God in spirit and truth, without reliance on physical representations.
     • John 4:24: "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."
       
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
   
   • Exodus 20:7: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus emphasized reverence and respect in how we speak and live.
     • Matthew 6:9: "This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’"
       
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
   
   • Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus taught that the Sabbath was made for man, emphasizing mercy and the spirit of rest rather than legalistic observance.
     • Mark 2:27: "Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.’"
       
5. Honor your father and your mother.
   
   • Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus emphasized honoring and caring for parents, highlighting the spirit of the commandment.
     • Matthew 15:4-6: "For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition."
       
6. You shall not murder.
   
   • Exodus 20:13: "You shall not murder."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus expanded this to include anger and hatred, teaching that these attitudes are the root of murder.
     • Matthew 5:21-22: "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment."
       
7. You shall not commit adultery.
   
   • Exodus 20:14: "You shall not commit adultery."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus extended this commandment to include lustful thoughts, emphasizing purity of heart.
     • Matthew 5:27-28: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
       
8. You shall not steal.
   
   • Exodus 20:15: "You shall not steal."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus emphasized integrity and generosity, teaching that one should go beyond avoiding theft to actively giving and helping others.
     • Matthew 5:40-42: "And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."
       
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
   
   • Exodus 20:16: "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."
   • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus emphasized truthfulness in all communication and integrity in one's words.
     • Matthew 5:33-37: "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all... All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
       
10. You shall not covet.
    
    • Exodus 20:17: "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."
    • Amplification by Jesus: Jesus taught contentment and trust in God's provision, addressing the heart's desires and motivations.
      • Luke 12:15: "Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’"

Summary

Jesus amplified the Ten Commandments by shifting the focus from mere external adherence to the deeper attitudes and intentions of the heart. He taught that true righteousness surpasses outward compliance and involves inward transformation, rooted in love for God and others.

Wrapping up

In fulfilling the law, Jesus raised the standards of the commandments, moving beyond mere external compliance to addressing the deeper issues of the heart. He amplified the commandments by emphasizing attitudes and intentions, teaching that anger is akin to murder and lust is equivalent to adultery. This elevation of moral expectations might seem daunting, but Jesus also provided the means to achieve this higher standard through the new covenant. By His life, death, and resurrection, He offered grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower believers to live out these higher standards. Thus, while the bar was raised, Jesus ensured that adherence to the commandments was achievable not