Jesus on the Ten Commandments
What Christ Taught About God's Moral Law
Jul 22, 2009 Ronald G Falconberry
God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel to serve as a covenant between them and as a guide to righteous living. It was a crucial part of the Jewish culture for centuries. Jesus, who the Bible identifies as the Son of God, came to earth over 1400 years later to establish a new covenant. What did he have to say about the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments Were Important to Jesus
Jesus acknowledged the importance of the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses. During his Sermon on the Mount, he stated that "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." (Matthew 5:18)
He even issued a warning to those who might break even "the least of these commandments" and said that "whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:19)
Still, passages throughout the Bible state that righteousness cannot be attained under the Ten Commandments or the law. For example, David wrote in Psalms 14:3 that everyone sins and Paul affirmed in Romans 3:20 that “no one is declared righteousness in [God’s] sight by observing the law.”
Jesus Spiritualized the Ten Commandments
Jesus addressed this issue by teaching that there is more to righteousness than just following the precepts of the law. It was suggested that righteousness begins in the heart of the believer. He made several references to this concept in the Sermon on the Mount.
- In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus stated that the sixth commandment condemned murder, but told his followers: “I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." He warned them against using evil names against each other and that they should resolve their conflicts.
- Referring to the seventh commandment forbidding adultery, Jesus declared in Matthew 5:28, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." His emphasis was on controlling evil, lustful desires.
- The law allowed divorce but, in Matthew 5:31-32, Jesus said that it should only be for unfaithfulness and in Matthew 19:3-12, even said that it was allowed only "because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning." Jesus desired the preservation of the family through strong marriage relationships.
- In Matthew 9:33-37, Jesus mentioned the prohibition of breaking a sworn oath but he told them not to swear at all but to "simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."
At one point during his ministry, Jesus was asked by the Pharisees what he thought was the greatest command in the Law. Matthew 22:37-40 records that "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. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
The key element behind Jesus' teachings was that God's followers must embrace his laws on a spiritual level that goes beyond the requirements of the Ten Commandments or the other old covenant laws. If the contents of a person's heart are right, his actions will follow suit.
Church Views on Observing the Ten Commandments
The gospels record that Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended back into Heaven which then ushered in the promised new covenant. Through their faith in Jesus, the new Christians were able to attain the righteousness that Israel had not been able to do through observing the commandments or the law. (Romans 3:21-25)
Jewish Christians, who had grown up under the old covenant, found it hard to let go of their commandments and rituals so they continued to observe the old laws. Unfortunately, in the early church, there were many times when the Jews tried to persuade or force their Gentile brothers to follow Mosaical rituals, too. When the Gentiles resisted or refused, arguments arose which the church leaders had to address. (Acts 15, 21-22)
That debate still continues today. There are many Christians who believe the Ten Commandments are still binding on the church while many others feel that the old laws and commandments have been replaced by Christ's covenant. The article, Christianity and the Ten Commandments, explores that topic in greater detail.
Additional Reading on the Ten Commandments
To learn about the origins of the Ten Commandments, see What are the Ten Commandments?
Sources:
- NIV Life Application Study Bible. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1985).
- "Ten Commandments." New Bible Dictionary. 2nd Edition. Ed. J.D. Douglas et al. (Leicester: Inter Varsity Press, 1982).
- Young, David. "How is The Old Testament Relevant to Christians?". Theology Matters: Answers for the Church Today. Ed. Gary Holloway, Randall J. Harris, Mark C. Black. (Joplin: College Press Publishing Company, 1998).
Jesus on the Ten Commandments
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Jesus Spiritualized the Ten Commandments
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