Why Christians need the 10 Commandments.

Moses and Aaron with the Ten Commandments, by Aron de Chaves, 1675 – public domain

I learned the Ten Commandments before I went to school

• They were a part of public school life until an atheist got them thrown out.

• Why would anyone do that? She took them as an affront.

• They were meant to be an affront, an affront leading to salvation.

The devil hates them because they will lead us to Jesus, and they will.

Last time we shared how the LORD prepared His people to receive the Ten Commandments. Today we will highlight their delivery.

We all know the visual image of them written in stone, but the most wonderful aspect of this all was that God spoke audibly. All the children of Israel heard his voice, perhaps 2 million people.

[1] And God spake all these words, saying,

[2] I am the LORD thy God, who has brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

[3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

[4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

[6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

[7] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

[9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

[10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

[11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

[12] Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

[13] Thou shalt not kill.

[14] Thou shalt not commit adultery.

[15] Thou shalt not steal.

[16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

[17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. – Exodus 20

And the result of all of this on the children of Israel? [18] And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

[19] And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

[20] And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

This exchange shows the hearts of the people were not inclined to obey, and they grieved the LORD.. They violated every one and as a result disappeared as a nation.

But most of the Jews alive in Jesus' time realized He was their Messiah and had come to save them from their sins.

All of the people filled with the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost were Jews, and so the Ten Commandments were factored into the Church of Jesus Christ.. Praise God!

Jesus fulfilled the Ten Commandments and taught us to obey them. But He called us to something more: Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: - Hebrews 12:4

He had something to say about each one:

1. I am the LORD thy God, who has brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Jesus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Matthew 22:37

Notice the word 'LORD.' This refers to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, not a stand-alone deity, a blind Watchmaker, or any other god with a different name. Beware of people who worship a "Bigger God" who includes all gods and religions. This is demonic.

2 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them

Jesus: You cannot serve God and mammon. Matthew 6:24,

Mammon was a god representing gold or money; Gregory of Nyssa (c335 -394)..also asserted that Mammon was another name for Beelzebub.^[

Graven images also apply to the statues of Mary and the Saints of the Roman Catholic Church^{, as well as} the icons of Eastern Orthodoxy.

3 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;

Jesus: Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:22

The name of Jesus, the calls of God to damn, are commonplace today. Hollywood has inspired this and has coarsened our language with other vulgar terms. As Christians, we are called to think on whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and are of good report; - St. Paul (5-62) in Philippians 4:8. This means refusing to watch all media that do not meet the holiness standard.

4 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Jesus: The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Mark 2:2

The Sabbath given to the Hebrews was one of severity and restriction. As Christians, we elevated the sabbath by moving it to the day of Resurrection. We are free to enjoy relaxation on these days, but after we honor Jesus with our worship.

5 Honour thy father and thy mother:

Jesus: For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. Matthew 15:4

Jesus honored His father and mother by being subject to them and taking care of His mother. There is a blessing attached to it: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.- Ephesians 6:3 This promise it to the children of the 180 people who live with me here, and I hate to see them missing it and the love their parents have for them anyway.

6 Thou shalt not kill.

Jesus: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: Matthew 5:22

I need help with this, as I often feel angry without a clear cause. Pray for me and others that we will live in a meek and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God's sight. - St. Peter* (1BC-67AD) 1 Peter 3:4

7 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Jesus: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:28

Adultery of the heart is common among men and women. Read more here; Heart Sin

8  Thou shalt not steal.

Jesus: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Jesus talks about stealing as a partner of killing and destruction. We can steal in many ways, from God in tithes, offerings, and time, and from others in the love we owe them and the time they need.

9 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Jesus: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:39

Here again, Jesus adds depth to the original by giving us the story of the Good Samaritan. False witness is a heinous crime. You cn read more about it HERE:

10 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's

Jesus: Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15

Our culture and indeed, the world, is driven by the things of this world with everyone manipulated and programmed to want more. It is not the desire to enjoy good things that is the sin, but the anxiety that goes with. As always, Jesus has the answer:

Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 

For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:30-33

TRUST and OBEY

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,

But is blessed if we trust and obey.

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But we never can prove the delights of His love

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

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Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;

Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

John Henry Sammis..1846-1919