The Ten Commandments (also referred to in Scripture as the Perfect Law of Liberty or Freedom—James 1:25; 2:12) were known and obeyed by God’s faithful people, presumably even before the Law was given at Sinai (refer Genesis 26:5). They were written on tablets of stone by the finger of God on Mount Sinai and are eternal. They continue into the New Covenant and they constitute the basic moral code for humanity (as further explained by Jesus) and are obeyed to demonstrate the believer’s love for God and his fellow man.
The Law of Moses is described as a yoke of slavery and has been “nailed to the stake”, fulfilled in and cancelled by Christ’s sacrifice. In the New Covenant, Christians are commanded to no longer keep this Law.
During the time of the Israelites, the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments were kept inside the Ark of the Covenant, under the mercy seat. In contrast, the Law of Moses was written on parchment (paper) and stored outside the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Lord’s Covenant now rests in His temple in heaven (Revelation 11:19).
Jesus affirmed the enduring nature of God’s Law, declaring that He did not come to abolish it but to fulfil it, and that not even the smallest part of the Law will pass away until heaven and earth pass away (Matthew 5:17-48). Sadly, many who identify as Christians today do not keep the Ten Commandments, especially the second commandment, which forbids idolatry, and the fourth commandment, to remember the seventh day Sabbath, and often teach others to disregard them as well. This is despite Jesus’ warning that those who break even the least of God’s commandments and teach others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).
The Ten Commandments (also referred to in Scripture as the Perfect Law of Liberty or Freedom—James 1:25; 2:12) were known and obeyed by God’s faithful people, presumably even before the Law was given at Sinai (refer Genesis 26:5). They were written on tablets of stone by the finger of God on Mount Sinai and are eternal. They continue into the New Covenant and they constitute the basic moral code for humanity (as further explained by Jesus) and are obeyed to demonstrate the believer’s love for God and his fellow man.
The Law of Moses is described as a yoke of slavery and has been “nailed to the stake”, fulfilled in and cancelled by Christ’s sacrifice. In the New Covenant, Christians are commanded to no longer keep this Law.
During the time of the Israelites, the two stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments were kept inside the Ark of the Covenant, under the mercy seat. In contrast, the Law of Moses was written on parchment (paper) and stored outside the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Lord’s Covenant now rests in His temple in heaven (Revelation 11:19).
Jesus affirmed the enduring nature of God’s Law, declaring that He did not come to abolish it but to fulfil it, and that not even the smallest part of the Law will pass away until heaven and earth pass away (Matthew 5:17-48). Sadly, many who identify as Christians today do not keep the Ten Commandments, especially the second commandment, which forbids idolatry, and the fourth commandment, to remember the seventh day Sabbath, and often teach others to disregard them as well. This is despite Jesus’ warning that those who break even the least of God’s commandments and teach others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19).