The Ten Commandments: Why They Matter Today
Introduction
When most people think of the Ten Commandments, they think of the list of laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai (we find this account in Exodus 20). These commandments are also known as The Law and they serve as a guide for how we should live our lives. Although these commandments were given specifically to the Jewish nation, they are still applicable to everyone today. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at each one of the Ten Commandments, their purpose, and see how they apply to us today.
Command 1: Thou shalt have no other gods before me - Exodus 20:3
The first commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "Thou shalt have no other gods before me". We find throughout the Bible that God wants to be served singularly and is not wanting to be an addition to your life. He wants to be supreme in your life. Many religions around the world at the time this was written and even today have many gods they serve. But our God wants to be served singularly.
There are many things in our lives that can come before God. We can put our careers, our possessions, our relationships, and our own desires ahead of Him. When we do this, we are essentially saying that those things are more important to us than God is. But He should be the most important thing in our lives. He should be our foremost priority. When we make Him the center of our lives, everything else falls into place.
Is God and His desires the first priority in your life?
Command 2: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image - Exodus 20:4-6
The second commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image". In this time and culture of the Bible there was much idol worship. Many pagan religions around the Jews were forming idols and worshipping them. God did not want this. He wanted to be worshipped alone and He did not want idols to be formed. The purpose of an idol was to worship and bow down to it and as stated in the first command God wanted to be worshiped alone.
Idols can come in many different forms. It doesn't have to be a statue that you make with your own hands. It can be anything that you put before God that takes His place in your life. It could be your job, your possessions, your relationships, or anything else that you love more than God. When these things become our idols, we are turning away from God and worshipping something else instead.
Often what reveals to us what we are worshipping is how much time we are giving to it.
Are there any items or activities in your life that have become idols? Are you putting them before God?
Command 3: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain - Exodus 20:4-6
The third commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain". This command is often associated with cursing and not using God's name in an expletive way. I think that has value to it but I think this verse is speaking of more than that. These people were taking God's name, YaHWeH, as their own. They were going to be know by His name. God did not want them to do that in vain.
When we take the Lord's name in vain, we are disrespecting Him and treating His name lightly. We are saying that His Name isn't important to us and that we don't care about what He thinks. This can also be done through our actions. If we claim to be Christians but then live a life of sin, we are taking the Lord's name in vain. We are saying that we are one thing but living another.
It is important for us to reverence the Lord's Name and treat it with respect. When we do this, we show Him that we truly love Him and appreciate all that He has done for us.
Are you taking God's name in vain? Do you represent Christ well in all areas of your life?
Command 4: Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy - Exodus 20:8-11
Remembering the Sabbath day is one of the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. It is a day to set aside for rest and for Him. In today's society, many people have forgotten the importance of this commandment. But as Christians, we should realize the importance of taking time out for God each week.
The Sabbath day was originally created as a day of rest after working six days in a row. God wanted us to take a break and spend time with Him. He didn't want us to be slaves to our work but to have time set aside each week for Him.
In today's society, it can be hard to find time for rest. We are always busy and always on the go. But it is important that we make time for God each week, even if it means sacrificing some of our free time. When we do this, we are honoring Him and showing Him that He is our first priority.
Do you set aside time for God on a weekly basis? Since the beginning of Christianity the church has met on Sunday as a time to encourage one another and learn from the Bible. Is this something you do regularly?
Command 5: Honour thy father and thy mother - Exodus 20:12-13
Honoring your father and mother is one of the Ten Commandments that God gave to Moses. It is a fundamental principle that He expects us to obey. The Bible says that if we do, we will live long and be blessed.
There are many reasons why it is important for us to honor our parents. First of all, they are the ones who gave us life. They took care of us when we were young and vulnerable, and they deserve our respect for that. Second, they have years of experience and wisdom which we can learn from. And finally, they are often a source of comfort and support during difficult times in our lives.
This element has been breaking down in our current society and it will be detrimental. We must take care of our parents, honor them, and respect them all their days. If for some reason your biological parents weren't part of your life and you don't have a relationship with them then treat the ones who raised you with this honor and respect.
One collateral benefit to this command is that for most of us our parents with pass away before us. You will forever regret having a poor relationship with them or you will forever cherish a good one that you had.
Are you honoring your parents? Do you have a good relationship with them?
Command 6: Thou shalt not kill - Exodus 20:13
The sixth commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not kill". It is one of the most important commandments, because it protects life.
The Bible says that God created humans in His image, and therefore they are sacred. Murdering someone is a direct violation of this principle. It also destroys relationships and creates chaos and violence.
God desires for us to live in peace and harmony with each other. Killing someone goes against this desire, and therefore is not pleasing to Him.
Jesus takes this to the next level when He says that when we hate people we have committed murder in our hearts.
Do you respect life? Do you have hatred for others in your heart?
Command 7: Thou shalt not commit adultery - Exodus 20:14
Adultery is a sin that hurts everyone involved. It destroys marriages, families, and relationships. And it's not just the people who are directly involved who get hurt. The children of adulterous parents often suffer as well.
When a husband or wife cheats on their spouse, they are breaking one of the Ten Commandments. They are doing something that God expressly forbids. And they are putting their own desires above the needs of their spouse and family.
Adultery is wrong for many reasons, but perhaps the most important one is this: it violates God's law. When we break His law, we incur His wrath and face His judgement.
If you are struggling with adultery, please get help! There is hope for you if you turn to Jesus Christ. He can forgive you and help you to overcome this sin.
Jesus takes this law to the next level though. He says "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 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 5:27-28). Jesus is revealing to His listeners that sin has its root in the heart. Although we make look and even act "good" on the outside our hearts and minds can still be wicked.
How are your thoughts when it comes to lust and adultery? Do you find yourself as Jesus said "committing adultery in your heart"?
Command 8: Thou shalt not steal - Exodus 20:15
The eighth commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not steal". This command might be one of the simplest in the list. Don't take things that aren't yours. The contrast to this in the Bible is to work and be generous to others. When we take what we have not earned or worked for we are going against the system and principals God has set up. Stealing hurts those that are stolen from.
I think most people reading this probably don't walk into a store and shoplift, we may be stealing things in more obscure areas. The goal is not to just get by not stealing but rather to be honest. Sometimes avoiding blatant theft is easy but blatant honesty? Not so much.
Are there things in your life that you are stealing or maybe being dishonest with?
Command 9: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour - Exodus 20:16
The ninth commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor". This command addresses the honesty of each individual. Are we telling the truth about others? Or do we make up or repeat lies? Do we tell "little white lies" to seemingly get ourselves out of situations or make ourselves look good?
God desires honesty and hates lying. Sometimes it is hard to tell the truth but it is always best to tell the truth.
Are you an honest person? Do you tell the truth even when it's hard?
Command 10: Thou shalt not covet - Exodus 20:17
The tenth and final commandment given in The Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not covet". This commandment might be the hardest and encapsulates many of the commands. Most, if not all, of the other 9 commands deal with external things. Theft, murder, lying, etc. But this command deals with the heart. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 7 that "for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Coveting deals with the heart and our thoughts.
Jesus blows idea this wide open in Matthew 5 when He addresses the matters of the heart. And that is the heart of this command. We may live an external life that looks good, but what does our heart look like? Do we covet?
In this command we are not to covet things that are not ours. "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."
Throughout the Bible we not only see this command but we see the admonishment to do the opposite and that is to be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-7 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
Are you content with what you have or do you covet what others have?
Conclusion 1:
These Ten Commandments are given to show us how our lives stack up against God's perfection and holiness. If we're honest with ourselves we would easily admit that we have fallen short on every one of these commands at one point or another. Romans 3 says it this way "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
If you are a Christian today. God desires for you to keep these Ten Commandments. Not to gain or keep salvation, but rather to be holy. Jesus' desire is to conform you into His image and to make you holy. The Bible says "Be ye holy for I am holy."
Follower of Jesus are you living a holy life?
Conclusion 2:
If you are reading this and you are under the impression that keeping God's law or being a good person is going to get you to Heaven unfortunately that is not what the Bible teaches. All have fallen short of perfection and all are sinners. This leaves mankind in a very bad place - hopeless.
This is where Jesus comes in. He lived a perfect life. He paid the price for your sin when He died on the cross. He was buried for 3 days. He rose from the dead to prove that He was God. And He appeared before hundreds of people before He went back to Heaven.
The keeping of just these Ten Commandments would be impossible for us. This is why we need Jesus. He offers freedom from reign sin. Freedom from the law of sin. Freedom to walk in a new life. He gives abundant life. And all of this is free through His death, burial, and resurrection.
All you have to do is believe. Believe what?
That you are a sinner and in need of saving
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:10 - As it is written there is none righteous, no not one.
That Jesus is God and that He died in your place on the cross and rose from the dead
Romans 1:4 - And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
That He is the only way to gain a righteous standing before God
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5- Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
So how do you receive this free gift?
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ask Jesus to save you. It's so easy many people won't do it.
Your religion won't save you. Your good works won't save you. Your church won't save you. Keeping the Ten Commandments won't save you. Only Jesus can and will save you if you ask.
Trust in Jesus today!
If you have questions about this and would like to see more of what the Bible says click here.
