I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
What the Bible Says About The Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, represent the foundation of God's moral law for humanity. They are recorded in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. The first four commandments address the human relationship with God: having no other gods, making no idols, not taking God's name in vain, and keeping the Sabbath holy. The remaining six address human relationships: honoring parents, not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness, and not coveting.
Jesus summarized the Ten Commandments in two great principles: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. He said that all the law and the prophets hang on these two commands. This summary reveals that the Ten Commandments are not arbitrary rules but expressions of love: the first four teach us how to love God, and the last six teach us how to love people. At their core, the commandments are a blueprint for loving relationships.
The apostle Paul explained a crucial function of the law: it reveals sin. Romans 3:20 says that by the law comes the knowledge of sin. The Ten Commandments serve as a mirror that shows us how far we fall short of God's holy standard. No human being has perfectly kept all ten, which is precisely the point. The law was given not to save us but to show us our desperate need for a Savior who could fulfill the law on our behalf.
Galatians 3:24 describes the law as a schoolmaster that leads us to Christ. The commandments teach us what righteousness looks like, convict us of our inability to achieve it, and drive us to the grace found only in Jesus. Christ fulfilled the law perfectly, and through faith in Him, believers receive His righteousness credited to their account. The Ten Commandments remain a guide for godly living, but salvation comes through Christ alone, not through law-keeping.
Key Bible Verses
“I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
— Exodus 20:2-3
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
— Matthew 22:37-40
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
— Romans 3:20
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
— Galatians 3:24
Practical Application
- Study each of the Ten Commandments individually, examining how they apply not just to outward actions but to the attitudes of the heart.
- Use the commandments as a mirror for self-examination, asking God to reveal areas where you fall short and need His grace.
- Teach your children the Ten Commandments as a foundation for understanding right and wrong, while also pointing them to Christ as the only one who kept them perfectly.
- When you feel proud of your moral performance, remember that the law was given to reveal sin and drive you to dependence on Christ, not to build self-righteousness.
- Memorize the Ten Commandments as a family, discussing what each one means and how it applies to modern life.
Family Discussion & Activity
Discussion Questions
- ? Can you name all Ten Commandments? Which one do you think is the hardest to keep?
- ? How did Jesus summarize all ten commandments in just two?
- ? If nobody can keep all the commandments perfectly, what was God's purpose in giving them?
- ? How do the Ten Commandments help us understand why we need Jesus?
Family Activity
This week, look for examples of the ten commandments in your daily lives. Share one example at dinner each night and talk about how the Bible's teachings on the ten commandments can guide your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Christians still required to follow the Ten Commandments?
While Christians are not under the Old Testament law as a system of justification (Romans 6:14, Galatians 3:25), the moral principles expressed in the Ten Commandments are repeated throughout the New Testament and remain God's standard for righteous living. Nine of the ten are explicitly reaffirmed in the New Testament; the Sabbath commandment is the one most debated. Christians obey God's moral law not to earn salvation but out of love for Christ (John 14:15).
What is the difference between the moral law and the ceremonial law?
Theologians distinguish between the moral law (the Ten Commandments and universal ethical principles), the ceremonial law (rules about sacrifices, festivals, and religious rituals), and the civil law (laws governing ancient Israel's national life). The moral law reflects God's eternal character and remains binding. The ceremonial law was fulfilled in Christ (Hebrews 10:1), and the civil law applied specifically to the nation of Israel. This distinction helps explain why Christians do not offer animal sacrifices but still uphold the prohibition against murder.
Did Jesus change or abolish the Ten Commandments?
Jesus said He came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He actually deepened the commandments by addressing the heart behind them: murder includes unjust anger, adultery includes lustful thoughts. Jesus fulfilled the law's requirements perfectly and made it possible for believers to be declared righteous through faith. He did not lower the standard; He raised it and then provided the way to meet it through His own righteousness.
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