God gave the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. He spoke them aloud and wrote them on tables of stone “with the finger of God” (Exodus 20:1-17; 31:18). The first four show us how to love God; the last six show us how to love our neighbour. They are a picture of God’s own character: “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12).
Jesus did not come to do away with the law. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” (Matthew 5:17). He kept it perfectly, and He showed its deeper meaning: hatred is the root of murder, and lust the root of adultery (Matthew 5:21-28).
We cannot be saved by keeping the law; we are saved by grace. But those who are saved want to obey. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The law shows us our sin and our need of a Saviour, and the Holy Spirit writes it in our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
Key Bible verses
- Exodus 20:1-17The Ten Commandments.
- Psalm 19:7The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.
- Matthew 5:17-19I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
- John 14:15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- Romans 7:12The law is holy, just and good.
- Hebrews 8:10I will write them in their hearts.
- 1 John 5:3His commandments are not grievous.
Tap a reference to read it in the Bible.
Think about it
- Which of the Ten Commandments do you find hardest to keep, and why?
- How is obeying because we are saved different from obeying in order to be saved?
- How does Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5 show the deeper meaning of the law?
