Pictured: Moses holding the Ten Commandments at the center of a statue of lawgivers atop the East Facade of the United States Supreme Court building.
My friend James wrote recently that the Ten Commandments play no role in the life of a Christian. I disagree–and contrary to my usual approach, I am going to begin with my conclusion. This topic is challenging enough it makes sense to state the conclusion first, then discuss the basis on which that conclusion rests.
Should the Ten Commandments Matter to Today’s Christian?
Yes. First, the commandments play a role in salvation as they so easily prove to each person that he is a sinner. This is an essential part of soul-winning. We fulfill the Great Commission by helping people understand their sin and their need for a Savior. There is no better tool for revealing sin than the Ten Commandments.
Second, Jesus describes the Old Testament law as a treasure. He expects us to cherish the law–and all of the Old Testament. The words of Christ are enough to convince me to read, study, and treasure every word of the Old Testament–especially the evangelistic tool that is the Ten Commandments.
But my buddy James is not completely wrong. Those Christians who do not understand grace can tend to obsess over their sin and guilt, not realizing that Jesus has washed all that away and wants them to walk in freedom. Such an over-emphasis on the law is a mistake. Our concern with the law should be limited.
First, our interest in the law is limited because the law cannot save souls.
The law NEVER saved anyone’s soul. Even Abraham “believed God and it was reckoned to him for righteousness” (see Romans 4:3, quoting Genesis 15:6). That is, Abraham was saved because of his faith in God, not his success at obeying God’s law. The same is true for all believers, both before Jesus died on the cross and after: the law cannot save souls.
Second, our interest in the law is limited because Christians have been freed from the law.
Peter saw a vision of unclean animals and God told him to “kill and eat” Acts 10:13, indicating (in part) that we are free from Old Testament dietary law. Then God sent Paul as an apostle to the uncircumcised Gentiles, indicating that God’s children were freed from the law of bodily circumcision. Soon Paul became the great expositor on grace, articulating in letter after letter that “there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and of death” Romans 8:1-2.
We have been literally “set free” from the law.
But if we are free from the law, is there any reason to think about the Ten Commandments? Or to even read the Old Testament? Why bother with Moses and thou shalt nots and all the rest of it? What difference does it make for those of us who never lived as Jews and have no experience living under the law?
If the law cannot save souls, and we have been freed from the burden of following the law, what interest should we have in the law? Why read it at all?
Look to the words of Jesus..
Look to the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus show the relevance of the Old Testament.
Jesus spoke of the law with great respect: “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the law to fail” Luke 16:17. In Matthew 5, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” Matthew 5:17-18.
In Matthew 13:52, Jesus compares the law—and the entire Old Testament—to treasure. Should you be interested in treasure? Yes!
What can I say to my friend, James? Should we revere the Ten Commandments? Yes. More importantly, should we read, study, and teach the Old Testament scriptures? Yes.
Jesus made a pre-emptive strike. That is, before anyone could ask the question, he said in effect, ‘Hey, don’t assume I’m getting rid of the law, or the Old Testament. Because I’m not.’
How else do you interpret “I did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it”? He is stating in plain language—I am not tossing out the law. I am fulfilling the law.
What does ‘fulfill’ mean? Consider what else is fulfilled: PROPHECY. Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies, a number between 300 and 570, depending on which scholar is doing the counting. Jesus also fulfilled the law. Jesus stood in the law, as one born under the law (Galatians 4:4) and lived a perfectly sinless life that fulfilled every statement in the Mosaic law. Then the only man who ever lived a truly holy life gave his life as a sacrifice for us—who are also born under the law. When he fulfilled the law, he also redeemed us from the law. He rescued us from the punishment our deeds deserve.
Knowing Jesus FULFILLED the law should make studying the law MORE important to his followers, not less.
Think of it this way—if Jesus had abolished the law, he would have abolished a part of the system that shows us—and all mankind—our need for salvation. The law exists in part to prove to each person his inability to obey it. The law teaches us that we are sinners. “The law became my teacher, leading me to Christ” Galatians 3:24.
But Jesus FULFILLED the law, rescuing mankind at the same time. And that is why the law is relevant. That is why the Ten Commandments remain relevant to our lives. The Mosaic law—and the Old Testament that is built on that legal regime—is part of the system leading us to salvation.
Yes, we should read the law and the entire Old Testament. We should study it and master it.
Jesus considered the Old Testament a treasure—even knowing, as he did, that there would be a New Testament coming, another 27 books of scripture to guide his children. Jesus looked at both the Old Testament and the New Testament and called them both treasures:
“Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom treasures both new and old” Matthew 13:52.
The Old Testament is a treasure! Cherish it!
For more on the relevance of the Old Testament, consider: https://dadsdailydevotionals.com/2024/03/15/which-is-better-old-treasure-or-new-treasure-matthew-1352/ and https://dadsdailydevotionals.com/2024/03/14/treasure-matthew-1352/
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