The Commandments are not Grievous
I John 5:1-3
The first four deal with our relationship to God, while the last six focus on our
relationship to each other. Jesus likewise discerned two major emphasis with his
stress on love for God and love for neighbor (Mark 12:28-31).
There is a purpose behind every commandment, God loved us so much, He set up
these commandments for us to live good lives.
God never intended for the Ten Commandments to be a set of regulations by
which the people of Israel would earn salvation. God’s favor had already been
freely granted. (Ex 20:1-2) This was overwhelmingly demonstrated by His
deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage (Duet 4:37) Therefore, at the heart
of the covenant relationship lay an act of divine Grace, God even prefaced the
Ten Commandments with a reminder of His deliverance (Ex 20:22).
The Ten Commandments form the heart of the special Covenant between God
and His people. He told them, (Ex 19:5). These verses also emphasize that their
obedience to the Commandments was to be the basis of Israel’s existence as the
special people of God.
When we focus on the do’s and the don’ts of the commandments it seems hard,
however the commandments are to lead us to the need for Jesus!
(Prov 6:20-24)
Jesus enlarged on the idea prevalent in the Ten Commandments by emphasizing
the heart attitude (Matt 5:8). Christians have blessed joy on earth when their
priorities are straight.
There are rewards to keeping the Commandments:
Deut 28:1-14, Ps 71:3, 103:20, 111:10, 119:98, Prov 7:2, 10:8, 19:16, Eccl 12:13,
Mt 19:17, John 12:50, 14:21, 15:10, Rev 22:14
The Ten Commandments are still relevant today. The world desperately needs to
see the name and character of God displayed in the lives of Christians who still
take His Word seriously. These Commandments, particularly coupled with the
teachings of Christ, are still the best guidelines for practical daily living known to
humankind.
Consequences of not keeping the Commandments:
Deut 28:15-61, Ps 119:21, I John 2:4
Almost 1500 years after God gave the laws, Jesus upheld them calling them the
Commandments and listing five of them for the rich young ruler (Matt 19:16-19)
And in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus showed that His coming had not canceled
the Commandments. (Matt 5:17-19).
God never tells us to do anything that we can’t do!
Jer 31:33, Rom 8:31
Ways to keep the Commandments:
Ps 119:9-11; Rom 12:1-2, Gal 5:16, Eph 4:22-25, 6:11-18, Phil 4:13,
Col 3:16-17, James 4:7-8
Notice: The world is trying to put the Commandments out of public life, so as to
not feel guilty for their actions, however, you can see the results in the rise in
crimes, and downfall of morality.