Day 39, More Insights The Ten Commandments – what meaning and significance do they have for us today?
The ten commandments are God’s Holy standards for mankind. These comments are written on the November 19 Bible study and they are profitable here:
The Jews are tied to their heritage and the Law of Moses, but the Apostle Paul presents his argument. “We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:15-16, NIV). How did Paul and his companions figure that out? Because the promise of being justified by faith came to Abraham before the Law of Moses was even given (Galatians 3:6). The Law did not nullify the promise of faith. The Law was put into effect to restrict sinful behavior and bring order by having a standard of behavior based on God’s righteousness.
The Law, however, could not bring righteousness. Much like a stop sign, the Law only points out wrong behavior. By faith the Israelites brought sacrifices to cover and make amends for their sins that the Law pointed out. They did this until Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice to take away sins. Now the Apostle Paul tells them (and us), “You are all sons of God [children of God] through faith in Christ Jesus, (Galatians 3:26, NIV). Christ was the ultimate perfect sacrifice that satisfies God’s righteousness. A Relationship with Christ, therefore, trumps all religious practices. Nevertheless, we should know God’s righteous standards and how they might apply to us today.
Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
[God does not want anything or anyone to be more important than Him]
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. [An idol is something you worship and the word idol refers to something made of wood, stone, or molten metal (Exodus 34:17)]
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. [Besides using his name in curse words, this also means using God’s name in a common, ordinary fashion instead of esteeming it as being especially set apart as Holy].
8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. [A Sabbath is a day of rest, and it was to be kept separated to the LORD. Since the day of the Lord’s resurrection this day of dedication was changed to Sunday. Although we are not required to keep it (Romans 14:5-6), it honors God and is profitable for all people and their working animals. If we cannot keep Sunday as a day of dedication to God, then we should keep another day dedicated for rest and worship, thereby preserving the practice which honors God].
9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. [This requires us to plan ahead to get all business and personal stuff done in six days].
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. [Though we are no longer required to keep the Sabbath day, the seventh day of the week, it is an established principle in Scripture that we do so to honor him. In fact, God has been known to judge those people who know God’s Law and do not honor him.]
12 Honor your father and your mother [treat them worthy of respect], so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. [the “land” referred to the land of Israel]
13 You shall not murder. [Some versions have the word general word “kill”, but the word probably means premeditated murder in this context.]
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (NIV)
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