The Timeless Relevance of the Ten Commandments
God’s First Allegiance in Our Lives
The Ten Commandments, found in Exodus 20:1-17 and restated in Deuteronomy 5:6-21, remain a cornerstone of Christian ethics. While the New Testament authors never quote or affirm the Sabbath commandment as applicable to new covenant Christians, they frequently reference the other commandments. The first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3), emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God in our lives. This principle is echoed in the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37).
The Dangers of Idolatry
The second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image” (Exodus 20:4-6), warns against idolatry. This prohibition is reaffirmed in the New Testament, where Paul condemns the worship of physical objects representing deities (Acts 17:16, Romans 1:23). The consequences of idolatry are severe, as seen in the numerous passages that condemn it (1 Corinthians 5:10-11, 6:9, 10:7, 14; Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 9:20, 16:2, 20:4, 21:8, 22:15).
Honoring God’s Name
The third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7), emphasizes the importance of respecting God’s name. Paul affirms this principle, warning against dishonoring God’s name (Romans 2:24). Blasphemy and corrupting talk are also identified as sins in various New Testament passages (1 Timothy 1:13, 20; James 2:7; 2 Peter 2:12; Jude 10; Revelation 13:1, 5, 6, 16:9, 11, 21; 17:3; Ephesians 4:29).
The Importance of Work and Rest
While the Sabbath commandment is not directly applicable to new covenant Christians, it does contain an important principle: the need for both work and rest. The New Testament emphasizes the importance of productive work (Ephesians 4:28, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12).
Honoring Our Parents
The fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), is explicitly quoted by Paul in Ephesians 6:1-3. This moral requirement is also affirmed in various other New Testament passages (Romans 1:30, 1 Timothy 1:9, 2 Timothy 3:2, Matthew 15:4, 19:18).
The Sanctity of Human Life
The sixth commandment, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), is listed among catalogs of sins in the New Testament (Romans 1:29, 13:9, 1 Timothy 1:9, James 2:11, 4:2, 1 John 3:12, 15, Revelation 9:21, 16:6, 18:24, 21:8, 22:15).
The Importance of Sexual Purity
The seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), is quoted directly by Paul in Romans 13:9 and James 2:11. The New Testament prohibits immoral sexual conduct in various passages (Romans 1:26-27, 2:22, 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 6:9, 13-20, 7:2, 10:8, Galatians 5:19, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 1 Timothy 1:10, Hebrews 12:16, 13:4, James 2:11, 2 Peter 2:14, Jude 7, Revelation 2:20-22, 9:21, 14:8, 17:1-5, 18:3, 19:2, 21:8, 22:15).
The Value of Honesty
The eighth commandment, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15), is quoted directly by Paul in Romans 13:9. The New Testament prohibits theft in various passages (Romans 2:22, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 6:10, Hebrews 10:34, Titus 2:10, James 5:4, Revelation 9:21).
The Power of Truthfulness
The ninth commandment, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16), is not explicitly quoted in the New Testament. However, the principle of speaking truthfully is affirmed in various passages, including Acts 5:1-11 and Ephesians 4:25.
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