Ten Commandments and Jesus
QUESTION: The Ten Commandments and Jesus - What did Jesus think of the Ten Commandments?ANSWER:Ever wonder what Jesus thought of the Ten Commandments? The answer can be found in John 8:36 where it says, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
The Ten Commandments represent the law given by God to his people by way of Moses. In addition to defining God's idea of perfection, they provide a moral code for governing our lives. Most of us believe we are able to keep these commandments, but the truth is-none of us can. God's standards are so high, they are impossible to perfectly meet.
What did Jesus think of the Ten Commandments? He agreed that they are impossible for you and me to keep. That's why He came.
As a man, Jesus understood our limitations. But because He was also fully God, He was able to become the perfect, sinless man on our behalf. God's law demands a sacrifice for breaking His law. Jesus became that sacrifice.
If the Ten Commandments are impossible for us to keep, why did God give them? If we look closely, we'll see that the commandments are based on a simple, positive foundation of love. All of us would rather hear about what we can do rather than what we are forbidden to do. But an honest examination of the Ten Commandments reveals that God's message contains more what "to do" than "not to do" items.
The Ten Commandments teach us how to first love God, and then love our neighbor. When God is first in our lives, the rest comes naturally. Let's take a walk together through the 10 Commandments. . .where we'll discover they lead to Jesus.
The first commandment says, "You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:3). In other words, love God above everything. It's all too easy for us to push God aside in favor of the latest fad, fashion trend, or superstar. We can become easily obsessed with wrong ideas about success. If God is truly first in our lives, we'll find balance and grow to godly maturity. In time, we'll also discover we can be satisfied with what we have.
God wants us to use his name positively, not in vain. He wants us to concentrate on his word and his ways, on remembering the Sabbath day by honoring God with our choices. It is good to honor our father and mother; we should always treat family members with respect.
Do not kill, do not commit adultery, and do not steal. Those three commandments value life and relationship and respecting others.
Not bearing false witness against your neighbor, and not coveting what belongs to your neighbor applies to men and women, young and old -- everyone. Consider how much more peaceful our world would be if everyone kept these commandments.
Each commandment is a separate rule but together they offer directions on how to live without sin. As long as we are in this world, we will find it difficult not to sin. The good news is, Jesus came to rescue us from the penalty of sin. This does not mean we should willfully sin; as we've discussed, the Ten Commandments are given for our personal and mutual benefit. But if we accept the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, we can escape the judgment for sin -- which is eternal life, separated from God.
So, do you wonder what Jesus says about the 10 commandments?
His answer lies at the foot of a cross, but started a long time ago, when God used His Almighty finger to write some commandments to live by. And the one time He did, they were meant for all time.
Jesus did not do away with the moral law at the cross, but his sacrifice for mankind revealed the grace and forgiveness available to us.
If we live by these laws on our own, we would know heaven on earth. Because we are unable to, we live in a sinful world. That's why we need a Savior, and His name is Jesus.
What does Jesus say about the Ten Commandments? He asks us to look at the Cross of Calvary where he died to set us free.
