9 Truths About the 10 Commandments
Main Idea: The Law is not bad—people are.
Truth #1: The Law Is — Exodus 19:3-4
Moses went up the mountain to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: “This is what you must say to the house of Jacob and explain to the Israelites: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Exodus 19:3-4
Truth #2: The Law is for — Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:5-6
Truth #3: The Law — Exodus 20:1-7; Deuteronomy 10:12-13
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you except to fear the Lord your God by walking in all his ways, to love him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul? Keep the Lord’s commands and statutes I am giving you today, for your own good. Deuteronomy 10:12-13
Truth #4: The Law Has — Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 27-30
Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:5-6
Truth #5: The Law Exposes — Exodus 19:9-25; Deuteronomy 20:18-21
After Moses came back, he summoned the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. Then all the people responded together, “We will do all that the Lord has spoken.” So Moses brought the people’s words back to the Lord. Exodus 19:7-8
All the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the ram’s horn, and the mountain surrounded by smoke. When the people saw it they trembled and stood at a distance. “You speak to us, and we will listen,” they said to Moses, “but don’t let God speak to us, or we will die.” Moses responded to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, so that you will fear him and will not sin.” And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was. Exodus 20:18-21
Truth #6: The Law Becomes a — Exodus Deuteronomy 31:24-29
When Moses had finished writing down on a scroll every single word of this law, he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the Lord’s covenant, “Take this book of the law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God so that it may remain there as a witness against you. For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are rebelling against the Lord now, while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after I am dead! Assemble all your tribal elders and officers before me so that I may speak these words directly to them and call heaven and earth as witnesses against them. For I know that after my death you will become completely corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. Disaster will come to you in the future, because you will do what is evil in the Lord’s sight, angering him with what your hands have made.” Deuteronomy 31:24-29
Truth #7: The Law Reveals the Need for a — Deuteronomy 5:29, 10:15-16, 30:6; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Isaiah 11:1, 10, 52:13-53:12
If only they had such a heart to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that they and their children would prosper forever. Deuteronomy 5:29
Truth #8: The Law Anticipates — Matthew 5:17-18
“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18
Truth #9: The Law Exclaims the Need for — Galatians 2:19-21
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing. Galatians 2:19-21