“10”

Every holiday season the ABC television network entertains us with the traditional broadcast of the movie, “The Ten Commandments,” starring Charlton Heston, whom many believe, is the actual Moses. Well, he may not be the real Moses but the film, which was directed by Cecil B. DeMille, became the sixth-highest-grossing film of all time in Canada and the US. A cinematic epic tale of Moses, the Exodus of the Hebrew people from Egypt, the origins of Passover and the giving of the Ten commandments from the hand of God. For many, the film is the first introduction to the commandments that God intended for His and all people that decided to follow and worship Him. 

Since the time that they were given, governments, nations and kingdoms have adapted the Ten commandments as a foundation for the majority of their laws in their land. The question being raised in the new millennium is, are they still relevant in today’s society? Once again, A popular megachurch pastor, who rose questions of the validity of the virgin birth of Jesus, now says the Ten commandments no longer apply and that Christians instead should focus on and perhaps even post Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Andy Stanley, author of the new book “Irresistible” and pastor of North Point Community Church in Georgia, asserts in a new column for “Relevant” magazine that Jesus’ commandment in John 13:34 (“love one another”) replaced the Ten commandments and old covenant. 

When we take a look at the events surrounding John 13:34 we find that this is during the “Last Supper” and as we read the verse we find that Jesus was giving a “new” commandment and verse 35 explains why He gave the “new” commandment;

John 13:34-35 NKJV — “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Stanley claims in his article that “Jesus didn’t issue his new command as an additional commandment to the existing list of commands,” but if we read on in John and in the other Gospels that recorded the account of the “Last Supper” that Jesus did not replace the Ten commandments. Yes, this “new” commandment is part of the new covenant but not a change or substitute to the basic structure that God had in place throughout the scriptures. 

When Jesus quoted scripture it was from the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament) and from the books of the prophets. Speaking of all of God’s commandments Jesus says in the book of Matthew;

Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV — “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Pastor Stanley also writes in his article: “Jesus may have been foreshadowed in the old covenant but He did not come to extend it. He came to fulfill it, put a bow on it, and establish something entirely new,” Stanley wrote. “…The author of Hebrews says it best. Jesus was the ‘guarantor of a better covenant’ (Hebrews 7:22). Later he writes, ‘the new covenant is established on better promises.’”

The promises had always been there. They were and are now obtainable through Jesus Christ, His only begotten son. Andy Stanley may be trying to update the message for this generation but the message that the Lord brings is for all generations. The new covenant was established because Israel had rejected Christ and now the age of the Gentiles was here. Salvation was and is available to anyone “who has ears to hear” and is willing to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. This includes both Jew and Gentile.

Let us remember the young man in Matthew, chapter 19, when he approached Jesus about salvation and notice that Jesus quotes the Ten commandments; 

Matthew 19:16-21 NKJV — Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

Jesus also gave this in Matthew 22;

Matthew 22:35-40 NKJV — Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the first and great commandment. “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Obedience to the law and the word of God is important but the Lord didn’t want us to be mechanical about it, He wanted us to have and show a little compassion in our treatment to others. If we claim that the Word of God is true then we must accept the whole Bible not just sections of it. 

The crucifixion of Jesus on the cross ushered in the new covenant but that was God’s plan from the moment Adam and Eve fell from grace. The prophecies of Daniel, Isaiah and Ezekiel told us and His people the Messiah was coming and a new day would arrive for all that would believe. It didn’t mean to ignore the foundation that God had laid before us. 

Are the Ten commandments relevant in today’s world? The answer is most definitely yes but God gave us His son to fill in the gap when we can’t make the grade. Not every time can we hit a homerun or score a touchdown but with Jesus being with us in this game of life, we can overcome and be victorious. 

John 14:15-18 NKJV — “If you love Me, keep My commandments. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

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