The 10 Commandments in the New Testament
Many Christians are taught that law is reprehensible and that it stands in contrast to grace. This is a devious move by the enemy. For the definition of grace as been subtly changed and the idea of law is strongly upheld and required in the New Testament. The word law can refer to different things. It can refer to the 10 Commandments or the entire legal code of the Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) or additionally to all of the extra-biblical laws and regulations of the Rabbis. It can also refer to the law of Christ, the law of the Spirit, and the law of God. We must be careful to discern which law a text is referring to when we read it.
Many Christians claim that we are no longer under law, but that we are under grace. They point to passages that seem to support this. However, we must ask that question, “Which law is the passage talking about?” It cannot be talking about all law or else we could freely murder someone and it would not matter to God. We know that is not true, because in Revelation 21 it says that murderers, among other sinners, will be cast into eternal death in the Lake of Burning Sulphur:
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation 21.8
Right after the 10 Commandments are spoken we find out that the purpose of the 10 Commandments is to test the people. The fear of the LORD must always be before their faces so that they will not sin.
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exodus 20.18-20
Then he tells Moses that the people must avoid making idols. If they make an altar it must be made of earth. If they make one of stones they must be natural, untouched stones. For taking a tool to them will defile them.
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. 24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.* 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
Exodus 20.21-26
The point of the 10 Commandments is to prove the people. Notice the direct connection with keeping the fear of the LORD before your face and not sinning.
By proving that the 10 Commandments are taught, commanded, and observed in the New Testament by Christ,the Apostles, and other Christians, we are proving that we too must obey the 10 Commandments. They are not optional. In fact, Jesus declares starting in Matthew 5.17 that the law shall never pass away. It is more permanent than heaven and earth, according to Jesus. He says that He came to fill up what was lacking nit he law and then proceeds to apply love to the law to make it even tighter in its requirements. Obeying the 10 Commandments is a piece of cake compared to obeying Jesus’ application of love to the law.
One example of a stricter law made by Jesus out of one of the 10 Commandments is the commandment “Thou shalt not murder!” Jesus applies love to this and now we cannot even hate a brother in our hearts or else we are guilty of having committed murder! That is far more loving to not hate a brother than just to not kill him off completely. Jesus fills up what was lacking in the 10 Commandments by love. The results are a more difficult law, but much better relationships that show God’s love more strongly.
10 Commandments in NT (1 of 10) - No Other Gods!
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The Ten Commandments are commanded in the New Testament.
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First Commandment Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7
NT: Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; Revelation 14:7
1st Commandment
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20.3
7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me.
Deuteronomy 5:7
New Testament Support
Matthew 4:10
Luke 4:8
10 Commandments in NT (2 of 10) - No Idols!
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The Ten Commandments are commanded in the New Testament.
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4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Second Commandment Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:8-10
John 4:23; Acts 15:20; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-20; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5
10 Commandments playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcHgEY6c5JU&list=PL9jcKT5ZGUnVs8qGKrrWg1I0PzFXvyaN2
2nd Commandment
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20.4-6
8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Deuteronomy 5:8-10
New Testament Support
John 4:23
Acts 15:20
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Galatians 5:19-20
Ephesians 5:5
Colossians 3:5
10 Commandments in NT (3 of 10) - Do Not Carry the LORD's Name in Desolation
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The Ten Commandments are commanded in the New Testament.
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Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Third Commandment Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11
NT: Matthew 7.15-23; Ephesians 2.1-3; Romans 2.5-11
// Matthew 5:33-37; 1 Timothy 6:1; James 2:7; 5:12
10 Commandments playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcHgEY6c5JU&list=PL9jcKT5ZGUnVs8qGKrrWg1I0PzFXvyaN2
3rd Commandment
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 20.7
11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Deuteronomy 5:11
New Testament Support
| Identifying with God in Desolation | Not Fulfilling Your Oaths |
| Matthew 7.15-23 | Matthew 5:33-37 |
| Ephesians 2.1-3 | 1 Timothy 6:1 |
| Romans 2.5-11 | Jacob 2:7 |
| Jacob 5:12 |
10 Commandments in NT (4 of 10) - Keep the Sabbath Holy!
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The Ten Commandments are commanded in the New Testament.
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8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Fourth Commandment Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15
NT: Luke 4:16; 23:55-56; Acts 17:1-2; 18:4; Hebrews 4:9; 1 John 2:6
10 Commandments playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcHgEY6c5JU&list=PL9jcKT5ZGUnVs8qGKrrWg1I0PzFXvyaN2
4th Commandment
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20.8-11
12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: 14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
New Testament Support
Luke 4:16
Luke 23:55-56
Acts 17:1-2
Acts 18:4
Hebrews 4:9
1 John 2:6
10 Commandments in NT (5 of 10) - Honor Your Parents!
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The Ten Commandments are commanded in the New Testament.
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12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Fifth Commandment Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16
NT: Matthew 15:4-9; 19:19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 1:29-30; Ephesians 6:1-3
10 Commandments playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcHgEY6c5JU&list=PL9jcKT5ZGUnVs8qGKrrWg1I0PzFXvyaN2
5th Commandment
12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Exodus 20.12
16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
Deuteronomy 5:16
New Testament Support
Matthew 15:4-9
Matthew 19:19
Mark 10:19
Luke 18:20
Romans 1:29-30
Ephesians 6:1-3
10 Commandments in NT (6 of 10) - Do Not Kill!
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The Ten Commandments are commanded in the New Testament.
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13 Thou shalt not kill.
Sixth Commandment: Exodus 20.13; Deuteronomy 5:17
NT: Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 1:29-30; Romans 13:9
10 Commandments playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcHgEY6c5JU&list=PL9jcKT5ZGUnVs8qGKrrWg1I0PzFXvyaN2
6th Commandment
13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exodus 20.13
17 Thou shalt not kill.
Deuteronomy 5:17
New Testament Support
Matthew 5:21-22
Matthew19:18
Mark 10:19
Luke 18:20
Romans 1:29-30
Romans 13:9
7th Commandment
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exodus 20.14
18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
Deuteronomy 5:18
New Testament Support
Matthew 5:27-28
Matthew 19:18
Mark 10:11-12, 19
Luke 16:18
Luke18:20
Romans 7:2-3
Romans 13:9
8th Commandment
15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exodus 20.15
19 Neither shalt thou steal.
Deuteronomy 5:19
New Testament Support
Matthew 19:18
Mark 10:19
Luke 18:20
Romans 13:9
Ephesians 4:28
1 Peter 4:15
Revelation 9:21
9th Commandment
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exodus 20.16
20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Deuteronomy 5:20
New Testament Support
Matthew 19:18
Mark 10:19
Luke 18:20
Acts 5:3-4
Romans 13:9
Ephesians 4:25
Revelation 21.8
10th Commandment
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Exodus 20.17
21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Deuteronomy 5:21
New Testament Support
Luke 12:15
Romans 1:29
Romans 7:7; 13:9
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Galatians 5:19-21
Ephesians 5:3, 5