“What purpose then does the law (including the Ten Commandments) serve? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come (Jesus) to whom the promise was made” (Galatians 3:19). So what are the Ten Commandments? Let’s answer that great question.
God, in His divine wisdom, bestowed upon Moses the Ten Commandments in approximately 1446 BC. This sacred act occurred after he had led the Jews out of Egypt, baptizing them into their leader, Moses, during their miraculous journey through the Red Sea:
“All our (Jewish) fathers … passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses” (1 Corinthians 10:1-2).
A Distinct People
The Jews were on their way to becoming God’s nation in their Promised Land. When they reached Mt. Sinai, God called Moses up on the mountain to give him His commandments. God wanted them to live as
a distinct people, pleasing Him, so they could ‘live long’ in their land.
A Distinct Law
God wrote these Ten Commandments on stone tablets and gave them to Moses:
“When He had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18).
List of the Ten Commandments
The Bible lists the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17. We have abbreviated them:
1) You shall have no other gods before Me.
2) You shall not make for yourself any graven idol.
3) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5) Honor your father and your mother.
6) You shall not murder.
7) You shall not commit adultery.
8) You shall not steal.
9) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10) You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s.
Valid Until Jesus Came
These Commandments were the Law for God’s people, the Jews, but only until Jesus came. The Jews were under Aaron’s priesthood until then, and Jesus became the believer’s High Priest. With Jesus’ arrival, God established a new covenant, transitioning from the Old Testament to the New Testament, and the Ten Commandments were no longer the guide for believers.
“For a change in the priesthood necessitates a change in the law (the Ten Commandments)…. For the law appoints men who are weak as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son (Jesus) who is made perfect forever” (Hebrews 7:12,28).
Current Use
Yet the Ten Commandments still serve a purpose. They reflect God’s moral standards and convict people of sin. For instance, the commandment ‘You shall not murder’ reflects God’s value for human life. No one can keep the ethical standards of the Law, so it convicts people as sinners. We are all sinners who need a Savior: Jesus.
“Now we know that … every mouth may be silenced, and all the world may become accountable to God. Therefore, by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:19-20).
Their Weaknesses
But Galatians Chapter 3 lists many of the weaknesses of the Law:
1) Believers receive the Holy Spirit by faith, not Law (v 2).
2) The flesh (Law) can’t perfect us (v 3).
3) The Holy Spirit works miracles by faith, not Law (v 5).
4) Those of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham (v 9).
5) All who rely on the works of the Law are under the curse (v 10).
6) The Law doesn’t justify anyone for “The just shall live by faith” (v 11).
7) Our inheritance comes by faith, not Law (v 18).
8) The Law was added because of transgressions until Jesus came (v 19).
9) God gave the Law through angelic mediators while Jesus came directly from God (v 19-20).
10) The Law couldn’t bring righteousness (v 21).
11) God gives His promise through faith in Jesus (v 22).
12) The Law kept us in prison (v 23).
13) The Law was only our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith (v 24-25).
14) Believers are sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus (v 26).
The Apostle Paul explained that the Law isn’t necessary when we’re motivated by love:
“For he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, (against) adultery, … murder, … steal(ing), … false testimony, covet(ing), and … any other commandments, are summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Romans 13:8-10).
Paul also tells us there is no Law against,
“Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Summary
God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel so they could please Him when they obeyed.
God wrote them with His finger on tablets of stone.
They were only valid as a tutor until Jesus came.
They still reflect God’s moral standards and convict people of sin.
Galatians chapter 3 lists fourteen weaknesses of the Law when compared to faith.
The Law isn’t necessary when believers are motivated by love or when controlled by the Spirit.
