“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”

Exodus 20:2–3 (NKJV)

Most people are at least familiar with the Ten Commandments. They form the basis for all the law that God gave to Moses. They were handwritten on two stone tablets. The first tablet contained the first four commandments dealing with man’s relationship with God. The second tablet contained the last six commandments dealing with man’s relationship with man.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus made it clear that these commandments were not only to govern one’s actions but also his heart. For example, you could violate the commandment not to commit adultery by simply looking at someone (other than your spouse) with lust in your heart.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 3:24 that the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ. In other words, by convicting us of sin, the law shows us where we come up short so that we despair of our own self-righteousness and are driven to Christ as our only hope for justification. Therefore, the Ten Commandments are quite useful in helping people to see that they are sinners who need a Savior.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”

Psalm 19:7 (NKJV)

The Ten Commandments help us to see what God’s righteousness looks like. Those who keep them and teach others to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:19). But no one has kept these commandments perfectly. That is why our only hope is to trust in Jesus Christ who became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

No one is justified by the law, but the law leads us to the justification that is found only in Jesus Christ. Let’s give God thanks that we have been justified by faith! We are not under law but under grace. Therefore, we are no longer dominated by sin (Romans 6:14). Finally, let’s pray that God would help us by His grace to keep His commandments so that we may exemplify His righteousness.

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