As a Christian, what should I do with the Ten Commandments?

“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 our relationship with God. The second tablet contained the last six commandments dealing with our relationships with people.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus showed that these commandments are not only to govern our outward actions but also our inward attitudes. For example, if you look at someone besides your spouse with lust in your heart, then you are committing adultery in the 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 fall short of God’s standard 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 except Jesus has kept these commandments perfectly. That is why our only hope is to trust in Jesus 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 thank God that we are justified by faith! We are not under law but under grace. Therefore, we are no longer dominated by sin (Romans 6:14). Nevertheless, the Ten Commandments reveal God’s righteousness, and we are wise to keep them.

Which commandment of God’s Top Ten is hardest for you to keep? Ask God today for the willingness and power to obey.