We continue our study of the ten commandments found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.

The Ten Commandments (Part 2)

2 What the Ten Commandments are Not

They are not the basic morality

The ten commandments draw from, and express, several elements from a common or basic morality that was revealed by God to all the world from creation (Rom 1:18-21-32). That basic morality, which originated with God, is expressed to some extent in most systems of law, including Australian law. We would all be very surprised indeed if it were lacking in the law of Moses.

The ten commandments, however, are not this basic morality. Basic morality is also a part of the law of Christ, making the law of Moses redundant in that respect. It is obvious, anyway from what they omit, that the ten commandments are not adequate as a basic moral code. For example they make no mention of sorcery (Exo 22:18), oppressing the poor (Exo 22:21-27), and drunkenness (Gal 5:19-21).

They are not the basis of the Law of Moses

Jesus said the law of Moses was based on two commandments (Mtt 22:34-40)...

• 1~Love the Lord your God with all your heart
• 2~Love your neighbour as yourself

The first four of the ten commandments are based on love for God, a commandment found elsewhere in the law of Moses (Deu 6:5).

Likewise, the last six of the ten commandments are based on love for neighbour, another commandment found elsewhere in the law (Lev 19:18). So the rest of the Law is not based on the ten commandments, rather the ten commandments are based on other parts of the law.

They are not the basis of Christianity

The basis of Christianity is faith in Christ the Son of God, and a reliance upon his death and blood as a sacrifice for our sins, together with his resurrection and ascension to God's right hand that he might intercede for us (Gal 3:10-14, Rom 8:34).

We certainly do not live by the ten commandments today, for under them we would be condemned! Paul called the ten commandments "the ministry of death" (2Co 3:7).

The New Testament is at pains to explain that the ten commandments were abolished at Christ's death (Col 2:14, 2Co 3:7-11).