The question was asked: which of the ten commandments dont apply to us (gentile believers in Christ)? Well, theres this introductory verse that first of all shows us who they DO apply to: I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Ex 20:2 We know for a fact that God was talking to the Israelites, for He did just what the preceding verse states. Egypt is not allegorical in this instance, just as in the Epistles when Paul addressed letters to specific churches to confront them of their problems. The fact that the LORD brought the Israelites out of Egypt is restated hundreds of times throughout the Law (Torah). A few examples: Exo 12:51, 13:8-9, 16, 18:1, 29:46, 32:12; Lev 11:45, 22:33, 25:38; Deut 4:37, 5:6, 15... When God says Egypt, He means the literal land in this instance, and in every instance throughout both new and old testament. Egypt is always spoken of as literal (except where explicitly noted, i.e. Rev 11:8). We see that the 2nd commandment has a specific curse on whomever it applies to: ...punishing the children for the iniquity of the parents to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, v.5 We know that children are not punished for their parents sins, and visa-versa. ...The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son... Ezek 18:20. Children are also very precious in Christs sight in the New Testament (Matt 19:14, Mark 9:47, 10:14). The 2nd commandment was addressed to a specific nation that was prone to idolatry (growing up in Ancient Egypt will do that), not individuals. If it was intended for individuals, it should have come with a forgiveness clause. This curse was carried out in the wilderness (40 years of wandering) as punishment for the Israelites quickly turning to idol worship at Mt. Sinai. In the 3rd commandment we see a similar curse: ...for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. v.7. Using the Lords Name when taking an oath was a common practice for the Israelites. In Leviticus 19:12 we see this: You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God... Not carrying out oaths taken by Gods Name was equated with taking His Name in vain. This commandment does not apply to New Testament believers because Christ tells us not to even take oaths (Matt 5:33-37). We also know that God DOES leave us guiltless for our sins, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. All sins are washed away, and we are considered righteous. The will not language of the 3rd commandment is very specific and unyielding, but Romans 3:19 tells us that the unsaved world, under the law, is guilty, but individuals are NOT guilty through the redemption of Christ (Rm 3:22-27). There is no offer of forgiveness in the ten commandments. The 4th commandment also applies to a nation, and not individuals, and we know this because it references stranger within thy gates. The Hebrew word used here for gates is better translated as cities or towns not houses or temples. This commandment is addressed to a large nation/community. Which nation? The clue is in verse 2 of Exo 20: The Israelites who were enslaved by, and brought out of, Egypt. The 4th commandment also assumes that the nation will always have cattle, oxen, and slaves. Israels community was agricultural, and slavery was a norm. This commandment is also addressed to the leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel, not to individuals. It applies to people in possession of sons, daughters, slaves, and work animals. In Deuteronomy 5:15 we see that the Ten commandments, and the 4th specifically, is given to a particular people group: 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. This time around, the reason for remembering sabbaths was BECAUSE of what the LORD did for the Israelites in Egypt. The 5th commandment also applies specifically to the nation of Israel. How do we know this? Because it is a promise addressed to a people group who will literally be given land: ...so that you may live long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (v.12). The Israelites possessed Canaan: ...behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession: (Deut 32:49). This was promised to Abraham and his seed in Genesis 17:7-8: And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. So we can easily see that the 5th commandment applied to Abrahams children. In the 10th commandment, we can tell that it is bound by time, as it lists wife and slaves as belongings/property. The New Testament freed women and slaves from bondage and being considered property to be passed around (for examples of O. T. property, see Deut ch.22, 24; Exo 21:21, Lev 22:11). Christs ministry was surrounded by women. The first and only person to hear Christ openly label himself as the Messiah was a Samaritan woman (John ch.4), who also became the first evangelist. Christ let many women into his intimate circle of friends (Luke ch.8, 10; Mark ch.15). Women were the first and only witnesses of Christs resurrection, and their testimony is recorded in the Gospels as truth in a time when their words would have been brushed off as crazy talk. So we can see that Christ no longer allowed society to get away with viewing women as property, whereas the 10th commandment in Exodus does. And lastly, the ten commandments as a whole are repeated in Deuteronomy 5. Notice the introduction: 1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 2 The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, 5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, 6 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Notice that the Covenant made at Horeb was NOT made with anyone before the Israelites arrived there (v.3), and that again they are addressed to the Israelites (v.1), and once again, literal Egypt is mentioned (v.6). The Old Covenant (stone tablets and Book of the Law) was given to Moses and his nation. It does not apply to the gentiles, nor the gentile believers of the New Testament. The Old Covenant of the stone tables, called the ministry of death and condemnation, has been done away with (2Cor ch.3)! Those tablets full of curses and punishments and inequality have faded away through Christs fulfillment (Heb ch.8)! Now the world can receive the New Covenant founded on better promises, that came with no curses, since the One who bore our sins took the curse for us! For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Matt 11:13 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matt 22:36-40 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1 John 3:22-24
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 08:20:13 +0000
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