Is the 10 commandments still valid?
Many times I get asked the question Do we still need the law of Moses?
Well, do we?
Do we need to adhere to the law and commandments given to Moses?
Do we still have to abide and be obedient to it?
Often times the law-conscious preacher would use quotes such as in Matthew 5 to substantiate his or her traditional mold of interpretation and understanding.
Perverse minds will pervert scripture
Jesus says that He came not to destroy (demolish; overthrow) the law and someone would say See, right there it says that the law is still in place and we have to abide!
Taken out of context any verse can be twisted to substantiate corrupted and perverse thinking and doctrine.
Jesus said He came to fulfill it. Huge difference!
He even said IT IS FINISHED!
Looking at the finished work of Jesus on the cross, it is obvious that He alone is the one ever to have fulfilled it completely. Just as one man’s sin imputed sin on all, so one Man’s obedience imputed righteousness on all.
He said so! HalleluYAH!
And the law?
You can ride a dead horse … but it won’t bring you nowhere!
So, the whole of the New Testament echoes what Jesus did to the law. He fulfilled each and every little part of it to the finest detail so that you and I don’t have to!
But, let’s look at the finer details and paraphrase Hebrews 8:7-11 for purposes of better understanding
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. - If the first covenant given to Moses was perfect for man, then man would have had no need for a Savior Who brought about the second (new) covenant so that man would not be burdened with the impossible (to man).
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: - The purpose of the law is to show man that it is completely impossible to abide by it and earn his own salvation. The standard is too high. The law always points out your sins and unrighteousness, faultiness in your own accomplishments. The days that come (now – the cross and resurrection) (the author of Hebrews quoting from Jeremiah 31:31-34) that YHVH makes a new covenant with the house of Israel (those who prevailed) and with Judah (the ones who worship YHVH.
What is this new agreement?
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. - Not in the way Israel wanted it done when they willingly rejected Abba’s invite for intimacy and relationship. They opted for an intercessor, Moses instead, saying All the words which the LORD hath said will we do (earn) Exo 14:3. They hereby willingly chose earn righteousness themselves when God lead them from bondage (Egyptian law) to the promised land of rest (where He is) and therefore He could not regard (could not make light of them) could not esteem them to their rightful positions because of the standard that was so high and perfect.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: - Now, this is the covenant that Abba would make with those who prevail (in their Savior) following the time of the old covenant (own works). He would put His Law (Jesus, the perfect law of liberty - James 1:25) in their hearts and He will be our God and we will be His people - the fullness of His covenant which is relationship and intimacy ... Emanuel, God living in and through us by His Holy Spirit – TODAY!
Heb 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. - The Spirit of Truth shall be the Teacher to everyone (see John 14,15,16) so that one will not have to teach the other in relationship … because all who thirst … all who hunger … … come (Rev 22:17). He already resides within. We all can come boldly to His throne of Grace because of the Blood of the Lamb. We are now righteous and holy before Him … without spot or blemish. HalleluYAH!!! – big and small, learned and unlearned, great and simple … all!
Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. - Because He is merciful. His very character (from the Greek root word aihreomai meaning to take for one self; to choose against the old covenant where people had to perform in order to obtain). He chooses not ever to regard our sins and iniquities. This we need to confess homologeō – homo meaning the same and logos meaning logic thinking (mind, the Word). Thus to be of the same mind as God concerning our sins!
Is it finished?
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. - Herein He says that He made a New Covenant. The old, as a result being made palaioō meaning to be obsolete (Oxford: no longer useful because something better has been presented; outdated). How? By Christ having fulfilled completely the old and presenting us with righteousness - Grace! Now that which is made outdated (palaioō) is also made gēraskō or obsolescent) and is ready (in position; in place) to aphanismos meaning to be in abrogation, to disappear, taken out of sight, render unapparent, perish, fall in disuse)
How can this be ever-the-more clearer?
So then, what exactly is “the law” that is obsolete?
Contrary to what is taught in the institutional church, it is not the ceremonial laws only. It includes everything that is law and the ways and means whereby you try to establish your own righteousness.
It starts with the ten commandments, written in stone. And this may shake your religious mind a little, but it includes all man-made laws and doctrine of do’s and do-nots and if this then that, and look not, feel not, eat not, touch not, say not … as presented in many church missions, visions, mandates, “who we are”-statements, etc.
Let no one deceive us
The whole of the books of Romans and Galatians warn against conflicting doctrine in this regard. Let's also consider some other scriptures, just for our benefit ...
First Ephesians
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. - not by keeping the law or any of your own works of righteousness!
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; - What separated us from God? Sin. What gave sin it’s strength? The law!
He abolished what?
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Now John
Joh 1:16 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Did God's Grace come by keeping of the law?
And Romans
Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
They wanted to gain righteousness how?
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
And finally Jesus
Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
What a delightfully uncomplicated promise?
But the way most law-preachers teach it and traditions lead people to believe, I am convinced that we'll need some Holy Spirit guidance to understand clearly.
So, I am led to paraphrase again.
The Greek word for destroy is kataluō, meaning to loosen down; disunite; demolish; overthrow; subvert.
The Greek word for fulfill is plēroō, meaning to satisfy, to make replete, to execute, to level something, to furnish, to diffuse, to cram into a net, finish a task, to verify, to make true a prediction, to accomplish, to complete, to end, to expire, to fulfill, to make full, to make perfect, to supply.
Did I miss one?
So, what did Jesus say on the cross?
It is finished! John 19:30
What was finished? (click here to check out the blog post on the Accomplished Word and Perfect Liberty)
Jesus had finished the full requirements of the law. All the demands of justice contained in the law and the prophets were satisfied completely!
That made sin a nonentity.
That made righteousness imputed the biggest Grace gift ever!
And now?
The Way had been presented.
The Truth established.
Death defeated.
Live secured.
Our resurrection in Him displayed!
The full will of God had been executed! The ultimate story of restoration and reconciliation had been dealt with with such amazing completion that it could be declared by the King of kings and Lord of lords saying teleō - IT IS FINISHED!