The Ten Commandments or the Ten Words (Ex 34:28, Deut. 5:22)
I have been pondering over the well-debated question of whether the Ten Commandments have been ignored, neglected or even, possibly, disobeyed by most of today's Christians. I have not come to a conclusion, and this post merely states my reflections on this matter:
- Both Gal 5:14 and Rom 13:8-10 assert that having the Love of God in us is the fulfillment of the Torah. The passage in Rom. 13 lists the 6th to 10th commandments as examples. And it is in line with the Lord Jesus' teaching that Lev.19:18 is the second of the two greatest commandments on which "hang all the commandments and the Law". My question is how about the first five commandments? How does Love fulfill them, in particular the fourth?
- Did Paul and the other Apostles observe the sabbath along with Jewish feasts and holy days? 1 Cor. 16:8 tells of Paul tarrying in Ephesus until Pentecost. Were those the only celebrations observed by Christians in NT times?
- Ironically the 4th commandment - the least talked about or taught in Church - appears to be the most elaborate of the Ten commandments. It is the longest commandment of all.
- 1 Cor. 7:19 says that keeping the commandments of God is what matters. This is consistent with all that the Lord Jesus had taught in his sermon on the Mount - "You have heard that it is said . . . . but I tell you . . ." largely elaborates on how to obey the Ten commandments from the heart.
- The Apostle Paul taught from the Torah of Moses in 1 Cor. 9:9 (Deut 25:4). Similarly, he taught from the Neviim in 1 Cor. 14:21 (Is. 28:11,12). Another significant example is 2Cor. 6:16 where Paul referred to Lev 26:12, Jer 32:38, Ezek 37:27 Isaiah 52;11, Ezek 20:34, 41 and 2Sam 7:14 with the words, "And God has said . . ." The apostle clearly upheld the OT scriptures in his life. (Rom. 3:31)
- A caution, however, is given in Gal 6:16, which appears to be the epitome of the entire epistle to the Galatians, "walk according to this rule" citing circumcision as the case in hand, v. 15 says,"Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.".
- What is this "rule"? Many Christians today interpret this to be the abolishment of the Torah, and to imply that we no longer live under any obligation to keep the Torah, including the Ten Commandments? see 2Cor. 3:11, "that which is fading away", Eph 2:15, Christ "abolished in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations"
- In Acts 15 and the entire epistle to the Galatians, the issue was that some people insisted on circumcision according to the custom of Moses - in order to be saved!
- Strangely, no such issue was raised by the opponents of Paul regarding the keeping of the Sabbath. Wouldn't they be even more unhappy with Paul's teaching if the Gentile churches did not, perhaps along with Paul himself, observe the seventh day as a day of rest?
- It may be highly likely that the early Christians who turned to God from idols had also learned from the apostles to observe the sabbath. As such the Judaizers had nothing to say against them on this matter.
- And how about Paul's arguments in Rom. 14 "4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God."
Was Paul referring to the 4th commandment when he talked about some people esteeming one day as better than another? - (To be continued)
