The Commandments of God (according to scripture)

The first 4 commandments are how we love God.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor [b]serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting[c] the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lordmade the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

The last 6 how to love our neighbor

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lordyour God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Jesus expanded what it means to have God’s law in our hearts quoting from the Ten Mat 5:19-30

From tables of stone (God's law on stone for its eternal nature Deut 4:13) to tablets of the heart ( God's law in the heart Heb 8:10) and Jesus shows us exactly what this looks like giving two examples as principles quoting right from the Ten Commandments applying the Ten not only keeping the letter but also applying it to our thoughts and feelings where sin and matters of the heart start from. If one removes anger and contempt from our hearts, thou shalt not murder would automatically be kept. This is how we keep the law in our heart, and it applies to all Ten Commandments as Jesus said not to break the least of these and the spirit of the law is greater, not lessor.

Matthew 5:19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old (Old Covenant) , ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.(New Covenant in Action) And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [g]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [h]hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
27 “You have heard that it was said [i]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Not only should we literally not commit adultery or murder or breaking the least of these commandments we should not even think it the heart, where sin starts in the heart and what the new covenant is about God's law in our hearts Heb 8:10

Pay close attention to verse 20. Matthew 5:20 - "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven," this statement from Jesus would come as a shock to the multitude of people who had great admiration of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, for their knowledge of the law and seeming righteousness and holiness in external observance of the law, yet Jesus points out their righteousness was defective.

Paul makes it clear in Romans 10:3-4, "For they (Israel) being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who BELIEVES."

We see in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector an example of those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, yet despised others. (Luke 18:9-14) We also see this today with various modern day Pharisees. The righteousness that exceeds the "righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees" (self righteousness) is the righteousness of God which is from God by faith.

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and teachers of the law here.

So according to you, there is nothing new about the new covenant. It is simply the old covenant repackaged.

These are not genuine believers in Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus never knew them which means they were never saved. They were trusting in their works for salvation and not in Christ alone.

John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

I know what the commandments are. How do you keep them? Lay it out for me. How do you love as Jesus loved? What is required by the commandment? How do you fulfill it?

I agree the Pharisees righteousness was defective. Jesus made that clear in His teachings and here is a good example of it again Jesus teaching right from the Ten Commandments so our righteousness needs to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees otherwise we are not entering His kingdom according to Jesus. Mat 5:20. Can we too be like Pharisees when we follow their example? Jesus said when we keep our rules over God’s commandments our hearts are far from Him and one worships in vain (false worship- compared to Rev 14:12) Jesus went on to say when one does this both teacher and student who follow mans traditions over the commandments of God both student and teacher end up in a ditch- which means off the narrow path- much like His teaching in Mat 5:19

The Pharisees were teaching their rules above the commandments of God and Jesus quotes from the Ten Commandments.

Matthew 15: 15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother,“Whatever profit you might have received from me isa gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Not much different than how it is payed out in scripture. I can’t do it alone, we all need the power of Jesus Christ John 14:15-18 and if we stumble along the way, which I sure do at times, we have Jesus as our. High Priest that if we go to Him and are truly sorry and repent and confess He will cleanse us of all sin and unrighteousness.

one little thing- gentiles were and are not under the Law of Moses.

" it shall be a statute forever for the children of Israel". meaning the nation state of the O. T.

one God, one Covenant , one Law, one nation. can't cut and paste.

If you don't know that is fine. But you tell us to keep commandments and have yet to tell us what is required of us or how to perform it. What is required to love as Jesus loves?

I know, but I don’t go off a different plan that how God laid it out for us. It’s really not that hard or meant to be burdensome 1 John 5:3 Exodus 20 is very detailed and I believe God made it clear and simple that anyone can understand- but we always need the power of Jesus to carry out His commands. Jesus also expand on it through His teachings. It seems like you are asking me to write something different than how the scriptures tell us to obey Him, when we go away from His Word, it is no longer coming from God. Isa 8:20

If you don't know that is fine. But you tell us to keep commandments and have yet to tell us what is required of us or how to perform it. What is required to love as Jesus loves?

Israel was a name God gave to identify His people, it was both literal and metaphorical, now it is spiritual.

Gal 2:26-28, Romans 9:6 we are grafted in through faith.

Those with faith uphold God’s law Romans 3:31 Rev 14:12

The New Covenant is still made with Israel, but through faith we are grafted in and God writes His law in our hearts and minds and gives us the power to obey Him through love and faith.

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:

So when we get to the promises like when Jesus reveals His salvation that is about to come and His righteousness those with faith (not just Israel) hence- everyone who keeps His covenant will receive His promises- not just Israel

Isaiah 56:1
56 Thus says the Lord:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
For My salvation is about to come,
And My righteousness to be revealed.

6 “Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—

I just want to point out that it is Jesus who asks us to follow the commandments, the requirements to love as Jesus loved are simple, follow, imitate what he did as best you can, Listen to his teachings, Jesus is the way to eternal Life. Jesus teachings are paramount and above all else.

Jhn 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
Jhn 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jhn 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Blessings.

I agree the Pharisees righteousness was defective. Jesus made that clear in His teachings and here is a good example of it again Jesus teaching right from the Ten Commandments so our righteousness needs to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees otherwise we are not entering His kingdom according to Jesus. Mat 5:20. Can we too be like Pharisees when we follow their example? Jesus said when we keep our rules over God’s commandments our hearts are far from Him and one worships in vain (false worship- compared to Rev 14:12) Jesus went on to say when one does this both teacher and student who follow mans traditions over the commandments of God both student and teacher end up in a ditch- which means off the narrow path- much like His teaching in Mat 5:19

The Pharisees were teaching their rules above the commandments of God and Jesus quotes from the Ten Commandments.

Matthew 15: 15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, 2 “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”

3 He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother,“ Whatever profit you might have received from me isa gift to God”— 6 then he need not honor his father[a]or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

8 ‘These people [c]draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
9 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

10 When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

Awesome. What exactly do you copy? How do you know what you have done has fulfilled the commandment? The best we can? That fulfills the commandment?
I'm hearing a number of people asking me to obey, but are unable to explain what obedience looks like. I see vague references, yet no one is able to say what obedience to a commandment actually entails. How do you know when you have actually performed all that a particular commandment commands? How do you know when you haven't?
The fact is, for all the demanding to keep commandments, you and others can't answer the questions. Neither can you tell anyone what the scripture teaches on the subject. You put a yoke on people that is heavy. Now tell me how Jesus lightens the load.

I do not want to insult you in any way but I do not understand what you mean, the commandments are a simple short list of things to do or not to do. They are like a moral compass so you will nor forget, it is that simple, like you shall not kill etc...
if everyone followed these commandments, earth would be a good place to live peacefully. As you know very well Jesus said in John 14:15;
"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

Jesus summarized them saying;

Mat 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
Mat 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 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.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


For me personally the hardest one to follow if the sabbath, no one in my entourage believes, they do not follow Saturday or even Sunday as a day of rest, or worship. I avoid doing any kind or regular work on Saturday, I stay quiet read and meditate on the bible that day. However if someone needs my help for something, on Saturday, out of love for them, I will go.

I certainly do not follow the commandments like the Jews and their millions of small details that they invented thinking it pleases GOD. GOD wants us to be loving to one another and have a pure heart. In this world, I admit is is a difficult task simply because of what the world has turned into at this time, what is wrong, people call right and what is right becomes wrong, the latest example would be the gender theory stating that there is more than 2 sexes...., transgender men can now participate in women's sports events and in general people accept this!
it is hard to keep away from all this madness without living in a cabin in the woods.

One thing I can tell you is that when I started to follow the commandments it changed me gradually, I am a better person for it and still I am changing, I think almost of the time of GOD and Jesus, they are always in my mind, The love I have for them is hard to describe. The more you try to please GOD by following his ways, the closer he will get to you, and reveals things to you, this is certain.

If you have specific questions do ask me I will reply if I can, always in complete honesty and it will be accompanied by proper scripture always. I am not part of any church or denomination simply because I could never find a church that follows GOD's word perfectly. What I follow is what is in the Bible and above all else Jesus's teachings that are simple to understand and so amazing, this is what I follow from the heart and by choice not by obligation.

I still have a lot to learn but what I know for certain I write here, what I do not know I would not discuss and will say so.

Blessings.

I appreciate the tenor of your response. But every commandment comes with requirements to fulfill it. I'm not talking about the ridiculous extremes that the Pharisees went to try to boil commandments down to a set of does and don'ts. I'm talking about what the law actually entails.
Let me try an example. What does it mean to not take the Lord's name in vain? What is the commandment actually forbidding? What would be an example of that? What does it mean that someone will not be held guiltless? Is this temporal guilt or eternal? How does this apply to the Christian?
Keeping the commandments aren't so simple. If someone is going to tout the law, they ought to be able to know enough about it than a bunch of platitudes about keeping it. They ought to be able to explain it and give others an understanding of it. I'm all for keeping commandments. So let me share how:

No one keeps commandments by trying to keep commandments. No one even knows all the commandments and what is entailed in keeping them. Even if they did, no one has the capability to bring all that information top of mind at any time. And even if they could, would they be doing it with the right motive and with all that is in them?
The only way anyone will ever obey is as they walk in the Spirit. Christ actively living in a person alone is what God finds acceptable because He alone can fulfill every aspect of every law. This is what advocates of the law should teach. Otherwise, they are merely placing yokes on believers and not lifting a finger to help.

I will answer this about taking God’s name in vain and like every commandment there is a literal and spiritual aspect to it. The obvious part to not taking God’s name in vain is to only use His name in a holy manner. I stopped watching almost all secular TV because how many times do you hear them take God’s holy name in vain, even PG shows, the meta message of secular TV is devastating to the Christian mind. The deeper aspect to breaking this commandment is when we claim the name of Jesus claim to be a Christian but are not living holy lives and not representing Christ in a respectful manner, this is another way to vain God’s name.

I appreciate the tenor of your response. But every commandment comes with requirements to fulfill it. I'm not talking about the ridiculous extremes that the Pharisees went to try to boil commandments down to a set of does and don'ts. I'm talking about what the law actually entails.
Let me try an example. What does it mean to not take the Lord's name in vain? What is the commandment actually forbidding? What would be an example of that? What does it mean that someone will not be held guiltless? Is this temporal guilt or eternal? How does this apply to the Christian?
Keeping the commandments aren't so simple. If someone is going to tout the law, they ought to be able to know enough about it than a bunch of platitudes about keeping it. They ought to be able to explain it and give others an understanding of it. I'm all for keeping commandments. So let me share how:

No one keeps commandments by trying to keep commandments. No one even knows all the commandments and what is entailed in keeping them. Even if they did, no one has the capability to bring all that information top of mind at any time. And even if they could, would they be doing it with the right motive and with all that is in them?
The only way anyone will ever obey is as they walk in the Spirit. Christ actively living in a person alone is what God finds acceptable because He alone can fulfill every aspect of every law. This is what advocates of the law should teach. Otherwise, they are merely placing yokes on believers and not lifting a finger to help.

Hi Cameron, I an willing to go through the 10 commandments with you and explain as best I can with scripture, I know many have heard and say they are impossible to follow, these are words of men though by men. The lord says otherwise, you have heard on this forum that scripture says they are not grievous, (1 John 5:3) his is true and from scripture, they are not my words. I did think also a long time ago that they were hard to keep but today with a better understanding and practice I see clearly it is not so. It is something you learn and have to practice it simply takes time.

As for the commandment you mentioned;

Exo 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

People then also a bit like today were swearing on the name of the LORD, this is wrong as Jesus thought us in matthew;

Mat 5:33 Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
Mat 5:34 But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
Mat 5:35 or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Mat 5:36 Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Mat 5:37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

Also to not use the name of the lord in vain means not to use the name of GOD falsely as an example a false prophet will claim they are speaking in the name of the Lord, this is clearly wrong, there is a punishment for those who in full knowledge use His name wrongly;

Also we should not use his name lightly or carelessly. by using certain expressions, like OMG.
GOD is very HOLY it is hard to Imagine, but the ground he is on becomes Holy in his presence, there is a holiness and absolute purity that surrounds him. Many examples from scripture;
Exo 3:5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

His Holiness commands of us to use his name properly with reverence. GOD being GOD and forgiving, I am confident that if we accidentally use his name in a bad way out of habit but try hard not to do so he forgives us. as for the false prophet using his name to deceive, this is different and almost certainly will not let it be unpunished many warnings in the O.T and with good reason.

Always willing to discuss further,
Blessings and Good Night.

The commandments are a teacher. They are designed to show us our utter inability to keep them, and to look for another way to get to God. Viola...perhaps Christ. Good choice.

Otherwise, God will not hold you guiltless for all the times you did take His name in vain.

Better to just share Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The Holy Spirit knows how to lead people into righteousness. You can convince people all day to follow the law. It won't lead them into righteousness. It will only lead them into self-righteousness.