one could argue who said what to who.. Too many readers who claim to be christian continue to claim that every line in the bible is meant for people today in 2010, They forget who was writing to who, and the context, and in particular what group of people were there and the point of the message..beit to teach a certain group at 'that time and place' or whether the author was having a go at certain ones in that group over others in that group. etc etc etc..there are many variants.
Having said all that.
Who was Jesus talking to at any time he gave any commandments.
Remembering Jesus came to fullfill (finalize) the old laws that kept people from god. The laws of old are done away with and the whole point of jesus is to believe this and believe through faith like as to Abraham. Problem with churches today they say they are christian yet keep the laws of the jews.
Another thing to remember is that christ came to form a new group, (the new man or...chrisitans) however in that new group, there are 2 subgroups. Jewish christians and Gentile Christans) and this fact is shrugged under the carpet by most who are learning the bible.
Usually when one talks of Christians people just think of an overall group and dont really think about it..but in the apostles days there were definately distinctions between those jews who came to god and those gentiles who came to god and while they all agreed to follow jesus, doesn't mean they had the same rules for want of better word.
first thing to work out is if your a gentile christian or a jewish christian (while all are definately christians in the whole) it depends on what is said to who what counts to who.
Paul is a great expample..he told many jewish christians not to bother too much the gentile christians in certain affairs. showing without doubt that there were/are differences depending.
My questions are these...
Did Jesus give commandments to gentile christians?
If All christians (Jewish or Gentile) have to follow the commandments Jesus gave, does that really have anything to do with loss of salvation?
Because nobody ever passed a 'law/commandment' test barring Jesus. So if it is essential to keep jesus laws for salvation, nobody will ever be saved. and those who claim they can keep even those 2 mentioned commandments are lying to even suggest they can or could).
Bottom line is the grace of god saves any 'true believer'' (and that is the important part) by FAITH.. (not blind faith either).. but only Faith can save, no law or commandment can.
Would Jesus come to take the burdon of laws away as he did.. just to lay more burden that couldn't be done.
People don't fool yourselves thinking you can always keep commandments.. its never been done and never will be.
Besides what about the Beatitudes in Matthew. What do people say they are ..they sound like commandments don't they? And again..Who was jesus talking to then.. Defininately not gentiles.
something to think about without really giving my answer