God's 10 Commandments - 197-214

197.  Can the 10 commandment law of God, written on stone, save me, or am I saved by Christ's law keeping, written in my heart?

• John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
• Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
• Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
• Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
• 2 Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for coming to this earth to condemn sin in human flesh. Without Your victory over sin, we would have no hope. The law alone has no saving power to a sinner. All it can do is show us our need, and declare our condemnation. Thank You for Your grace that removes our guilt and revokes our death sentence!

198.  Did Jesus fulfill the law, as He declared that He came to do? What does fulfil mean?

• Matthew 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil [pleroo] all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
• Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil . [pleroo]
• Mark 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled [pleroo].
• Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled [pleroo] in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
• Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil [pleroo] the Word of God;
• Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfil led [pleroo] in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Father, what a blessed truth to know that Jesus fulfilled Your holy law on earth, just as he fulfilled all righteousness. And I am promised that through his sacrifice, if I abide in Him, the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in me also. That is a precious promise, that the divine principles which are the foundation of Your righteous government will be carried out in my life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I praise Your name!

199.  Is "finished" and "fulfilled" the same? In other words, Did Jesus say all was fulfilled at the cross, or will it be said at the very end?

• Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled [ginomai].
• John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished [teleo]: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
• Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done [ginomai].
• Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done [ginomai]. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
• Revelation 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done [ginomai].

Dear Lord, Jesus declared that not one tiny part of Your law would be removed until Heaven and earth pass away. That will only happen when You declare It is done, after the 7 last plagues. At that time every one will have made their final decision for or against Your law. Every human's destiny is settled for eternity. The law is the standard of judgment. Father, teach me to be a careful student of scripture, so I don't fall for popular misconceptions about Your Word!

200.  Does the new commandment of the new covenant do away with the 10 commandments, which also were based on love?

• John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
• 1 John 2:7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the Word which ye have heard from the beginning.
• 1 John 2:8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.
• 2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
• 2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Dear Lord, sometimes we hear that the 10 commandments have been replaced by a new commandment, which is to love. But if we read Your Word carefully, we find that the new commandment was the same as the old commandment. Jesus, Your love that You demonstrated was so powerful, so fresh, so new that it seemed like a new teaching. But we see that what You were doing is making Your holy law, based on love, come alive with new meaning. You want us to relate to Your law as it was enshrined in Your heart, so the same law of love will be enshrined in our hearts. Give me the desire, Lord Jesus, to welcome Your spiritual law of love into my heart.

201.  Is it important for new covenant Christians to keep God's 10 commandments?

• James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
• 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
• Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
• Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
• Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Dear Lord, Your Word is crystal clear. You want Your saints, especially in the last days, to keep Your commandments. We have seen that these are indeed the 10 commandments that You wrote with Your own finger. Our love for You is revealed by our willingness to let You live in us, and keep Your law of love through us. All the honor and praise goes to You!

202.  Will we find freedom from sin as we abide in God's law of truth and liberty?

• Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
• John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
• Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
• James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
• James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Father, Your holy law, written on my heart, becomes a law of liberty, setting me free from sin, and releasing me from the death sentence. Oh Lord, please write Your law continually on my heart, that I may truly be free in You. Let me walk at liberty, free indeed from sin-the transgression of the law. I praise You for the precious law of liberty in my heart!

203.  What is the First Great commandment, upon which the first 4 of the 10 commandments are based?

• Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
• Joshua 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
• Matthew 22:37, 38 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.
• Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
• Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

O Lord my God, open my eyes, get my earnest attention, because what You are saying here is of utmost importance. Your paramount commandment to mankind is that we love You totally and completely, with every faculty of our being. Every energy of mind, body, emotion and desire must spring from an all encompassing commitment to adore You above all else. This will lead us to keep Your first 4 commandments with a pure motive of responsive love. Help that to be my genuine experience, Lord!

204.  What is the Second Great Commandment, upon which the last 6 of the 10 commandments are based?

• Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
• Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
• Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
• Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• James 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Dearest Lord, Your 2nd great commandment, to love others as I love myself, can only be truly obeyed in Your strength. As a human, it is not always easy to love others, especially my enemies. But by giving this great commandment, You promise to provide the power to love even the unlovable. Commandments 6 through 10 teach us the specific ways You will enable us to love others. Lord, I give You permission to pour this divine love into my heart, so it will flow out to friend and foe, for Your glory!

205.  What is the First Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
• Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
• John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
• 1 Corinthians 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
• Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Dear God, You desire my undivided affection and loyalty. You long for such an intimate relationship with me that nothing could possibly come between us. You want me to delight in my worship of You so deeply that no object, being or experience can pull away my affection from You. That is why You warn so strongly against idols and false worship. Keep me pure for You, dear Lord, so that You are enshrined in my heart, and nothing else can lure me from You.

206.  What is the Second Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
• 1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
• Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
• 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
• 1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Dearest Lord, Turn my heart away from every idol, I pray. Every little object or pursuit that draws my devotion away from You becomes an idol to me. Sometimes I am tempted to put even a good thing above my pursuit of You. Lord, You know the things that have a strong pull on me, keeping me from thinking of You, talking to You, or serving You. Cast down every idol, Lord, even in the imaginations of my heart. Cleanse my soul temple, so that You alone are worshiped.

207.  What is the Third Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
• Leviticus 19:12 And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.
• Psalm 139:20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
• Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle Word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
• 2 Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Dear Father, Empower me to never take Your name in vain, or use it lightly. Your name is holy and reverend. Let me use Your name with deep reverence and awe. Teach me not to use slang similarities that make light of holy things. Guide me to think before I speak, and speak only for Your honor and glory. Keep me from hypocrisy and pretense, that I may be sincere and my language always pure and uplifting.

208.  What is the Fourth Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
• Exodus 20:9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
• Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
• Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is , and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
• Luke 6:5 And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Dear Lord of the Sabbath, our great Creator, You have given me a precious gift in this 4 th commandment, a special day of rest to spend with You. You set aside 24 hours as holy time, reserved for spiritual refreshment. You have designed this day of fellowship so I can rejoice in Your creation and redemption, and fellowship with other believers. I can set aside all my regular duties without guilt, and focus on worshipping You. What a blessed day this is! Teach me to keep Your Sabbath holy, and delight in this hallowed day!

209.  What is the Fifth Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
• Matthew 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
• Matthew 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
• Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

Dear Kind and Loving Heavenly Father, In Your divine wisdom You gave us earthly parents to help us understand how to love and obey our Heavenly Father. Through our parents we are to learn submission and trust. You want us to honor our parents and treat them with respect and love. Teach me, Lord, to honor my parents and appreciate the fact that through them I received my life. Use my family relationship to teach me to be more responsive toward You, dear Lord.

210.  What is the Sixth Commandment of the 10 commandments?

• Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.
• Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
• Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• 1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
• Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Dear Lord, Even in secular society we see murder as evil. But You go even deeper than that; You say that if we hate our brother, we are a murderer in our hearts. That shows me that Your law of love truly must be written in my heart, so only love will dwell there. Let Your love in my heart keep me from anger and ill will toward others. Thank You for Your love!

211.  What is the Seventh Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
• Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
• Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
• Matthew 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
• James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Dear Father, Again Your law of love goes to the heart, deeper than external behavior. Even a lustful thought constitutes adultery. Lord, keep my heart pure for You. Empower me to avoid anything that would lead me away from fidelity and moral uprightness.

212.  What is the Eighth Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal.
• Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
• Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
• Romans 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
• Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Dearest Lord, What love shines from Your holy law. What pure selflessness! The human tendency of greed and selfishness leads to stealing, but the divine nature leads to helping others and giving. Deliver me, Lord, from all self-centered grasping and thievery. Show me how to use my hands to bless others, and to give to those in need. Plant Your principles of integrity and honesty deep in my soul.

213.  What is the Ninth Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
• Mark 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
• Romans 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
• Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
• Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Father in Heaven, You are a God of truth, and You want Your children to speak only truth. Any lie is a false witness against You. If I gossip, criticize, or put others in a bad light, I am giving a false witness against them. You want us to put others above ourselves, not tear them down. You want us to speak the truth in love, to be sincere and honest in all that we do and say. Guide me, Lord, to always speak the truth, no matter what!

214.  What is the Tenth Commandment of the 10 Commandments?

• Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
• Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
• 1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
• Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
• 2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Dearest Lord, this 10 th commandment really strikes at the core of the heart, showing us our enormous need for an indwelling Savior. Through this commandment we realize that in and of ourselves we are basically full of covetousness. The strong desires we have for things we don't possess spring from our evil heart. But when You write Your law in our hearts, we become contented with what You provide, and trust that You will take care of our needs. Our greed and unlawful passion dissipates into restful contentment when You take over. Thank You, Lord, for Your holy principles that bring such joy into our lives!

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