Ten Commandments

Exodus 20. To fully understand the Ten Commandments, you really need to be familiar with the book of Romans, particularly the first eight chapters. It's there that Paul makes his case that we're all sinners and in need of God's righteousness. Also, it would be good to read and study Matthew 5, 6, 7--The Sermon on the Mount--because if you think the Ten Commandments are tough, wait until the Lord explains them to you. Any conception you might have had about them will be blown away when you realize what Jesus is saying to you.

You need to recognize that one of the purposes of the Law is to show us God's righteousness. If it were possible for you and I to keep these laws, then Jesus died in vain. Does that mean we shouldn't try to keep them? No. We should obey all the commandments, but understand they are an expression of love, not legalism. And it's here that we are seeing God's righteousness in order to understand the price He had to pay for us to be deemed righteous--for us to be in His presence. This basis will help you understand why it took the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to make this possible.

Now for a summary of the Law, Jesus gave us one. "...Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself....on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matt.22:37-40.