DOES JESUS WANT CHRISTIANS TO

OBEY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

A compilation of Scriptures by Dan Beeson 18 November 2022

www.vigilantvaliant.com dan@vigilantvaliant.com

Cover image Attribution: Cchinski / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luchot_habrit.jpg Sky background was added.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

DECEIVED

WHICH TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE?

1. WHAT ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

2. WHO GAVE US THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

3. THE CONDITION OF SIN: ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ONLY FOR JEWS?

CHRISTIANS ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

4. DOES JESUS WANT CHRISTIANS TO KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

THE OLD TESTAMENT CONFIRMS THE COMMANDMENTS

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

THE NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMS THE COMMANDMENTS

THE GOSPELS

ACTS, THE EPISTLES AND REVELATION

5. DID YESHUA THROW OUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

6. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT IN HEAVEN

7. SAVED BY FAITH, SHOULD I STILL OBEY?

SAVED BY FAITH

THE PRODIGAL SON - THE REST OF THE STORY

SHOULD I STILL OBEY?

8. YESHUA SAYS IF!

FINAL REVIEW

CONCLUSIONS

ADDENDUM

THE NAME OF GOD AND HIS MESSIAH

THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE

INTRODUCTION

DECEIVED

Glance at this drawing of a frog. Not a great drawing of a frog, but it may teach us something later.

This is a scripture search for the “TRUTH.” Why? Is the truth that hard to find? Actually, the Bible says YES! Yeshua (Jesus in English) Himself says we can be beguiled, tricked, deluded, or deceived. Note the verses below.

"4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5) (Mark 13:5-6 and Luke 21:8 are the same as these verses.)

"11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:11-14)

"23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:23-24)

The verses above are just a few that show Yeshua warns His disciples about being deceived or deluded. You may think, “But could we be deceived through the Bible itself?” Read on.

"4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matthew 4:1-10. This is the same as Luke 4:1-13)

The verses above show that the devil, and by extension, people, can use the scriptures improperly or twist the meaning of the scriptures to try to deceive us. So we must study the scriptures carefully. It is extremely critical, particularly as Christians, that we keep our studies intellectually honest. There may be times we have to admit we are unable to make a firm conclusion.

"8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:8-14)

Now before you think, “How mean of God to send them a delusion,” consider carefully the following verses.

"18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.;" (Romans 1:18-32)

The above verses show God gives us every chance to believe and be saved. It is people who turn against God. It is people who “changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image.” It is people who “changed the truth of God into a lie.” He tried and tried, but some people rebelled and rebelled, and He finally “gave them over” or let them have what they wanted, which is to get rid of Him. “They are without excuse.” Let us, you and I, turn TO God daily, and come and stay OUT of the people that have turned against Him. Let us find out what God says, and believe and follow Him.

Consider this drawing of a Horse. You may have already seen my point. Our expectations, our mindset, our preconceived ideas strongly influence what we think. Of course, this is the exactly same drawing of the frog above. Maybe you caught this. Maybe it tricked you. This is called a Double Image Optical Illusion.

See the four black circles and the white square. Ah, you may be ready for this now. Nevertheless, many people see the white square and four black circles at first glance. Of course, there is NO white square, and there are NO black circles, only four black ¾ circles. This kind of deception is called Illusory Contours or Modal Completion. The white square is a delusion.

“The glory which is built upon a lie soon becomes a most unpleasant encumbrance. How easy it is to make people believe a lie, and how hard it is to undo that work again!” – Autobiographical dictation, 2 December 1906, the Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2. This is the same idea as a quote attributed to Mark Twain, but that can not be proven to be from him, “"It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” Once people have been deluded, it is very, very difficult to break them free of that delusion. It is like an addiction. It is my belief, from my Bible studies, that the vast majority of Christianity has been deluded.

Every person that has copied scriptures through the ages, every person that has translated scripture to another language, every person who has made scripture study notes that were made into a study Bible, has been under delusions, firmly ingrained beliefs, understandings, points of view. Some were honest God fearing people. Some were not. We must be VERY CAREFUL in our study of scripture. We must seek the best translations, founded on the most ancient documents, which have the very least chance at copy errors, typographical errors, translation errors, or dogmatic indoctrination, or any other mode of error.

This is a scripture search for the truth about the Ten Commandments. What do God, Yeshua, and other Bible authors say about the Ten Commandments? We know we are saved by believing in Yeshua, the Savior, and the Son of God. This is not about SALVATION, but OBEDIENCE. Do we need to obey these commandments, or not? God says a lot in the Bible, and some have counted as many as 613 “commandments” from God. But this is man’s count, and many of these are religious leaders’ commandments or interpretations and even extrapolations from people, not from God. So this study is ONLY ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, not the Mosaic Law, or traditions of the elders, or ordinances or precepts or anything else. This is my attempt to discover the truth presented in the Bible and to not be misled by tradition, statements, thoughts, opinions, etcetera from self-proclaimed experts. I want to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Don’t you? I believe God is able to make His word clear to the masses, to normal men and women like you and me. He is able to safeguard His word so that the major translations today are trustworthy. Some translations may be purposefully changed to support a doctrine; some may be accidentally incorrectly translated, but I believe God is able to protect His word in the major distribution of it to mankind.

Who am I to do a study? I am nobody, a common man, a stumbling Christian, an everyday American. But, through all my failings and sins, I love God and want to be obedient to Him, though I can almost see Him rolling His eyes as I say that. And my guardian angel has probably asked for hazardous duty pay or to be reassigned dozens of times. But like you, I read the Bible and try to understand it. So I study it in my own way. This writing is one of my studies.

I respect honest men and women of God and their right to interpret the Bible and teach it, but at the bottom line, we each need to believe God’s word and Yeshua’s words above human teachers.

What if the scriptures seem contradictory? What if 60 verses say “x,” and two seem to say “y”? If I can’t resolve the differences, it seems reasonable to me to go with the 60. Does that seem reasonable to you? I don’t think God requires us to know Greek and Hebrew and somehow catch translation and transcription errors from a thousand years before we were alive. But I do think He expects us to do our best. He will take it from there. His Holy Spirit will help us.

Most of my Bible Studies attempt to have EVERY SCRIPTURE IN THE BIBLE on the topic. Some people have complained that it is just TOO MANY Bible verses. But my Bible Studies are to learn the TRUTH about what the Bible says, not what some denomination told me to believe, not what some person told me to believe, but what the Bible really says. I want ALL the scriptures on the topic. I want the scriptures those with opposing beliefs use as their key scriptures, so I can analyze them. I want to know their reason for believing the way they do, and give that a fair hearing. How can we find the “Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth” if we don’t have all the data, all the information available? Since my studies are meant to learn what the Bible really says on a topic, I typically use nothing from outside the Bible. Outside sources may or may not be valid. The ONLY place we can read the words of Yeshua (Jesus in English) is from the Bible. So yes, I hope I have found EVERY SCRIPTURE on the topic. If I have missed a scripture, if you find other scriptures that address the question, or if you can in any way help me improve this writing or see a mistake, please contact me and let me know at dan@vigilantvaliant.com. I have compiled below scriptures I found on this topic. If you like it, if it seems to be thorough and accurate, my other Bible Studies may be found on www.vigilantvaliant.com.

In my studies, I will use Yahweh (The Hebrew name of the One God), and the real name of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus in English), to the best of scholarly knowledge and opinion today. For more information on these names, please see the section "The Name of God and His Messiah" in the Addendum of this study.

WHICH TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE?

I use the James Version (KJV) only because it was by far the main English translation during my life. While there are other good translations of the Bible, I am using the one I am familiar with, the KJV. Yes, it is old-fashioned English, but it can also be poetic and beautiful. So, all scriptures are quoted from the KJV Bible (King James Version), unless otherwise noted. You can see more about the King James Version in the Addendum. All scriptures will be indented and in italics. All Bolding, Underlining, Italicizing, (parentheses), highlighting, and [brackets] are done by me for emphasis.

END OF INTRODUCTION.

1. WHAT ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

At one point in history, God gave the Ten Commandments to men. The first four concern our relationship with God; the last six concern our relationship with people. The first four follow.

"1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or 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 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.

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.

8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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. ”

The last six about our fellow men follow.

“12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill (murder).

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

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 anything that is thy neighbour's.

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven." (Exodus 20:1-22)

Moses reminds the people of Israel later, in Deuteronomy. Also note the NIV and some other translations for verse 13 say, “13 “You shall not murder." This allows for capital punishment, self-defense, and just war, as in defense. The Bible shows that God specifically commanded the death penalty for some sins, therefore proving the sixth commandment meant to not unlawfully kill, meaning not to murder.

"1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, 5 (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN DEUTERONOMY

6 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto 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, 10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. 11 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. 12 Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: 14 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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day. 16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 17 Thou shalt not kill. 18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery. 19 Neither shalt thou steal. 20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. 21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbour's.

22 These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. 23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire, ) that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. 25 Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it. 28 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever! 30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. 31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess." (Deuteronomy 5:1-33)

2. WHO GAVE US THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

"12 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. 18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." (Exodus 31:12-18)

It was Yahweh, the God of the Bible, God the creator, who gave mankind the Ten Commandments. Of all the laws or commandments in the Bible, only these ten were “written with the finger of God.”

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them." (Exodus 24:12)

"15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. 17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. 20 And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it in the fire, and ground it to powder, and strawed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. 21 And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them? 22 And Aaron said, Let not the anger of my lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief. 23 For they said unto me, Make us gods, which shall go before us: for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 24 And I said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off. So they gave it me: then I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf. 25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) 26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 27 And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. 28 And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 29 For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. 30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. 31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. 33 And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. 34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. 35 And the Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made." (Exodus 32:15-35)

So Moses was human, got mad at the people, and broke the tablets of the Ten Commandments. God was also angry with the people, and Moses pleaded to God to forgive them.

"1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest." (Exodus 34:1)

God wrote them a second time with His own finger.

"27 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. 28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him." (Exodus 34:27-30)

In Exodus 34:28, the “he” in “And he wrote upon the tables” is the same Hebrew word that referred to Moses two other times. At face value, it seems to mean Moses wrote. It is however standing against Exodus 34:1 where God says “I will write,” and Deuteronomy 4:13 that says “and he wrote them,” clearly referring to God, and Exodus 32:16 that says “and the writing was the writing of God,” and Exodus 31:18 that says, “Written with the finger of God,” and Deuteronomy 9:10 that says, “written with the finger of God,” and Deuteronomy 10:2 that says, ”And I will write,” Deuteronomy 10:4 saying, “and he wrote,” and Deuteronomy 5:22, “And he wrote.” These would seem to reasonably outweigh Exodus 34:28.

However, it does not need to be outweighed, in this case, but correctly parsed. A wise Christian saw my confusion about this, and pointed out that language can be unclear regarding the antecedent of a pronoun. I had to look up what that even meant, but it just means the person or thing the pronoun is referring to. For example, “Dad laid the steaks on the grill, and told Rover to stay away from the grill, and he did, then he turned the steaks over at just the right time”. Perhaps a clumsy sentence, but you can see how it opens up the humorous possibility that Rover turned the steaks over (instead of eating them). Actually, hasn’t it often happened to you that a friend is excitedly rolling along through a story about what happened to two friends, say Jim and John, and you have to stop him now and then and ask, “Jim did?” but they say, “No, John.” So he, the wise Christian who clarified this for me, suggested mentally putting parentheses around, ”And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water” in verse 28, showing that Moses did those things, but removing this phrase from the overall sentence, showing the “he” in “And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments” refer to God. Further study shows Moses used these parenthetical phrases often, confusing, in the English translation, the antecedent of the pronouns.

"10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. 11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 12 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." (Deuteronomy 4:10-13)

"9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights, I neither did eat bread nor drink water: 10 And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly. 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant." (Deuteronomy 9:9-11)

"1 At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood. 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. 3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand. 4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. 5 And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made; and there they be, as the Lord commanded me. 6 And the children of Israel took their journey from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera: there Aaron died, and there he was buried; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead. 7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters. 8 At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day. 9 Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him. 10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy thee. 11 And the Lord said unto me, Arise, take thy journey before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them. 12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? 14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the Lord's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is." (Deuteronomy 10:1-14)

If you have ever wondered what God wants from you, here is your answer. Yes, Moses is speaking to the children of Israel, now known as the Jews. Nevertheless, this certainly shows what God wants from all us. Most notably, and not surprising at all, is that He wants us to love Him and to keep His commandments.

In fact, there is zero doubt that God strongly desires us to love Him and keep his commandments. Below He was talking to those who wished to be his people. Yes, at that time it was Israel. But can you really think He does NOT want that of you. Note that He says “always”, and “forever”.

"28 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!", (Deuteronomy 5:28-29)

3. THE CONDITION OF SIN: ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ONLY FOR JEWS?

"6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." (Isaiah 56:6-7)

God says the covenant is NOT only for Jews, but even us, the sons (and daughters) of the stranger.

The verses above prove the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments were given to Moses for the Jews or Israelites. But are they the only ones who are to obey them? The Ten Commandments were given in the Bible in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21. So any SIN, TRANSGRESSION, or LAWLESSNESS in the Book of Genesis or before Exodus 20 was BEFORE the giving of the stone tablets. That would be proof that God had given some commandments to ALL MEN, before the Jews existed, before the Ten Commandments were written in stone.

"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." (Romans 4:15)

So sin is the transgression of the law.

" For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Romans 5: 13)

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4)

The NEW TESTAMENT verses above show that since sin is transgression of the law, some law must have been already given in the days of Adam and Eve and Cain and Able, before any Jews existed. See what God Himself said to Cain.

"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis 4:7 KJV)

In this case, NIV is a clearer.

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7 NIV)

"8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. 9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth." (Genesis 4:8-12)

Even before the flood of Noah, BEFORE Moses went up Mount Sinai, God had taught people about clean and unclean animals. Again, we do not know exactly when Yahweh taught His commandments and Laws to humankind, but it is positive that it was BEFORE the flood of Noah. It seems reasonable to me to believe that it is likely that He did this in the very beginning.

"1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. 5 And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him." (Genesis 7:1-5)

So we have scriptural proof of the some of God’s laws and commandments being known BEFORE the flood of Noah, and before the Law of Moses, and before they were written in stone on Mount Sinai.

The scriptures below show that before Abraham had any children, hence before there were any Jews, the Bible says the men of Sodom were sinning, which is transgressing a law. This is confirmed in 2 Peter 2:6-8, which says their deeds were unlawful. For something to be unlawful there must be a law to break. So some Law was known to men before the Jews existed. God saying Cain was cursed proves Cain sinned, which means there must have been a law to break, in this case, murder.

"But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly." (Genesis 13:13)

"4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly." (Genesis 19:4-7)

, "And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; 8 for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds." (2 Peter 2:7-8)

“ And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed." (Genesis 19:17)

"24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord: 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace." (Genesis 19:24-28)

" Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7)

For Sodom and Gomorrah to be punished, they must have broken a law. So some law about their sins must have existed before there were any Jews. Was the law they were trying to break rape, or sexual immorality, as sex with a person someone isn’t married to? Jude clearly says one part of it was fornication, and many say that sin is included under an umbrella of the seventh commandment, adultery. Lot’s wife disobeyed the angel’s order or command to “look not behind thee”, and was punished for she knew that was wrong.

"20 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? And she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. 6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine." (Genesis 20:1-7)

King Abimelech was preparing to commit adultery, which would have been breaking the 7th commandment. All God had to say to Abimelech was “she is a man’s wife,” and the king KNEW he was about to sin. Abimelech was not an Israelite or a Jew. This was BEFORE the stone commandments were given. As the New Testament scriptures above show, “where no law is, there is no transgression.” Therefore, some laws of God must have been known to mankind, for Abimelech to realize he was about to commit a sin, for “sin is the transgression of the law.”

"1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father; 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26:1-5)

"7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:7-9)

Joseph knew that adultery would be a sin against God. This proves that at least the sin of adultery was known before the formal giving of the Then Commandments at Mount Sinai.

So the verses above about Cain and Able, about Sodom and Gomorrah, and about Abimelech, and about Joseph, prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that at least two (2) of the Ten Commandments were known before there was such a thing as Israelites or Jews. Able was punished for breaking the 6th commandment. Sodom and Gomorrah were punished for breaking SOME commandment, probably the 7th. Abimelech would have been punished for almost breaking the 7th commandment. Joseph knew it was a sin to commit adultery and break the 7th commandment.

“22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:22-27)

This is right at the beginning of the journey in the wilderness of Shur. According to https://aschmann.net/BibleChronology/The_Exodus.html, the Israelites crossed the Red Sea in April, and arrived at Mount Sinai in June, and made the golden calf in July, and Moses finally came down with the SECOND set of tablets in September. He was on the mountain 80 total days. So they were finally given the Ten Commandments roughly a total of 170 days (90 + 80) or roughly 5 months AFTER the above scripture Exodus 15:26. This proves Israel had at least some commandments from God before the Ten Commandments were written in stone.

"1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily. 6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the children of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: 7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord; for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord: and what are we, that ye murmur against us? 8 And Moses said, This shall be, when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord. 9 And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the Lord: for he hath heard your murmurings. 10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12 I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God. 13 And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. 14 And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground. 15 And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the Lord hath given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents. 17 And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. 18 And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating. 19 And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning. 20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them. 21 And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted. 22 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 And he said unto them, This is that which the Lord hath said; Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. 24 And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. 25 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the Lord: to day ye shall not find it in the field. 26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. 27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. 28 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 29 See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day. 30 So the people rested on the seventh day. 31 And the house of Israel called the name thereof Manna: and it was like coriander seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey." (Exodus 16:1-31)

How important one little sentence can be! The verses above are about the Israelites, the Jews, BEFORE the Ten Commandments were written in stone. God states that for a “long” time they had refused to “keep My Commandments and My laws.” God’s complaint came after “that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather,” breaking the fourth commandment. How long did it take the Jews to realize that manna did not come down on the Sabbath Day? One week? Two? Yet God says “How long?” It seems very reasonable that this disrespect for the Sabbath Day had gone on a long time. That means they were disobeying a long time before the Ten Commandments were graven in stone and even before the manna from heaven. This points to the Jews knowing about the Sabbath Day before the Ten Commandments were carved in stone. These verses above are an indication that God had given at least some commandments and laws, including at least the 4th, 6th, and 7th, BEFORE the Ten Commandments were given on Mount Sinai.

Abraham’s son Isaac had a son Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel in Genesis 32:28, "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” His children became known as Israelites. Israel’s (Jacob’s) fourth son was Judah. From this name all Israelites became known as “Jews.” This scripture tells us clearly that at least some of God’s commandments were known to Abraham, hence preceded all Jews. It implies that at least some laws or commandments were known by everyone, therefore for all mankind. Think that through. It seems God somehow told men about His commandments before any Jew existed.

Note also that God Himself here separated his charge, commandments, statutes, and laws. He seems to put some difference between these. Doesn’t it then make sense that Christians could be not expected to obey the FULL Law of Moses, but expected to obey the Ten Commandments?

Many will say that the Bible shows no knowledge of the commandments between the times of Adam through the time of Moses. We have shown above, and will show below, that there MUST have been some knowledge for sin cannot exist without some law - some commandment to break. Why is there not more known about the commandments before the Ten Commandments were written in stone on Mount Sinai? The Bible tells us why in this verse, Joshua 24:14, "14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord." There were no Jews or Gentiles before Abraham, “on the other side of the flood,” (In the ancient history before the flood of Noah) just mankind. Joshua makes it clear that mankind had turned away from God, and worshipped false gods. That they turned away from God and forgot His commandments or laws does not show those laws never existed.

"3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." (Matthew 19:3-9)

See above what Yeshua Himself said to the Pharisees about the even stricter law of marriage and divorce, before any Jew existed. The sense here is they were NOT allowed to give a writing of divorcement and put her away. It is not allowed, against the law. How far back in time? “From the beginning.” Yeshua says one who divorces and marries another, except for when one committed fornication, sins, and has “from the beginning.” Only when the Mosaic Law came, did Moses give them the right to divorce. To sin, you must know the law, so men must have known the law of marriage “from the beginning.” If my logic in this is correct, then this must be part of some Natural Law. To have sinned, it had to be part of some law they knew. God gave some commandments or laws to mankind, for all mankind, before the Jews.

CHRISTIANS ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM

If you still think the commandments were given only to the Jews, Abraham’s children, consider the verses below. They clearly say that Gentile Christians are Abraham’s children, Abraham’s seed. Therefore, the Ten Commandments were given to you also, as Abraham’s seed. Yeshua Himself calls those obedient to God brothers and sisters.

"47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? And who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Matthew 12:47-50)

"6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:6-14)

"24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:24-29)

"11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him, we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” (Ephesians 2:11-20)

Ephesians 2:12 above says “at that time” we were aliens from Israel. But verse 13 says Yeshua has made us “nigh” or close, and verse 14 says he has made us both “ONE”. Believers and Israel are one. We have one God, the Living God of Israel, Yahweh, praise His name. And we have one Messaih. Christians think He came 2000 years ago, and know His name, Yeshua Mashiach, Jesus the Messaih. So Christians are children of Abraham, by being grafted in or adopted.

Note that Ephesians 2:14 above says Yeshua “broke down middle wall of partition between us”, and then Paul says “even the law of commandments contained in the ordinances”. Some will try to use this to say Yeshua did away with the Ten Commandments. Note it does not say “Ten Commandments” but those contained in the ordinances. Also, we need to compare and balance this against all other scriptures for one cohesive truth.

"14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:14-23)

"To redeem them that was under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:5)

So Christians are adopted through faith in Yeshua, by God, into the family of God, as children of Abraham.

Paul also talks about our adoption, though through the image of the “grafting” of tree limbs to tree roots and trunks. The parallel is being branches of the same tree, the FAMILY TREE, the family of faith, the children of Abraham, called the Father of the Faithful.

"1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, And the rest were blinded. 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day." (Romans 11:1-8)

"16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?" (Romans 11:16-24)

"15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." (John 15:1-5)

According to Romans 11:17 above, Gentile believers are “grafted in” to the natural olive tree of God’s chosen people, the Isrealites. Like the grapevine of which Jesus says He is the root and we are the branches, so here also, Yeshua Is the root of the olive tree, and believers are grafted in. Yeshua also compared our relationship to a grapevine, where He is the true vine, and we are the branches.

So Christians are adopted by Yahweh, The Living God, through faith in Yeshua, and grafted into the family of God, as children of Abraham.

Between the concepts of adoption and grafting in, the Bible is saying there is ONE FAMILY, the family of faithful believers.

4. DOES JESUS WANT CHRISTIANS TO KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

The Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God on the tablets given to Moses, encompass the Natural Law and the Royal Law of God, James 2:8. "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” The Ten Commandments are certainly not the “commandments of men.” Paul, in Ephesians 2:15 says, “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;” cannot contradict what Yeshua said in Matthew 5:17, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law.” Paul says Yeshua abolished the “commandments contained in ordinances,” Ordinances written by man for Israel. Neither Christians nor Jews have to obey the traditions of the Mosaic Law, or the additions by rabbis through the ages. But Genesis 26:5 shows God’s commandments preceded Abraham and all Jews, and were for all of mankind who would accept Yahweh as their God.

"5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26:1-5)

If you believe Paul meant the Ten Commandments, then Paul is contradicting Yeshua, making Paul wrong. Either Paul is wrong, OR you, and many others, are misunderstanding Paul.

"15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (2 Peter 3:15-16)

Read what Yahweh, The Living God, said to mankind about obeying His commandments.

THE OLD TESTAMENT CONFIRMS THE COMMANDMENTS

Remember that Yeshua and the apostles and the early church lived their lives obeying the Ten Commandments. Remember also that the only “scripture” in the days of Yeshua was the Tanakh, the Old Testament. The Old Testament talks of obeying God's Commandments throughout! Some will say that the Old Testament doesn't matter because we are New Testament Christians. They may say that the commandments were the Old Covenant, and Christians are under a New Covenant. We should not forget that God says HE DOES NOT CHANGE.

GOD DOES NOT CHANGE

Yahweh Himself tells us He DOES NOT CHANGE.

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)

"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” (1 Samuel 15:29)

"The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." (Psalm 33:11)

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6)

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8)

"So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us." (Hebrews 6:18)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

So Yahweh, the Living God, says He does not change His mind. Does it truly make any sense to you at all that God would repeat over and over to keep His commandments, and then say, "No, forget that, don't worry about that, you don't need to do that anymore?

In fact, we will see later that at the end of time, at the Day of Judgment, in the book of Revelation, THREE TIMES it is stated that the group of the saved keep the commandments of God!

So with that in mind, we will look at BOTH testaments, the Old and the New. What does the Old Testament say about God's commandments? The word commandment is found 168 times in the Bible, 138 in the Old Testament, and 30 in the New Testament. We will not examine every time the word is used, but will try to see every time it is used that is directly pertinent to God's desire for His people to obey His commandments. If you find a pertinent verse I have left out, please let me know.

YES there are a lot of scriptures below.

Instead of asking yourself "Does he really need to quote ALL those scriptures in his Bible study?" Ask your self this!

WHY ARE CHRISTIANS IGNORING THESE MANY, MANY SCRIPTURES FROM GOD?

The word "ordinances" is used 26 times in the Bible, 19 in the Old Testament and 7 in the New Testament. It seems to me to sometimes mean the same thing as the commandments, or a very similar thing, so those scriptures where God tells mankind to keep His ordinances are included below with those concerning commandments.

"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Genesis 26:5)

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)

"And the Lord said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?" (Exodus 16:28)

"And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do." (Exodus 18:20)

"And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:6)

"And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them." (Exodus 24:12)

"And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments." (Exodus 34:28)

"18 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the Lord your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 18:1-5)

"26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) 28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 18:26-30)

"They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it, and die therefore, if they profane it: I the Lord do sanctify them." (Leviticus 22:9)

"Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 22:31)

"2 Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. 3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." (Leviticus 26:2-4)

"11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it." (Numbers 9:11-12)

"37 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: 40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God." (Numbers 15:37-41)

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2)

"And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even Ten Commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." (Deuteronomy 4:13)

"Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever." (Deuteronomy 4:40)

"And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments." (Deuteronomy 5:10)

"O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!" (Deuteronomy 5:29)

"But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it." (Deuteronomy 5:31)

"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:" (Deuteronomy 6:1)

"That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged." (Deuteronomy 6:2)

"Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee." (Deuteronomy 6:17)

"And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us." (Deuteronomy 6:25)

"Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;" (Deuteronomy 7:9)

"Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them." (Deuteronomy 7:11)

"All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers." (Deuteronomy 8:1)

"And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no." (Deuteronomy 8:2)

"Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him." (Deuteronomy 8:6)

"Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:" (Deuteronomy 8:11)

"And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me." (Deuteronomy 10:4)

"To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deuteronomy 10:13)

"Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway." (Deuteronomy 11:1)

"Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;" (Deuteronomy 11:8)

"13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." (Deuteronomy 11:13-14)

"22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him; 23 Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves." (Deuteronomy 11:22-23)

" 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known." (Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

"Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him." (Deuteronomy 13:4)

"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." (Joshua 22:5)

"And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so." (Judges 2:17)

"And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses." (Judges 3:4)

"And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:" (1 Kings 2:3)

"And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days." (1 Kings 3:14)

"Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:" (1 Kings 6:12)

"That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers." (1 Kings 8:58)

"Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." (1 Kings 8:61)

" 4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: 5 Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. 6 But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: 7 Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: 8 And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house?:" (1 Kings 9:4-8)

"Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:" (1 Kings 11:34)

"And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." (1 Kings 11:38)

"And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes;" (1 Kings 14:8)

"And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim." (1 Kings 18:18)

"Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets." (2 Kings 17:13)

"Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; 35 With whom the Lord had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them: 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice. 37 And the statutes, and the ordinances, and the law, and the commandment, which he wrote for you, ye shall observe to do for evermore; and ye shall not fear other gods. 38 And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall ye fear other gods." (2 Kings 17:34-38)

In the verses above, how long does God say to keep His commandments and ordinances? FOR EVERMORE!

"And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant." (2 Kings 23:3)

"Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day." (1 Chronicles 28:7)

"Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever." (1 Chronicles 28:8)

"18 Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. 19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations." (2 Chronicles 7:18-20)

"3 And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; 4 But sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. 5 Therefore the Lord stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance." (2 Chronicles 17:3-5)

"And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you." (2 Chronicles 24:20)

"Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses." (2 Chronicles 33:8)

"9 For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem. 10 And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy commandments, 11 Which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness." (Ezra 9:9-11)

"13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: 14 And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant: 15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. 16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments," (Nehemiah 9:13-16)

"They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;" (Nehemiah 10:29)

"Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?" (Job 38:33)

"5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:" (Psalm 78:3-7)

"20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. 36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. 37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah." (Psalm 89:20-37)

Above God says He promised King David his family would endure forever. Yahweh says that even if they do NOT keep His commandments, He will punish them, correct them as a Father, but will not destroy them, and will keep His word to King David.

"17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. 20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. 21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. 22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul." (Psalm 103:17-22)

Above the Bible states that God has mercy on those who keep His commandments, and says the ANGELS keep His commandments!

"7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:7-10)

How long do His commandments stand? They stand FOR EVER AND EVER!

"Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments." (Psalm 112:1)

Psalm 119 has the word "commandments" 21 times. All of the uses are a person speaking, and not God or a prophet relating God's word. So it is only men saying they do keep His commandments, or telling others to keep His commandments, or saying what happens when they do or don't keep them. Therefore none of these advance our study, and won't be quoted.

"My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee:" (Proverbs 2:1)

"1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:1-6)

"He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live" (Proverbs 4:4)

"20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:20-23)

"1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart. 4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:" (Proverbs 7:1-4)

"8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall." (Proverbs 10:8)

"13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

"O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:" (Isaiah 48:18)

"Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God." (Isaiah 58:2)

"35 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name: 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever." (Jeremiah 31:35-36)

"25 Thus saith the Lord; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth; 26 Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them." (Jeremiah 33:25-26)

"17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. 18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. 19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: 20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God." (Ezekiel 11:17-20)

"10 Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. 11 And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. 12 This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." (Ezekiel 43:10-12)

"And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord God; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon." (Ezekiel 43:18)

"And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary." (Ezekiel 44:5)

"And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;" (Daniel 9:4)

"Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:" (Amos 2:4)

"6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:6-10)

With "commandments" being mentioned 138 times in the Old Testament, with many of those references being God Himself warning people to keep His commandments, a person had better find very strong proofs for their position, before they say that God has thrown out the Ten Commandments.

THE NEW TESTAMENT CONFIRMS THE COMMANDMENTS

Many write articles or studies and say the Paul says the commandments are "nailed to the cross", they are gone and done and of a bygone age. Does that sound like what Yeshua is saying as recorded by Matthew?

"17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-19)

Yes, the whole selection is bolded. Yes, the whole selection is in larger point size! Why do people quote Paul, but ignore Yeshua, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah?

"Whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Does that sound like "thrown out" to you?"

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven." Does that sound like "not under law" to you?

"16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 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, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:16-19)

"35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40)

From the two scriptures above, Yeshua reaffirms nine of the Ten Commandments. To love God with all your heart covers 1st, 2nd, and 3rd commandments, no other god, no idols, not misuse God's name. To honor parents is the 5th, to not murder is the 6th, to not commit adultery is the 7th, to not steal is the 8th, not lying is the 9th, and to love our neighbor is an expansion of the 10th, besides being a summary of the 5th through the 10th commandments.

The “love thy neighbor” is not new from Yeshua, but stated by Yahweh Himself in Leviticus 19:18 along with other laws on how to live. People call this the Golden Rule. The fact that it summarizes the six of the Ten Commandments that govern our relationship to other people makes this nickname very appropriate. Commandments 1-4 say to love God. Commandments 5-10 say to love our neighbor.

"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." (Leviticus 19:18)

That Yeshua wants us to observe the 4th along with the rest is shown below.

"And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught." (Mark 1:21)

" And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?" (Mark 6:2)

" And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days." (Luke 4:31)

" And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath." (Luke 13:10)

" And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read." (Luke 4:16)

Yeshua said to follow His example. The scriptures above show Yeshua taught and read and went to synagogue (church) on the Sabbath, honoring the 4th commandment. Together with the scriptures above these, Yeshua tells and shows us to keep ALL 10 of the Ten Commandments.

THE GOSPELS

Below Yeshua uses the first of the Ten Commandments to fight the devil.

"10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." (Matthew 4:1-10 is the same as Luke 4:8.)

"17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-19)

One of the “least” of the commandments ought to surely include the Ten Commandments written by the very finger of God. Yeshua Himself says to “do and teach them.” How long are they in effect? “Till heaven and earth pass.” Does this sound to you like Yeshua threw out the Ten Commandments?

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:21-27)

"14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:14-20)

James 2:14-20 is out of Bible order above, because it speaks so directly to the verses above it. Below, In Matthew 7:21-27, Yeshua says you must “DO” His sayings. James is saying exactly the same thing here.

"1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:1-9)

This is the whole reason for this compiling and searching of the scriptures. To find the truth about what GOD and YESHUA want us to do, and separate out the doctrines and commandments that come from man and tradition and the devil, to trick us into thinking something is what God wants, when it is not.

"16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 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, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. 27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? 28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." (Matthew 19:16-30)

"35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40)

"1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23:1-12)

To whom was Yeshua speaking here? To His disciples, Christians, and the “multitude”, a mix of people, probably some believing, and some listening to learn more, but not believing yet. Yeshua clearly tells His followers to “observe and do” “all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe”. Do you think it is at all possible that they did not bid the people to obey the Ten Commandments, the basic directions of God to mankind? Then Yeshua is saying here, to His disciples, to, at the very least, obey the Ten Commandments.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.“ (Matthew 24:35)

"16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:16-20)

The very last words of Yeshua on Earth were to tell the disciples obey what He commanded.

"6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:6-13)

Yeshua Himself warned against “laying aside the commandment of God,” and to not “reject the commandment of God. Would He have done that for three years of His earthly ministry, and then thrown them out?

"17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. 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. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." (Mark 10:17-22)

Yeshua clearly states every one of the six of the Ten Commandments concerning our relationship with men. Do you really believe He did not mention the first section of four about our relationship with God to indicate that those four do not need to be obeyed?

"28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question." (Mark 12:28-34)

Is Yeshua changing the commandments here or summarizing the first four and the last six?

That keeping God's commandments was very important to God is shown by the very fact that it is mentioned that Zacharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist, were "blameless" because of keeping the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

"5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." (Luke 1:5-6)

“And why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?“ (Luke 6:46)

"28 But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:28)

"30 As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" (John 8:30-31)

Please do not miss the "IF" Yeshua uses to CONDITION their position. They are his disciples IF they continue obeying His words. In fact not only is this in the verse selection above, but the next 3 below also. IF is a big word!

"49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. 51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (John 8:49-51)

"15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." (John 14:15-24)

“7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:7-14)

Yeshua says He kept His “Father’s commandments.” What are those, if they do not at least include the Ten Commandments? When Yeshua says in John 14:15 above, “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” was He excluding the Ten Commandments? If so, can you even name the commandments Yeshua was speaking of? Can you honestly read all the verses above, from the Bible, and think Yeshua does NOT want Christians to keep at least the Ten Commandments?

ACTS, THE EPISTLES AND REVELATION

"1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:" (Acts 1:1-3)

"4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 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. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." (Romans 7:4-25)

“19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” (1 Corinthians 7:19)

"If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." (1 Corinthians 14:37)

This NEW TESTAMENT verse telling Christians what is important is “the keeping of the commandments of God.” What could make any Christian who reads the New Testament believe they no longer have to obey the commandments of God? This is not for salvation, but for obedience.

"8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him, we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" (Ephesians 2:8-20)

Some will say verse 15 says Paul says Yeshua abolished the Ten Commandments, but read it again. It says He abolished the “commandments contained in the ordinances,” not the Ten Commandments. In 1 Corinthians 7:19, Paul said that “the keeping of the commandments of God” is important. How can anyone say Paul says Christians should NOT need to keep the commandments of God, after he just says that is an important act of obedience?

The following verse is also used so often to say Christians do not need to be obedient to Yeshua or Yahweh. They use this as a proof text, to say the Ten Commandments were destroyed, done away with. Remember Peter says many MISINTERPRET Paul, to their own destruction. Nailing it to the cross can have many meanings.

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" (Colossians 2:14)

"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances," (Colossians 2:20)

“In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. “(2 Thessalonians 1:8)

"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." (Hebrews 9:1)

"Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:10)

“22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 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 1:22-25)

"8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 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." (James 2:8-11)

"1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 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 2:1-7)

"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 John 3:21-24)

John says he (we) keep(s) God’s commandments in verse 21 above. This is an Apostle of Yeshua, in roughly 95 A.D., roughly 60 years after Yeshua’ resurrection, saying “we keep his commandments.” He just referenced “God,” not Yeshua, what we ask of “God” “because we keep HIS commandments.” Please, please, if you are a believer in Yeshua, dwell on this for some time. John, the Apostle Yeshua loved, who was with Yeshua all the time during His ministry, who wrote Revelation with Yeshua’s words to the churches of God, 60 years after His resurrection, says that we know Him IF we keep His commandments, that if we DON’T keep His commandments, we DON’T know Him, that if we keep His commandments, we dwell in Him, and He in us. Does this sound at all like Yeshua did away with the Ten Commandments?

"1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:1-5)

"4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 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. 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." (2 John 1:4-6)

"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 12:17)

Again, at the very end of the Bible, and at the end of time, the “commandments of God” are kept by Christians. Can you be a true Christian and flagrantly disregard the Ten Commandments? Why do you think these two qualifications are used together here?

6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Revelation 14:6-13)

The last book in the Bible says, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Yeshua.” We know of only Ten Commandments that were written by the finger of God.

“13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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.” (Revelation 22:13-14)

After all is over and done, after time itself has stopped, those who “keep His commandments AND the faith of Yeshua” get the tree of eternal life and to enter into the holy city. Please consider all the NEW TESTAMENT scriptures about keeping the commandments. WHAT COMMANDMENTS? The commandments of God. Do you honestly see any way that the Ten Commandments, written by the very finger of God, are NOT included in these? What Commandments? The 613 commandments of the Torah (the Pentateuch, The first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)? Some subset of those that can be obeyed today, without a temple and a priesthood? Perhaps we don’t know the full extent of what commandments God wants us to obey. But it is unimaginable that it does not include at the very least the Ten Commandments. If you do know how many of the 613 He wants us to obey, please let me know, with your proof. But are you willing to arrive at the judgment seat and have bet that the Ten Commandments are not at the very least included in “the commandments of God?”

5. DID YESHUA THROW OUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

There are a number of phrases used for commandments: "the commandments,” "least commandments,” "the commandment of God,” "commandments of men,” "the first and great commandment,” "I have commanded you,” and more. When Yeshua told Christians to obey the commandments, which ones did He mean? Is it The Ten Commandments, His new commandments, or both? Some people identify 1,050 or more commandments in the New Testament. Let’s see what Yeshua actually said.

Below, Yeshua told men the “Golden Rule,” do unto others as you would have others do unto you. This encompasses the last six of the Ten Commandments. So here Yeshua is summarizing six of the Ten Commandments that have to do with our relationship with men. He also did this in Matthew 18, below.

"12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

Below, Yeshua gave the “Great Commandment” and a second one. See that again, the “Great Commandment” encompasses or summarizes the first four of the Ten Commandments concerning our relationship with God. And the “second” summarizes, again, the last six of the Ten Commandments concerning our relationship with others.

"16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:16-20)

"35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:35-40

One incident is described in Matthew 18:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23. In Matthew and Mark the record gives the last six of the Ten Commandments in different order, and in Luke only the last six, minus the tenth. Does anyone truly think Yeshua left out the first four because He threw them out? Does this somehow mean Yeshua rescinded “I am the Lord thy God, Thou shalt have no other gods before me.,” or “Thou shalt not make any graven image,” or Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord they God in vain”? If it does not mean He rescinded these three, why would it mean He rescinded the fourth? Clearly Yeshua is referencing the Ten Commandments written by the finger of God, not the “commandments of men.”

"16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 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, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions." (Matthew 18:16-22)

"17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. 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. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions." Mark 10:17-22

"18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? None is good, save one, that is, God. 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. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich." Luke 18:18-23

Because Yeshua did NOT say “Defraud Not” in the Luke version, does that mean Christians CAN defraud? Obviously Not! Note that in Matthews version above, Yeshua said “Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself” as one of the commandments. Where did Yeshua get that from? He is repeating a commandment from Yahweh found in 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." (Leviticus 19:18)

The scripture below is often quoted before communion or the Lord’s Supper and may well be another commandment from Yeshua.

"15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: 16 For I say unto you, I will not anymore eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. 17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:15-20)

Below Yeshua clearly states He is giving us a new commandment, to love one another. Note this may be a restatement of Matthew 18:18 above where He says “Love thy neighbor as theyself,” which summarizes and perhaps emphasizes the last six of the Ten Commandments. But then, it is not new if it is love your neighbor. Perhaps the focus of Yeshua here was that Christian believers love other Christian believers. Yahweh had already told people the "Golden Rule", in Leviticus.

"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." (Leviticus 19:18)

Therefore, if He was speaking of your neighbor, it is not new. If this IS NEW, it is not about loving your neighbor, but He was speaking to BELIEVERS, to love "one another". Believers should love believers like family.

"33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:33-35)

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)

"21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." (1 John 3:21-24)

"19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." (Luke 22:19-20)

"19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:16-20)

So there may be a few NEW COMMANDMENTS from Yeshua:

1. “Believe also in me” (Yeshua)                        John 14:1

2. “Believe on the name of His son Yeshua Christ”            1John 3:23

3. “This do in remembrance of me”                        Luke 22:19            

4. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them”      Matthew 28:19

These four numbered above are no surprise to any Bible reading Christian. Here are more scriptures some people say are commandments, but most seem to be only instructions. They start with phrases like "I say unto you.” Matthew 4:19 - Follow Me, Matthew 5:11–12 - Rejoice, Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, Matthew 5:23–25 - Be reconciled to thy brother, Matthew 5:28–30 - Do not lust, Matthew 5:38–42 - Resist not evil, Matthew 5:44–46 - Love your enemies, Matthew 5:46–48 - Be ye perfect, Matthew 6:1–18 - Give alms and pray and fast in private, Matthew 6:19–21 - Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, Matthew 6:33 - Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, Matthew 7:1–3 - Judge not, Matthew 7:6 - Neither cast your pearls before swine, Matthew 7:7–8 - Ask, seek, knock, Matthew 7:13–14 - Enter in at the narrow gate, Matthew 7:15–16 - Beware false prophets, Matthew 9:37–38 - Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, Matthew 10:16 - Be wise as serpents, harmless as doves, Matthew 10:28 - Fear not, Matthew 11:28–30 - Take my yoke upon you, Matthew 16:6 - Beware the leaven of the Pharisees, Matthew 18:10 - Despise not one of these little ones, Matthew 18:21–22 - Forgive seventy times seven, Matthew 19:4–6 - Do not divorce, Matthew 22:19–21 - render to Ceasar ceasar's and to God, God's, John 3:5–7 - ye must be born again, Matthew 28:19 - To ye therefore and teach all nations. And other people might consider even more. However, these are not clearly called commandments, like in John 13:34.

In the verses above in context, below in short, Yeshua (Jesus in English) said many versions of the same intent, to "keep My commandments" or "keep My words." Some may use these verses to say Christians today do NOT need to keep the Ten Commandments of God, but ONLY the commandments of Yeshua. Please open your eyes, and your heart to God's leading. He says plainly below that what He told us is what His Father told Him to tell us, His words ARE His Father's words.

Luke 6:46 Do the things I tell you to.      

John 8:31 Continue in my word.            

John 8:51 Keep my sayings.

John 13:34 Love one another as I love you.

John 14:15 Keep my commandments.

John 14:21 Keep my commandments.

John 14:23-24 Keep my words.

John 15:7 If my words abide in you.

John 15:10-12 Keep my commandments

John 15 14 do whatsoever I command you

Many believe all manifestations of God to man was Yeshua. Even in the Old Testament, the pillar of fire, the pillar of smoke, the rock that split to give the Israelites water in the wilderness, the appearance to Moses and the 70 elders on Mount Sinai, and the one who wrote and gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, that all of these were the Messiah, Yeshua. If this is so, then the Father's Commandments and the Son's Commandments are the same.

"1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (1 Corinthians 10:1-4)

Yeshua said He was an example to us, to do as He did, and Yeshua OBEYED the Ten Commandments.

“7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:7-14)

Not only did Yeshua keep every Sabbath Day of His life observing the 4th Commandment of God, but also said that He was an example to us, and we should do as He did. He tells us clearly He kept the Ten Commandments. Also He says He gave His Father’s words to us, not His own words. Is it at all reasonable that the verses shown in short above, and at length above that, say to obey ONLY Yeshua’s commandments? Do they say the words of Jesus erased all the words Our Father Yahweh commanded, BEFORE Yeshua was made flesh? Don’t they say instead that Yeshua repeated to us the words Yahweh had given mankind? Did Yeshua say ANYTHING to counter what His Father and said to us?

“For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." (John 12:49)

'23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." (John 14:23-24)

So do you see Yeshua throwing out the Ten Commandments? Is Yeshua saying to obey only His new commandments, and NOT those of His Father Yahweh’s? Honestly, do you in any way see Yeshua saying to forget about the Ten Commandments Yahweh God wrote with His own finger? If you believe Yeshua (Jesus) IS GOD, then how can the Ten Commandments not be HIS commandments?

6. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE IN THE ARK OF THE COVENANT IN HEAVEN

The Ark of the Covenant, or Ark of the Testimony, was a box Yahweh told Moses to build. The lid for the Ark was called the Mercy Seat, with two angel carvings facing each other bowing over it.

A great article about the Ark of the Covenant is found here:

https://www.andrews.edu/~irbrown/TenCommandments.htm

"More Evidence that the Ten Commandments Apply to All and Remain Unchanged" by Ian R Brown.

In it Brown writes, "The main point to this whole discussion so far has been to show that the ten commandment law as it exists on earth is a copy of a ten commandment law within heaven."

First, let's confirm that the tabernacle and everything in it, made on Earth, was carefully copied after a pattern given by God Himself to Moses.

"8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." (Exodus 25:8-9)

Then Yahweh tells Moses to make an Ark and what to put in it.

"And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof." (Exodus 25:10)

God Himself then tells Moses to make a lid for the Ark, and called it "the Mercy Seat".

"17 And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel." (Exodus 25:17-22)

God called it "The Ark of the Testimony." Another word for testimony is covenant, so it is also called "The Ark of the Covenant". And the Mercy Seat was its lid. The purpose of the Ark of the was to hold the Tables of the Testimony, the two tablets of stone upon which God wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger.

These things were carefully made according to the pattern God gave Moses. It was a place where God said He would communicate with Moses.

"And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount." (Exodus 25:40)

Now, let's confirm that the Ten Commandments of the Covenant were stored inside the Ark of the Covenant.

"1 And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, 5 (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to shew you the word of the Lord: for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying, (Deuteronomy 5:1-5)

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN DEUTERONOMY

6 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto 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, 10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. 11 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. 12 Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: 14 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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. 15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day. 16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 17 Thou shalt not kill. 18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery. 19 Neither shalt thou steal. 20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. 21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbour's. (Deuteronomy 5:6-21)

The very next verse says this.

22 These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. (Deuteronomy 5:22)

All of Deuteronomy 5:22 is BOLDED because of how important it is. The first commands Yahweh gave Moses were written by the Finger of God (Exodus 31:18) on "TWO TABLES OF STONE", and "HE ADDED NO MORE".

"27 And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. 28 And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. 29 And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him." (Exodus 34:27-30)

"And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." (Deuteronomy 4:13)

"And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me." (Deuteronomy 10:4)

Yahweh says He made a covenant, the Old Covenant, which was the Ten Commandments on the "two tables of testimony". Moses says, at that time, "He (Yahweh) added no more."

“And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.” (Exodus 25:16)

So Yahweh tells Moses to put the Testimony, the Ten Commandments He wrote in stone, into the Ark.

"And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." (Exodus 31:18)

" And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him." (Exodus 34:29)

"And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:” (Exodus 40:20)

So scripture says Moses obeyed Yahweh and put the two stone tablets upon which Yahweh had written the Ten Commandment into the Ark. This is why it is called the Ark of the Testimony, or the Ark of the Covenant.

So we have examined the scriptures showing that the Ark of the Covenant, The Ark of the Testimony, was ordered by God to be made after an exact pattern, and that it held the Tables of Testimony, the Ten Commandments, and that it had a lid called the Mercy Seat, made also after an exact pattern.

God said to keep this Ark of the Testimony or Covenant, holding the Ten Commandments, in the Most Holy place of the tabernacle, and later the Temple. It was the focal point of the Tabernacle, the place where God would commune with Moses and the priests. It was to be in "The MOST Holy Place."

"33 And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. 34 And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place." (Exodus 26:33-34)

God repeated to Moses to make these things carefully after the pattern He gave Moses. Why?

Why was it so important to be made exactly a certain way?

"1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Hebrews 8:1-5)

Carefully consider the sentence, "A minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man." This shows there is a "true tabernacle" in "the heavens" that Moses was making an earthly version of "according to the pattern showed to" him by God.

"19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." (Hebrews 9:19-23)

Again Paul says these things on Earth are patterned after things existing in the heavens.

"44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen. 45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus (Joshua) into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David; 46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob." (Acts 7:44-46)

"1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." (Hebrews 9:1-5)

Again think deeply about what the following verse shows you. There is a Temple of God on Earth, and there is a Temple of God in heaven. In the Most Holy Place of the Earthly Temple was the Ark of the Testament, holding the Ten Commandments. And in God's Heavenly Temple is the Ark of the Testament!

"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (Revelation 11:19)

15 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. 5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:" (Revelation 15:1-5)

In fact, even the Tabernacle was called the "Tabernacle of the Testimony", which held the "Ark of Testament" which held the "Tables of Testimony."

"This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, son to Aaron the priest." (Exodus 38:21)

"50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony." (Numbers 1:50-53)

"And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning." (Numbers 9:15)

"And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony." (Numbers 10:11)

What must be in the "Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony" in Heaven? Its name tells us, The Testimony, in the "Ark of His Testament."

If there is an Ark of the Testimony in Heaven, holding the Testimony which scriptures have shown are the Tables of Stone engraved with the Ten Commandments, which is opened on the Day of Judgment, how can any Christian say the Ten Commandments are not important in the eyes of God?

7. SAVED BY FAITH, SHOULD I STILL OBEY?

The New Testament of the Bible is very clear; a person must be saved from death, to eternal life, by faith in Yeshua Hamashiach, Jesus the Messiah. That is the only way. Here are scriptures to prove that.

SAVED BY FAITH

"15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark 16:15-16)

"16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

"And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:40)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." (John 6:47)

"I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)

"25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:25-27)

"1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:1-6)

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31)

"9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)

"3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 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: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:1-18)

This time, the NIV translation is clearer in verse 16. 2 Corinthians 3:16 NIV, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” So the “it shall turn” means the heart, or us, when WE believe, the veil is lifted.

"4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:4-10)

"6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

"5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:1-13)

So from all the above, and many more scriptures, it should be clear that we are saved, from death to eternal life, by believing that Yeshua is the Christ, the savior, and asking Him to save us.

THE PRODIGAL SON - THE REST OF THE STORY

Some use the parable of the prodigal son to say that we are saved by faith, so we don’t need to “DO” anything. We can rest in God’s love and do nothing more. Some go as far as to say that if we do good works, we are fallen from grace, because we are trying to buy salvation with our good works. To examine this parable, the entire chapter is given below, for context.

"1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. 11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. 25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. 28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. 29 And, he answering, said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: 30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. 31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. 32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." (Luke 15:1-32)

We see that Yeshua has told three parables in a row, to express the same idea; the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost pieces of silver, and the parable of the prodigal son. The idea seems simple, at first. When you find something you lost, you rejoice. We have all done this. I have also sympathized with the older son. He stayed at home, was obedient, worked for dad, and dad never had a party for him.

Below is another verse that I think sheds more light on what the Father expects of sons and daughter, or servants. I use New King James here because the old English word “TROW” is in the King James Version.

"7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ” (Luke 17:7-10 New King James Version NKJV)

We live in a spoiled society where we think we should be praised every time we do something good. God reminds us in both of these scripture references above, we have a duty, as a member of the family, we have chores to do. Maybe mom or dad thanked us once in a while, when we mowed the yard or washed and dried dishes, but they did not thank us every time. We are a member of the family, we share the chores. Dad works, mom works, we work. Did you thank dad every day for going to his job and supporting the family, or for working around the home? Did you thank mom every day for going to her job and supporting the family or for working around the home? Neither do they need to thank us every day for doing what we ought to do, for doing our part. Yet, when one kid ignores their chores and goes away and parties for years, while we work, then comes back, can we not help but feel hurt, feel it is unfair. Even as I write this I feel sympathy for the older son, as I would for myself, in his position. But some little voice in me says that it is my selfishness that is moving me to feel that way. If I truly loved my brother, I would rejoice that he was back. I would suggest to dad that “WE” have a party to welcome him home. Yet knowing this, in the back of my mind, I still think, “Well, I never got a party!" One of the many things I still have to work on.

Some use this to say we don’t have to work to please God. We can rest in His grace. But is that what Yeshua was trying to teach here? The scriptures don’t tell us what happened in that family after this. They don’t tell us the rest of the story. What do YOU think happened after the party? Two possible scenarios come to mind. First, the older son kept working hard every day, and the younger son continued to party and rest, not working at all. Or second, the younger son started doing his chores again, like everyone else in the family. Dad worked. Mom worked. Daughters worked. Sons worked. Which scenario seems most likely to you? Do you really think that Yeshua here is teaching that while the father worked, and the older son worked, the younger son could now lie around wasting his time, and not work? The younger son admitted he SINNED by doing so before. Do those who use this parable to argue against works really think the younger son can CONTINUE SINNING? Do you?

SHOULD I STILL OBEY?

The following three scriptures are a repeat from above. We need to read them again. They are quotes of an angel in heaven, and of God Himself, at the end, after all is said and done, in the final analysis. What are YOU going to do about these verses; throw them out, explain them away, retranslate them, and say these don’t include the Ten Commandments? They don’t say the commandments of Yeshua; they say the commandments of God. If you don’t like that division, and say that Yeshua IS God, which I agree with, then you are admitting that it was God who wrote them on stone with His own finger. Do you think He would have left it UNCLEAR if He was rescinding them?

"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 12:17)

“12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

“13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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.” (Revelation 22:13-14)

8. YESHUA SAYS IF!

We have glanced above at the power of "IF". Let's look more closely. First let's see the times Yeshua, Jesus in English, says IF you keep my commandments, words, sayings and the like. Then other times Yeshua conditions something with IF.

Yeshua says IF we keep His words, sayings, and commandments:

" If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" (John 8:31)

"If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." (John 8:51)

"If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15)

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him," (John 14:21)

"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him." (John 14:23)

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:10)

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14)

Yeshua says IF as conditions for other things:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

" Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matthew 16:24)

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." (Matthew 17:20)

"So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." (Matthew 18:35)

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21)

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." (Matthew 21:21)

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." (Mark 9:23)

"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you." (Luke 17:6)

"For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me." (John 5:46)

"But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:47)

"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." (John 7:37)

"Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." (John 8:19)

"They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham." (John 8:39)

"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42)

"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)

Again, at the very end of the Bible, and the end of time, the “commandments of God” are kept by Christians who are saved. Can you be a true Christian and flagrantly disregard the Ten Commandments? Why do you think these two qualifications are used together here? Would He judge your obedience on commandments not clearly expressed or halfway hinted at, or rather on the ones He wrote with His own finger in stone? Can you honestly read all the many scriptures above where Yeshua says over and over, if you love Him, you will keep His commandments. Keep in mind these scriptures of the very end of time from God’s own mouth saying here are they who keep the commandments of God and have faith in Christ Yeshua. Can you honestly tell yourself you do not need to keep the Ten Commandments? Seriously, pray to God to break any delusion you are under. Pray to the Holy Spirit to lead you to the truth!

FINAL REVIEW

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or 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 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." (Exodus 20:4-6)

In the second commandment itself, God says He has in the past, already, shown mercy to thousands that do two things. Those two things are "love Me” and "keep My commandments.” This shows that people knew His commandments to, at the very least, four generations before this time, and had been either keeping them, or not. These two "conditions" given here are a great testimony to the fact that God never changes.

"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6)

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

So here at the beginning of the Bible, God wants us to believe in Him (the first commandment) and to keep His commandments. And at the end of the Bible (and the world itself), God says He will save those who believe in Yeshua, and keep His commandments.

"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 Yeshua Christ." (Revelation 12:17)

"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Yeshua." (Revelation 14:12)

“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 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.” (Revelation 22:13-14)

So the Alpha and Omega, (Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet) tells us at the beginning and the end of the Bible and the world, or time as we know it, to believe in Him and obey His commandments. We are saved by faith but prove our love of God by obeying Him. When we slip and fail, slip and sin, if we confess and repent, He will forgive us. Exodus 20:4 above, and the scriptures in this note, just these alone, should be enough to convince you that Christians cannot ignore the Ten Commandments.

CONCLUSIONS

Draw your own conclusions. My conclusion is that, to be obedient, to show our love of God, we still have to obey the Ten Commandments. Yeshua said:

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (John 15:14)

"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me...” (John 14:21)

The Ten Commandments are unchanged in the Ark in heaven. On the great Day of Judgment, after the end of the world, the Ark of the Covenant, holding the Ten Commandments, will be opened in heaven. And there are many more verses and reasons in the study above.

How straightforward are these verses from the Old Testament!

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8)

"13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

"12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12 NIV)

"36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)

Find the scriptures that you think say God or Yeshua eliminated the need to obey the Ten Commandments. Examine those scriptures to see how many there are and how clear they are. Examine those scriptures to see if they say God or Yeshua eliminated obedience to the Ten Commandments. Then balance those scriptures, if any, against the great cloud of witnesses above.

Then pray heavily about it.

Then make up your mind.

Then live your life as a child of the Living God

Because the fourth commandment, honoring the Sabbath Day seems to be such a departure from today’s Christian norms, I have made that the topic of another scripture search titled, “Does Jesus want Christians to Keep the Sabbath Day?”

May the Living God guide and bless your search for His truth!

ADDENDUM

THE NAME OF GOD AND HIS MESSIAH

"Jehovah" is a totally made-up word, and not even close to the name of our God, The Living God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel). Adonai is the transliteration of the Hebrew word "adon" which means "lord." But it is NOT what was written in the scriptures, but was used to replace the real name of God.

The article "The Names of God: Yahweh" by BlueLetterBible.org says that in the Jewish Hebrew Scriptures (The Old Testament) Yahweh occurs 6,519 times, and has been replaced by "The Lord" to reverence and protect it from misuse. The trouble is that also HIDES the name of our God from us.

https://blogs.blueletterbible.org/blb/2012/07/18/the-names-of-god-yahweh/

Another article" The Meaning of Yahweh" by KnowingTheBible.net says, in part, the following.

https://www.knowingthebible.net/topical-studies/the-meaning-of-yahweh

“The Meaning of Yahweh"

"In Ex. 3:13-14, Moses asks God, “Whom should I say has sent me?” and God responds by saying, “I AM that I AM… You must say this to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” However, it could be awkward for Moses to go to the Israelites and Pharaoh and say, “I am has sent me.” So, in Ex. 3:15 God revises this phrase and changes it to the third person by saying, “Tell them that ‘He is’ has sent you.” The word “He is” comes from the Hebrew root word haya, which means, “to be.” It is the third person form of this word, “He is,” that becomes the name Yahweh."

Numbers 15:37-41 is a great example verse to show what has been done to our Bible concerning the name of our God. The King James Version and the New International Version are shown below.

"I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God." (Numbers 15:41 KJV)

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the Lord your God.” (Numbers 15:41 NIV)

But what do the original Hebrew words say?

That wonderful Bible study tool from BibleHub.com, their Interlinear Bible shows this.

The Names of God Version of the Bible has restored our God's name to the scriptures, AS THEY WERE WRITTEN.

"I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of Egypt to be your Elohim. I am Yahweh your Elohim.” (Numbers 15:41 NOG Names of God Version)

We should know and use the name of our God.

The debate on the true name of the Messiah, as used by His disciples in His day, may still be ongoing. However, I think this article by Dr. Daniel Botkin sums it up well.

http://www.yashanet.com/library/yeshua_or_yahshua.htm

"The Messiah's Hebrew Name: 'Yeshua' or 'Yahshua'?" In part, Dr. Daniel Botkin says the following.

"The English form Jesus is derived from the New Testament Greek name Ihsouß, pronounced "Yesous." According to Strong’s, Yesous (Strong’s #2424) is "of Hebrew origin" and can be traced back to Joshua’s Hebrew name, Yehoshua (#3091, [wvwhy). But how do we get the Greek Yesous from the Hebrew Yehoshua? Someone armed with nothing more than a Strong’s Concordance may have difficulty answering that question. Someone who reads the Bible in Hebrew, though, knows that the name Joshua sometimes appears in its shortened form, Yeshua ([wvy) in Neh. 8:17 it is apparent even in English: "Jeshua the son of Nun." (The letter J was pronounced like a Y in Old English.) Strong does not tell the reader that the Greek Yesous is actually transliterated from this shortened Hebrew form, Yeshua, and not directly from the longer form Yehoshua. The process from "Yehoshua" to "Jesus" looks like this:

Hebrew Yehoshua à Hebrew Yeshua

Hebrew Yeshua à Greek Yesous

Greek Yesous à English Jesus

There is no "sh" sound in Greek, which accounts for the middle "s" sound in Yesous. The "s" at the end of the Greek name is a grammatical necessity, to make the word declinable.

In Neh. 8:17, Joshua’s name is 100% identical to the name which today’s Messianic Jews use for the Messiah, Yeshua ([wvy). Strong’s confirms this pronunciation, and tells us that there were ten Israelites in the Bible who bore this name (#3442). Therefore the shortening of Yehoshua to Yeshua predates the Christian era by at least 500 years,"

Note the translators did NOT translate Joshua the son of Nun’s name into a non-recognizable derivative. His Hebrew name was Yehoshua, shortened to Yeshua, and we read it today as Joshua. Knowing that the “J” was pronounced as a “Y” when the King James Bible was written, gives us a recognizable name. Yeshua (Jesus) had the same name, why was it not handled the same?

To me, this means we know that the name "Jesus" is no where close to His true name as called by His family and disciples, having been transliterated through three (3) languages. While many, even most, scholars in my research agree with Dr. Botkin, even if our pronunciation is slightly off from how it was spoken back in His day, it at least is true to our best historical knowledge at this time. Perhaps His disciples would recognize it as His name if we jumped in a time machine, and went back and asked to see "Yeshua", perhaps they wouldn't. But it is guaranteed that "Jesus" is nowhere even slightly resembling His real name.

I know that tens of thousands of Christians highly revere the name of "Jesus". Nevertheless, we have been misled. In my opinion, we should use the real name of Our Savior, The Messiah of The Living God, Yeshua.

Hence, in my Bible Studies I will use the best knowledge we have, our best shot at Their real names, and call God Yahweh, and call the Messiah, Yeshua.

Because most people have never heard of Yeshua, I will use the name "Jesus" in the titles of my studies.

THE KING JAMES VERSION OF THE BIBLE

Just in case you were wondering about the King James Version.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_translations_into_English

“In the United States, 55% of survey respondents who read the Bible reported using the King James Version in 2014, followed by 19% for the New International Version, with other versions used by fewer than 10%.”