Reflections on the Ten Commandments

​Both in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5, we are given a set of laws which have come to be known as the Ten Commandments.  The Bible itself does not refer to these sets of commandments this way but the subtitles in our English Bibles often titled them the “Ten Commandments.”  Most theologians refer to them as the decalogue (literally, the ten words) and understand them to be the basis of all Old Testament law.  Sadly, however, many Christians wrongly believe these commandments only apply if you are Jewish or that God merely uses the decalogue to convict unbelievers of sin and drive them to Christ.  This is evident by the fact that I have met very few Christians who have memorized the Ten Commandments, somehow believing that to do so is some form of legalism.  We don’t need the law; we need grace, so then why memorize the Ten Commandments?  Because, as the apostle Paul says, "If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet'...So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Rom. 7:7, 12).  God is not opposed to our memorizing the law nor is he opposed to us trying to keep the law; he simply does not want us to use the law as a means of salvation.  Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone and not through law keeping.  Nevertheless, the law is “holy and righteous and good.” Thus, below are ten short devotionals on the Ten Commandments for you to read, meditate on, and benefit from.

First Commandment
Second Commandment
Third Commandment
Fourth Commandment
Fifth Commandment
Sixth Commandment
Seventh Commandment
Eighth Commandment
Ninth Commandment
Tenth Commandment