The Ten Commandments

In the world today the Ten Commandments are viewed as a list of rules that Christians are to follow, a foundation of morality in that if one follows these ten specific rules, they would be a moral person. Many in turn believe that if they follow the Ten Commandments of God and are a "good person" they will go to Heaven. Of course that is wrong, because there is no other way to Heaven but with the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

But when it comes to living a Christian life, these commandments are important because it helps us understand the condition of our hearts. The Ten Commandments are really just a much broader version of the simple explanation of the ultimate law of God, which is:

Matthew 22: 36-40
36) "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37) Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38) This is the first and greatest commandment. 39) And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40) All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

So then, you will see, that ALL of the Law (God's law) hangs on these two commandments. I see it pretty much boiling down to one simple word. Unselfishness. Giving your life to the Lord and giving of your life to others. It's all about true love. Loving God and loving others. The Ten Commandments are 10 ways to be sure you do not have evil in your heart. We could re-phrase the Ten Commandments into questions to help you see how they affect your life.

The Ten Questions:
1.) Are you putting God first in your life?
2.) Are you worshiping other things? Money? A Person? A Job? Belongings? Do you kneel before a statue to pray? Do you have pictures or statues of Jesus, Angels, or other heavenly things that you feel protect you, or make you holy?
3.) Do you cuss using the name of God or Jesus? Do you think it's funny, or even okay, when someone else does? Do you misuse His name by saying "Oh my God" when something surprises or excites you?
4.) Do you keep the sabbath day holy? Do you rest and spend your time with God on your sabbath day, learning and growing in the Lord?
5.) Do you respect your parents? Do you show them love? Do you care for them regardless of how they have raised or treated you?
6.) Do you have a murderous heart in which that you desire someones death? Do you hold grudges or seek revenge on others? Do you hate another person? (1 John 3:14-15)
7.) Do you have sex outside of marriage? Do you have sex or a personal intimate relationship with someone besides your spouse? Do you desire these types of relationships, whether ongoing or short term? Do you enjoy viewing pornographic or objectionable material? (Matthew 5:27-28)
8.) Do you take things that don't belong to you, from other people, businesses, or a job? Do you use people, by asking favors and for help with a selfish attitude, never intending to pass it on?
9.) Do you lie about other people? Do you gossip and spread things about people that you are unsure are true?
10.) Do you desire to have something that someone else has? Do you wish strongly to have things of another, desiring their spouse, car, house, or other belongings? Do you desire something that would be unobtainable (belonging to someone else) without hurting someone else by getting it?

One last thing, do you accept that it's okay that others do these things? Does it make you cringe when you see others do these things? Does it make your heart ache? Do you feel the sorrow that God feels when these sins are committed?

The Lord gave us these commandments because he knows and sees what is in our hearts. He wants us to understand that it is not a list of rules that will get us into heaven by following them, but the Ten Commandments are a window to our own heart. God already knows what is there, but sometimes we do not even realize the evil desires of our hearts without them being pointed out to us. God is pointing out to us, through His Commandments, the evil within us. When it comes down to it, what we need do is love God with all of our heart, and love other people like we love ourselves, being unselfish and giving of ourselves, and having the heart of God rather than the desires of the world.

Additional related scripture:
James 2:8-11
8) If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9) But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10) For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11) For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

2 John 1:6
6) And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

1 John 3: 14-15
14) We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15) Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.