The Ten Commandments - Page 4

We have already seen three texts defining the ten commandments as those words spoken publicly ”out of the midst of the fire” by God before millions of people, and written with God's own finger. That is reaffirmed by more texts as well.

It is of interest that the commandments were written on all sides of the stones. We do not know how large or in what shape the stones were, but if they compared to the ancient clay tablets found in a number of places in the Middle East and to ancient covenent stones found among the Hittites, they were more elongated than cubic, and had six sides upon which writing appeared. Covenents were sometimes anciently put in two identical texts on each of two stones, as copies of the treaty for both parties. But in this case it was not so according to both Jewish and Christian tradition, which divides the commandments between the two stones. This is affirmed by Ellen White as well. ”The fifth commandment is sacred; but if you should transgress any of the first four precepts of the decalogue, wherein is revealed the duty of man to his Creator, you would not be in a favorable position for the sacred observance of the last six commandments which specify the duties of man to his fellow man. To break any one of the commandments which specify the duty of man to God is to violate the principles of the entire law. The pen of inspiration records that he who offends in one point is guilty of offense in all. Thus, should the Sabbath of the fourth commandment be disregarded, and man prove recreant to the claims of God upon him, will this disobedience prepare him to fulfill the requirements of the law which specifies his duty to his earthly parents? Will his heart be fitted through transgression of a plain precept of Jehovah upon the first table of stone, to keep the first precept on the second table. We are required, by this commandment, to honor our parents, and we are unnatural children if we do not obey this precept. But if love and reverence are due our earthly parents how much more is reverence and love due our heavenly Parent.” {ST, February 28, 1878 par. 5}

What is important is the fact that God Himself wrote the message on the tables of stone and gave them to Moses to keep as the words of the covenant for the people. (Exo 32:16) And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

Everyone knows the fate of the first set of commandments and how it was necessary to make a new set. The theory that the second set of tables contained a different set of commandments cannot be held, as it conflicts with the story in the Bible. (Exo 32:19) 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. (Exo 34:1) 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. (Exo 34:4) And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone. (Exo 34:28)

(Exo 34:29) 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.

The ten commandments as proclaimed and written by God are affirmed in Moses' summary sermon to the Israelites before their entrance into the Promised Land. (Deu 5:22) 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.

The story of the breaking and renewal of the stones is repeated in Deuteronomy nine and ten. The placing of the commandments in the ark is described there in detail. (Deu 10:1) 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. (Deu 10:2) 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. (Deu 10:3) 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. (Deu 10:4) 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. (Deu 10:5) 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.

The table of the commandments remained in the ark for many generations. (1Ki 8:9) There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. (Also 2 Chronicles 5:10).

The New Testament does not use the expression ”ten commandments.” But it mentions the law of God, the tables of stone, the covenant, and each of the commandments individually many times. The first occurrence of the expression ”tables of stone” occurs in (2Co 3:3) 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.

This is a reference to the New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah. (Jer 31:31) Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: (Jer 31:32) Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: (Jer 31:33) But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jer 31:34) And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Much is made of the New Covenant by those who wish to say that the ten commandments, by which they mean the seventh-day Sabbath, is no longer binding. But what does the text say? It says that God will put His law in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. It does not say that God will give a new law, one different from the one He gave on Sinai. The one He gave on Sinai failed only because the people did not keep it, not because there was something wrong with the commandments. The same God who wrote with His own finger on the tables of stone promises to write the same law with His own finger on our hearts. The ten commandments written on the heart instead of on tables of stone is the New Covenant.

The New Testament does not say a great deal about the tables of stone as a whole. But what it does say is clear and important. The first and most important thing is that the ten commandments, under the New Covenant are to be written on the heart. There is only one more mention of the tables of stone, and that is (Heb 9:4) 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.

The tables of the law were placed in the ark in the tabernacle. There they stayed as a reminder of the covenant between God and Israel. But that was not the original law. Many think that the ten commandments were given at Sinai to the Jews alone. First of all, that cannot be true, because the Jews are only one tribe of the twelve who stood at Mount Sinai. Secondly, there was a great mixed multitude of people also there. They had come from the most cosmopolitan center of the world in that day, from Egypt. They represented all of the people on earth, every tribe and language and people. But even so, the tables in stone at Sinai where not the original. The original expression of the ten commandments is in heaven itself, where it remains eternally the law of God. And that is why the New Testament gives us a glimpse of the ten commandments in a glimpse of heaven. (Rev 11:19) 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.

The ten commandments are hidden in the ark of the testimony in heaven itself. As we allow the law of God to be written on our hearts, we too become the temple of God, a reflection of the glory of heaven. The ten commandments are unchangeable in heaven. God can and will make them unchangeable in the temple of the human heart.

Additional related information on our site:

• The Perpetuity of the Law
• Nature of God's Law
• The Law Given at Sinai
• The Two Laws
• Not Justified by the Law
• What was Abolished by Christ?
• The Gospel in the Old Testament
• Penalty for Transgression
• Importance of Obedience
• Moral Obligation in the Patriarchal Age
• All Ten Commandments are Found in the New Testament
• Why are the ten commandments mostly telling us what not to do?

Comments (40)

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Response to Raymond Aklibosu Written by Fred Myers, June 14, 2010 Thanks Raymond, We can do all things in His power. In His love and service WLC Team +0

... Written by Raymond Aklibosu, June 12, 2010 ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS TO JUST ABIDE BY THE TEN COMMANDMENTS +0

Response to Junius Tadanugi Written by Fred Myers, April 29, 2010 There are now many Jewish groups now all over the globe, many of whom profess obedience to Torah. However, like most human beings, many choose to 'do their own thing'. A recent report from a visitor to Israel gave the impression that the scant attendance in Synagogues are indicative of the secularism existing there. The opinion was put forward that the re-establishment of that Nation has been largely political. In His love and service WLC Team +0

The Ten Commandments Written by Junius Tadanugi, April 28, 2010 The fourth day of The Ten Commandments is sabbath, which according to Jew tradition they total rest. At present time they do not at all. Why . . . +0

Response to decy hutagalung Written by Fred Myers, April 16, 2010 A warm welcome to you from Indonesia. WLC does not wish to venture into advising on any religion other that Christianity. I throw your question out to any member or visitor who may wish to answer. Meantime we encourage you to get involved in the eCourses and other presentations here and let us know of your progress. In His love and service WLC Team +0

... Written by decy hutagalung, April 15, 2010 i want to ask about scripture from moeslem, they admit that theirs is fallen from above by God, may be there are frieends here can explain -thx- +0

Your work is good Written by olutayo Akindoyin, March 16, 2010 keep the good work you are doing with christ.it is well. +0

Your work is good Written by olutayo Akindoyin, March 16, 2010 keep the good work you are doing with christ.it is well. +0

... Written by Heather Kemp, March 12, 2010 I find that many people think that a person obeys the law or the 10 Commandments to be saved and that they are "working" thier way to heaven (if that were possible) and so they are always quoting we are saved by grace trhough faith...I would just like to say, that Jesus said, if you have two men who owe a debt to the master and they were both forgiven their debt, and one had a large debt and the other a small debt, which one would love the master who forgave the debt MORE ?( I am paraphrasing)...it would be the one who was forgiven more. Well this is the way it is with those who want to obey God Yahuwah, they are such great sinners and have been forgiven their debt (like me) and when they realize that they have been forgiven and that they are actually loved by the Master, they will do anything for HIm and begin to look for ways to please Him...they long to be obedient because they have been forgiven, not to get forgiveness. They are grateful for the fact that the Master has already forgiven their debt and so they obey out of a grateful, humble, loving heart. They want to give back to the Master who gave them so much. I pray that this little message is a help to anyone who needs it and may you be blessed abundantly by our Creator Who has loved you with an ever lasting love and longs to be with you...allow Him to give you that gift and to fill your heart with His gentle kindness, love and joy and all the fruits of the Spirit. Amen. +0

... Written by travis anderson, February 15, 2010 it is great to know +0

sunday sabbath Written by Linda Anderson, January 17, 2010 we don't always go to church although we are christian. we cannot find a welcoming true bible church in our area. have gone to several but either they are very unwelcoming (cliquish) or not right. i hope that god understands and we pray for a place where we can worship and belong to a community of believers. +0

... Written by Nionelyn Gison, January 14, 2010 Let us follow these 10 commandments.. especially, the 1st one...we must all love God above all.. +0

... Written by jonathan ashawan, January 05, 2010 what the lord wrote no one will ever change it.......and he said my commandments are not too hard to follow..... +0

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS Written by EGENIWARE ADUKU EDOLO, December 24, 2009 THE TEN COMMANDMENT, YES THE THEN COMMANDMENTS.THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE URGLY ARE ALL THERE. IT IS IN EVERY TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS OF THE WORLD. ANYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT CANNOT BE TRACED TO THE BIBLE IS SATANIC.ALL RELIGIONS, CHRISTANITY, ISLAM, PAGANISM, EVEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD USE THEM. I HEARD SOMEONE, WHO SAID THERE ARE MORE THAN 400 WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN LAWS IN THE WORLD. THEY ARE A MIRROR TO THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE TRUE LIVING GOD. NO ONE IS PERFECT. IF WE ARE TO GO BY GOD'S STANDARD, NO ONE ON EARTH WILL BE SAVED HENCE GOD SENT HIS SON TO REDEEM US.WE PRAY GOD TO BE JUST AND MERCIFUL TO OUR NEIGHBOURS AND TO SERVE HIM WITH HIS STRENGH HE GAVE US. +1

The Truth of the Ten Commandment Written by Gnanadhas Selvakumar, December 01, 2009 It is very nice to see the photography of the Ten Commandments which was written by our Lord Jesus Christ and given to Moses to lead the Israel peoples.Though it was given only to Israelies if we read that it shows that it was given to us by god. That is the speciality of our God's verses.It is good. +0

Ten Commandments Written by Phoebe Sue Deatras, December 01, 2009 The ten commandments are indeed God's way for the israelites will know the right from wrong. We all know that after the Fall, people lived freely, doing what they want. So for them to be aware if they are doing good in sight of the Lord, they were given the ten commmandments; not for the ways of salvation but for guidance as we are dwelling in this world. +0

... Written by Sandro Manuel Da Costa Pinto, October 26, 2009 This is the truth and it's well explained. Thank you for taking the Gospel this way to others. I only want to answer to the comment of someone who said that was unbiblical this Study and maybe he can give an explanation on this verse. When Jesus comes like related in Rev. He will say this about his peculiar people "Here is the patience of the saints: here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Rev.14:12 I read this and I'm sure that only by faith in Christ I'll be saved and because I love Jesus I keep is commandments, and this is not being saved by my works. How can I show my wife that I love her, do I only tell her I love you or do I do things which I know she likes? May God bless you and give you His Holy Spirit so you wonderstand this my brother. From one brother in Christ +0

ten commandments Written by simon sam, October 08, 2009 it is inspiring to know +0

good Written by simon sam, October 08, 2009 i came to know something +0

THE DIFFRENCE BEING UNDER THE GRACE AND BEING UNDER THE LAW. Written by JACK@JURUS HAIDIN, September 05, 2009 FIRST AT ALL THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR POSTED COMMENTS.I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT BROTHER DANIEL'S COMMENTS.THAT IS ABOUT BEING UNDER THE LAW AND GRACE.MANY PEOPLES DO NOT REALLY UNDERSTND REGARDING THESE POINTS,TO ANSWER TO BROTHER DANIEL'S COMMENTS PLEASE VISIT YOU TUBE TYPEthe law & Christians)YOU MAY FIND THE CLEAR ANSWER MAY GOD LEAD YOU ALL TO HIS TRUTHNESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS,GOD BLESS YOU ALL. +0