One way to learn something about a subject is to ask questions on that subject, and look for answers. My subject is the 10 commandments. I hope these questions and answers are helpful in some way to you.
The Bible quotes are from the ESV (English Standard Version), unless otherwise noted.
The Bible quotes are from the ESV (English Standard Version), unless otherwise noted.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 1
In what year were the 10 commandments given? In approximately 1445 B. C. It is now 2011 A. D. Therefore the commandments were give approximately 3,456 years ago.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 2
To whom were these commands given? They were given by God to Moses, who then gave them to the nation Israel. Exodus 31:18 and 32:15, and Deuteronomy 4:44 & 45, and 5:1 - 5 & vs. 22 prove God gave them to Moses, who ten passed them on to his own people.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 3
Were the 10 commandments known to the generations preceding Moses? No. Deuteronomy 5:2 & 3 says: “The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. Not with our fathers did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us alive today.”
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 4
What description is given of the giving of these commands, and where is it found? The description is given more than once, and each time we are told of the unusual events that transpired at that time. The first descriptions are given in Ex. 19:14 - 25 and in Ex. 20:18 - 21. One of the later descriptions is given in Hebrews 12:18 - 26, which is the last one given in the Bible. In these descriptions we get a good idea of the solemnity of the occasion. Here is what we read in Ex. 20:18 - 21: “Now when the people saw the thunder and flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood afar off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.’ The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.”
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 5
What command corresponds to what verses in Ex. 20 and Deut. 5?
The first command is in Ex. 20:3 and Deut. 5:7.
The second command is in Ex. 20:4, 5, 6 and Deut. 5:8, 9, 10.
The third command is in Ex. 20:7 and Deut. 5:11.
The fourth command is in Ex. 20:8, 9, 10, 11 and Deut. 5:12, 13, 14, 15.
The fifth command is in Ex. 20:12 and Deut. 5:16.
The sixth command is in Ex. 20:13 and Deut. 5:17.
The seventh command is in Ex. 20:14 and Deut. 5:18.
The eighth command is in Ex. 20:15 and Deut. 5:19.
The ninth command is in Ex. 20:16 and Deut. 5:20.
The tenth command is in Ex. 20:17 and Deut. 5:21.
The first command is in Ex. 20:3 and Deut. 5:7.
The second command is in Ex. 20:4, 5, 6 and Deut. 5:8, 9, 10.
The third command is in Ex. 20:7 and Deut. 5:11.
The fourth command is in Ex. 20:8, 9, 10, 11 and Deut. 5:12, 13, 14, 15.
The fifth command is in Ex. 20:12 and Deut. 5:16.
The sixth command is in Ex. 20:13 and Deut. 5:17.
The seventh command is in Ex. 20:14 and Deut. 5:18.
The eighth command is in Ex. 20:15 and Deut. 5:19.
The ninth command is in Ex. 20:16 and Deut. 5:20.
The tenth command is in Ex. 20:17 and Deut. 5:21.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 6
What is the shortest command? Commands 6 and 8 are of equal length in the KJV. Each one has four words: “Thou shalt not kill,” and “Thou shalt not steal.”
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 7
What are the two longest commands? The longest is the fourth command, which is found in Ex. 20:8, 9, 10, 11 and in Deut. 5:12, 13, 14, 15. It is about the Sabbath. It has 94 words in the King James Version. The second longest one is the second command, which is found in Ex. 20:4, 5, 6 and in Deut. 5:8, 9, 10. It prohibits making and worshiping graven images. It has 91 words in the KJV.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 8
Are the longer commands more important than the shorter ones? No, they are not more important.. Some are longer simply because it was necessary to give more detail to show how they were to be worked out in daily life. The shorter ones need little explanation. For example, it is easy to understand how to apply these two commands: “Thou shalt not kill (murder),” and “Thou shalt not steal.”
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 9
How many of the 10 commands are negative, and how many are positive? Eight of them are negative. That is, they prohibit certain activities. The negative ones are these: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The positive commands are these: 4 and 5.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 10
When the 10 commands were given, the people were very fearful. But what positive responses did they make to God’s laws? The answer is found in Deut. 5:27, which says the people said to Moses: “Go near and hear all that the LORD our God will say and speak to us all that the LORD our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.”
The people’s positive response was met with a positive response from God. Verse 28 says Moses told them: “And The LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.’ “
The people’s positive response was met with a positive response from God. Verse 28 says Moses told them: “And The LORD heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.’ “
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 11
What further response did God give to the people of Israel when they accepted his Word to them? The answer to this question is found in Deut. 5:29 - 33, which says God said to them: “Oh that they had such a mind as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever! Go and say to them, ‘Return to your tents.’ But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess. You shall therefore be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.’”
From these verses we can learn important lessons. First, we learn of God’s concern that his people would maintain the proper attitude of heart and mind. He knew the challenge they would face to live up to their statement at the end of verse 27. Their initial enthusiastic commitment would be tested and tried. They would fail by giving in to sinful tendencies, and by giving in to the influence of the ungodly persons in their new homeland. Their intentions were good, but God longed for them to live up to their commitment.
Second, we can learn form verse 29 that God knew their obedience to his Word was directly linked to their well-being. He longed for their obedience “that it might go well with them.”
While it is true that God is more concerned about his own honor being upheld than he is about anything else, he nevertheless is concerned about our well-being. But our well-being has a moral aspect to it. We can’t live in rebellion against God and expect his blessing on our lives. Just as a kink in a garden hose keeps the water from flowing freely its desired location, so sin in our lives keeps the blessing of God from flowing freely to us. An old Gospel song expresses this truth well wit these words: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.“
From these verses we can learn important lessons. First, we learn of God’s concern that his people would maintain the proper attitude of heart and mind. He knew the challenge they would face to live up to their statement at the end of verse 27. Their initial enthusiastic commitment would be tested and tried. They would fail by giving in to sinful tendencies, and by giving in to the influence of the ungodly persons in their new homeland. Their intentions were good, but God longed for them to live up to their commitment.
Second, we can learn form verse 29 that God knew their obedience to his Word was directly linked to their well-being. He longed for their obedience “that it might go well with them.”
While it is true that God is more concerned about his own honor being upheld than he is about anything else, he nevertheless is concerned about our well-being. But our well-being has a moral aspect to it. We can’t live in rebellion against God and expect his blessing on our lives. Just as a kink in a garden hose keeps the water from flowing freely its desired location, so sin in our lives keeps the blessing of God from flowing freely to us. An old Gospel song expresses this truth well wit these words: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.“
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 12
How many times is the phrase “ten commandments” found in the Bible? Only 3 times: in Exodus 34:28; and in Deut. 4:13 and 10:4.
QUESTION AND ANSWER NUMBER 13
Are we required to keep the 10 commandments in order to be saved? No. Keeping these or any other commands in no way contributes to being saved. This is proven by many Biblical statements. Galatians 3:21 says: “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” A careful reading of Paul’s letter to the Galatians reveals that one of the purposes of this letter is to combat the idea of salvation by self-effort alone, or by self-effort plus faith in Jesus Christ. We obtain salvation simply by believing in him who died for our sins, and who was raised again from the dead.
This same truth is taught in the first five chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Romans 3:28 says; “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Romans 5:1 says: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians affirms this truth in chapter 2, verses 8 & 9, which say: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
This truth is taught in Paul’s letter to preacher Titus. In chapter 3, verses 4 & 5 it says: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Many other verses from the New Testament can be quoted in support of the fact that salvation is given to us strictly as a gift of God which is received when all we do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and make no attempt to merit salvation by keeping God‘s laws. But consider just one more Biblical statement about this matter. Acts 13:38 & 39 say: “Let it be known to you, therefore, brothers, that through this man (Jesus Christ) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” The more familiar King James Version words the verses this way: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Those who understand and accept the Bible’s teaching that salvation comes from God’s unmerited grace also believe that we are to keep God’s laws out of loving appreciation for the salvation we have freely received by faith in Jesus Christ. They believe in obeying what God expects of them, but their motive is completely different from those who attempt to merit salvation by obedience to God.
What is your motive for seeking to obey God? Is it Biblical?
This same truth is taught in the first five chapters of Paul’s letter to the Romans. Romans 3:28 says; “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.” Romans 5:1 says: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians affirms this truth in chapter 2, verses 8 & 9, which say: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
This truth is taught in Paul’s letter to preacher Titus. In chapter 3, verses 4 & 5 it says: “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.”
Many other verses from the New Testament can be quoted in support of the fact that salvation is given to us strictly as a gift of God which is received when all we do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and make no attempt to merit salvation by keeping God‘s laws. But consider just one more Biblical statement about this matter. Acts 13:38 & 39 say: “Let it be known to you, therefore, brothers, that through this man (Jesus Christ) forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.” The more familiar King James Version words the verses this way: “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Those who understand and accept the Bible’s teaching that salvation comes from God’s unmerited grace also believe that we are to keep God’s laws out of loving appreciation for the salvation we have freely received by faith in Jesus Christ. They believe in obeying what God expects of them, but their motive is completely different from those who attempt to merit salvation by obedience to God.
What is your motive for seeking to obey God? Is it Biblical?
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