Chasing Truth™: Read the Bible Cover to CoverSample

God’s Love and Law

Deuteronomy 5

Throughout history, many references have been made to the Ten Commandments, as we read them in Deuteronomy 5 this week. What should be our attitude toward these commandments from God? Some people say that we no longer need to follow the Old Testament law since Christ came to free us from the law.

These commandments actually appear twice in the Bible, and are referred to in other Bible passages, such as Matthew 5:17-22, 1 John 2:3-6, and Romans 6:15 (if you have time, reading these passages will enrich your thoughts on this topic). 

In reading the Ten Commandments, we realize that much of the Church’s teaching is based on this list. We don’t have to earn our salvation by keeping these laws—it would be impossible for any of us to follow them perfectly. 

However, author Kevin DeYoung says, “God is not trying to crush us with red tape and regulations. The Ten Commandments are not prison bars, but traffic laws. . . . But even if you get impatient when you’re at a red light . . . aren’t you glad that there is some semblance of law and order? . . . The Ten Commandments are not instructions on how to get out of Egypt. They are rules for a free people to stay free.”

Thankfully, God loved humanity enough to give us these commandments, to help us discern right from wrong. These commandments teach us much about God’s character and can help us in accepting the rest of Scripture—they set up a framework for our understanding. Jesus clearly stated, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14: 15, ESV). As we learn to love Jesus, we will consider it not only our duty to follow these commandments, we will consider it our joy.