Most who read the above title will immediately answer the question in the affirmative, yes they are for us. This is one of the reasons that there has over the last couple of decades been much controversy over the issue of the Ten Commandments being removed from government buildings and such. However, it would be beneficial for all to step back and take another look at the issue.

Let us start with the giving of the Ten Commandments. God had chosen the descendents of Israel (Jacob) to be a chosen people (Gen. 28:13-14; Deut. 7:6). After they had suffered bondage in Egypt, God brought them up from Egypt through the Red Sea. In the third month, after coming out of Egypt they came unto the wilderness of Sinai (Exo. 19:1). Moses was instructed to ascend Mount Sinai to receive God’s law for His chosen people (Exo. 19:20). The beginning of those instructions, that part which was written in stone is known as the Ten Commandments and is recorded in Exodus chapter twenty and Deuteronomy chapter five. They were given to the nation of Israel. Notice the words of Moses, “Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep and do them” (Deut. 5:1). The Ten Commandments were given to the nation of Israel and to Israel only, as was the remainder of the Old Law of Moses.

Secondly, let us note that the entirety of the Old Law of Moses has been fulfilled and removed. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of this when he prophesied, “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: 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” (Jer. 31:31-32). The Hebrew writer, speaking of the Old Law of Moses said, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second “ and then quotes Jeremiah’s prophesy concerning the giving of a new covenant (Heb. 8:8-10). Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17). Jesus fulfilled the old law, broke down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, abolishing in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contain in ordinances” (Eph. 2:14-15) and “took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14). On the mount of transfiguration, with Moses present to represent the law and Elias to represent the prophets, God said of Jesus, “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). The Hebrew writer wrote, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…” (Heb. 1:1-2). It is obvious to any who will honestly consider the Bible, the old Law of Moses has been fulfilled and it is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ under which we are to live today.

However, there are some that recognize the distinction of the covenants, but still insist that the Ten Commandments were not included in that which has been fulfilled and replaced. They say that indeed the old ceremonial laws such as the animal sacrifices have been taken out of the way, nailed to the cross, but that the Ten Commandments are still in force today. Consider the teachings of the apostle Paul on this subject. Paul appealed to the old law concerning marriage to instruct concerning the end of the old law and the beginning of the new. He pointed out how “the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband” (Rom. 7:2). He then makes the application, “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Rom. 7:4). He said that they were “delivered” from the law (verse 6). What law was he talking about? He tells us when he says in verse seven, “I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet”. “Thou shalt not covet” is one of the Ten Commandments. Thus, according to the apostle Paul, we are dead to and delivered from the Ten Commandments.

Some would then argue, but that means we are free to kill, steal, commit adultery and the other seven of the Ten Commandments. No, the gospel of Christ, the law under which we are to live, includes nine of the Ten Commandments. The only one not included is, “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy”. Instead, Christians are to assemble upon the first day of the week to worship in the manner taught in the New Testament. The manner of worship has been changed as well as the day of the week.

No, we are not bound by the Ten Commandments. (Send any questions or comments to: rcoliver@centurylink.net)