The concept of commandments is central to the biblical narrative, serving as divine instructions given by God to guide the moral and spiritual conduct of His people. The commandments are not merely rules but are seen as expressions of God's will and character, intended to lead believers into a life of holiness and obedience.

Old Testament Foundations

The most well-known commandments are the Ten Commandments, given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. These are found in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21. They encompass duties to God, such as having no other gods and keeping the Sabbath, as well as duties to fellow humans, such as honoring parents and prohibiting murder, adultery, and theft.

Exodus 20:1-3 states, "And God spoke all these words: 'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.'"

The commandments are reiterated and expanded upon throughout the Torah, with additional laws given to the Israelites to govern various aspects of life, including ceremonial, civil, and moral laws. Leviticus 19:18 encapsulates the spirit of the commandments: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

New Testament Affirmation

In the New Testament, Jesus affirms the importance of the commandments, summarizing them in the Great Commandments. In Matthew 22:37-40 , Jesus says, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments."

Jesus emphasizes that the commandments are not abolished but fulfilled in Him (Matthew 5:17-19). He teaches that true obedience comes from the heart, extending beyond mere external adherence to the law.

Apostolic Teachings

The apostles continue to uphold the commandments as vital to Christian living. In Romans 13:8-10 , Paul writes, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not covet,' and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

James 2:10-11 underscores the unity of the law: "For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 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."

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The New Testament also highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in enabling believers to keep God's commandments. In John 14:15-17 , Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to those who love Him and keep His commandments: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth."

Eternal Significance

The commandments are not only for this life but have eternal significance. Revelation 22:14 states, "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates." This verse suggests that obedience to God's commandments is linked to eternal life and access to the heavenly city.

In summary, the commandments are a foundational element of biblical teaching, reflecting God's holy nature and His desire for His people to live in righteousness and love. They are affirmed throughout Scripture as essential to the life of faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and fulfilled in the love of God and neighbor.Exodus 13:8-10
And you shall show your son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did to me when I came forth out of Egypt.
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Exodus 20:3-17
You shall have no other gods before me.
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Deuteronomy 4:5,9,10
Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do so in the land where you go to possess it.
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Deuteronomy 5:6-21
I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
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Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
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Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Therefore shall you lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign on your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
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Deuteronomy 32:46,47
And he said to them, Set your hearts to all the words which I testify among you this day, which you shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
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Joshua 8:30-35
Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
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2 Chronicles 17:7-9
Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
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Nehemiah 8:2-8
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
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Psalm 78:1-7
Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
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Proverbs 3:3,4
Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:
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Proverbs 6:20,21
My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not the law of your mother:
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Proverbs 7:1-4
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you.
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Isaiah 57:8
Behind the doors also and the posts have you set up your remembrance: for you have discovered yourself to another than me, and are gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them; you loved their bed where you saw it.
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Jeremiah 11:4
Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall you be my people, and I will be your God:
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Zechariah 7:9,10
Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
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Zechariah 8:16,17
These are the things that you shall do; Speak you every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
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Snares of Satan.
... Like a skilful general, he lays his plans ... in finding something in the Scriptures
to puzzle the ... When they transgressed God's commandments, then they separated ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /32 snares of satan.htm

Snares of Satan
... Like a skillful general he lays his plans ... in finding something in the Scriptures
to puzzle the ... When they transgressed God's commandments, then they separated ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 32 snares of satan.htm

Unity of the Faith of the Church Throughout the Whole World.
... and those who have kept His commandments, and have ... and accommodate them to the general
scheme of ... unfold what is contained in the Scriptures concerning the end ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter x unity of the faith.htm

Concerning Perfection.
... hath made them strain and wrest the scriptures for an ... heavy to the old Adam; yea,
the commandments of God ... apostle saith of many saints in general, Ephesians 2:4 ...
/.../proposition viii concerning perfection.htm

On the Sufficiency and Perfection of the Holy Scriptures In
... the Scriptures themselves, we distinguish by the general term, "inspiration ... 5:9-13.)
"On these two commandments hang all ... to them in all the Scriptures what they ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 2 on the sufficiency.htm

Introduction
... congregation, but for the Christian layman in general. ... expositions of the Ten
Commandments which appeared at ... of the New Testament Scriptures concerning the way ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/a treatise on good works/introduction.htm

Concerning Christian Liberty
... and laws are prescribed to us in the Scriptures. ... The commandments must have been
fulfilled, previous to any good ... And in general, no work makes the workman such ...
/.../luther/first principles of the reformation/concerning christian liberty.htm

Concerning Baptism.
... to inspire the penmen of the scriptures to leave ... call them institutions, ordinances,
precepts, commandments, appointments, or ... is said here in general may serve ...
/.../proposition xii concerning baptism.htm

Concerning the Sacrament of Baptism
... perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines ... and I shall state for
the general benefit what ... no evidence or example in the Scriptures, but rests ...
/.../first principles of the reformation/concerning the sacrament of baptism.htm

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the ...
... by day with the study of the Scriptures, and by ... one will suffice to mark the general
feeling: He ... they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxi the cavils of.htm

Why is "You shall not steal" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

What did Jesus mean when He said, “If you love me keep my commandments”? | GotQuestions.org

Why is "You shall not covet" in the Ten Commandments? | GotQuestions.org

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