Do we keep only the Ten Commandments?
Periodically, we will come across a news item where the Ten Commandments were posted in a public place and the lawsuits that arise out of it. I've seen the Ten Commandments posted on the lawns and in the homes of people who profess to believe in them. Indeed, there seems to be a great push in this country for the Ten Commandments. I think this is great. However, it would be much greater if only all would heed them. For instance, how many in this country observe the Sabbath? It is part of the Ten Commandments, yet many people even teach that the Sabbath is abolished. Therefore, the Ten Commandments that some hang in prominent places actually stand there as a witness against them.
In this study I would like to ponder the question, "As important as the Ten Commandments are, are the keeping of the Ten Commandments all that Yahuah desires of His people?" Surely, He desires that we repent and come to Yahusha the Messiah, YES he does. But there are more than Ten Commandments!
Let's examine Yahusha's words in the following scripture..
According to Yahusha, we should live by "EVERY WORD" that proceeds out of the mouth of Father Yahuah. Surely the word of Yahuah has more than just Ten commandments. Yahusha was actually quoting from the Law of Yahuah here..Matthew 4:3 - And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of Yahuah, command that these stones be made bread. 4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YAHUAH.
Our trials teach us that we must live by every word of Yahuah. Yahusha was quite familiar with the word. (In fact He IS the word). Now, we see that HaSatan(adversary) could quote scripture too:Deuteronomy 8:3 - And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YAHUAH doth man live.
But Yahusha was not deceived:Matthew 4:6 - And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of Yahuah, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Where is Yahusha getting this information?Matthew 4:7 - Yahusha said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt YAHUAH thy Father.
From the law of Yahuah, the Word. Not the Ten Commandments, but others as well! Paul also believed in obeying every word that proceeded out of the mouth of Yahuah, not just the Ten Commandments:Deuteronomy 6:16 - Ye shall not tempt YAHUAH your Father, as ye tempted him in Messiah.
When Paul was on trial, he heeded the word of Yahuah to not speak evil of rulers. Where was he getting this commandment? It certainly wasn't one of the Ten. He was quoting the law:Acts 23:4 - And they that stood by said, Revilest thou Yahuah's high priest? 5 - Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
In fact, if we read the New Testament...it gets its authority and doctrine from Yahusha's words and all of the Law and the Prophets, not just the Ten Commandments.Exodus 22:8 - If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor's goods. 28 - Thou shalt not revile Yahuah, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Quoting from..Romans 9:14 - What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with YAHUAH? Certainly not! 15 - For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So Paul is backing up a statement by a quote in Yahuah's law. Isn't it interesting that all of these are from the law (i.e. the first five books of the "bible"..the Torah)? Here is a great example...Exodus 33:19 - And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of YAHUAH before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
This translation accurately says that we shouldn't "keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral," But what defines sexually immoral? From where does Paul get the information on what is moral and what is immoral? Is incest, bestiality or homosexuality sexually immoral? Of course, but we surely would have to look further than the Ten Commandments to find this!1Corinthians 5:11 - But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Now let's look at the verse in Corinthians again..Leviticus 18:22 - Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. 23 - Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. 24 - Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: 6 - None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am YAHUAH.
Where in the Ten Commandments does it forbid railing or reviling? Revile means to regard as vile, to speak evil of or defame another. David knew this was evil:1Corinthians 5:11 - But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
Yahuah's law forbids it, but not in the Ten Commandments:Psalms 101:5 - Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Continuing in 1Corinthians 5:Leviticus 19:16 - Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am YAHUAH.
Paul was quoting the Law again here, but where in the Ten Commandments does it say to "put away from yourselves the evil person"? Nowhere. But there are many instances of this concept in the law of Yahuah:1Corinthians 5:11 - But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 - For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 - But them that are without YAHUAH judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Now let's examine another scripture..Deuteronomy 24:7 - If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.
Deuteronomy 19:19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.
"The word is nigh thee (near to you)". Here is yet another scripture quoted from the law that Paul is expecting people to walk in. What is the "word" that is spoken of in this scripture? Let's look at what is being quoted from..Romans 10:6 - But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring the Messiah down from above:) 7 - Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up the Messiah again from the dead.) 8 - But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
The Commandment isn't far away.Deuteronomy 30:11 - For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
Where is it?Deuteronomy 30:12 - It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 - Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Contrary to popular opinion, scripture says that the law of Yahuah was IN THE HEART of the children of Israel. Some today like to say that it used to be the 'old letter' that was followed and that today, His law is in our heart. But the same held true in those days also! They needed only to receive it.Deuteronomy 30:14 - But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
Continuing:
So what "word" is the scripture speaking of here? Clearly it is all of Yahuah's commandments, His statutes, and His judgments. Yahusha is the word, and He obeyed all of it, every word. Not just the Ten. Yahusha kept it perfectly and showed us what righteousness really is. He is near us, even in our hearts. Thus ALL of His commandments should be also. If one says they have the word in their hearts, then surely it would reflect on the outer layer.Deuteronomy 30:15 - See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 - In that I command thee this day to love YAHUAH thy Father, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and YAHUAH thy Father shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Let's examine another scripture:
There is more to this scripture but here we can see that His law is for "Our sakes". Is His law for our own sakes? It sure is! And not just the Ten Commandments, but ALL of Yahuah's law. Notice that Paul is not quoting from the Ten Commandments here either. The verse in reference:1Corinthians 9:10 - Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 - If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 - If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the glad tidings of the Messiah.
Which is a quote from:1Corinthians 9:9 - For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth YAHUAH take care for oxen?
What other scriptures can we find here that prove Yahuah desires more of us than the keeping of Ten Commandments? There are manyDeuteronomy 25:4 - Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.
This is a quote from Isaiah:2Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 - Or what harmony has the Messiah with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 - Or what agreement has the temple of YAHUAH with idols? For we are the temple of the living Father; just as YAHUAH said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their Father, and they shall be My people. 17 - "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says YAHUAH. "And do not touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. 18 - "And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me," says YAHUAH Almighty.
Now this is interesting. Where in scripture can we find definitions of what is clean and what is unclean? Where do we learn about cleansing ourselves from the defilement of our flesh? Paul obviously assumes that the readers of this letter would know.2Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of YAHUAH.
We need only look in Leviticus chapters 11 thru 15 to find out what is clean and what is unclean according to Yahuah. What is of significant importance is what unclean things we decide to put in our bodies that Yahuah has given us. In fact, there are certain unclean things that Yahuah would not want us to touch, let alone eat. Now some would say that this verse only refers to things that are "Spiritually" unclean and not things that are unclean according to the flesh. But one need only read the verse in context to see that this scripture speaks of what is unclean in spirit AND flesh.
A terrible thing indeed, to start a new chapter with the word "Therefore"! Originally, Paul's letter had no chapters. "Therefore" literally means "Because of this" in the Greek. So we should cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the FLESH AND SPIRIT. Clearly this is speaking of both.2Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of YAHUAH.
1John 2:2 - And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 3 - Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.By this we know that we are in Him because the Spirit of Yah is in us...causing us to walk in His statutes:
Ezekiel 36:27 - And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
It doesn't say here that His Spirit leads us to walk in just the Ten Commandments, but it say that His Spirit causes us to walk in all of His statutes and judgments.
1John 4:13 - By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.Strong words my friend!1John 2:4 - He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
How did Yahusha walk? This should settle everything! We need to walk as Yahusha walked! He's the word, He's the answer here! You see, Yahusha obeyed Yah's law....PERFECTLY ----- ! EVERY WORD.1John 2:5 - But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of YAHUAH is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 - He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
So if Yahusha loved Yahuah with all His heart, and certainly he loved us so, and if He kept the Sabbath and feast days, if He wore tassels, if He ate only clean foods, if He proclaimed the name of Yahuah, if He loved the brethren enough to give His life for them, if He obeyed ALL the Torah/Law of Yahuah...which I KNOW HE DID. Then may Yahuah bless those who "walked as He walked" for it is certain that He did these things.Matthew 4:4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YAHUAH.
So contrary to popular Christian doctrine, those who do not wish to do these things are not walking as He walked and are not walking according to the newness of Spirit, but perhaps ignorantly are carnally minded and wish to live in the oldness of letter. The word of Yahuah is death to those who fail to keep it, but is life to those who trust in Yahusha and walk in it. May we all be among those who live according to the Spirit. May we all be among those who live just as Yahusha did by living according to every single word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahuah...not just the Ten Commandments.
You are the Kingdom of Yahuah!