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Let us examine the word use of “commandments”.
Yeshua (Jesus) starts off with the law and then He
goes straight into what the law consist of by saying, “Whosoever
therefore”.
(Matt 5:17-19 [KJV])
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the
law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but
to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be
fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments…
Yeshua goes on to instruct the listeners to do and
teach the commandments. So now we look at the Greek word used for commandments.
G1785 ἐντολή
entole (en-to-lee') n.
injunction, i.e. an authoritative
prescription.
[from G1781]
KJV: commandment, precept.
Next, in keeping with letting
scripture interpret scripture, we go to where the commandments (ἐντολή)
are mentioned.
THE RICH YOUNG RULER ASK WHAT
MUST HE DO TO BE SAVED:
Here we see that Yeshua makes doing/keeping the
commandments (ἐντολή)
a first requirement to be saved.
As in Matt 5:19 he said that they should be done and taught.
(Matt 19:16-20 [KJV])
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? there
is none good but one, that is, God: but
if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments (same Greek word as in Matt 5
ἐντολή). 18 He saith
unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit
adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith
unto him, All these things have
I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
As Yeshua continues to speak, He then states the second requirement needed to be saved. In
fact he uses the word “perfect”, this could only
mean that you need to be perfect to get eternal life. What makes us
perfect? What gives us the perfection, not the keeping of the commandments,
but rather faith in Yeshua; the believer is perfected in Christ (Yeshua).
(Matt 19:21-22 [KJV])
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me (faith in Yeshua). 22 But when the young man
heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
NOW LET’S SEE IF THESE TWO
REQUIREMENTS ARE AGAIN MENTIONED FOR PEOPLE (Saints) THAT ALREADY HAVE ETERNAL
LIFE.
In the following verses we have the two
requirements mentioned as having been done by the saints (believers in
our Lord). Note: There is no statement to keep the commandments only or the
faith in Jesus only, but rather both go together. As Yeshua said to the
rich young ruler the two should go together.
(Rev 12:17 [KJV])
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make
war with the remnant of her seed, which
keep the commandments (same Greek word - ἐντολή) of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(Rev 14:12 [KJV])
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments (ἐντολή) of God, and the faith of Jesus. (TTGM:
the rich young leader is not to be found with the saints. Why? He only kept
the commandments and he cannot be made perfect without faith in Christ).
This verse again confirms what was told to the
rich young ruler. To have the right to access the tree of life (future),
you are required and it is a blessing to keep HIS (Yeshua/God)
commandments.
(Rev 22:14 [KJV])
Blessed are they that do his commandments (ἐντολή),
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the
gates into the city.
Which “commandments” are believers required to keep?
Before Yeshua was born the
same word to describe commandments was used in the following verse. Like
the rich young ruler both Zacharias and Elisabeth were both righteous
before God, walking in all the commandments
of the Lord. All the commandments found here are the same commandments
given to Israel by God. The same commandments that David wrote about in
Psalms 119 (Read it and pay special attention to the love that David had
for the commandments).
(Luke 1:5-6 [KJV])
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a
certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia:
and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the COMMANDMENTS (ἐντολή),
and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Answer: Believers are expected to keep all the
commandments of God.
IMPORTANT: If believers (saints) are to keep all the
“commandments”, HOW are they to keep them?
To answer this question, we follow on from what
our Lord said about the commandments in Matt 5:17, notice as He mentions
the commandments you will see that they are not done away with but rather
our Lord says, “but I say unto to you”; and he moves the commandment from
what is written to having it now written on the heart (to the root of man’s
desires). The following is the “new” model of understanding that Yeshua
wants the believer to have. Whenever a commandment is read, you must now
look to apply it as our Lord directs. Again, not only does Yeshua target
the heart but He also modifies the command to a higher standard (eg. see
Matt 5:33 and Matt 5:34). Yeshua targets the heart and He also modifies.
Nowhere does Yeshua, soy it has passed away. Why? All the commandments will
stay in place until all is fulfilled. They also play a part in the
believers salvation as stated by our Lord (eg. It will be determined by
your actions in keeping the commandments who will be the least and the
greatest in His kingdom).
IMPORTANT: Yeshua is the only person who can
modify the law. Why? He is the law giver. He has the authority; He is GOD.
Note:
Some teach that Yeshua only meant the ten commandments; however, as you
will see in Matt 5 and countless other passages, our Lord included other
commandments under the law (He did not mention all, but He alluded to a
cross section for specific reasons – to teach us the base principle).
Yeshua
explaining the commandments in Matthew 5 (it is the believers’
responsibility to do and teach the commandments):
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The
commandment, thou shalt not kill (this commandment is found on the tablet
of stones) – targets the believers’ heart:
(Matt 5:21 [KJV])
Ye have heard that it was
said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill
shall be in danger of the judgment:
Notice
it is not the action of killing that condemns you, but rather what is in
the heart and later what comes to the mouth; this is what condemns:
(Matt 5:22 [KJV])
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry
with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and
whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall
be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be
in danger of hell fire.
---- ----
The
commandment, thou shalt not commit adultery (this commandment is found on
the tablet of stones) – targets the believers’ heart:
(Matt 5:27 [KJV])
Ye have heard that it was
said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Notice
it is not the action of adultery that condemns you, but rater what is in
the heart (lust); this is what condemns:
(Matt 5:28 [KJV])
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart.
---- ----
The
commandment, to give your hated wife a writing of divorcement (this
commandment is NOT found on the tablet of stones) – modified with
explanation given (because of the hardness of the husband’s heart etc):
(Matt 5:31 [KJV])
It hath been said, Whosoever
shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Notice
that you can still divorce (put away) the wife if she has committed
fornication (why is it not adultery since she is married? – visit
and study what true marriage is - Download Chart on the biblical marriage precept). Yeshua
is now saying not to put away your wife (excluding fornication); and if you
do so, anyone marrying her in the future is committing adultery.
(Matt 5:32 [KJV])
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put
away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth
her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
---- ----
The
commandment, not to forswear thyself (this commandment is NOT found on the
tablet of stones):
(Matt 5:33-37 [KJV])
Again, ye have heard that it
hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but
shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
Notice
the commandment is modified and the believer is not to swear at all. Swear
by nothing at all – modified with explanation given.
(Matt 5:34-37 [KJV])
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither
by heaven; for it is God's throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his
footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair
white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for
whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
---- ----
The
commandment, an eye for an eye etc (this commandment is NOT found on the
tablet of stones):
(Matt 5:38 [KJV])
Ye have heard that it hath
been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Notice
the commandment is modified and the believer is not to act out revenge –
modified with explanation given (God will be the revenger of His own).
(Matt 5:39-40 [KJV])
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil:
but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other
also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloke also.
---- ----
The
commandment, to love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy – (this commandment
is NOT found on the tablet of stones):
(Matt 5:43 [KJV])
Ye have heard that it hath
been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate
thine enemy.
Notice
the commandment is modified and the believer is now to LOVE his enemies.
With explanation given.
(Matt 5:44 [KJV])
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you;
---- ----
TTGM Conclusion:
The commandments of God are still in effect until all has been fulfilled.
To do and teach them is a requirement for the believer. In Matthew 5 our
Lord sets the stage in how we are to interpret the commandments as believers.
With the heart now playing a part in the breaking of the commandments and
with modifications made for a new understandings;
the model or template is in place to understand the rest of the
commandments. If our Lord had gone through all 600 plus commandments, the
New Testament would have been a repeat of what was already written in the
Torah. This was not His intention, but rather to give us a deeper
understanding. It is now our responsibility not as the church or
gentiles or Jews, but rather as sons of God to go to the commandments with
Yeshua’s enlightenment in mind.
What is the deeper understanding?
Answer: To be made perfect in God’s Love .The Holy
Spirit brings with Him the Love of God into our hearts and it is this love
that is applied to all of the commandments. That is why we are now expected
to love our enemies. No matter what our enemies do to us, the love in us is
greater and it prevails for all eternity. So be perfect (by accepting
Christ in faith) as our Father is perfect.
(Matt 5:48 [KJV])
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect.
*The
sons of God do not keep the commandments to be saved, but rather, they keep
the commandments because they are saved*
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Now let us examine verses that Christians point to say that we
are not to keep the commandments (or keep only nine).
This is one of the most common texts used to say
that believers do not have to keep the law.
(Gal 3:10-13 [KJV])
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is
written, Cursed is every one that continueth not
in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 13 But
that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, The just shall live by faith. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The
man that doeth them shall live in them. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree:
If you read the verses above, one may conclude
that Paul is saying that we should not keep the law. However we must look
at the full context of his message. Let us look at how Paul starts the
chapter (below verse).
(Gal 3:1-4 [KJV])
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing
of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the
Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have ye suffered so many
things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
In the above text, Paul is addressing false
doctrine and referring to the Galatians as foolish. What is the false
doctrine? Somehow the Galatians believed that the works of the law will
save them (they will get the Spirit by keeping the law). Paul is reminding
them that the works of the law is not able to give them the Holy Spirit
(eternal life). He is reminding them that it is by “faith” (in Christ) that
they are able to receive the Spirit of God to gain eternal life. Paul goes
on in the chapter to let them know that if they believe the works of the
law will justify them in God’s eyes, they are cursed.
Consider this statement by Paul, “For as many as are of the works of the law
are under the curse”. Translation; if a believer thinks (as are of the
works) the law will justify them before God, they are cursed to think so.
Why? No man can keep the whole law and gain eternal life.
Here is another text in the same chapter (below)
that is used to support believers are not under the law of God.
(Gal 3:25-27 [KJV])
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For
ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
What is Paul saying? Paul is saying, before Christ
we were under the schoolmaster (law), after Christ, we that believe by
faith are now under Him (Christ) – Christ is the Head of the Church
(believers are under their head). The law could not save us, but because we
have come under Christ (put on Christ) we can now be saved because of FAITH
in Him, which brings “GRACE”. That is why it is written, by grace we are
saved, not of works (law). Under the schoolmaster (law), brought death.
Why? The wages of sin is death. Again, no man could keep the law, further
more we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Also, all
righteousness is as filthy rags (all attempts by sinful man to keep the
law, is not possible).
Now the question is, do believers still keep the
law even though we are no longer under the schoolmaster? Let Paul speak
(remember the scripture does not contradict itself and we must let
scripture interpret itself).
(Rom 3:28-31 [KJV])
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of
the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he
not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one
God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision
through faith. 31 Do we then make void
the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
(read the entire chapter and you will see it is in
the same context as what was conveyed to the Galatians – The law cannot
save the believer)
Another parallel example (using the law of the
land); if we say, “do we then make void the law of the land? God forbid (no
way), yea we establish it”
What does Paul mean by establish the law? Let us
examine the word establish in the Greek. You will see it can also be
translated, “continue”
G2476 ἵστημι
histemi (hiy'-stee-miy) v.
στάω
stao (staō') [used
in certain tenses] to stand.
{transitively or intransitively; used in various applications, literally or
figuratively}
[a prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o (of the same meaning, and used for it in
certain tenses)]
KJV: abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth,
still, up)
What does Paul mean by using the Greek word for establish in English (also
continue):
Continue (ἵστημι)
meaning:
con·tin·ue
verb
1.
persist in an activity or process.
"he was unable to continue with his job"
synonyms: ongoing,
continuous, sustained, persistent, steady, relentless, rolling,
uninterrupted, unabating, unremitting,
unrelieved, unceasing
"our continuing commitment to customer satisfaction"
2.
recommence or resume after
interruption.
"we continue the story from the point reached in
Chapter 1"
synonyms: resume,
pick up, take up, carry on with, return to, recommence
"we continued our conversation after supper"
Conclusion: Believers are expected to keep the
law, it cannot save us, but it is necessary for us to keep all of the
commandments of the law, even the least as per our Lord.
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Keeping the commandments (law) cannot save us,
but by grace we are
able and are expected to
continue
in the commandments.
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TTGM: We have concluded that the divine commandments are all
that God has spoken to his people in the Torah; the question is, will you be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven?
For additional clarity, listen to these presentations on the
subject of the commandments - HERE
Key notes to remember:
Whenever God speaks (He is the King of His Kingdom), His word is established
after it goes forth and it is for all time. Man’s culture and ways do not
change the commandments of God. Everyone will be judged against the
commandments of God and not the traditions of men. Sin is the transgression
of the law. What is the law, TORAH.
Additional:
People keep asking TTGM, how is it possible to keep all of the
law (600 plus), much less remember every command?
Answer: In the land that you live in there are thousands of laws/commandments;
for example, marital laws, traffic laws, banking laws etc. Do you remember or
do every one? No. You only do what applies to you and to a given situation
to which the law of the land speaks. It is the same with God’s law. You
will need to study the commands for yourself to see what applies to you
(keeping in mind our Lord’s application under grace). Do not leave it to your
church leader to get it right on your behalf.
Your salvation and position in the Kingdom of God (if you get
there) is dependent on you and in what you believe/do. Someone once said, if your intentions are okay, you are safe. However,
the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Read Matthew 7:21-23. Sin
is the breaking of God’s law/commandments.
List of commandments
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