COMMENTARY
ON
THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD
(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, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Do the book of Galatians, Acts, Romans, and other verses instruct Christians to no longer teach or follow the commandments? (pt4)
The following scriptures are what most people use to say that Christians do not have to obey the commandments/law of God. TTGM is going to approach this study in a way to hopefully engage your critical thinking ability. The scripture will be stated first and then questions and answers will follow.
No. 1
(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.
Q1. Why did Paul call the Galatians foolish and bewitched, what were they doing to deserve this shameful description?
Q2. Why did Paul make reference to “works of the law”
- For Q1and Q2, the Galatians were following the law.
- Did Paul call the Galatians foolish and bewitched because they were following the law?
The answer is in this comment: 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?
Final answer: The Galatians were called foolish and bewitched because they believed by following the law they can be made perfect (saved). Paul was not saying to abolish or ignore the law, what he was saying is that you cannot be made perfect by the law. Perfection can only come by having faith in Christ.
Perfection (salvation) can only be found in having faith in Christ:
(Matt 19:21 [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.
—— —— —–
No. 2
(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.
Q1. Here Paul calls the law a schoolmaster: If we are no longer under the schoolmaster, is the believer to ignore the law as most teach?
Consider this as you contemplate your answer: If we are taught to ignore the law, how would you know that you have committed a sin? The same teachers will tell you that sin is defined as the transgression of God’s law. Also, whenever the law is mentioned in the old and New Testament it always refers to the law of Moses which consist of over 600 commandments. We must not forget that the Bible was written by Jews, to Jews about the coming King of the Jews.
(1John 3:4 [KJV])
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Final answer: The law continues to be a schoolmaster. What does a schoolmaster do? A schoolmaster shows us what is right and what is wrong. The schoolmaster also condemns when you have done wrong (called sin). After the schoolmaster condemns you, your punishment is eternal death and separation from God. When someone believes/follows Christ, he/she is no longer under the schoolmaster but is now under grace. Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the schoolmaster/law and therefore we no longer die because a believer is now joined to Him by faith. He becomes our Savior.
In conclusion, we are to observe the law, to do otherwise will still be sin in the eyes of God and we are to live no longer in sin.
Examples of Commandments from the Torah:
As believers we must still obey the following which are a few commandments given to us by the God of the Universe (not just to Barbados, Israel, or the USA but for all his human creation):
The two greatest commandments.
Love God (Deut 6:5)
Love neighbour and thyself (Lev 19:18)
The 10 commandments (written on the tablets).
Here is a small selection of the commandments that are not taught or followed by most Christians.
Not to put the word of God to the test (Deut. 6:16)
To honor the old and the wise (Lev. 19:32) how many Christians today sin by not honoring the old and wise?
Not to stand by idly when a human life is in danger (Lev. 19:16) how many Christians today avoid helping someone that is in danger?
Not to take revenge (Lev. 19:18) how many Christians today take revenge when they are “touched”?
To relieve a neighbor of his burden and help to unload his beast (Ex. 23:5) how many Christians today help their brothers/sisters with a burden?
Not to leave a beast, that has fallen down beneath its burden, unaided (Deut. 22:4)
Not to refrain from maintaining a poor man and giving him what he needs (Deut. 15:7) how many Christians today help the poor that are in need?
Not to smite a father or a mother (Ex. 21:15) how many children today strike out at their parents and hit them (including teachers)?
Not to withhold food, clothing, or conjugal rights from a wife (Ex. 21:10) how many Christian women withhold conjugal rights from their husbands?
Not to commit incest with one’s mother (Lev. 18:7) in this godless world some are taking action to abolish this command – Read More Here
Not to commit incest with one’s son’s daughter (Lev. 18:10)
Not to have intercourse with a woman, in her menstrual period (Lev. 18:19) how many Christian couples break this command?
Not to commit sodomy with a male (Lev. 18:22) how many Christian young men are indulging in sodomy?
Not to have intercourse with a beast (Lev. 18:23) Canada just passed a law that allows people to have intimate relations with animals – Read More Here
Not to eat blood (Lev. 7:26)
To pay wages to the hired man at the due time (Deut. 24:15)
Not to break a vow (Num. 30:3-4) how many Christians do you know that do not keep their word?
Not to favor a great man when trying a case (Lev. 19:15)
Not to leave something that might cause hurt (Deut. 22:8)
That a man shall not wear women’s clothing (Deut. 22:5) We all know what is happening now thanks to the feminist movement in the early 70s. Before the 1970s, it was unheard of for a woman to wear what was traditionally worn by men.
— —
The list above are just a few commandments from God’s word. Again, believers are told that they only need to obey the 10 (or 9 depending) commandments and ignore the rest. The question is, which of the few commandments listed above are you going to break? What about all the others that you never read or known about (600 plus in the Old Testament and additional ones in the New Testament)? How do you go about choosing which of the commandments of God you would keep or not keep?
One of the reasons why Christians today are not keeping the commandments:
What has happened over time is that man (including the church) has decided which commandments of God should be abolished and no longer followed.
For example, in our time the following commandment is about to be abolished worldwide (not in Muslim countries).
(Lev 18:22 [KJV])- This law is now being abolished in the western world.
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Laws are presently on the books to allow men to marry each other. Some “Christian” churches are practicing this abomination by “marring” men with men.
MAN HAS ABOLISHED THE FOLLOWING COMMANDMENTS & PRECEPTS
The commandment of the sabbath was abolished in 321 AD.
(Exod 20:8-9 [KJV])
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
The following law was written by man (Constantine) to abolish the above law given by God (Torah)..
321 AD
“On the venerable Day of the sun (Sunday the first day of the week) let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed. In the country, however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits: because it often happens that another Day is not so suitable for grain sowing or for vine planting: lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost”.
Following this initial legislation, both emperors and Popes in succeeding centuries added other laws to strengthen Sunday observance. What began as a pagan ordinance ended as a Christian regulation. Close on the heels of the Edict of Constantine followed the Catholic Church Council of Laodicea (circa 364 AD):
364 AD
“Christians shall not Judaize and be idle on Saturday (Sabbath), but shall work on that Day: but the Lord’s Day, they shall especially honour; and as being Christians, shall, if possible, do no work on that day. If however, they are found Judaizing, they shall be shut out from Christ”
Notice the word Judaize that was used in the law of 364 AD. This word speaks volumes to people with the ability to critically think. Hint: The early Christians were following Jews.
~~~ ~~~
The precept of marriage was abolished in 1563 AD.
(Gen 2:23 [KJV])
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
The following law was written by man (at the Council of Trent) to abolish the above law given by God (Torah). WATCH PRESENTATION AND FOLLOW LINKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO BIBLICAL MARRIAGE
1563 AD
Dreamed up at the Council of Trent:
“Those who shall attempt to contract marriage otherwise than in the presence of the parish priest or of another priest authorized by the parish priest or by the ordinary and in the presence of two or three witnesses, the holy council renders absolutely incapable of thus contracting marriage and declares such contracts invalid and null, as by the present decree it invalidates and annuls them. Moreover, it commands that the parish priest or another priest who shall have been present at a contract of this kind with less than the prescribed number of witnesses, also the witnesses who shall have been present without the parish priest or another priest, and also the contracting parties themselves, shall at the discretion of the ordinary be severely punished”.
What exactly is severely punished
~~~ ~~~
The precept of polygamy was abolished in 1563 AD.
(Exod 21:10 [KJV])
If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
The following law was written by man (at the Council of Trent) to abolish the above law given by God (Torah).
1563 AD
Dreamed up at the Council of Trent:
Concubinage Is Severely Punished
It is a grave sin for unmarried men to have concubines, but it is a most grave sin, and one committed in singular contempt of this great sacrament, when married men live in this state of damnation and have the boldness at times to maintain and keep them in their homes even with their own wives. Wherefore, the holy council, in order to provide suitable remedies against this great evil, decrees that if these concubinaries, whether unmarried or married, whatever may be their state, dignity or profession, have not, after a threefold admonition in reference to this matter by the ordinary, also ex officio, put away their concubines and separated themselves from intimacy with them, they shall be punished with excommunication from which they shall not be absolved till they have in fact obeyed the admonition given them.
View the actual law that made polygamy “sin” – in 1563 man (sodomite men that lead the Catholic church – read the history) no longer wanted to obey God’s law of polygamy
—– —– ——
No. 3
(Acts 15:1 [KJV])
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Q1. Why would certain men say that circumcision is required to be saved?
- This is a repeat of what happened in Galatians. People believed that you needed to keep the law of Moses to be saved. After much discussion, look at what the apostles said at the end – consider the following verse.
(Acts 15:21 [KJV])
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Q1. Why would the apostle say that Moses is being read every Sabbath day after giving them commandments from the Torah?
(Acts 15:20 [KJV]) – Commandments from the Torah were commanded in the previous verse V.20.
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols (from Torah), and from fornication (Torah), and from things strangled, and from blood (Torah).
Could it be:
- The apostle just felt like saying it.
- It was an announcement that Moses was read in the synagogue because nobody knew.
- The apostle expected the believer to visit the synagogue and listen to the reading of the Torah to learn the rest of the law.
Final answer: As mentioned before, here again, we have a situation where people wanted to make following the law the road to salvation. The law is not the road to salvation (only Christ), but what it does is show us how to be obedient to God and to our fellow man. For us, the answer lies in No 3. More and more gentiles were being converted to the church and they were not aware of the law of God. So the apostle gave them a few commands from the Torah and followed up by saying, Moses is read in the synagogues to be heard. The intention was that they visit the synagogues to get a better understanding of the law.
—– —– ——
No. 4
(Rom 3:28-31 [KJV])
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Q1. Is Paul actually saying that the law is abolished or done away with?
- Paul answers in the following verse.
(Rom 3:31 [KJV])
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Final answer: What does Paul mean by “we establish the law”? Let us examine the word establish in Greek. You will notice it can also be translated, “continue”. Continue means to go ahead and keep on doing what you are already observing (the law). And remember what he said, “God forbid”, if you do otherwise.
G2476 ἵστημι histemi (hiy’-stee-miy) v. (this is the Greek word used by Paul for Establish)
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)
—– —– ——
No. 5
(Matt 5:17 [KJV])
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
Q1 What does fulfill mean?
- The word in Greek for fulfill is G4137 πληρόω pleroo (plee-ro’-ō) v. It carries with it the meaning to satisfy. In other words our Lord came to satisfy/fulfill the requirements of the law. He was sinless and was able to meet ALL the requirements of the law; thus fulfilling every requirement because of His perfect life. This is why we are no longer under the judgment of the law when we sin (break the same law). Why? Jesus has taken away the penalty of the law because he became the perfect sin offering on our behalf. This only applies to the believer. The believer is saved while the unbeliever is dammed.
What the text is not saying. Because our Lord fulfilled the law, we are no longer required to keep the law. Yeshua even states in the same text that He did not come to do away with the law (abolish). Meaning; yes, He fulfilled the law but the law still stands (not abolished like most churches teach today).
Read more on what our Lord fulfilled that was written about Him in the Torah
—– —– ——
No. 6
(Matt 22:40 [KJV])
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets..
Q1 What does hang all the law mean?
- First notice that Yeshua was asked the question, V36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Yeshua was asked which was the greatest commandment. He was not asked which commandments we should only follow. People read into this that Yeshua meant that we only need to follow the greatest commandment (in this case He highlighted two). His answer was in response to what was greatest of all the commandments, He never intended for us to ignore all the rest. This is called reading into scripture what is not there.
Let us look at it another way. If Yeshua was asked, “Teacher, which is the commandment that we should only follow in the Law?”. If this was how the question was worded, then proponents of the “two commandments only or no law” will have a slight case to argue. But this was not the question.
TTGM notes that in V 40 ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS HANG ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS
Again we have a similar situation. The word for hang does not mean we are only to follow two commandments and leave out the rest.
Here is it in Greek.
G2910 κρεμάννυμι kremannumi (kre-man’-nï-miy) v.
to hang.
[a prolonged form of a primary verb]
KJV: hang
The word in Greek is hang or to hang in English. Our Lord is saying here that all the commandments that were given “hang” on these two greatest (no more no less). Nowhere in the text before or after does it say to ignore all the other commandments because they “hang” on the two greatest.
Maybe you can ask yourself this.
Can you explain why our Lord used the word “hang”? Why would all the commandments hang on just two?
—– —– ——
No. 7
(Acts 10:11-15 [KJV])
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have NEVER eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
Q1. Does the vision that Peter had mean that believers could now eat unclean meats and break the Torah law about meats? (eg: HAM)
Peter (also all other Jewish apostles) believed that he should have nothing to do with gentiles. However, God changed this viewpoint by giving him the vision in Acts 10. These verses are used to support the eating of unclean foods – breaking the Torah laws (EG. HAM). However, our Lord did not intend this; the vision was intended to show Peter that the gentiles that he considered unclean should be approached and accepted into the body (unclean foods in the vision represent all nations that were gentiles). Up to this point the apostles would not even eat at a gentile table or have any association with them. Even to this day Jews limit their lives to themselves and keep gentiles at a distance (not marrying etc). There is a very good reason for this; another lesson.
Again up to this point the gentiles were “persona non grata” to the apostles until the revelation/understanding of what the dream meant came to Peter. Read.
(Acts 10:19 [KJV]) – Note after the dream three men came looking for Peter. Who were these men? Ans: Gentiles (non-Jews)
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
(Acts 10:26-28 [KJV]) – Note here Peter understood what the dream meant. He understood that people outside the Jewish nation are not to be called unclean (not unclean meat)
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many (gentiles) that were come together. 28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean (ref. to Acts 10:15).
—– —– ——
No. 8
(John 13:34 [KJV])
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Q1 What does new commandment mean? Does it mean that it replaces all the other commandments?
- Our Lord just gave a new command to add to the others. He did not say, I give you a new commandment that will abolish (do away with) all the others. In God’s Kingdom commandments are new (first given), they are sometimes amended (divorce law) and some no longer apply (animal sacrifices). Eg. Whenever a new traffic law (command) is given, does this make previous traffic laws no longer relevant? No. All our Lord did here was to give a new commandment for His people to observe and follow. It is also important to note that nowhere in the context of the chapter does our Lord say that the other commandments are abolished.
Conclusion: To say a new command means the rest are no longer to be followed is the weakest of arguments.
—– —– ——
TTGM leaves you with these words from our Lord (He is our Lord because we follow Him word for word). Is He your Lord? Do you teach the commandments as we do?
(Matt 5:18-19 [KJV])
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, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Also, when we are in His will, we do what is pleasing to Him. He then will give our heart the desire it needs. In short, His Spirit will give you the comfort in knowing what to do. And this is for everything, as long as you abide in Him (Yeshua-God).
Word of Worth
(Ps 37:4 [KJV])
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
—- —- —
How do we delight ourselves in the Lord? Let scripture tell us.
(Ps 1:2 [KJV])
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
(Ps 112:1 [KJV])
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
(Ps 119:174 [KJV])
I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.
(Prov 11:20 [KJV])
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
The upright are the ones that keep the commandments of God
Our Lord connects Love with the keeping of the commandments in the New Testament. Why? Love and obedience go hand in hand.
(John 14:15 [KJV])
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
(John 14:21 [KJV])
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
(1John 5:3 [KJV])
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
The next time someone tells you it is difficult and hard to keep all of God’s commandments, tell them they are lying. Tell them you believe the word, and the word says that God’s commandments are not grievous.
———————–**————————-
—- —- —-^
MORE TOPICS OF INTEREST:
Understanding how to gain the gift of ETERNAL LIFE (SALVATION)
Read about the Many (to Hell) and the Few (to God’s Kingdom)
Understanding the Old and New Covenant – Explaining the Gospel
Understanding what is Iniquity (not keeping the commandments of God/Torah)
Why the FEW keep the commandments as written in the Torah (videos – watch the first).
A historical account that explains why the modern church moved away from the Way (the commandments of God) – watch the first video
Like, please share.
TTGM PUBLICATION:
Be no longer deceived, we invite you to read "It is TRUTH". Be prepared in truth before it is your turn to go onto the other side.
This book touches on a number of critical subjects that are taught in Christendom and it shows how man’s deception has twisted the word of God. If you want to worship God and follow Jesus (Yeshua) in spirit and in TRUTH, this book is for you. In reading the book I pray you understand God’s word as God intended.
This book is also fact-based. Evidence to support what is stated will be shown both biblically and historically by links and references to authoritative sources.
Contents include the following:
The commandments and the Torah | Deception in the church
Why would iniquity keep you out of Heaven? | Are you in God’s will?
Do you have the heart of an adulterer? | Are you thinking marriage?
What is true marriage? | Is polygamy sin in the eyes of God?
The right and wrong way to become one flesh and much more.
To get your free copy go to LuLu
To support our Ministry buy the Kindle ebook from Amazon ($0.99 USD) – Paperback is also available. You can also give away this book as a gift to family and friends.