INTRODUCING THE TABLES OF STONE (THE TEN COMMANDMENTS)

1. You have already seen the words on the chart:

2. Decalogue, ten words, the words,

3. Words of the covenant, tables of the testimony, and tables of the covenant.

4. Each of these descriptions describes the Ten Commandments.

5. The first description (Decalogue) is the only term not found in the Old Testament.

6. The other descriptions are in Exodus and Deuteronomy.

THESE DESCRIPTIONS HAVE BEEN PUT BEFORE US TO MAKE THIS POINT:

A. Many do not know the Ten Commandments have several different names.

B. The Ten Commandments is probably the best known description, but there are others.

C. Many do not know the Ten Commandments were also known as the “tables of the testimony.”

D. Whichever description we use, one point is unchanged.

E. This law was specifically for the Jews and only for the Jews.

F. This is what the Bible says in Deut. 5:2-3 – READ.

2. Many now believe the Ten Commandments are for all people.

3. The Bible says this is not true.

4. The Ten Commandments were for a specific people and for a limited period of time.

5. God did not design these laws to be in force for every generation.

6. One of the places this is taught is the book of Jeremiah.

7. Jeremiah. 31:31-32 says the law given through Moses was temporary.

8. READ Jer. 31:31-32.

A. A “new covenant” was promised.

B. A long time ago someone gave me a good illustration regarding the change.

C. 30 years ago you could get a driver’s license for .50 and an eye test.

D. Is this still all that is required?

9. The law has changed. The new law makes the old law invalid.

10. Jeremiah said a time would come when a new law would be given.

11. That day has come (we have the New Testament), and the Old Testament law is invalid.

12. This point seems simple enough but people are still confused.

A. Some years ago I was attending a Sunday morning Bible class.

B. The teacher was a student preacher who was visiting.

C. He began to talk about the Ten Commandments.

D. In one breath he said, “These commandments have been taken away.”

E. “Jesus’ death changed the covenant, and the commandants are no longer binding”

F. He then said, “9 of the Ten Commandments have been brought over into the New Covenant.”

13. Someone in the class raised their hand and said this was a contradiction.

A. If the commandments were removed, they could not have been brought over.

B. Either they were removed or they were not.

C. If they were removed they were gone.

14. The student fumbled and stumbled because he did not know how to answer this question.

THE BIBLE TELLS US WHAT TO BELIEVE ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

A. In Jer. 31 the Bible says the Old Testament would be replaced.

B. Jeremiah’s prophecy is enlarged upon by Paul in 2 Cor. 3.

C. This is a passage where you might want to make some marginal notes.

D. The first point will come from verse 7.

2. As this verse is read look for the words “on stones.”

3. These two words describe the Ten Commandments.

4. READ. 2 Cor. 3:7.

A. There are 5 basic points to be taken from verse7.

B. There was something called “the ministration of death.”

C. This ministration of death was “written on stone.”

D. The ministration of death involved “engraving.”

E. This ministration of death also came “with glory” and involved “Moses.”

5. Everything in this verse points to the Ten Commandments.

6. With this in mind let’s look at the final five words in verse 7 – READ:

7. “WHICH GLORY WAS PASSING AWAY.”

A. When Paul wrote this, the commandments were being done away with.

B. They were already in the process of “passing away.”

C. The ten commandments were therefore not designed to be eternal.

D. They were intended to be for the Jews for a select period of time.

1) 2 Cor. 3 shows that this time has expired.

8. The apostle’s point is reinforced in verse 14.

9. This verse is to rich I have special markings by it in my Bible.

10. Let’s read in now – READ verse 14.

A. Find the expression “the reading of the Old Covenant.”

B. This connection to the expression “it is done away in Christ.”

C. When Jesus came He fulfilled the Old Testament system (Mt. 5:17).

D. This fulfillment created a need for a New Testament.

E. 2 Cor. 3 says that a New system was given.

F. The New Testament system makes the Ten Commandments obsolete.

G. For our day and time the Ten Commandments are no longer valid.

11. These rules are not rules for us to live under.

12. This is sometimes a shock to people, but it is right.

13. The Ten Commandments are not a moral code for us to follow.

WHEN THIS INFORMATION IS PRESENTED TO PEOPLE THEY OFTEN OBJECT.

A. The typical objection goes something like this:

B. “The Ten Commandments condemned murder and theft.

C. “You say these commandments no longer apply.

D. “Therefore, it must be right to murder and steal.”

E. “God has thrust open the door of immorality.”

2. Everything in this argument is right except the conclusion.

3. Murder is wrong. Stealing is wrong.

4. These acts are not wrong because they violate the Ten Commandments.

A. Rather, both acts are prohibited by the New Testament.

B. Murder is condemned under New Testament law.

C. Theft is also condemned under the terms of the New Testament.

5. The fact that the Ten Commandments have been abolished does not now make sin right.

6. A moral code still exists.

7. This code is part of the “new covenant” prophesied in Jer. 31.

8. Part of this new covenant is found in Rom. 13:9 – READ.

9. The New Testament places a number of moral obligations upon people.

10. Some of these duties have parallels to the Old Testament and the Ten Commandments.

A. For example, murder and theft are condemned in both covenants.

B. Adultery is condemned in both covenants.

C. Lying is condemned in both testaments.

D. Idolatry, drunkenness, and worship are all covered in both laws.

E. Even interpersonal relationships are treated in both testaments.

11. While many of these subjects are treated in similar ways, there are also many differences.

12. Here are some examples.

A. The Old Testament has information about leprosy.

B. Certain procedures were to be followed when someone had this disease.

C. This problem in the New Testament, however, is not really addressed.

D. In the Old Testament there were laws about reaping the fields.

E. These laws do not have a New Testament parallel.

F. There was a law in the Old Testament for rebellious children.

G. Some children who were very rebellious could be killed.

H. This cannot be found in the New Testament.

13. Even though there are often similarities, these two laws are completely different.

14. The Old Testament law has been done away in Christ (2 Cor. 3:14).

15. This point is so crucial to understanding the Bible the scriptures illustrate it.

A. Consider how the Ten Commandments are described in the Old Testament.

B. We can turn to Deut. 5 and Ex. 20 and read them one by one.

C. The commandments are basically a lit.

D. If God had “brought over” the commandments, would it not see they would also be in a list?

E. This makes good sense and would be consistent with the Old Testament, but it does not exist.

F. The New Testament has no “list of commandments.”

G. No list exists because the commandments were not somehow transferred.

16. When the New Testament was given, God included 9 laws which are similar to 9 of the 10 comm.

17. The one law which is not somehow reflected in the new is the command to keep the Sabbath.

18. Those who want to find the 9 parallels to the 10 commandments must search.

19. All 9 are not in a single chapter or section of the Bible; several passages must be consulted.

20. This is further proof that the Ten Commandments have been removed.

SINCE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, SOME MIGHT CONCLUDE THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO STUDYING THESE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS.

A. This conclusion is only partly accurate.

B. The Ten Commandments do not apply to us in the sense they are law to live by.

C. They are not our moral code (compass); the New Testament is our law.

2. The ten laws are not our standard, but they do have significance.

3. Listen to Rom. 15:4 – READ.

4. We can learn from the things “written aforetime.”

5. The Decalogue was “written aforetime.”

6. There are therefore things we can learn from the Ten Commandments.

A. In the coming 10 weeks are we are going to learn some of these things.

B. I will be taking one commandment per Sunday.

C. A New Testament application will be made from Old Testament verses.

D. If you would like to get a head start on things, here is a little exercise.

E. List the commandments.

F. Then look though the Old Testament and find examples of how the commandments were broken.

G. You might be surprised at how some Old Testament stories connect with the Ten Commandments.

7. Tonight’s lesson is foundational.

8. We need this material before us to prepare the way for future studies.

9. If you remember the main thoughts that have been presented the right foundation will be intact.

10. Far too many believe the Ten Commandments are the law for our day and time.

11. People need to know this law was for the Jews and it was a temporary law.

12. If we know the truth then we can live by the New Testament—the law now in effect.

13. Are we living under this law as a Christian?