Do the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant today?

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LoveYeshua

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NOTE: this post is about the ten commandments and Not about the rest of the law of Moses. Also God himself defined the covenant as the ten commandments, I have posted some of the verses about this fact HERE

Many today question whether the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant. Some believe they were temporary, pointing to writings that describe the law as a ministry that brought death and condemnation. But when we look deeper into the words of Jesus and the prophets, we find a different truth—one filled with life, purpose, and enduring glory.

The prophet Jeremiah gave a clear promise from God:
“I will make a new covenant… I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:31–33)

This promise was not about removing the law but placing it where it was always meant to be—inside the heart. The commandments, once written on stone, would now be written in living hearts through the Spirit of God. But like any true covenant, it only works when both sides agree. God remains faithful, but His people must accept it, cherish it, and allow His Spirit to plant it deep within them.

Jesus never set the commandments aside. He honored the law and taught its fullness. When He healed on the Sabbath or defended His disciples for picking grain, He wasn’t breaking the law—He was showing its true purpose. He said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) The Sabbath was made for man—not man for the Sabbath. Jesus reminded the people that the heart of the law is love, mercy, and goodness, not cold rituals.

He also taught that not even the smallest part of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill… till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law.” (Matthew 5:17–18) Jesus taught from the law and lived by it. He deepened its meaning. He showed that anger leads to murder, and lust is already adultery in the heart. His teachings didn’t cancel the law—they raised it to its true spiritual level.

So why does it seem today that God's law is not written in the hearts of many? The answer lies in the covenant relationship. If one party refuses the covenant, it cannot be fulfilled. The Spirit cannot write in a heart that is closed. Many call Jesus Lord but do not walk in His ways. As He said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

The commandments remain—not as a list of rules, but as a path to life. The law of God is perfect, converting the soul. The problem was never with the law, but with the hearts of people. The old covenant failed because the people broke it, not because the law was faulty.

The new covenant is not the removal of God’s law but its renewal—inside us. The Spirit does not lead us away from the commandments but gives us the power to live them. Jesus said the Spirit will guide us into all truth. The law and the Spirit are not enemies—they work together when the heart is willing. In the end, the new covenant fulfills the old by making it alive. The law that once condemned now becomes a light. But for this to happen, the covenant must be embraced, and the heart must be softened. God's law in the heart is a sign of His people. It is how we love Him and love our neighbor.

The commandments are not heavy when written in love. They are eternal because they reflect the character of God Himself. They are still standing, still Holy, and still waiting for hearts that will receive them—not in stone, but in spirit and truth.
 

Nancy

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Well said. It's too bad many cannot see how the law and the Spirit work hand in hand.
 

Davy

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With certain groups they actually push law-keeping to be saved, which is why eventually... you will hear them start trying to push sabbath keeping upon you!

Then after that, they begin their strategy to get you to keep God's laws like a Jew. As a matter of fact, those groups are... mostly Jewish, come to think of it.

Brethren in Christ, our Lord Jesus did not... nail all of God's laws to His cross, but the ordinances in God's law involving the blood ordinances, ritual worship, sacrifices, offerings, AND anything doing with ritual OTHER THAN keeping Holy Communion with Christ and being baptized of water.

Yet there is nothing wrong... with wanting to keep the law. It's just that we can never... be perfect in keeping it; only Lord Jesus could do that. And anyone claiming they can are actually saying they are equal with Lord Jesus and do not fall short like Apostle Paul said we all do.

Col 2:14-17
14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
KJV


Since Lord Jesus died on His cross, blotting out that "handwriting of ordinances" upon us, WE ARE NOT TO BE JUDGED in what we eat, nor what we drink, nor in respect to keeping a holy day, or of the new moon, NOR OF THE SABBATH DAYS.

If one wants to keep the Hebrew sabbath like the old days, fine, but do not judge others who do not.

If one wants to keep God's law for what meats one eats, fine, but do not judge others who do not.

If one wants to keep God's days of His feasts He gave as holy days, fine, but do not judge others who do not.
 

LoveYeshua

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With certain groups they actually push law-keeping to be saved, which is why eventually... you will hear them start trying to push sabbath keeping upon you!

Then after that, they begin their strategy to get you to keep God's laws like a Jew. As a matter of fact, those groups are... mostly Jewish, come to think of it.

Brethren in Christ, our Lord Jesus did not... nail all of God's laws to His cross, but the ordinances in God's law involving the blood ordinances, ritual worship, sacrifices, offerings, AND anything doing with ritual OTHER THAN keeping Holy Communion with Christ and being baptized of water.

Yet there is nothing wrong... with wanting to keep the law. It's just that we can never... be perfect in keeping it; only Lord Jesus could do that. And anyone claiming they can are actually saying they are equal with Lord Jesus and do not fall short like Apostle Paul said we all do.

Col 2:14-17
14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
KJV


Since Lord Jesus died on His cross, blotting out that "handwriting of ordinances" upon us, WE ARE NOT TO BE JUDGED in what we eat, nor what we drink, nor in respect to keeping a holy day, or of the new moon, NOR OF THE SABBATH DAYS.

If one wants to keep the Hebrew sabbath like the old days, fine, but do not judge others who do not.

If one wants to keep God's law for what meats one eats, fine, but do not judge others who do not.

If one wants to keep God's days of His feasts He gave as holy days, fine, but do not judge others who do not.
when you say law here do you mean the laws of Moses of are you referring to the ten commandments, the covenant? thank you for clarifying.
 

LoveYeshua

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Well said. It's too bad many cannot see how the law and the Spirit work hand in hand.
Thank you Nancy, it is my hope that some will learn one day that the Holy spirit promised by Jesus does indeed transform the believer, it then becomes easy to follow the commandments, and we do so it gladly, not with the objective of being saved but simply because we love God and want to do his will not ours.

Blessings!
 
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Rockerduck

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The ten commandments are an example to show how ineffective we are to achieve them. But they are a goal post to measure by. Nobody can measure up to them, but we can try. However, I can do all things through Christ and we are not sinless, but we can sin less.
 

Rockerduck

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The short answer is yes, they still apply. Think about what happens if you break them, the laws of cause and effect still apply.
Matthew 22:37-40 -
37 Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
 

LoveYeshua

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Matthew 22:37-40 -
37 Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
just to add here that Jesus summarized the ten commandments, He did not say not to follow the ten commandments.

more below, see post 12
 
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Rockerduck

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just to add here that Jesus summarized the ten commandments, He did not say not to follow the ten commandments.
Jesus did summarize the laws and prophets and also did away with all the laws and prophets. So, the summery still applies; the love the Lord and love you neighbor still applies today, but the ten commandments are an example, not a death penalty for not measuring up to.
 

LoveYeshua

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The Ten Commandments were graciously given by God as the foundation of His covenant relationship with His chosen people. Through these divine instructions, God lovingly called His people to be set apart—a holy nation dedicated to His purpose and glory.

These commandments are far more than mere rules; they are a gift from God, guiding His people to live in harmony with His perfect will. They teach us the path of moral integrity and uprightness, fostering personal responsibility, social justice, and true community. The commandments direct us to honour God above all, worshipping Him alone with awe and reverence, while also instructing us to treat one another with dignity, respect, and fairness.

Yet, within these sacred words lies a profound truth: humanity’s inability to perfectly fulfill God’s holy standards. When the Israelites turned to the golden calf (Exodus 32:8), it revealed how easily our hearts can stray, even in the face of God’s clear commands. The prophet Isaiah echoes this reality, declaring that even our best deeds are as “filthy rags” before the Lord (Isaiah 64:6). The commandments thus serve not only as a guide, but also as a mirror, exposing our deep need for God’s mercy and pointing us toward the hope of redemption.

Ultimately, the heart of the commandments is love—love for God and love for others. As the Lord commands in Deuteronomy 6:5, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” And as Leviticus 19:18 teaches, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In these two great commandments, we see the fullness of God’s desire for His people: a life marked by devotion to Him and compassion for one another.
It is for this very reason that our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. In His perfect wisdom, He illuminated the true spirit of the commandments, revealing their deeper meaning and teaching us to fulfill them not merely through rigid adherence to the letter of the law, but with hearts full of love and compassion. Out of His boundless mercy, Jesus rescued us from the just penalty of our sins, willingly bearing the weight of our transgressions and offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice on the Cross.

By shedding His precious blood, He established and sealed the new covenant, marking the dawn of a new era of grace and redemption. At His ascension, true to His promise, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit—the Comforter—to dwell within all who believe in Him. The Holy Spirit now guides us, imparts understanding, fills us with divine love, and inscribes God’s commandments upon the hearts of believers, making us partakers of the covenant.

In all He did, Jesus exemplified perfect gentleness and humility, fulfilling His Father’s will with unwavering obedience and selfless love. His life and sacrifice stand as the ultimate expression of God’s love for us, inviting us to follow in His footsteps with gratitude and reverence.

Blessings.
 

Wick Stick

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NOTE: this post is about the ten commandments and Not about the rest of the law of Moses. Also God himself defined the covenant as the ten commandments, I have posted some of the verses about this fact HERE

Many today question whether the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant. Some believe they were temporary, pointing to writings that describe the law as a ministry that brought death and condemnation. But when we look deeper into the words of Jesus and the prophets, we find a different truth—one filled with life, purpose, and enduring glory.

The prophet Jeremiah gave a clear promise from God:
“I will make a new covenant… I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:31–33)

This promise was not about removing the law but placing it where it was always meant to be—inside the heart. The commandments, once written on stone, would now be written in living hearts through the Spirit of God. But like any true covenant, it only works when both sides agree. God remains faithful, but His people must accept it, cherish it, and allow His Spirit to plant it deep within them.

Jesus never set the commandments aside. He honored the law and taught its fullness. When He healed on the Sabbath or defended His disciples for picking grain, He wasn’t breaking the law—He was showing its true purpose. He said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) The Sabbath was made for man—not man for the Sabbath. Jesus reminded the people that the heart of the law is love, mercy, and goodness, not cold rituals.

He also taught that not even the smallest part of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill… till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law.” (Matthew 5:17–18) Jesus taught from the law and lived by it. He deepened its meaning. He showed that anger leads to murder, and lust is already adultery in the heart. His teachings didn’t cancel the law—they raised it to its true spiritual level.

So why does it seem today that God's law is not written in the hearts of many? The answer lies in the covenant relationship. If one party refuses the covenant, it cannot be fulfilled. The Spirit cannot write in a heart that is closed. Many call Jesus Lord but do not walk in His ways. As He said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

The commandments remain—not as a list of rules, but as a path to life. The law of God is perfect, converting the soul. The problem was never with the law, but with the hearts of people. The old covenant failed because the people broke it, not because the law was faulty.

The new covenant is not the removal of God’s law but its renewal—inside us. The Spirit does not lead us away from the commandments but gives us the power to live them. Jesus said the Spirit will guide us into all truth. The law and the Spirit are not enemies—they work together when the heart is willing. In the end, the new covenant fulfills the old by making it alive. The law that once condemned now becomes a light. But for this to happen, the covenant must be embraced, and the heart must be softened. God's law in the heart is a sign of His people. It is how we love Him and love our neighbor.

The commandments are not heavy when written in love. They are eternal because they reflect the character of God Himself. They are still standing, still Holy, and still waiting for hearts that will receive them—not in stone, but in spirit and truth.
I think people get a little tripped up on Moses giving the commandments to Israel, and in the New vs Old covenants.

What's right is right. These were all just laws before Moses, in Abraham's day, and remain so in perpetuity.
 
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LoveYeshua

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I think people get a little tripped up on Moses giving the commandments to Israel, and in the New vs Old covenants.

What's right is right. These were all just laws before Moses, in Abraham's day, and remain so in perpetuity.
the truth is as written; GOD himself wrote the ten commandments with his own Finger, Moses did carry the 2 tables of stone down to the people and did place them in their rightful place, The ARK of the covenant also called the ark of his testimony.

The ten commandments were given as you know By God directly, it is why they are so important.

Blessings
 

quietthinker

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Do the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant today?​

hmmmm, I know traffic laws do.....and they're not written stone....as best I can tell. You might wanna check with the Sheriff!
 

Wick Stick

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the truth is as written; GOD himself wrote the ten commandments with his own Finger, Moses did carry the 2 tables of stone down to the people and did place them in their rightful place, The ARK of the covenant also called the ark of his testimony.

The ten commandments were given as you know By God directly, it is why they are so important.

Blessings
I still think what's right has always been right, even before Sinai.

Most of the commandments God gave Moses existed before that. The prohibition on murder goes back to Noah. The Assyrians began practicing Sabbath nearly 1000 years before Moses was even born. Near as I can tell, half of the 10 commandments are also part of Hammurabi's code - 500 years before Moses. Abraham lived around that same time and was a law-keeper before there the giving of the Law. That's an interesting turn of events.
 

Big Boy Johnson

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10 Commandments Repeated in the New Testament

#1 - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37)

#2 - Dear children, keep yourself from idols (1 John 5:21)

#3 - Do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else (James 5:12)

#4 - No Saturday sabbath commanded in the New Testament (sorry bout that SDA peoples!)

#5 - Honor your father and mother (Matthew 19:16-21)

#6 - You shall not murder (Matthew 19:16-21)

#7 - You shall not commit adultery (Matthew 19:16-21)

#8 - You shall not steal (Matthew 19:16-21)

#9 - You shall not give false testimony (Matthew 19:16-21, Revelation 22:15, Revelation 21:8)

#10 - Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry (Colossians 3:5)

Concerning the sabbath in the New Testament, Jesus said come unto me and I'll give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) so abiding In Christ is the rest we are called to in the New Testament
 

Grailhunter

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NOTE: this post is about the ten commandments and Not about the rest of the law of Moses. Also God himself defined the covenant as the ten commandments, I have posted some of the verses about this fact HERE

Many today question whether the Ten Commandments still apply under the new covenant. Some believe they were temporary, pointing to writings that describe the law as a ministry that brought death and condemnation. But when we look deeper into the words of Jesus and the prophets, we find a different truth—one filled with life, purpose, and enduring glory.

The prophet Jeremiah gave a clear promise from God:
“I will make a new covenant… I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:31–33)

This promise was not about removing the law but placing it where it was always meant to be—inside the heart. The commandments, once written on stone, would now be written in living hearts through the Spirit of God. But like any true covenant, it only works when both sides agree. God remains faithful, but His people must accept it, cherish it, and allow His Spirit to plant it deep within them.

Jesus never set the commandments aside. He honored the law and taught its fullness. When He healed on the Sabbath or defended His disciples for picking grain, He wasn’t breaking the law—He was showing its true purpose. He said, “It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:12) The Sabbath was made for man—not man for the Sabbath. Jesus reminded the people that the heart of the law is love, mercy, and goodness, not cold rituals.

He also taught that not even the smallest part of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled:
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill… till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law.” (Matthew 5:17–18) Jesus taught from the law and lived by it. He deepened its meaning. He showed that anger leads to murder, and lust is already adultery in the heart. His teachings didn’t cancel the law—they raised it to its true spiritual level.

So why does it seem today that God's law is not written in the hearts of many? The answer lies in the covenant relationship. If one party refuses the covenant, it cannot be fulfilled. The Spirit cannot write in a heart that is closed. Many call Jesus Lord but do not walk in His ways. As He said, “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

The commandments remain—not as a list of rules, but as a path to life. The law of God is perfect, converting the soul. The problem was never with the law, but with the hearts of people. The old covenant failed because the people broke it, not because the law was faulty.

The new covenant is not the removal of God’s law but its renewal—inside us. The Spirit does not lead us away from the commandments but gives us the power to live them. Jesus said the Spirit will guide us into all truth. The law and the Spirit are not enemies—they work together when the heart is willing. In the end, the new covenant fulfills the old by making it alive. The law that once condemned now becomes a light. But for this to happen, the covenant must be embraced, and the heart must be softened. God's law in the heart is a sign of His people. It is how we love Him and love our neighbor.

The commandments are not heavy when written in love. They are eternal because they reflect the character of God Himself. They are still standing, still Holy, and still waiting for hearts that will receive them—not in stone, but in spirit and truth.

These are not the Ten Commandments....
They are ten summaries of the basic Morals of the Mosaic Law.
The Commandments that Yahweh called the Ten Commandments and told Moses to write them on the tablets are in Exodus 34:10-28

But the Mosaic Law does not pertain to Christians….even though morals are morals so some of the Jewish morals are part of Christianity….but we do not worship on the Jewish Saturday Sabbath or have issues with engraved images or need to be circumcised or sell our daughters as sex slaves.

Mixing the Mosaic Laws and Christianity can only lead to trouble. Better to post the moral teachings of Christianity.