Ten Commandments in
the New Testament

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Can all the Ten Commandments, given in Exodus 20 and other places, also be found in the New Testament?

God gave the gift of his righteous Ten Commandments to the children of Israel after their Egyptian bondage. Each of these laws are restated, either in word or meaning, in the Gospels or the rest of the New Testament. In fact, we do not have to go far before we encounter the words of Jesus regarding the laws and commandments of God.

Near the very beginning of Jesus' well-known Sermon on the Mount he states something that is often twisted, or simply forgotten, by those who wish to do away with the commandments. He states, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill . . . until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law (God's commandments, judgments, statutes, and so on) . . . (Matthew 5:17 - 18).

The 'jot' mentioned in the above verse was the tinest Hebrew or Greek letter of the alphabet. The 'tittle' is a very small stroke or mark added to some letters of the Hebrew alphabet in order to distinguish one from another. From Jesus' statement we can only conclude that since heaven and earth are still here, God's commandments have not been "done away with" but are still in effect!

The apostle John, in the last book of the Bible, makes a crystal clear statement regarding the importance of God's law. Writing about truly converted Christians who live in the time just before Jesus returns to earth he states they 'keep the commandments of God' AND they also have faith in Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12)! John is stating that both obedience and faith can coexist!

Listed below are God's commandments as found in the book of Exodus, chapter 20. Along with each one is where they are repeated, either exactly or in principle, in the New Testament.

#1

You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3).

You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve (Matthew 4:10, see also 1Corinthians 8:4 - 6).

#2

You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them . . . (Exodus 20:4 - 5).

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (1John 5:21, see also Acts 17:29).

But the cowardly, and unbelieving . . . and idolaters . . . shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone . . . (Revelation 21:8).

#3

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).

Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name . . . (Matthew 6:9, see also 1Timothy 6:1).

#4

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy . . . (Exodus 20:8 - 11).

The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath; Therefore, the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27 - 28, Hebrews 4:4, 10, Acts 17:2).

#5

Honor your father and your mother . . . (Exodus 20:12).

Honor your father and your mother (Matthew 19:19, see also Ephesians 6:1).

#6

You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).

You shall not murder (Matthew 19:18, see also Romans 13:9, Revelation 21:8).

#7

You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14).

You shall not commit adultery (Matthew 19:18, see also Romans 13:9, Revelation 21:8).

#8

You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15).

'You shall not steal' (Matthew 19:18, see also Romans 13:9).

#9

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16).

'You shall not bear false witness' (Matthew 19:18, see also Romans 13:9, Revelation 21:8).

#10

You shall not covet your neighbor's house . . . your neighbor's wife . . . nor anything that is your neighbor's (Exodus 20:17).

You shall not covet (Romans 13:9, see also Romans 7:7).

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