If God gave the Ten Commandments only to the Hebrews do Christians still need to follow them?

Answer 1

The Israelites were the ones who were directly commanded, though they are expected to be an example.

According to the Talmud, non-Jews have their own commands:

Not to worship idols instead of God

Not to commit incest or adultery

Not to murder

Not to eat the limb of a living animal

Not to curse God

Not to steal

To maintain courts of law.

As you can see, there is a good deal of overlap between this list and the Ten Commandments.

Answer 2

*Several answers have been provided to this question with interesting results. Some feel that the scriptures indicate that the Ten Commandments were binding only on the Jews. Others feel that the Ten Commandments still apply to all Christians today. The following is a catagorizing of the answers given:

Some who expressed that the Ten Commandments was only binding on the Jews had this to say:

ANSWERMany people do feel that the Ten Commandments still apply. What does the Bible say?

The Apostle Paul wrote concerning the "Law," that is, the Mosaic Law which included the Ten Commandments at Rom. 10:4: "Christ is the end of the Law, so that everyone exercising faith may have righteousness." The scripture here shows that God used Christ to bring that Law to its end. We are judged based, not on how we follow the Mosiac Law, but on faith in Christ.

Col. 2:13-16: "[God] kindly forgave us all our trespasses and blotted out the handwritten document against us, which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us . . . Therefore let no man judge you in eating and drinking or in respect of a festival or of an observance of the new moon or of a sabbath." If a someone were to violate the Sababath in Bible times, they were to be publically stoned to death.-( Exodus 31:14 and Numbers 15:32-35) It is a wonderful thing for us today that we are not under that law. That scripture at Colossians, that is quoted above, shows that we are not judged based on our keeping a Sabbath, which was a requirement on Acient Israel. Please also consider also Galatians 4:9-11; Ephesians 2:13-16. Deut. 16:16, 17;

Among the some 300 laws required by the Mosiac Law, we find also the Ten Commandments. Nowhere do we fiind a separation of the Ten Commandments those other requirements. Jesus did not distiguish between the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Mosiac Law. Matthew 5:17, 21, 23, 27, 31, 38 says: "Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I came, not to destroy, but to fulfill." Now, notice what Jesus included in his further comments. "You heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You must not murder ' . . . If, then, you are bringing your gift to the altar . . . You heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery ([Ex. 20:13; the Sixth Commandmentwhich is at Ex. 20:14 and IS the Seventh Commandment).' Moreover it was said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce .' You heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth .'" So here, Jesus used mixed references to the Ten Commandments and the rest of the Mosiac Law without making any distictions between them. -(Deut. 16:16, 17;Deut. 24:1; Ex. 21:23-25; So then, the question we could ask ourselves is, "Should we treat them differently?"

On one occasion Jesus was asked, "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?." He replied, "'You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. The second, like it, is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments the whole Law hangs, and the Prophets." (Matt. 22:35-40) If some want to adhere to the Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:6-21), and state that Christinas are still obligated to them, wouldn't they be rejectiong what what Jesus said concerning which commandments are the greatest?

The priesthood was at one time exercised through the priests of the nation of Israel, but that changed when Jesus assumed that role as our High Priest when he provided the his sacrifice. A Hebrews 7:12 we read, "For since the priesthood is being changed, there comes to be of necessity a change also of the law."

Since the Mosaic Law was 'nailed to the stake,' along with the Christ (Colossians 2:14), then there had to be a change in the Law to which Christians are under. That law is referred to as the "Law of the Christ."- (Galations 6:2) That is the law that Christians are under today.

AnswerThe Ten commandments are only for the Jews and not to any other tribes

*One person who felt that the Ten Commandments is still binding on Christians today had this to say:

AnswerYes. Christianity is based on Judaism, including the Commandments.

*Still others, provided answers in which it is not exactly discernable what position the answerer had in mind, yet they provided points of reasoning to consider none the less: *

The First Commandment

"I am the Lord thy God, which have

brought thee out of the land of Egypt,

out of the house of bondage."

Jesus commanded His Apostles to preach only to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel."

Matthew 105-6These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.Matthew 1524I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

AnswerThe above verses are out of context in that they were spoken to the disciples at a specific time during the ministry of Jesus when He sent them out for a specific task at a specific time (Matthew 10: 5-6) and when He cast the demon (devil) out of the 'woman of Canaan's' daughter (Matthew 15:24).

The logic "God gave the law to the Jews, Jesus sent His Apostles to preach to the Jews, therefore the law given to the Jews is applicable to the Apostles" is quite fallacious. As stated above, the Apostles were indeed sent to preach to the Jews at a specific time bu this is not all they did. Matthew's Gospel, being addressed primarily addressed to Jews would be expected to stress this aspect of Jesus' ministry. However, this very same Gospel tells us of the 'Great Commission" given by Jesus which most certainly includes the rest of mankind.

Matthew 28:18-20 (King James Version)

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Thus, as the Gospel proclamation is for all, then it should follow that the law would be for all. But in the New Testament we find quite the opposite both in doctrine and practice.

AnswerMany followers of Judaism still follow the Mosaic law, where it can be applied either directly or in principle to today. An example is in relation to sabbath keeping and the prohibition against work. Lifts are provided and set so that they stop on every floor of a building to alleviate the necessity for a person to perform the work of pressing the button. In certain situations a 'sabbath days journey' is specifically defined by markers to avoid the breaking of this precept.

Christians have clearly been set free from following the provisions of the Mosaic law as Jesus' finished work on the cross fulfilled the law and superseded it. This was symbolized by the tearing of the thick curtain in the temple. Numerous New Testament scriptures demonstrate this.

For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1 v 17

Now we know that what things soever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped , and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no person be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3 v 19-20

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3 v 24

Knowing this that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.Galatians2v16

The first council of the Christian church held at Jerusalem and presided over by James the brother of Jesus, specifically addressed this issue. Only a very few provisions were seen as being still relevant for non-Jews to follow. This discussion is recorded in Acts 15.

Jesus' statement in Matthew 5 v 17-18 means simply that he himself was to fulfill the law perfectly, which he certainly did. The law, being given by God himself is certainly inspired and its chief purpose was to point to Christ and to show people their need of a savior. The book of Hebrews discusses much of this at length. The book of James and any other verses cited to prove that a Christian is to obey the law of Moses or do works for salvation are simply taken out of context and/or misunderstood and misapplied. It is also incorrect to say that it is faith and works for salvation.

The moral aspects of the Mosaic Law are certainly fulfilled in Christians as they, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God naturally do God's will. Thus lawlessness is not at all a natural consequence of the abrogation of the Mosaic law. It is simply that the law of Moses does not apply today to Christians in regard to salvation or as a system of religious works. Any religious systems which are works-based are thus by definition not Christian.

Verses taken firstly out of context and wrongly interpreted do not prove that the Mosaic law still applies to Christians. As mentioned above, it most certainly does apply to those who follow it today, viz. those who follow the religion of Judaism. Nor is there any contradiction at all between Jesus' teaching and Paul. The following passage from Romans 1 v 1-4 make this clear: ' There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.'

Further to all this, the principles contained in the Mosaic Law most certainly form the basis of much of the legal framework in Western cultures which have had a substantial Christian influence. This also includes principles relating to compensation apart from the obvious such as murder (thou shalt not kill), theft (thou shalt not steal) etc.

In this much broader sense where the Mosaic legal principles demonstrate God's knowledge of what is best for society generally it has an abiding usefulness but this is not of course in any religious sense, nor does it mean or imply any adherence to Christian or Biblical principles on the part of those who enjoy its benefits.

*One person who felt that the Ten Commandments is still binding on Israelites today and upon all those who wish to worship the God of the Israelites, had this to say:

AnswerThe Ten Commandments were given to the Israelites, God's chosen people: "Then Moses said to the people, 'Obey all the laws that I am teaching you and you will live and occupy the land which the God of your ancestors is giving you. Do not add anything to what I command you and do not take anything away. Obey the commands of your God that I have given you... He told you what you must do to keep the covenant he made with you - you must obey the TEN COMMANDMENTS, which he wrote on two stone tablets." (Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 13).

No other nation on earth were given the Ten Commandments or the laws of God, other than the Israelites: "No other nation, no matter how great, has laws so just as those that I have taught you today." (Deuteronomy 4:8)

It is impossible to worship God without obeying his commandments: "God, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill? Those who obey God in everything and always do what is right, whose words are true and sincere." (Psalms 15:1-2).

Psalms 119 (the longest chapter in the Hebrew scriptures), is dedicated to praising God's Law. "Happy are those whose lives are faultless, who live according to the law of God. Happy are those who follow his commands, who obey him with all their heart." (Psalms 119:1-2).

God's commands are for all the world. "You descendants of Yacob, God's servant, descendants of Israel, whom God chose, remember the miracles that God performed and the judgments that he gave. God is our God; his commands are for all the world." (1 Chronicles 16:12-14).

Foreigners who wanted to worship God had to obey the same laws that God gave to the Israelites. They were not to establish their own religions: "And if at any time foreigners living among you, whether on a temporary or a permanent basis, make a food offering, a smell that pleases God, they are to observe the same regulations. For all time to come, the same rules are binding on you and on the foreigners who live among you. You and they are alike in God's sight; the same laws and regulations apply to you and to them." (Numbers 15:14-16. Exodus 12:48-49, Leviticus 24:19-22).

God loves the foreigners who worship with his people: "God, your God is supreme over all gods and over all powers. He is great and mighty, and he is to be feared. He does not show partiality, and he does not accept bribes. He makes sure that orphans and widows are treated fairly, he loves the foreigners who live with our people, and gives them food and clothes. So then, show love for those foreigners, because you were once foreigners in Egypt." (Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Isaiah 56:6-8).

Christians however, have their own form of worship that includes acknowledging a god named Jesus Christ: John 1:1-4. This is idolatry, a violation of the first Commandment: "Worship no god but me."(Exodus 20:3). Also, Christians believe that God's laws are no longer necessary because of the death of Jesus Christ: Galatians 2:15-21. With this in mind, there is no point in Christians following the Ten Commandments, because the Christian religion rejects the Commandments of God. "Your Laws are eternal God, and your Temple is holy indeed, for ever and ever. (Psalms 93:5).

Answer 3

All of the mitzvot (commands) of the Torah may be divided into three categories:
1) Those mitzvot that are obligatory only for Jews. This category includes the majority of the mitzvot of the Torah.
2) Those mitzvot that are obligatory upon non-Jews as well as Jews. This category includes seven commands (Talmud, Sanhedrin 56a):

a] not to eat from an animal which is still alive;

b] not to curse God;

c] not to steal;

d] to maintain courts of law;

e] not to commit adultery or incest;

f] not to worship idols; and

g] not to murder.

3) There are certain mitzvot which are not explicitly commanded for non-Jews but which non-Jews are nonetheless expected to learn from and adopt. This category includes such examples as:

a] going in the ways of God (Deuteronomy 28:9);

b] giving charity (Leviticus 25:35), and other ethical teachings (such as Leviticus 19:13-18);

c] learning from the lessons of history (Deuteronomy 32:7);

d] not to ignore reproof (Deuteronomy 10:16);

e] not to mindlessly follow mass behavior (Exodus 23:2); and more.

4) There are some things that are the universal tradition of mankind, so much so that the Torah doesn't command them at all, and considers them as being self-understood. These include burying the dead, not eating human flesh, belief in the afterlife, and more.

See also the Related Links.

Link: The example that Judaism set

Link: Jewish ethics

Link: The afterlife

Answer 4

yep The First Commandment "I am the Lord thy God, which have

brought thee out of the land of Egypt,

out of the house of bondage."