Our Deeper Understanding of the Ten Commandments

The words or scripture are divinely inspired and, although translations may render the words slightly differently, they fundamentally never change.  However, our understanding of each of the commandments is transformed by the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord. This truth becomes particularly important when discussing the issue of the Sabbath with “Saturday Observance” Christians like Seventh Day Adventists.  Let’s look at our deeper understanding of the other nine commandments first:

We still believe there is only one God, BUT NOW we understand him to be three divine persons.

We still do not take the name of the Lord in vain, BUT NOW we know that that name includes the name, Jesus Christ. We have always honored our parents, BUT NOW we know that doing involves not just using honorifics but lifelong care of our parents.  (“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ”  1 Timothy 5:8)

We still do not murder, BUT NOW we know Jesus said that to even be angry at your brother is to murder in your heart.  (“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:21-22)

We still do not commit adultery, BUT NOW we know that Jesus said even to lust is to commit adultery in your heart.

We still do not steal, BUT NOW we know that stealing is not just the taking of property but in can be many things like not working while still being paid or taking credit for something you didn’t do.

We still do not bear false witness, BUT NOW we know it is not just testifying falsely in court but all sins against the truth.

We still do not covet our neighbors’ wife or goods, BUT NOW we know that it isn’t sufficient just not to covet, but one must elevate their love for God above all things.

If you look at it and think about it every one of the commandments is transformed in this way. They are not gone, as God’s Word is eternal, but our understanding of them is deepened and thereby transformed. This is true for all the commandments, including the Sabbath.

Exodus 20:8-11

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work;
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your manservant, or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; THEREFORE the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

So from Exodus, the action of the Sabbath day is rest, but the purpose/reason for the commandment is to honor creation.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

“Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your manservant, or your maidservant, or your ox, or your ass, or any of your cattle, or the sojourner who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.

YOU SHALL REMEMBER that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out thence with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; THEREFORE the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.”

So from Deuteronomy, the action of the Sabbath is rest, but the purpose/reason is to remember Israel’s salvation from slavery.

With the coming of Jesus and his resurrection, our understanding of the purpose/reason for the Sabbath is deepened.  As Exodus describes the purpose of the Sabbath is to honor creation.  However, with His resurrection, Jesus begins a NEW CREATION. As Deuteronomy describes the purpose of the Sabbath was to remember the chosen people’s deliverance from slavery.  However, with His resurrection, Jesus frees all men from slavery, the slavery OF SIN. Thus, we see that the purpose the Sabbath is transformed and deepened. To fulfill the dual purposes of the Sabbath, honoring the New Creation and our deliverance from the slavery of sin, we must now rest and worship on the day those purposes were fulfilled, the Lord’s Day which is Sunday.