The Ten Commandments and the Teachings of Jesus: A Theological, Cultural, and Political Exposition
1. Introduction
The Ten Commandments remain foundational to the biblical vision of righteousness, yet the coming of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit usher in a new covenantal context. No longer written merely on stone tablets, God’s moral law is now inscribed on hearts (Jer. 31:33; 2 Cor. 3:3). This entry examines how the Ten Commandments function under the New Covenant, demonstrating how Jesus and the Spirit fulfil, transform, and empower the moral life of believers.
2. Law and Covenant: Continuity and Fulfilment
The Ten Commandments were originally given as the heart of the Sinai Covenant (Exod. 19–20). Jesus’ death and resurrection inaugurate the New Covenant (Luke 22:20), fulfilling the law’s requirements (Rom. 10:4) and bringing its deeper intention to life.
a. Not Abolished, But Fulfilled
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil.”
— Matthew 5:17
Jesus fulfils the law in three ways:
- Obedience – He perfectly obeys the law on behalf of humanity (John 8:29; Heb. 4:15)
- Atonement – He bears the penalty for law-breaking (Gal. 3:13)
- Transformation – He enables believers to walk in true righteousness (Rom. 8:4)
3. The Spirit’s Role: Law Written on Hearts
The prophets foresaw a day when God’s law would be internalised:
“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts…”
— Jeremiah 31:33“I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes.”
— Ezekiel 36:27
Paul applies this to the church:
“You are a letter from Christ… written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”
— 2 Corinthians 3:3
This means Christian obedience is not external rule-keeping, but Spirit-empowered transformation.
4. The Moral Law in the New Covenant
a. The Commandments as Moral Guide
The Ten Commandments continue to serve as a moral compass:
- They reveal God’s holy character
- They expose sin (Rom. 7:7)
- They provide a framework for love of God and neighbour (Matt. 22:36–40)
b. The Law and Justification
Believers are not justified by law-keeping (Gal. 2:16), but by faith in Christ. The law shows humanity’s need for grace, pointing to Christ as Saviour (Gal. 3:24).
c. Freedom from Condemnation
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
— Romans 8:1–2
Through the Spirit, Christians are liberated from the law’s curse while empowered to live its righteousness.
5. Jesus, the Commandments, and the New Way of Life
a. Internalisation of Righteousness
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7), Jesus reinterprets the law to reveal its heart-level demands:
- Anger = murder (Matt. 5:21–22)
- Lust = adultery (Matt. 5:27–28)
- Truthfulness without oaths (Matt. 5:33–37)
- Love for enemies (Matt. 5:43–48)
This internal focus anticipates the Spirit’s work of renewing desires and attitudes (Gal. 5:16–24).
b. The Law of Christ
“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
The “law of Christ” is love expressed through sacrificial service. It encapsulates the Ten Commandments by rooting them in Christlike love.
6. Cultural and Political Implications
In the Roman world, law symbolised state control. By contrast, the Spirit’s law of love:
- Frees believers from legalistic systems of power
- Shapes communities marked by justice, equality, and compassion
- Challenges societal idols of consumerism, individualism, and self-rule
Obedience in the New Covenant is countercultural: it is joyful, grace-driven, and relational, not imposed by fear or coercion.
7. Contemporary Discipleship
The Ten Commandments continue to form Christian ethics, but now through the transformative presence of Christ and His Spirit. This shapes discipleship in several ways:
- Worship-driven obedience (John 14:15)
- Spirit-led sanctification (Rom. 8:4; Gal. 5:22–23)
- Freedom for love – serving others rather than self (Gal. 5:13)
Spiritual practices such as prayer, Scripture meditation, Sabbath rhythms, and community accountability help believers live out the law’s intention.
8. Conclusion
The Ten Commandments remain a moral and theological foundation, but they find their fullness in Christ. The New Covenant does not discard the law; it brings it to life through the Spirit. Obedience is now a response of grateful love, not a quest for legal status. As Paul summarises:
“The whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’”
— Galatians 5:14
The journey from law to Spirit leads believers into freedom, holiness, and Christlike love—the true fulfilment of God’s moral will for humanity.