Are Christians subject to the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments are in substance the same law which, in St Paul’s words, is written in the hearts of all human beings, that all should walk by it (Rom 2:15; see Q012, Q607). Moreover, nearly every one of the Ten Commandments is repeated and reaffirmed in the New Testament, the one exception being the commandment of the Sabbath day:
First: (Exo 20:3; Deu 5:7), Mat 4:10; Luk 4:8; Rev 14:7.
Second: (Exo 20:4–6; Deu 5:8–10), Act 15:20; 1Co 6:9–10; Gal 5:19–20; Eph 5:5.
Third: (Exo 20:7; Deu 5:11; see Q083), Mat 5:33–37; Jas 2:7.
Fourth: (Exo 20:8–11; Deu 5:12–15), not repeated as such in the New Covenant: see the section on the Fourth Commandment, on its fulfillment in Christ and the Lord’s Day. Even so, its substance, one day in seven consecrated to God, abides and is fulfilled in the Lord’s Day.
Fifth: (Exo 20:12; Deu 5:16), Mat 15:4–9; 19:19; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 1:29–30; Eph 6:1–3.
Sixth: (Exo 20:13; Deu 5:17), Mat 5:21–22; 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 13:9.
Seventh: (Exo 20:14; Deu 5:18), Mat 5:27–28; 19:18; Mrk 10:11–12, 19; Luk 16:18; 18:20; Rom 7:2–3; 13:9.
Eighth: (Exo 20:15; Deu 5:19), Mat 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Rom 13:9; Eph 4:28; 1Pe 4:15; Rev 9:21.
Ninth: (Exo 20:16; Deu 5:20; see Q492, Q595), Mat 19:18; Mrk 10:19; Luk 18:20; Act 5:3–4; Rom 13:9; Eph 4:25.
Tenth: (Exo 20:17; Deu 5:21; see Q492), Luk 12:15; Rom 1:29; 7:7; 13:9; 1Co 6:9–10; Gal 5:19–21; Eph 5:3, 5.
For this reason, St Irenaeus affirms that the Decalogue abides in the New Covenant: “the words of the Decalogue… remain permanently with us, receiving, by means of his advent in the flesh, extension and increase, but not abrogation” (St Irenaeus, Against Heresies, IV.16.4; see Q024, Q090).
At the same time, the tablets of stone were given by God to Israel on Mount Sinai in a particular context and as part of a particular covenant of laws and statutes, a covenant between a King and his people (cf. 2Sa 5:3). As the Apostle teaches: “Christ is the end (telos, goal) of the law, that everyone who has faith may be justified” (Rom 10:4; see Q491); “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal 3:13–14; see Q207, Q607).
Although the two tablets express the essence of God’s commandments, they belong to the “ministry of death” of the Old Covenant, which has been replaced by something “better”, the ministry of the Spirit of life, namely Christ (2Co 3:7–14): “to this very day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord… are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2Co 3:15–18).
This freedom in Christ means that the covenant of Sinai has been fulfilled, so that all nations may enter the New Covenant, in which the Law of God is expressed and fulfilled in Christ Jesus: “these women are two covenants: one is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery… but the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother” (Gal 4:24–26, 31; see Q537); “For freedom Christ has set us free: stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery… in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but faith working through love” (Gal 5:1–6; see Q207). For Christians, the Law of God is in Christ Jesus and in newness of life in the Spirit: “the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Joh 1:17; see Q359); “God who has made us competent as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. Indeed, the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2Co 3:6; see Q542).
