Exodus 20 : why did God give the Ten Commandment
The Israelites were a bunch of cowardly, unruly, disorderly, immoral people, stubborn and hard headed (Acts 7) people. They were living in Egypt for 430 years and part of it as slaves in Egypt before they were led out. As such they did not have to self govern or self organise themselves . They were enforced by a set of rules . So when they were set free, they did not know what to do with themselves. They were like crazzies, living as they like and do as they like. They were not highly educated or have a high standard of living . These were the bunch of people, Moses inherited. He must have felt betrayed and think this is a bunch of ungrateful people. What in the world he get himself into ??!!
He definitely needed sometime alone. These people definitely need some law and order in all aspect of life and living. First and foremost is a set of rules for social conduct and interpersonal relationships. Social, personal and interpersonal Boundaries have to be set.
However as time went on, these set of social rules aka the Ten Commandments took a life of its own and became even an object of worship. Something set up on a pedestal. The real essence of the law was so that a community can live harmoniously and not harm one another. And further down the time track, theologians took it further still and thus giving birth to the debate of “Law vs Grace”.
Jesus came to fulfil the law by showing us that Love is the way to live. By loving one another we would have live by the set of rules not by mental assent or rigid observation but living graciously towards one another from our spirit.
Thus Apostle Paul said :
Romans 13:8-1021st Century King James Version Owe no man anything, but to love one another, for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” “Thou shalt not kill,” “Thou shalt not steal,” “Thou shalt not bear false witness,” “Thou shalt not covet,” and if there be any other commandment, all are briefly comprehended in this saying, namely: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
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