A lot of people, including many Christians, are confused about whether Christians should live by the 10 Commandments. There should be no confusion.
When God made a covenant with Israel in Exodus 20, the only people involved were Israelites and those who chose to live with them. This covenant, including the 10 Commandments, never applied to anyone else… ever. Christians were never under the Mosaic Law.
On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus Christ gave a lengthy private teaching to His disciples. This discourse in the upper room takes place right after the Lord’s announcement that one of the disciples will betray him and Judas leaves the room. As part of the instruction, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV). The unmistakable meaning of the passage is that obedience to Christ’s commandments is both a sign and a test of our love for Him.
Here is a chart showing the location and scripture in the new testament that refer to the commandments Christ gave us.
| 1. Exodus 20:3 (Only One God) | Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, (A)Satan! For (B)it is written, (C)“‘You shall worship the Lord your God and (D)him only shall you serve.’” Cross references Matthew 4:10 : See 1 Chr. 21:1 Matthew 4:10 : ver. 4, 7 Matthew 4:10 : Cited from Deut. 6:13 Matthew 4:10 : 1 Sam. 7:3 Matthew 6:24 24 (A)“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and (B)money.[a] Footnotes Matthew 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions Cross references Matthew 6:24 : Luke 16:13; [Rom. 6:16; James 4:4] Matthew 6:24 : Luke 16:9, 11, 13 1 Corinthians 8:6 6 yet (A)for us there is one God, the Father, (B)from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and (C)one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and (D)through whom we exist. Cross references 1 Corinthians 8:6 : ver. 4; Mal. 2:10; Eph. 4:6 1 Corinthians 8:6 : See Rom. 11:36 1 Corinthians 8:6 : Eph. 4:5; [ch. 1:2; 1 Tim. 2:5]; See John 13:13 1 Corinthians 8:6 : John 1:3; Col. 1:16 Ephesians 4:5 5 (A)one Lord, (B)one faith, (C )one baptism, Cross references Ephesians 4:5 : Zech. 14:9; See 1 Cor. 1:13; 8:6 Ephesians 4:5 : [ver. 13; Jude 3] Ephesians 4:5 : See Gal. 3:27, 28 John 17:3 3 (A)And this is eternal life, (B)that they know you, (C)the only (D)true God, and (E)Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Cross references John 17:3 : [1 John 5:20] John 17:3 : Hos. 2:20; 6:3; 2 Pet. 1:2, 3 John 17:3 : ch. 5:44 John 17:3 : 1 Thess. 1:9; 1 John 5:20; [Jer. 10:10] John 17:3 : See ch. 3:17 |
| 2. Exodus 20:4-6 (Idols) | 1 John 5:21 21 Little children, (A)keep yourselves from idols. Cross references 1 John 5:21 : 1 Cor. 10:7, 14 Revelation 21:8 8 (A)But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, (B)their portion will be in (C)the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is (D)the second death.” Cross references Revelation 21:8 : ch. 22:15; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:14 Revelation 21:8 : Luke 12:46 Revelation 21:8 : ch. 19:20 Revelation 21:8 : ch. 2:11; 20:6, 14 Acts 17:29 29 (A)Being then God’s offspring, (B)we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. Cross references Acts 17:29 : [Luke 3:38; Heb. 12:9] Acts 17:29 : Isa. 40:18, 19, 25; 46:5; [Rom. 1:23] |
| 3. Ex 20:7 (Swear) | 1 Timothy 6:1 6 (A)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, (B)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Footnotes 1 Timothy 6:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface Cross references 1 Timothy 6:1 : See 1 Pet. 2:18 1 Timothy 6:1 : Isa. 52:5; Rom. 2:24; Titus 2:5 James 2:7 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable (A)name by which you were called? Cross references James 2:7 : [Isa. 63:19; 65:1; Amos 9:12; Acts 15:17] Colossians 3:8 8 But now (A)you must put them all away: (B)anger, wrath, malice, (C)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Cross references Colossians 3:8 : See Eph. 4:22 Colossians 3:8 : Eph. 4:31 Colossians 3:8 : See Eph. 4:29 Matthew 5:34 34 But I say to you, (A)Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for (B)it is the throne of God, Cross references Matthew 5:34 : James 5:12 Matthew 5:34 : ch. 23:22; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:49; See Rev. 4:2 |
| 4. Ex 20:8-11 (Sabbath) | Hebrews 4:4-5 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: (A)“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5 And again in this passage he said,(B)“They shall not enter my rest.” Cross references Hebrews 4:4 : Cited from Gen. 2:2; [Ex. 20:11; 31:17] Hebrews 4:5 : ver. 3 Hebrews 4:9 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, Matthew 12:8 8 For (A)the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Cross references Matthew 12:8 : [ch. 9:6] Revelation 1:10 10 (A)I was in the Spirit (B)on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice (C)like a trumpet Cross references Revelation 1:10 : ch. 4:2; [ch. 17:3; 21:10; 1 Kgs. 18:12; Ezek. 3:12; Matt. 22:43; 2 Cor. 12:2] Revelation 1:10 : Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2 Revelation 1:10 : ch. 4:1 |
| 5. Ex 20:12 (Honor Father/Mother) | Ephesians 6:1-4 Children and Parents 6 (A)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 (B)“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (C)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Cross references Ephesians 6:1 : Prov. 1:8; 6:20; 23:22 Ephesians 6:2 : Cited from Ex. 20:12 Ephesians 6:4 : Gen. 18:19; Deut. 4:9; 6:7; 11:19; Ps. 78:4; Prov. 19:18; 22:6; 29:17; [2 Tim. 3:15] Colossians 3:20-21 20 Children, obey your parents (A)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Cross references Colossians 3:20 : [Eph. 5:24; Titus 2:9] |
| 6. Ex 20:13 (Murder) | Rom 13:9 9 For the commandments, (A)“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: (B)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Cross references Romans 13:9 : Matt. 19:18; Cited from Ex. 20:13-17; Deut. 5:17-21 Romans 13:9 : Cited from Lev. 19:18 Revelation 21:8 8 (A)But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, (B)their portion will be in (C)the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is (D)the second death.” Cross references Revelation 21:8 : ch. 22:15; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:14 Revelation 21:8 : Luke 12:46 Revelation 21:8 : ch. 19:20 Revelation 21:8 : ch. 2:11; 20:6, 14 1 John 3:15 15 (A)Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that (B)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. Cross references 1 John 3:15 : Matt. 5:21, 22 1 John 3:15 : Gal. 5:21; Rev. 21:8 |
| 7. Ex 20:14 (Adultery) | Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, (A)“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: (B)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Cross references Romans 13:9 : Matt. 19:18; Cited from Ex. 20:13-17; Deut. 5:17-21 Romans 13:9 : Cited from Lev. 19:18 Matthew 5:27-32 Lust 27 (A)“You have heard that it was said, (B)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that (C)everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (D)If your right eye (E)causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into (F)hell. 30 (G)And if your right hand (H)causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into (I)hell. Divorce 31 (J)“It was also said, (K)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 (L)But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and (M)whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Cross references Matthew 5:27 : See ver. 21 Matthew 5:27 : Cited from Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18 Matthew 5:28 : Job 31:1; Prov. 6:25; [2 Sam. 11:2] Matthew 5:29 : ch. 18:8, 9; Mark 9:43-48 Matthew 5:29 : [ch. 13:41; Luke 17:1] Matthew 5:29 : ch. 10:28; 23:15, 33; Luke 12:5; [ver. 22] Matthew 5:30 : [See ver. 29 above]; ch. 18:8, 9; Mark 9:43-48 Matthew 5:30 : [See ver. 29 above]; [ch. 13:41; Luke 17:1] Matthew 5:30 : [See ver. 29 above]; ch. 10:28; 23:15, 33; Luke 12:5; [ver. 22] Matthew 5:31 : [See ver. 27 above]; See ver. 21 Matthew 5:31 : ch. 19:7; Jer. 3:1; Cited from Deut. 24:1 Matthew 5:32 : ch. 19:9; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18; [1 Cor. 7:10, 11] Matthew 5:32 : Rom. 7:3 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: (A)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[b] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Footnotes 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or wrongdoers 1 Corinthians 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts Cross references 1 Corinthians 6:9 : ch. 15:50; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:14; 13:4; Rev. 21:8; 22:15 Hebrews 13:4 4 (A)Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge (B)the sexually immoral and adulterous. Cross references Hebrews 13:4 : 1 Cor. 7:38; [1 Tim. 4:3] Hebrews 13:4 : See 1 Cor. 6:9 |
| 8. Ex 20:15 (Steal) | Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, (A)“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: (B)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Cross references Romans 13:9 : Matt. 19:18; Cited from Ex. 20:13-17; Deut. 5:17-21 Romans 13:9 : Cited from Lev. 19:18 Ephesians 4:28 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather (A)let him labor, (B)doing honest work with his own hands, so (C)that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Cross references Ephesians 4:28 : Acts 20:35; Gal. 6:10 Ephesians 4:28 : 1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:8, 11, 12 Ephesians 4:28 : [Prov. 21:26] 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: (A)neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[b] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Footnotes 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or wrongdoers 1 Corinthians 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts Cross references 1 Corinthians 6:9 : ch. 15:50; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5; 1 Tim. 1:9; Heb. 12:14; 13:4; Rev. 21:8; 22:15 |
| 9. Ex 20:16 (False Witness – Lie) | Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, (A)“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: (B)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Cross references Romans 13:9 : Matt. 19:18; Cited from Ex. 20:13-17; Deut. 5:17-21 Romans 13:9 : Cited from Lev. 19:18 Ephesians 5:5 5 For you may be sure of this, that (A)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ((B)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Cross references Ephesians 5:5 : See 1 Cor. 6:9 Ephesians 5:5 : Col. 3:5 Colossians 3:9 9 (A)Do not lie to one another, seeing that (B)you have put off (C)the old self[a] with its practices Footnotes Colossians 3:9 Greek man; also as supplied in verse 10 Cross references Colossians 3:9 : Lev. 19:11; See Eph. 4:25 Colossians 3:9 : ch. 2:11 Colossians 3:9 : Rom. 6:6; Eph. 4:22 |
| 10. Ex 20:17 (Covet) Only commandment of thought | Romans 13:9 9 For the commandments, (A)“You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: (B)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Cross references Romans 13:9 : Matt. 19:18; Cited from Ex. 20:13-17; Deut. 5:17-21 Romans 13:9 : Cited from Lev. 19:18 Ephesians 5:5 5 For you may be sure of this, that (A)everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous ((B)that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Cross references Ephesians 5:5 : See 1 Cor. 6:9 Ephesians 5:5 : Col. 3:5 Romans 7:7 The Law and Sin 7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, (A)I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if (B)the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Cross references Romans 7:7 : See ch. 3:20 Romans 7:7 : ch. 13:9; Ex. 20:17; Deut. 5:21 Colossians 3:5 5 (A)Put to death therefore (B)what is earthly in you:[a] (C)sexual immorality, impurity, (D)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, (E)which is idolatry. Footnotes Colossians 3:5 Greek therefore your members that are on the earth Cross references Colossians 3:5 : Rom. 8:13; [Gal. 5:24] Colossians 3:5 : Rom. 6:13 Colossians 3:5 : See Eph. 5:3, 5 Colossians 3:5 : Rom. 1:26 Colossians 3:5 : [Job 31:25, 26] 1 Corinthians 6:10 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. |