What does the Bible teach about the Law of God?

We must start with why did God produce His Law?
The Law was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, this list of standards set by God has not lost its importance or authority. There are many people who say "I do not believe in this Law so will not obey it." Though many have this attitude no honest man or woman has ever said that the Law’s are faulty, in fact many of the world governments have adapted and used the basic foundation as part of their legal system.

The Law of the Lord is perfect, if God made us, as we know He did, He has every right to make laws for our good.
In some ways it would be better if we had not been given it, because now we have a standard against which each of our life’s can be judged.

Some people feel that we have now passed the need of the Laws, so what did Jesus say about the Laws?
Matthew 5:17,18. (KJV)

"17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Jesus was saying that the Law, as given on Mount Sinai, will always exist, His explanation of them made them even more searching. He expanded them beyond just the words.
Roman 3:31. (KJV)

"31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."

Psalm 19:7,8. (KJV)

"7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. "

For example, If you hate a person and in your mind want to kill them, then you have effectively committed murder.

The world must be made to understand that the Ten Commandments are here to stay and binding.
Mark 12:30,31. (KJV)

"30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Let us examine each Law.
Exodus 20:3-17. (KJV)

" 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
13 Thou shalt not kill.
14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
15 Thou shalt not steal.
16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."

Are you happy to be judged against the Law of God? There are some people who feel that if they live a good life then they do not need the salvation offered through Jesus, if you are one of these then see how you are weighed against the Law? Are you perfect, never failed. Try hanging on a chain, it takes only one link in a chain to fail for you to fall, the Ten Commandments are the chain of God to test you.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Mark 12:30,31. (KJV)

"30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Are your desires dependant upon your relationship with God? Self satisfaction before pleasing God?
If God was the center of your life then obedience to the other nine laws would naturally follow. As He created us, He ought to have our worship and reverence. He should have the first and only place of affection in our life. There can be no compromise with any other "gods."

Unfortunately, there are many who believe in God, but will not give Him exclusive rights, especially amongst church members, on Sunday God is central, on weekdays God attracts very little attention, money, work, home, others, hobbies, clothes, possessions, drink and so on taking priority, all becoming "god’s" for the person.

The Second Commandment:- Have no graven images.

This commands relates to the outward acts of worship. Satan is happy if anything but God is worshipped, the church, the crucifix, the Bible, religious relics, images of religious persons and so on. We should only bow down to worship God and Jesus the Son of God.
It is the persons attitude to the images, the Jewish high priest had a bell and images of pomegranate on the hem of his robe, an apparent breaking of the 2nd law, but they were not involved in an actual act of worship.
John 4:24. (KJV)

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth."

People just seem to require something visible to worship, this is the reason we have so many apparent images involved in the act of worship. Think, how can you depict what is an invisible Spirit, a man made image must be degrading to God, making Him finite. When Moses came in close contact with God, he only heard a voice.
It is interesting to note that the disciples or early Christians never produced a painting or drawing of Jesus, we do not know what He looked like while on the earth, only as described in the Word of God, e.g. Isaiah 52:14. (KJV)
Many people worship an image of Jesus on a cross, that must be wrong as Jesus is now alive at the right hand of God.
Jesus left no relics to be worshipped, though there appear to be some so called man made relics.

The second commandment is an instruction to restrain from worshipping any carved image or a painting of God and so degrading God.

Consider the following readings.
Matthew 18:20. (KJV)

"20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

Revelation 3:20. (KJV)

"20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

1 Corinthians 3:16. (KJV)

"6 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

2 Corinthians 6:6. (KJV)

"6 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

The Third Commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain;"

This is a very common failure, misusing the name of God, using it as a swear word, deceitfully, without thinking, irreverently, as blasphemy. Note how the commandment continues, "for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.".
Matthew 12:36,37. (KJV)

"36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

The Fourth Commandment:-Remember the Sabbath.

"9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

When Christ was on earth He did nothing to alter that commandment other than free it from the severe additions that the Jewish priests had put on it. Jesus reminded the Jewish people after He had many clashes with the religion leaders over the disciples and Himself breaking the Sabbath, according to their interpretation of the Law, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: "" Mark 2:27. (KJV)
The reason why God instituted the Sabbath is given in the words of God, "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."" It is intended as a day for rest, to give our physical bodies refreshment, and encourage the spiritual life, God knows what we need. The demands of the world have moved the day of rest for some people.

The Fifth Commandment:- Honour your father and mother.

2 Timothy 3:1-3. (KJV)

"1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,"

Paul sent this prophecy and warning to Timothy over 2000 years ago, today it is definitely coming true, a sign that Christ will return very soon.
If the children now days honoured their parents then it will be easier for their relationship with God as He used the human relationship as an example of His relationship with His creation.

"Honour your father and mother" means more than just obedience, it has included love, affection, respect for the father and mother. God in some ways included some conditions, "that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." There was literally conditions depending upon how you act upon this commandment, it actually included a promise for the future, see Ephesians 6:2. (KJV)
Proverbs 20:20.

"20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness."

Jesus honoured his mother and earthly father.
Luke 2:49-52. (KJV)

"49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."

And made provision for His mother as He hung on the cross.
John 19:26.

"26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."

You may find that obeying this commandment could be difficult, as its obedience may also be affected by the parents attitude to the child.

The Sixth Commandment - Thou shalt not kill.

I am sure that many will say that they will never kill someone, yet how often do we hear that in a time of anger someone killed another. Jesus also developed this commandment, He said that just hating or severe anger is guilty.
Matthew 5:21,22. (KJV)

"21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, RacaRaca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

The word "RACA" means "VAIN, EMPTY, WORTHLESS," The Jews used it as a word of contempt.

Mark 7:21,22. (KJV)

"21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."

Directly after God gave the Ten Commandments He added that if a person breaks the law in specific ways, punishment could include death for that person. This command did not forbid the killing of a person breaking the law by stealing etc. See Exodus 21:1ff. (KJV)

1 John 3:15. (KJV)

"14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."

Capital punishment is not forbidden by God, Genesis 9:6. (KJV)

"6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man."

The Seventh Commandment - Thou shalt not commit adultery.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11. (KJV)

"9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

This commandment is God’s way of protecting the marriage and home. Marriage has been part of the plan of God since creation of Mankind. Marriage is a sacred relationship between a man and women, it takes precedence even over the relationship of child and parents.Ü

Adultery is so obvious in todays world, and it starts with lust and desires, and all it does is destroy the home, hurting children, and divorce.
Galatians 6:7,8. (KJV)

"7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Jesus expanded the commandment, Matthew 5:27,28. (KJV)

"27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

1 Corinthians 6:18.

"18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body."

The Eighth Commandment - thou shalt no steal.

This law immediately makes you think of stealing money or objects from someone else, but we must also consider that you could be stealing by giving false information about an object, then selling it at a higher and wrong price.
Another way of stealing is by having a false or faulty method of weighing objects being sold by you.
Other ways of stealing could be, overcharging for work done or not paying correctly for say a journey like a bus ride, or using fake money.
Perhaps you use your office equipment for your own benefit instead of working.
Breaking the "thou shalt not steal" is very easy to break.
1 Thessalonians 4:6. (KJV)

"6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified."

Leviticus 19:35,36. (KJV)

"35 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.
36 Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD."

The Ninth Commandment - Not bear false witness.

This is the second commandment which involves the tongue, see the third commandment. A serious warning about the mis-use of the tongue. The scriptures are full of warnings about the use of the tongue.
Ephesians 4:25. (KJV)

"25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."

It is legally wrong to lie in todays law courts, but we should all always speak the truth. Perjury, lying in court when under the oath - is one of the most serious crimes now days in any civilized nation.

It has become normal for some people to consider that lies can be "white lies" or "black lies." God knows no circumstances when a lie is not considered a lie.

You do not want a person being a false witness against yourself, or say false things which result in ruining your person character, so why do you do it. This is called slander, people pass judgement upon the words given by the "false witness." You could consider this action as "tongue murder." This was done regularly by the religious leaders against Jesus, ultimately ending up with His death on the cross. Though, this was God’s plan for our salvation.
Mark 2:6,7. (KJV)

"6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?"

Luke 7:9. (KJV)

"9 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner."

Just a final warning is found in Acts 5:1-11. (KJV), "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, --- thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

The Tenth Commandment - Thou shalt not covet others possessions.

One of the greatest sin that Satan introduces to the lives of mankind, the "desire to have,"

"13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Most of the problems the people and the world have involve in some way the "desire to have." It actually started in the Garden of Eden,following the words of Satan,Eve saw, she desired, she took. Three steps from purity to sin.

Though many nations have taken the Ten Commandments as a bases for their own legal statutes, it would be impossible to legalize this law as it would be impossible to detect, though it is possible to control the final results but not the thoughts and desires of each person. However, God can see every thought and desire, He can see behind every outward action as He reads each heart.

What God’s Word says about covetous.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10. (KJV)

"9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

"3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

Exodus 18:21. (KJV)

"21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:"

Psalm 10:3. (KJV)

"3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth."

Luke 16:14. (KJV)

"14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him."

1 Corinthians 5:11. (KJV)

"11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

2 Timothy 3:2. (KJV)

"2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"

2 Peter 2:14 (KJV)

"14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:"

1 Timothy 6:10. (KJV)

"10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Hebrews 13:5,6 (KJV)

"5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

Note in these reading how covetous is associated with very evil actions, there are many stories recorded in scripture which involve desires and covetous, and each time they also broke other parts of the Law of God.

James 2:10 (KJV)

"10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. "

None of us are able to live a life and not break a law of God, but God has provided the way out through Jesus.

Romans 3:23-25 (KJV)

"23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"