10 Commandments still valid (Hebrews 8:1-6)

" Moses came down the mountain with 10 commandments to find a golden calf... Oy!"

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

You do realize Moses stuttered don't you?  He must've been so frustrated! The Ten Commandments are still good and actually quite wise to follow : ) What changed with Jesus' sacrifice, is that obeying each command (perfection) isn't a requirement for salvation.  We do still need to strive to obey the commandments.  In fact a lot of America's laws are based on them (you shall not murder, for example). 

Many of us will never forget the story of Moses climbing up the mountain to receive the commandments from God.  God used lightening to engrave His laws onto them.  It took a long time, and the rest of the Hebrews got bored.  So when Moses came down from the mountain he found people worshipping a gold calf.  Moses got so mad he threw down the tablets and broke them...  So there ya have it.  They broke the 2nd commandment before it was even published, "2 You shall not make for yourself a carved image."

Remember the commandment, "9 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor?"  What would the world be like if politicians, news reporters and all of us took this to heart and became honest?  Would we want to hear the truth?  Sometimes no and sometimes absolutely!  My Governor is dealing with a crazy situation.  Someone from the Democrats accused him of causing a traffic jam to get even with someone else. Oh the shame! It blocked traffic for 5 days.  Ok from New Jersey through New York City it's a traffic jam everyday, every hour. There's no need to create one. I'm thinking it's been this way since horse and buggy days.  So far no one has topped the president's insurance blunder, sorry guys.  Honestly, I don't want to hear that Gov. Christie is guilty.  I'm proud of him.  He told us we're stronger than the storm after the hurricane, and we are.  It's his turn to remember that now.

While Jesus was ministering, the Pharisees and Saducees kept following Him asking questions.  They were very nervous, believing He came to remove the law.  To both of these groups, the law was their life.  Their whole existance revolved around finding "sinners."  Actually there's still a few rogue churches that do this.  But, God is the judge, the beginning and the end (alpha and omega).  Remember how Jesus healed a man who was sick and the man picked up his mat and danced around?  In the background the pharisees and saducees were plotting against Jesus because He healed on the sabbath. 

Hebrews 8:1-6
1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying:  We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
(NKJV)

Jesus said, 17 “ Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:17-20 NKJV)
It's interesting I was talking to a Jewish friend and she told me that they have added so many laws to the original Old Testament, it's hard to recognize the original.  These words of Jesus are still relevant today and we can understand why it was important to Him.  The  Bibles we use have passed many tests for authorship, consistency and truth. 

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load (Galatians 6:1-5 NKJV)
Jesus taught that our love is most important, compassion for others, patience (such a challenge)!

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:8-13 NKJV)
Yup the ten commandments are still important for us.  They are so logical too.  One of the things Jesus did to fulfill the law was to explain how our thoughts that break the 10 commandments are also bad.  Which is why we needed Jesus' sacrifice to save us.

We should remember to pray for peace in Israel.  They are in a precarious position.