Why do some Christians that believe we must keep the 10 commandments only advocate nine, believing the fourth commandment abolished?
That is, for those Christians that believe we must keep the ten commandments or should keep them as part of our spiritual walk, why is there a seemingly double standard, with only nine taught and the 4th commandment about the Sabbath removed and seen as nonessential?
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Asked August 21 2014
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John Smith
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Myron Robertson
There is a rather simple answer to this but few people are going to be willing to admit that it applies to them. "In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes." Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25. Actually this applies to the entire church at this point since there is not a single denomination that keeps God's entire law and does not in some way place their own traditions above God's law, and there also is not a single person who keeps God's law or places there own beliefs above it in some way. Although it is an easy thing to prove in scripture there are still some Christians who do not believe Yahveh is the preincarnate form of Jesus. Most Christians also do not care to remember that the so-called Law of Moses was dictated to him by Jesus/Yahveh and Moses only wrote down what he was told to write. When Jesus said, "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," (Matthew 5:18) he was speaking of every law he gave on the top of the mountain, not simply the first 10. The only reason he only spoke 10 in the hearing of the people is because they refused to hear anymore and ran from his presence (Exodus 20:18, 19). In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gave six examples of the law showing that God's requirements went beyond the simple letter and that each of these laws had some deeper spiritual meaning. Many Bible teachers claim that all these examples came from the 10 Commandments, and claim this as proof that the rest of the law no longer mattered. Unfortunately for these teachers only two of these six examples came from the 10 Commandments, the remaining four came from the Law of God as dictated to Moses. These examples come from Deuteronomy 24 (divorce), Numbers 6 and Numbers 30 (vows/oaths), Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20 and Deuteronomy 19:21 (eye for an eye -- this is actually in reference to restitution and there are a large number of other pertinent texts, but Jesus also related this concept to the laws requiring giving -- leave a 2 cubit edge when for the poor when you harvest your field, anyone walking through your field can eat from it, don't go over the vine or tree a second time to harvest late fruit, if you lost a tool don't go looking for it but leave it for the person who finds it to use, etc.) and finally Leviticus 19:18 (love your neighbor) but to this one Jesus also added the rabbinic teaching hate your enemy. The divorce discussion seems at first glance to put away the law and outlaw divorce, but upon deeper study of the Greek text it is found that this is not the case, and upon deeper study of the source of this mistranslation it is found that our current understanding was an intentional mistranslation dating to Jerome's translation of the Latin Vulgate. This was done to please the man who was bishop of Rome at that time, later became standard church teaching and no Bible translator has been wiling to correct this since that time. Stephen E. Jones details this in his booklet "The Bible Says: Divorce and Remarriage is Not Adultery - which can be read on-line. Many use this sermon to justify their teaching that Jesus put away the law or some portion of it. Some use it to justify their ignoring the law of Moses, some for ignoring the 10 Commandments, some to prove upholding the 10 while putting away Moses. None of these things happened. Jesus used these as specific examples of proof that not one jod (yod -- the Hebrew equivalent of y and the smallest letter, written "י"), and a tittle (a pen stroke roughly equivalent to a serif or dotting an "i") would not be removed from the law until the entire law is fulfilled. That has yet to happen. If Jesus is your king you keep all his commandments and make no excuses for why you don't keep a few or many.
Michael Harris
There are three key points regarding the Sabbath. With regard to the Ten Commandments, it is true that the vast majority of Churches affirm only nine of the ten and view the forth command to “keep the Sabbath” as being set aside or changed. 1) Divine Knowledge. God, knowing “all things” knows what will be remembered and what will be forgotten. Therefore, when God uses the word “remember” it is with the foreknowledge that something will be forgotten! In the case of the Ten Commandments, it is only the fourth command which begins with the word “Remember.” Therefore, God knew would it would be forgotten and reinforced this command. 2) The Law and the Consequences. When it comes to the idea that Jesus changed or modified the Law in any way, people simply do not understand the implications of what they are saying. For anyone to have changed, altered or modified the Law was a sin which carried the death penalty under Deuteronomy 13 (even if that person did “signs and wonders”). If Jesus changed the Law (as many in the Christian faith contend), He was a sinner under the Law and rightly deserving of death. If He changed, modified or amended the Law then He did not lead the sinless life and be disqualified as both Messiah and as Savior! Jews understand this because they know the Law. Christians do not, because they do not know the Law. Generally speaking, the Church teaches Jesus “abolished” the Law. If true, a Jew could never even consider Jesus as their Messiah. Yet tens of thousands of believing Jews who knew and followed the Law (Paul included) believed in Him as the Messiah. How was this possible? Simple, He never changed or modified the Law... and Jesus himself said so. ““Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Mat 5:17). And, He did perfectly “fulfill” all the Law (including Deuteronomy 13) leading a sinless life. In addition to this, “false witnesses” were brought against Jesus, Stephen and Paul (Mat 26:59-60, Mk 14:56-57, Acts 6:13-14, 21:28) who falsely accused them of changing the Law. All of the “false witnesses” claimed falsely that each of them taught “the Law had been changed.” These were false charges by false witnesses. What was spoken against were “the traditions” and “commandments of men,” that being the Oral Law (Talmud) wherever it added to... or took away from... God’s written Law. If the Sanhedrin Council of the First Century had been supplied with the present testimony of the Churches regarding “the Law being abolished/changed,” Jesus, Stephen and Paul all would have been rightly killed under the Law. If today we teach that Jesus abolished or modified the Law, we ourselves bear false witness against Him. What He did abolish were the charges against us (our sin) and the enmity which was toward us under the Law (which includes the death penalty for teaching that the Law is abolished or changed). 3) Finally there is the contention that “the Sabbath” was changed from Saturday to Sunday. To accomplish this, the translators took the word “Sabbath” (written by Jews) and translated it as “week.” In justifying this, we are told among the Jews the word “Sabbath” also meant “week.” So, when Scripture stated they met on “the first of the Sabbaths” it was translated as “the first DAY of the week” with the word “DAY” added. However, when the context is checked, the phrase “first of the Sabbaths” is used in relationship to Pentecost where seven Sabbaths are counted to the Feast. “The First of the Sabbaths” therefore refers to the first weekly Sabbath of the seven Sabbath count. (Acts 20:7, 16, 1 Cor 16:2, 8) Lastly, is Revelation 1:10. Here the translators reversed the phrase “Day of the Lord” and translated it as "the Lord’s Day” to support Sunday worship. Keep in mind that even the Catholic Church admits the Sabbath was never changed and they changed it to Sunday. Therefore observing Sunday affirms the Pope's authority but denies Scripture.
Jack Gutknecht
The Fourth Commandment is the only commandment of the Ten Commandments that is not repeated in the New Testament. But the Divine Example is still with us today of God working 6 days, then resting the 7th. It's a good example for us Christians who are part of God's family to follow.
Bruce Lyon
Christian's don't keep the Sabbath because the lord Jesus is our rest. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 12:5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? Notice what we are: 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. We are a holy priesthood and offer up spiritual sacrifices to the living God Yehovah! Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Notice also: Philippians 4:18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. We offer up acceptable sacrifices well pleasing to God when we support those who are elders and pastors in the call-out assembly, or for anyone in need.
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