Quick Q&A: Are the Ten Commandments still relevant today?

Answer: Yes…. All ten of them. Some think that we can pick and choose which ones we want to follow or keep, but the Bible and the words of Jesus say differently.

During His “Sermon on the Mount” Christ was pretty clear about the commandments and how we should keep them. Matthew 5:17-19 states, "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 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. 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.”

If something is not destroyed, it must still be in place. While Christ’s life, death and resurrection fulfilled many prophecies, Jesus said that not one jot or tittle (the dotting of an i or the crossing of a t) would be changed or pass from the law until ALL is fulfilled. We know from scripture that more is coming, so ALL is not fulfilled!

Christ said plainly that there are consequences for keeping the commandments or for breaking them. The consequences for those who break them, and for those who teach others that breaking them doesn’t matter, include being called “the least” in the Kingdom of Heaven. Being called GREAT in the Kingdom of God, however—being one who strives to keep the Ten Commandments and teaches others to do so—sure sounds much more rewarding and appealing.

Others may well oppose us when we try to keep the commandments.  Notice that in Revelation 12 we read about a group of persecuted commandment-keepers: Revelation 12:17, "And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." And again in Revelation 14:12, "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." One more good one found in Matthew 19: 16-18 is when a young man came to Him asking the way to eternal life, Jesus said, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Keeping the commandments was important when they were first given. Now that Christ has magnified those commandments, they are even more relevant today.