Are There Only 10 Commandments in the Bible?

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: We are all familiar with the account written in the Bible about the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses written on 2 stone tablets, whether we’ve learned about it growing up or have seen it on the big screen. But, are there really only ten commandments from God? 

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The Bible: The basis of our faith in the Church Of Christ, which answers questions about proper worship, the right relationship with God, and most importantly, salvation. That’s in the Bible. 

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: Hello! I’m Philip Velasquez and thanks for joining us on another episode of That’s in the Bible! Today we’ll be answering a question about the ten commandments in the Bible. We’ve got a viewer, Chris Young from Harbour City, and he asks, 

Why are there only ten commandments? 

Chris Young

Thank you, Chris, for that question. To fully understand the answer, let’s frame our discussion around these questions: 

Who were the 10 commandments for? 

Should we be following them today? 

What commands should Christians be following? 

To start our discussion let’s begin with our first question, Who were the 10 commandments for? This is what is recorded in Deuteronomy 4:13: 

He told you what you must do to keep the covenant he made with you—you must obey the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

Deuteronomy 4:13 Today’s English Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: The 10 commandments were given to Moses as the first covenant God made with His people. A covenant is an agreement. If God’s people would remain in obedience to His commandments, then God would remain their God. Who were these people with whom God made His first covenant? We can find out the answer in Jeremiah 31:32: 

not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 

Jeremiah 31:32 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: The ones with whom God made His first covenant were those whom He had taken out of Egypt – the Israelites. But, were the 10 commandments the only laws of God to be obeyed by the Israelites? Let’s read in Leviticus 17:1-2: 

The Lord commanded Moses to give Aaron and his sons and all the people of Israel the following regulations.

Leviticus 17:1-2 Today’s English Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: The Israelites were also commanded by God to strictly follow the numerous regulations given to them through Moses. 

So to answer your question Chris, although there were only 10 commandments written on the two stone tablets, there were also many other laws and regulations that the Israelites needed to follow during their time. 

Those whom our Almighty God expected to follow the 10 commandments were the Israelites only. The 10 Commandments were made for them. Now, some will say, “surely God’s covenant He made with Israel still stands till today”. Does it? Let’s look at what Jeremiah said in 31:31: 

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant…”

Jeremiah 31:31 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: So does the first covenant of God with Israel still stand today? Actually, it doesn’t. According to what we read, a time will come when God would make a new covenant. Why would He do that? What would happen to the first? Well the Apostles tell us here in Hebrews 8:13: 

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 8:13 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: The first covenant God made with the Israelites through His ten commandments would be made obsolete. So when would this first covenant with the Israelites be made obsolete? We can read the answer in Luke 16:16: 

“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Luke 16:16 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: The law of Moses, which included the 10 commandments, was in effect up until the time of John the Baptist. So, with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, came a new dispensation of time: the Christian era when a new law would supersede the law of Moses. 

So, should we be following the 10 commandments today? We can read the answer in Hebrews 7:12:

For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.

Hebrews 7:12 New King James Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: So, God’s first covenant with the nation of Israel came to an end. God’s new covenant, and commandments, are with the Church established by Christ, the Church Of Christ. And Christ’s Apostles and true messengers are ministers of this new covenant.

Now, a common belief today is that faith alone in Christ is enough to fulfil this new covenant with our Almighty God. Many believe that there is no need to do anything else except to accept our Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and saviour. 

But, what commandments should Christians follow then, in the new dispensation of time, in this Christian era? Let’s read Matthew 22:37-40 the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

“Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’. This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself’. The whole law of Moses and the teaching of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40 Today’s English Version

BROTHER PHILIP VELASQUEZ: Our Lord Jesus Christ said to love our Almighty God, and the greatest manifestation of that love would be to follow all the commands of God given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles contained in the Holy Scriptures. 

So, to summarize what we learned today, let’s have a review. We asked earlier on:  

Who were the 10 commandments for?

Well, the commands given to Moses were for the ancient people of God, or the Israelites. God made that covenant with them. 

So, should we be following those commands today? 

God made a new covenant with us, and what replaced the 10 commandments and all the regulations given to Moses, were the teachings of Christ and His apostles. 

What commands should Christians follow then? 

We should follow all the commands given to us in the Christian era, which were given for our benefit and our salvation. 

Because of this, we have to be very careful of those who try to tempt or deceive us with quick and convenient teachings which they claim pleases our Almighty God. We mustn’t look for teachers who tell us what we want to hear, but what God wants us to hear, all written in the Bible.  Especially the teaching of how we can belong to the Church that was established by our Lord Jesus Christ, the Church Of Christ. 

And that’s why we’d like you to continue learning about the teachings of the Bible taught inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo, Church Of Christ, please visit us online and browse the different topics or set up an appointment to meet with a minister of the gospel. If you have any questions about the Bible or salvation, please email them to us. I’m Philip Velasquez. Thanks for watching. See you next time on That’s in the Bible!