Old Testament Commandments

Bill Brinkworth

There are many commandments in the Old Testament. Some sources declare there are 613. I have found, after my own attempt in counting them, that it depends on the counter and his criteria for what actually is considered to be a commandment from God.

Although, my count is only in the 300’s, and others have counted 603 and 613, we all have to agree that there are more than ten commandments that God has given men. Yet, the number ten somehow sticks in the mind of most people; and they think, along with their other misunderstandings of God’s Old Testament commandments, that they are only responsible for some of those that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai.
Here are several truths about the Ten Commandments:

Obedience to these ten commandments is necessary in order for all men to live together in unity. They are the moral laws that God has given man. If they are not followed, there will be problems in society.

If the sixth commandment is not honored, then anyone can kill anyone for any reason. When the seventh commandment is ignored, then families will be destroyed by rampant adultery. If the eighth is not enforced or taught, then there will be no inhibititions preventing anyone from stealing what they want. On and on society will degrade, as it has today, because the basic moral commandments are not universally followed in society.
Following these commandments will not guarantee anyone heaven. So many, when asked if they are bound for heaven, declare they are because they obey the ten commandments. Surprisingly, few even know what they are and are shocked that there are actually over 300 of them.

We are in a different time; a different dispensation. We are not under God’s law, we are under God’s grace. The way to heaven is trusting in Christ’s payment for our sins; not anything we can do. The law was only intended to give Old Testament believer’s a glimpse (a shadow) of how the perfect worship would one day be.
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” Hebrews 10:1
These commandments give us an idea of what God likes and does not like. The desire of all Christians should be to please God. The commandments clearly show us the preferences and wisdom of the Creator.
Some say there are over 600 Old Testament commandments. It is nearly impossible to know all of them, let alone keep them all.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10

“The Law detects. Grace corrects.”

This lesson was featured in The Bible View #365.