The Ten Commandments: Law, Love, and the Heart of God
Last week in Bible study, a gentleman asked a question that sparked a deep and honest conversation among the men in the group: Are the Ten Commandments meant to be taken literally, or are they about the spirit of the law? It’s one of those questions that seems simple on the surface, but the more we dug into it, the more we realized how much it affects our daily walk with God.
We all know the Ten Commandments. We learned them as kids in Sunday School, read them on courtroom walls, and, for some of us, recited them in Hebrew school on Saturdays. But as we talked, it became clear that knowing the commandments and living them out are two very different things.
The Weight of the Law
One thing that stood out in our discussion was how many of us carry guilt and shame over our inability to follow the commandments perfectly. For some of the guys, it was about keeping the Sabbath—what does “not working” even mean in today’s world? One of the men talked about his struggle to unplug from emails and responsibilities, even on Sundays. I know that men in my Ironman group admitted that, in their heart, failed at “do not covet” more times than they could count.
That’s when I shared a story from my own past. Growing up with Orthodox Jewish neighbors, I had a unique job on Friday nights. Right at sunset, I would go to their house and turn on their oven. Why? Because pressing the button or turning the knob was considered work under Jewish law. To them, keeping the Sabbath holy wasn’t about finding loopholes—it was about deep obedience to God’s command.
And then there’s Sandy Koufax, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, and he refused to pitch on Yom Kippur, even during the World Series. To some, it looked like a rigid rule. To him, it was about honoring something bigger than baseball.
Some of the guys asked, aren’t these just workarounds? But it struck me that in the Old Testament, God never treated these as loopholes. Instead, these were ways of showing devotion.
The Jewish Perspective – Following the Letter of the Law
For Jews today, the Old Testament (referred to in Judaism as the “Tanakh”) is still the foundation of their faith, and the letter of the law remains central to their relationship with God. The Law is not just a set of guidelines; it is the covenant that defines their identity as God’s chosen people.
But what happens when they fail?
Without the grace of Jesus to fall back on, Jewish believers are left with repentance through prayer, fasting, and good deeds. There is no final sacrifice that permanently atones for sin, as Jesus provided for Christians. This can lead to a deep sense of guilt and striving—a need to constantly prove one’s righteousness before God. Some embrace this burden with sincerity, while others find themselves caught in an endless cycle of falling short.
This makes Jesus’ role as the fulfillment of the Law even more profound for those of us who believe in Him. He didn’t just offer new guidance—He became the atonement that the Old Testament system required. The weight of failure is no longer ours to carry alone.
The Challenge of Following the Law
Even for Jews who strive to follow the Law, real-world complexities often force difficult choices.
Would you steal a loaf of bread to feed a starving child? The commandment says “Do not steal”—but what if the alternative is a child dying from hunger?
Should we allow the death penalty for someone who kills a policeman? “Do not murder” is clear, yet the Torah also prescribes justice and capital punishment for certain crimes.
Can we never speak ill of a parent who causes emotional, physical, or spiritual violence to one of their children? “Honor your father and mother” is a commandment—but what if a parent’s actions are cruel, abusive, and destructive?
And what about idolatry? The commandment says “You shall have no other gods before Me”—but how many of us, including yours truly, create idols without even realizing it?
- Do we worship money, making financial success our ultimate goal?
- Do we bow down to our cars, our homes, or our status, letting materialism define our worth?
- Do we prioritize football over faith on Sundays, giving our devotion to the game instead of to God?
The truth is, idolatry isn’t just about statues made of gold. It’s about anything that takes God’s rightful place in our hearts. We may not bow to a carved image, but if our lives revolve around wealth, entertainment, or personal ambition, we are no less guilty of breaking this commandment.
The Heart of the Law – What God Really Wants
This is where the discussion took a turn. We realized that the Ten Commandments—just like every law God has given—are not just about rules, but about the state of our hearts.
God doesn’t want us to live in guilt and shame when we fail (and we will fail). Instead, He wants us to:
- Acknowledge our sin – Be honest with ourselves and with God about where we fall short.
- Repent – Not just say we’re sorry, but truly turn away from sin and strive to do better.
- Ask for forgiveness – Because God is always ready to offer it.
Whether we are looking at the Ten Commandments on stone tablets or the two greatest commandments given by Jesus (“Love the Lord your God” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”), the message is the same—God desires relationship over legalism.
The Ten Commandments in Hebrew
To better understand the depth of the original commandments, here they are in Hebrew:
- אָנֹכִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ – I am the Lord your God.
- לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים עַל-פָּנָי – You shall have no other gods before Me.
- לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת-שֵׁם-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לַשָּׁוְא – You shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.
- זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ – Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
- כַּבֵּד אֶת-אָבִיךָ וְאֶת-אִמֶּךָ – Honor your father and mother.
- לֹא תִרְצָח – You shall not murder.
- לֹא תִנְאָף – You shall not commit adultery.
- לֹא תִגְנֹב – You shall not steal.
- לֹא-תַעֲנֶה בְרֵעֲךָ עֵד שָׁקֶר – You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- לֹא תַחְמֹד – You shall not covet.
Where Do We Go From Here?
So, should we take the Ten Commandments literally? Yes. And more than that. Because while the letter of the law matters, the spirit of the law transforms us. The commandments point us to God, but it’s His grace that makes the relationship possible.
I’d love to hear your thoughts—have you ever wrestled with how to apply the commandments in your own life? Drop a comment below and let’s continue the conversation.
