How many times were the 10 Commandments recorded in Scripture? Most people will say two, the lists given in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. While it is true that these are the only lists from 1 to 10, we find the full ten, given as a transcript of the Father and Son’s Character, in several places in the Bible. The entire list is almost given again in Leviticus 19, and also in the verses Mark 10:19 and Romans 13:9. It is written, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2 Cor 13:1b) Two, and sometimes three witnesses were needed for the acceptance of some spiritual matter. The life of Christ has at least four: the Gospels, and perhaps Isaiah and Romans may qualify as well. The principle is that Yahweh will make it known to us in various ways what His will for our lives is.

Going through the Scriptures, I’ve come up with five separate locations where the Decalogue in its entirety is recorded, at least two of them in the New Testament, where the ten are not only written out, but expanded, explained, and set in their rightful place as – not commandments merely – but loving responses to our Father’s grace. Christ said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” (Mat 5:17) By fulfilling, He also explained much of it also.

For example, the Pharisees thought on these verses when formulating their rules on divorce: “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” (Deu 24:1) What Christ explained, however, is that this was a measure to meet the people where they were, and certainly not Yahweh’s ideal or plan for the marriage of His faithful children. “He saith unto them, ‘Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.’” (Mat 19:8) Nor was this a new idea, for it was also written in the prophets: “For Yahweh, the God of Israel, saith that He hateth putting away: ‘For one covereth violence with his garment,’ saith Yahweh of hosts: ‘therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously [against your wife – v.14].’” (Mal 2:16)

Many things in the Bible are after this manner, the list of clean and unclean meats when the ideal was manna in the wilderness (Deu 12:15, Exo 6:15), the allowance of strong drink for festivals when the ideal was gathering together in fellowship (Deu 14:24-26), even the plan of salvation, when the ideal was that no death should ever have entered into the Creation. It is only by taking the Bible as a whole that we discover not only what is permissible, perhaps, but what is best; and we know that our Father only desires that which is best for His children.

5 x 10 = 50, which in the Bible stands for Jubilee, freedom. Here, then, are the Decalogue’s “Five Witnesses,” pointing toward the great freedom from the slavery of sin that this list (when written in the heart) represents for us. Do note also that the “2 Great Commandments” that Christ gave were also not new, for even in the Old Testament we find the command given many times to Love our Father before all else (Exo 20:2,3; Deu 5:6,7) and our neighbor as ourselves (Lev 19:17,18).

Exodus

Leviticus

Deuteronomy

The Gospels

The Epistles

I – I am Yahweh thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (Exo 20:2,3)

I – Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘I am Yahweh your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.’ (Lev 18:2,3)

I – I am Yahweh thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. (Deu 5:6,7)

I – And Yahshua answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel; Yahweh our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love Yahweh thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:” this is the first commandment.’ (Mark 12:29,30; Mat 22)

I – Whosoever believeth that Yahshua is the Christ is born of Yahweh: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth Him also that is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of Yahweh, when we love Yahweh, and keep His commandments. (1 John 5:1-2)

II – Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I Yahweh thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exo 20:4,5,6)

II – Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am Yahweh your God. (Lev 19:4; 26:1)

II – Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I Yahweh thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. (Deu 5:8-10)

II – Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Then saith Yahshua unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship Yahweh thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (Mat 4:8-10)

II – Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 Cor 10:14, 1 John 5:21)

III – Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God in vain; for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. (Exo 20:7)

III – And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am Yahweh. (Lev 19:12)

III – Thou shalt not take the name of Yahweh thy God in vain: for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. (Deu 5:11)

III – Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:22,23)

III – 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. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Heb 13:15, Col 3:8)

IV – Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yahweh thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exo 20:8-11)

IV – Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am Yahweh. (Lev 19:30, 3)

IV – Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as Yahweh thy God hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of Yahweh thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that Yahweh thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore Yahweh thy God commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day. (Deu 5:12-15)

IV – And He said unto them, “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” And He said unto them, “The Sabbath was made for man*, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mat 12:11,12; Mark 2:27)
*Gk: Anthropos – All people, not Ioudaios – Jews

IV – For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, “And God did rest the seventh day from all His works.” Again, He limiteth [Gk: horizo – appointed] a certain day, saying in David, “To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” For if Jesus/Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day [Today]. There remaineth therefore a rest* to the people of God. (Heb 4:4,7-9)
*Gk: Sabbatismos – A keeping of the Sabbath Day as a memorial of “spiritual rest” every day. (verses 10,11)

V – Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which Yahweh thy God giveth thee. (Exo 20:12)

V – Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my Sabbaths: I am Yahweh your God. (Lev 19:3)

V – Honour thy father and thy mother, as Yahweh thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which Yahweh thy God giveth thee. (Deu 5:16)

V – And He said unto them, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:’ But ye say, ‘If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.’ And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” (Mark 7:9-13; 10:19)

V – Children, obey your parents in the Lord*: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. (Eph 6:1-3)
*As with all the other commandments, such as Sabbath and “Thou shalt not kill,” this one is expounded to reflect the true, spiritual concepts, including (in this case) respect for those older “in the faith.” (see also 1Pet 5:5)

VI – Thou shalt not kill. (Exo 20:13)

VI – Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him (whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer*). Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am Yahweh. (Lev 19:17,18 *1John 3:15a)

VI – Thou shalt not kill. (Deu 5:17)

VI – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, “Thou shalt not kill;” and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, “Raca,” shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, “Thou fool,” shall be in danger of hell fire. (Mark 5:21,22)

VI – Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. (1 John 3:15, 1Pet 4:15)

VII – Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exo 20:14)

VII – Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife, to defile thyself with her. (Lev 18:20)

VII – Neither shalt thou commit adultery. (Deu 5:18)

VII – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, “Thou shalt not commit adultery:” But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mat 5:27,28)

VII – Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness... of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19,21b)

VIII – Thou shalt not steal. (Exo 20:15)

VIII – Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. (Lev 19:11)

VIII – Neither shalt thou steal. (Deu 5:19)

VIII – Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. (Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20)

VIII – Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Eph 4:28)

IX – Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exo 20:16)

IX – Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am Yahweh. (Lev 19:16)

IX – Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Deu 5:20)

IX – For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (Mat 15:19,20)

IX – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued... (Col 3:9,10; 1Tim 3:8a)

X – Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Exo 20:17)

X – If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against Yahweh, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it... Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away... he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. (Lev 6:2-5)

X – Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Deu 5:21)

X – And He said unto them, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15)

X – Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience. (Col 3:5,6)

David.

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