Are Christians under the Ten Commandments today?

The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

The Law and Prophets were until John (the Baptist), but since him the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of the Law to fail.

During the public ministry of Christ when he is sharing various truths and parables. Here Jesus makes points about the dangers of riches and the sin of divorce – two everlasting and Covenant-transcending truths – to make the ultimate point about the everlasting nature of God’s eternal word. This is stated by Jesus elsewhere, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:11-15)

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

Now if the ministry of death, carved on stone, came with such a glory that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was coming to an end. Will not the ministry of the Spirit have even greater glory? For the glory of the ministry of condemnation is far exceeded by the glory of the ministry of righteousness.

Paul is commending the Christians in Corinth by drawing a distinction between the Old Law – written on stone – with the New Law of the Spirit – written on hearts – in which they labor (3:1-2).

So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

Therefore, the [Old] law was our tutor until Christ came – now being justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we no longer need a tutor, for in Jesus Christ we are all sons of God through faith.

Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia (a region). Chapter 3 specifically argues the Christian’s justification by faith in Christ, not the [Old] law of Moses, while at the same time, drawing strong parallels between the two.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

He [Jesus] is our peace, making us one by his flesh. The Old Law expressed in commandments that had separated us is abolished. In Him, we are one man in place of two, reconciled together to God in one body through the peace of the cross.

Paul is writing to the “saints that are in Ephesus” (1:1), but Gentile Christians in particular (2:11). He is reminding them of this grace that they have from God and the fact that they are now “fellow citizens…of the household of God” (2:19). Ultimately, his plea to them is to walk in a manner “worthy of the calling” (4:1).

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

It’s true that an old law has been abolished due to its weakness and inability to perfect or complete anyone, but now a better hope is present which allows us to draw close to God.

This chapter introduces the superiority of Jesus’ priesthood (order of Melchizedek) over that of Aaron’s (tribe of Levi). This “makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant” (vs 22).

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

To Jews I [Paul] was like a Jew in order to influence them. To those under the [Mosiac] law I became like one under the law in order to influence them (though I of course wasn’t actually under the law). To those Gentiles not under the law I became like them (though never being outside the law of God but always under the law of Christ) that I might win over those outside the law.

Paul is admonishing the Corinthians throughout 8:1-11:1 to temper their “rights” and freedoms in Christ for the sake of others’ conscience. His main point through these chapters is that they should “endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ” (9:12).

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

God’s righteousness is now clear apart from the (old) law – which the Law and the Prophets themselves bear witness to – through faith in Jesus Christ for everyone that believes. For there is no distinction since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and believers are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God put Him forward as an atoning sacrifice by his blood; a gift received by one’s faith. This demonstrates God’s righteousness because in His divine patience, he had passed over former sins.

Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians making the broad point of equal access to this new covenant in Jesus Christ. All have sinned (vs 23) and all now have access to God’s “grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ” (vs 24).

And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.

He (God, the Father) declared His covenant and commanded you to adhere to it. It is the "Ten Commandments" written on two stone tablets. At that time, He commanded me (Moses) to teach you its requirements and rules so that you would do them in the land you're going to possess.

The re-telling of the law of Moses to a new generation of people before entering into the Promised Land.