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Reflecting on Our Ability to Keep God’s Law
Keeping the law of God is a challenging endeavor. But can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? Human nature tends to point out the shortcomings and faults of others. In matters of faith, we are often quick to identify sin. We use phrases like “The Bible says” and “It is written” as tools for judgment. However, rather than condemning one another, we should recognize our need for grace as we strive to obey God’s commandments.
The Danger of Outward Religion Without Relationship
We must also be wary of those who claim to be religious but lack a true relationship with God. Religion can acknowledge the existence of God by reducing the divine to something that can be perceived only physically. As a result, some people pursue perfection in their outward practices. However, what truly matters is not how religious we appear but whether we have a sincere, inward relationship with God. This genuine relationship should be the source of inspiration and motivation in our efforts to keep God’s commandments.
Understanding What God Commands
Most people who harp on keeping God’s Law—known as ‘The Ten Commandments’—do not know what God commands. Before delving into how to keep God’s perfect law, it is important to first identify its content clearly. To do this, let’s reference Exodus 20:3-17 in the Amplified (AMP) Version of the Bible.
The Ten Commandments: God’s Perfect Law
The Ten Commandments are not mere suggestions—they are commands issued by God. They form the foundation of His perfect and uncompromising law. Each commandment addresses a vital aspect of our relationship with God and others. Additionally, they set a standard for moral and spiritual conduct.
1. No Other Gods
God’s first commandment instructs us to place nothing and no one above Him. He says: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” This directive calls us to devote our ultimate allegiance and worship to God alone, recognizing His unique authority and sovereignty.
2. No Idols
The second commandment prohibits the creation or worship of idols and images. God warns: “You shall not make for yourself any idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.” He also emphasizes His jealousy and rightful claim to our devotion. He warns that the consequences of idolatry can extend to future generations, while promising steadfast love to those who are faithful and obedient.
3. Honor God’s Name
The third commandment cautions against using God’s name in ways that misrepresent His character. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” God will hold accountable anyone who misuses His name, insisting on reverence and respect.
4. Keep the Sabbath Holy
God’s fourth commandment calls us to remember and keep the Sabbath day holy. This involves dedicating the seventh day to rest and worship, setting it apart for God’s purposes. This command reminds us of the importance of resting from work.
5. Honor Your Parents
The fifth commandment teaches us to respect, obey, and care for our parents: “Honor your father and your mother.” This promise is linked to longevity and well-being, as God assures blessings for those who fulfill this command.
6. Do Not Murder
The sixth commandment strictly forbids unjustified and deliberate homicide: “You shall not commit murder.” This command protects the sanctity of human life and upholds justice in society.
7. Do Not Commit Adultery
The seventh commandment commands faithfulness in marriage: “You shall not commit adultery.” It affirms the importance of honoring marital vows and maintaining purity in relationships.
8. Do Not Steal
The eighth commandment prohibits taking what does not belong to us. God sternly commands: “You shall not steal.” This includes robbery, fraud, and negligence.
9. Do Not Bear False Witness
The ninth commandment forbids lying, withholding, or manipulating the truth about others: “You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor.” This command upholds honesty and integrity in all our interactions.
10. Do Not Covet
The tenth commandment warns against selfishly desiring what belongs to others. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, wife, servants, livestock, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Purpose of God’s Law
God gave the law to reveal our true nature and to guide us toward Christ. The intent of the law is not simply to set a standard for behavior, but to help us recognize our need for a Savior. In Deuteronomy 18:18, God promises to raise a Prophet from among the people, stating, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.” Comparatively, this prophecy points directly to Jesus.
The opening verses of the Book of Hebrews affirm that Jesus is indeed the Prophet Moses spoke of. Jesus makes the fulfillment of God’s promise clear. He reveals the purpose behind the giving of the law is to direct us to Christ as the ultimate revelation of God’s will and the means of our salvation.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
— Hebrews 11:1-2 NKJV
Jesus: The Fulfillment of the Law and the Mediator of a New Covenant
Jesus Alone Kept God’s Law Perfectly
The Bible teaches that God found fault not in His covenant, but with His people. In His infinite wisdom, God knew that no one could keep His law perfectly—except for Jesus. This reality underscores the uniqueness of Christ, who alone fulfilled every requirement of God’s law without fault.
The New Covenant and Ministry of Life
Recognizing humanity’s inability to fully uphold His law, God established a new covenant with His people. This new covenant introduced a new ministry—the ministry of life—offering hope and reconciliation between God and humankind through Jesus.
Christ: Mediator of a Better Covenant
Scripture affirms that Christ has acquired a priestly ministry far superior to the old Levitical priesthood. Jesus is the Mediator, or Arbiter, of a better covenant—one that unites God and man and is founded upon better promises. This new covenant replaces the old, resting on the perfection and faithfulness of Jesus rather than the flawed efforts of humanity.
“But as it is, Christ has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is more excellent [than the old Levitical priestly ministry], for He is the Mediator (Arbiter) of a better covenant [uniting God and man], which has been enacted and rests on better promises.”
A Better Covenant
The concept of a better covenant emerges from the understanding that the first covenant, established between God and His people, was not without fault. Scripture makes it clear: “For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one [the new covenant].” The need for a new covenant arose not from a deficiency in God’s law itself, but from the people’s inability to uphold their end of the agreement.
God Himself identifies this inadequacy when He declares, “Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” This new covenant is distinct from the first because the people failed to remain faithful. As a result, God withdrew His favor and disregarded them, as recorded in Hebrews 8:6-9 (AMP).
In summary, the promise of a new covenant signifies God’s commitment to establish a relationship with His people that is not based on their perfection, but on His faithfulness and grace. In addition, this new agreement, inaugurated through Jesus, ensures that God’s people are united to Him through better promises and a superior mediator.
The Perfection Demanded by God’s Law
Throughout the law, God repeatedly states, “You shall not,” making it clear that these are direct commands rather than suggestions. These commands underscore the perfection of God’s law, which does not simply encourage good intentions or effort. Instead, it expects absolute obedience and perfection. There is no room for compromise or partial fulfillment; the law issues straightforward commands that allow for no exceptions or concessions.
God’s law does not recognize merely “trying”—it requires complete adherence and flawless obedience. We cannot satisfy it by doing our best to obey it. God’s law demands perfection from all who would live by it. In this way, the law reveals its inflexible standard and the impossibility of fulfilling it through human effort alone.
God first gave His law at Mount Sinai. The Bible describes it as a place of fear and trembling. The mountain itself was enveloped in blazing fire, gloom, darkness, and a raging windstorm. The experience was so overwhelming that those who heard the blast of the trumpet and the sound of words pleaded that nothing more be spoken to them. Even Moses, the great leader, confessed, “I am filled with fear and trembling.” The strict command declared that even a wild animal touching the mountain must be stoned to death, emphasizing the seriousness and holiness of God’s presence at Sinai.
God Has Moved: From Sinai to Zion
However, God is no longer on that mountain. Believers are not called to approach Sinai, but instead are invited to come to Mount Zion—the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Here, the scene is transformed from fear to celebration: myriads of angels are gathered festively, and the general assembly of the firstborn, registered as citizens in heaven, stand before God, who is Judge of all. The spirits of the righteous, redeemed and made perfect, are present in their final glory.
At the center of this new gathering is Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, who unites God and man. His sprinkled blood speaks a message of mercy, offering a better and nobler word than the blood of Abel, which cried out for vengeance. The shift from Sinai to Zion marks the transition from the terror of the law to the grace and mercy of the new covenant, highlighting the superior relationship God now offers through Jesus Christ.
Pharisees: The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever
Beware of religious individuals who lack a genuine relationship with God. Such people may acknowledge God, but their understanding is limited to outward appearances and traditions, seeing God only through physical eyes. In seeking to perfectly uphold God’s law, they often focus on identifying the faults and sins of others, neglecting to examine their own hearts.
In biblical times, the Pharisees exemplified this behavior. They were persistent in proclaiming their adherence to God’s law, taking pride in their religious observance. Yet, while they pointed out the shortcomings and transgressions of those around them, they concealed their own sins from view. The Pharisees failed to recognize that the very act of finding fault in others is itself a sin.
Everyone possesses flaws, making the standard of the law difficult for anyone to maintain perfectly. Jesus directly addressed this issue with the Pharisees in the Gospel of Matthew, challenging their hypocrisy and calling attention to the universal need for humility and self-examination.
With cold hearts and no compassion, people often highlight the shortcomings of others while overlooking their own. In the context of keeping the divine commandments, Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their perception of sin and grace. He challenged their tendency to focus on the faults of others while ignoring the condition of their own hearts. This confrontation called attention to the need for genuine humility and self-examination, rather than judgment and condemnation of others.
“Why do you notice the small piece of dust that is in your friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of wood that is in your own? Why do you say to your friend, ‘Let me take that piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at yourself first! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You are a hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then you will see clearly to get the dust out of your friend’s eye.
— Matthew 7:3-5 ERV
Does this story sound familiar?
