Paul Quotes the Ten Commandments

Paul Quotes the 10 Commandments

In Ephesians 6:1–3 Paul wrote this, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY TURN OUT WELL FOR YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.” (NASB 2020)

If you look, you will observe that many, if not most, Old Testament quotes in the New Testament are modified a bit. In many cases the modification better expresses in the context of the New Covenant what was originally written in the context of the Old Covenant. This example is no exception because the change makes one of the Big Ten inclusive of Gentiles—which it certainly was not in its original context. This is a key to understanding such passages.

Some would assert that Old Testament Laws are (or at least this one is) transferable along with its promise to the New Covenant believer. This is important to consider.

In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) Jesus said some incredible things. He was teaching Jews under the Old Covenant. He was teaching them that the spirit of the Law was godly perfection (Matthew 5:48). Perfection is the standard God requires. The standard of God has not changed, and we are held to it.

We can only fulfill the righteous requirements of the law (perfection) (see Romans 8:4) only because Jesus has given us His righteousness (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). Since He gave us His righteousness, a new spirit, and placed His Spirit in us, we have been reborn. He made us new creatures who are righteous at the core, that is our identity, and this is key.

It is not keeping the Law that makes us righteous, it is Jesus who makes us righteous. Galatians 2:16 makes this very clear in saying, “nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” (NASB 2020)

Keeping that in mind, we also read in Titus 2:11-12 that the grace of God that appeared to all people (in the form of Jesus who by His Spirit now lives in us) teaches us to deny ungodliness and live upright and godly lives in this world. In Philippians 2:13 we learn that He is working in us to give us the desire for godly things, and He is working in us to actually do godly things. No believer would argue the value of living a godly life. We are told in Hebrews 10:24 to, “…consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds,”. (NASB 2020) Good deeds, godly attitudes and actions, are laudable and should be promoted within the Body of Christ.

The Law God gave to Moses contains many examples of what such behavior looks like. We in the New Covenant can certainly benefit from these examples and from paying attention to what sort of life we are living. The distinction is that such behavior does not affect our eternal standing with God in any way. Good behavior does not result in more acceptance, closeness, or blessing, and ungodly behavior does not result in less. Our identity and security in Christ are unchanged by any of it.

Behavior does have temporal consequences, however. Ungodly behavior has all kinds of negative consequences and ramifications, and godly behavior has good, uplifting, and loving consequences and ramifications.

It is noteworthy that the Greek verb translated “obey” in Ephesians 6:1 is in the imperative. Children are to obey their parents. This is an imperative for them. It is for their protection and their growth. We cannot take from Paul’s use of an imperative here that it somehow affects anyone’s salvation or standing with God. Rather we take from this that it is good and right for children to be obedient, and that disobedience has consequences for them.

So, when Paul uses a commandment from the Decalogue, he is pointing out what’s best for those to whom he is writing. Father wants what’s best for us and those around us, and He wants us to avoid what isn’t good for us and those around us. Since we share in His nature, that’s what we want too. It is perfectly acceptable to teach about behavior in this context.

Good behavior is good for people. Bad behavior is bad for people.