“Why God Gave the Commandments and Laws”

Scriptural Text:

Testing, Limits of

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Testing, Limits of

Testing, Limits of

The large tractor-trailer trucks that travel the highways of the nation are subjected to a load limit. This means that there is a limit as to how much weight each truck is allowed to carry. There is a good reason for establishing such limits. If the trucks were allowed to exceed their weight limit, the roads would eventually fall apart, because a given road is designed to support vehicles only up to a certain weight.

Likewise, God knows how much we can bear when he allows us to be tested. He has assigned a definite “load limit” to each of us and never exceeds it (1 Cor. 10:13).

The large tractor-trailer trucks that travel the highways of the nation are subjected to a load limit. This means that there is a limit as to how much weight each truck is allowed to carry. There is a good reason for establishing such limits. If the trucks were allowed to exceed their weight limit, the roads would eventually fall apart, because a given road is designed to support vehicles only up to a certain weight.

Likewise, God knows how much we can bear when he allows us to be tested. He has assigned a definite “load limit” to each of us and never exceeds it ().

Different Kinds of Law: eternal, natural, human, and divine. Each is the measure or rule in a different sphere... Norman L. Geisler, “Law, Nature and Kinds Of,” Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 415–416.

Each is the measure or rule in a different sphere.

 Norman L. Geisler, “Law, Nature and Kinds Of,” Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999), 415–416.

Eternal Law. Eternal law is the idea in the mind of God, the principle of the universe that lies behind the governance of all things (ibid., 1a2ae. 91, 1).For all laws derive from the eternal law to the extent that they share in right reason.

Natural Law. Natural law is the human participation in eternal law by way of reason. Natural law is the light of reason by which we discern what is right and wrong (ibid., 1a2ae. 91, 2). It is the law written on human hearts (). Note: Natural law teaches us to do good and shun evil.

Natural law teaches us to do good and shun evil.

Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics Different Kinds of Law

Human Law. Human law, also called positive or civil law, is the attempt of human reason to make practical laws based on natural law.

Human Law. Human law, also called positive or civil law, is the attempt of human reason to make practical laws based on natural law.

Divine Law. Divine law has a different purpose from natural law. Its intent is to lead people to God. That is, “the entire purpose of the lawgiver is that man may love God” (Aquinas, Summa contra Gentiles, 111–16). Divine law, therefore, is not given to unbelievers but to believers. Natural law is for unbelievers. Divine law is binding on the church, but natural law is binding on all society.

Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics Different Kinds of Law

Divine Law. Divine law has a different purpose from natural law. Its intent is to lead people to God. That is, “the entire purpose of the lawgiver is that man may love God” (Aquinas, Summa contra Gentiles, 111–16).

The Purposes For the Law: Why God Gave the Ten Commandments and the Law, 20:18-26

Scripture is clear: God gave the Ten Commandments as the basic law to govern all people.

Five very specific purposes:

1.  To reveal the glorious majesty and holiness of God: showing that a great barrier—a great gulf—exists between man and God (v.18). (, , , )

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" ().

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" ().

"And beside all this, between us [in heaven] and you [in hell] there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence" ().

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" ().

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" ().

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" ().

"Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?" ().

2.  To reveal man's need for a mediator, for a person who can approach God on behalf of man (v.19). ()

Note. The law—that is, our failure to keep the law—shows how far short we come, how far away we are from God. Only Jesus Christ can approach God and intercede for us. (, , , , )

15“The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

16according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’

17“And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good.

18I 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.

19And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" ().

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" ().

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth [as the mediator] to make intercession for them" ().

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth [as the mediator] to make intercession for them" ().

"But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" ().

3.  To test man (v.20-21). (, , , , , , )

3.  To test man (v.20-21).

Remember, the people had earlier promised to do all that the LORD had said. They had made a strong profession and commitment to the LORD. Remember what had happened:

Remember, the people had earlier promised to do all that the LORD had said. They had made a strong profession and commitment to the LORD. Remember what had happened:

"And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD" ().

⇒  To see if the people would truly walk in the fear and reverence of God. He had given the people a glimpse of the majestic glory and holiness of God. Would they keep the sight before their minds and obey the commandments, the commandments given by the Lord of glory and holiness?

Question: Did Israel pass the test of God? Tragically, no. Israel did what so many have done down through the ages: promised to obey God and failed to follow through.

⇒  To see if the people would truly obey God and not sin, not break the Ten Commandments.

⇒  To see if the people would trust the mediator appointed by God (). Note that Moses approached the cloud and thick darkness where God was. He was God's appointed mediator to represent the people before God. Would the people trust and follow him as they journeyed to the promised land?

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine" ().

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine" ().

"Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him" ().

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known" ().

"Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him" ().

"And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey" ().

"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" ().

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" ().

Lesson: God allows his people to pass through certain experiences, so that he may see, and prove to them, that their faith in him is genuine.

4.  To teach that God alone is the LORD: He alone has truly revealed Himself, has spoken to man from heaven (v.22).

Point . God proved that He alone is the LORD who can save and redeem man. Man must, therefore, obey the LORD; man must do what the LORD says to be saved and redeemed. (, , , , , )

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" ().

"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" ().

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city" ().

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine" ().

"This day the LORD thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul" ().

"But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers" ().

"For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" ().

5.  To teach how God alone is to be approached and worshipped (v.23-26).

Point: Reverence towards God expresses itself in the actions, as well as the words and worship of believers. True reverence for God leads to obedience towards him.

5.  To teach how God alone is to be approached and worshipped (v.23-26).

Reverence towards God expresses itself in the actions, as well as the words and worship of believers. True reverence for God leads to obedience towards him.

Three lessons are clearly seen here:

Lesson (1)  We must never approach and worship any person nor any false god dreamed up by man. (, , , , )

"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" ().

"Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them" ().

"But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come" ().

"Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him" ().

"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images" ().

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" ().

Lesson (2)  We must never worship God for show—with a spirit of ostentation or flashiness. (, , , )

"Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" ().

"Therefore when thou doest [thine] alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" ().

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" ().

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward" ().

"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments" ().

Lesson (3)  We must never be disrespectful nor irreverent in our worship; we must never pollute nor defile our worship. (, , , , , , , )

"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" ().

"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" ().

"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" ().

"Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD" ().

"And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so" ().

"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him" ().

"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil" ().

"And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" ().

"But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" ().

"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him" ().