Sunday, December 03, 2006

Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the 10 Commandments?


WHY DON'T JEHOVAH’S WITNESESS BELIEVE IN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, AND WHAT IS THE NEW LAW COVENANT?


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It is not that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not “believe in the Ten Commandments,” it is just that the Ten Commandments are not binding upon Christians. The Ten Commandements were part of the Jewish Law covenant. In fact, the very first law is specifically addressed to the Jews. It says: “I am Jehovah your God, who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. You must not have any other gods against my face.” Obviously, the Egyptians, for example, were not bound by the law of Jehovah. Neither were any other ancient peoples. The Ten Commandments were given exclusively to the house of Israel.

The Christian writer, Paul, explained why God gave the nation of Israel the Law, including the Ten Commandments. He said that the Law was a "tutor leading to Christ," but that Christ was the end of the Law. Jesus kept the Law, perfectly. He was the only Jew who did. And because many features of the Law pointed to the coming of Christ it could be said that Christ fulfilled the Law. Paul explained that the death of Christ was as if the Law was nailed to the torture stake and brought to an end. Most of the letter of Hebrews as well as Galatians were written by the apostle to prove to Christians that they were no longer obligated to follow the Jewish law.


The new covenant has now replaced the old covenant. The new covenant is between Jehovah and anointed Christians. Instead of having to obey a Law code written on two tablets of stone, like the Ten Commandments were, the laws of the new covenant are written upon the hearts of those who are in the new covenant. As an example, in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus quoted from the Ten Commandments when he said, "You heard that it was said 'you must not murder.'" He then wen on to say that whoever continued wrathful with his brother was a murderer at heart. So, Jesus indicated that the law of the new covenant imbodied the old Law but went beyond the letter of the law to address the underlying motives of the person.

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