Commandments of God

When we read the word “commandments”, even in the New Testament, our minds automatically jump to the ten commandments. However, that word and its derivatives, quite often mean a lot more. Here is a sample from just the Gospels (with duplicated removed) where Jesus used the word much more broadly.

(Matthew 5:19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

This could be referring to the ten commandments, but it immediately follows the Beatitudes.

(Matthew 8:18) Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.

There is no engraved commandment telling us which side of the lake to be on.

(Matthew 10:5) These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not.

Christ’s command was an instruction on where to go, not about what is morally right or wrong.

(Matthew 11:1) And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Commanding and teaching are here used synonomously.

(Matthew 14:19) And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

(Matthew 15:35) And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

Again, not moral commands, but very specific instructions for the sake of organization.

(Matthew 21:6) And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them.

Did Jesus thunder and shout from Mt. Sinai, or did He tell the disciples something very specific to do?

(Matthew 28:20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

The great commission commands us to teach all of Christ’s commandments. What are those? Are they just the ten commandments or are they all the instruction Jesus gave?

(Mark 5:43) And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Jesus both charged and commanded, which is basically the same thing.

(Mark 6:8) And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse.

This command was very demanding, but you don’t find it on the tables of stone.

(Mark 8:7) And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

He “commanded” instead of “requested.” What tone of voice did He use?

(Mark 10:49) And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

The command of Jesus led to the healing of the blind man.

(Mark 11:6) And they said unto them even as Jesus had commanded: and they let them go.

The disciples said what Jesus commanded them to say when they got the donkey for the entrance into Jerusalem.

(Luke 8:55) And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

No commandment about food is engraved on the stone tables.

(Luke 9:21) And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing.

Jesus commanded the disciples not tell others that He was the Son of God.

(Luke 18:40) And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him.

Another simple command that led to healing.

(John 13:34) A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

(John 15:12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Is this the 11th commandmentment, or is it a new, higher way to keep the ten commandments?

(John 14:15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.

(John 14:21) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.

Is Jesus referring to just the ten? What about His new commandment?

(John 14:31) But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

The Father’s commandment to Jesus involves His mission as Messiah. Jesus then gives a command to arise.

(John 15:10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Jesus did a lot more than just obey the principles of the ten commandments. He also obeyed His Father’s will in very specific ways to carry out His mission to be Savior of the world.

(John 15:14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Would those commands include things like going to the other side of the lake, making the people sit down, and not taking money on their journey?

(Acts 1:4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.

A very specific command, not found on Mt. Sinai, needed to be obeyed for Pentecost to happen.

Summary

The pattern is abundant and clear that Jesus gives commandments that are not spelled out on the tables of stone engraved on Mt. Sinai. These specific commands are in harmony with the moral law, but cannot be found written in black and white for everyone to read. Therefore, we need to take a larger meaning when we read the word “commandments” in the New Testament.

With our larger, more accurate view of commandments, let’s read a verse very familiar to every Seventh-day Adventist. It comes at the end of the three angels‘ messages.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

Doesn’t your mind jump to the ten commandments? Probably you even focus on the fourth commandment. Our church culture, our tradition, is strong. The seventh-day sabbath is right, but it’s not the only commandment. In fact, the ten are not just ten, as we already saw.

The problem is not with the text, but with us. We tend to trust to our sabbath keeping. Rather, we tend to trust to our knowledge of the seventh day versus Sunday. We tend to trust in our doctrinal proofs. But there is so much more. Perhaps a story will explain this better.

I had a friend in college. Let’s call him, Mike. He had a “wonderful discovery” to share with me one day. Mike proceeded to tell me that keeping the ten commandments was not that hard. “How many people kill, commit adultery, or steal?” he asked. “Any Christian can easily not do those things and keep all the other commandments in the same way. When is the last time you made a graven image?” With that he rested his case expecting me to get excited. I just shook my head.

Mike reduced his view of commandments to a minimal, negative view. He also over generalized and failed to see how the positive spiritual principles enter into every moment and decision in life. His view was immature. His view was like an elementary student who thinks their whole duty is to get their homework done and stay out of trouble. His view of Christianity was to be a good citizen, not a cross carrying missionary. His view was typical of Laodicea.

Because you say I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)

Because you think in your heart that you are a good church member, that you pray, that you keep the right day, that you know the prophecies, that you watch 3ABN, that you are a good Christian. You might even do works of service and hold church office. That surely is icing on the cake proving that God’s grace has tranformed your life. But there is still a problem, a very big problem.

You are in control. Your ideas are in control. You are deceived as to what constitutes a true believer. Jesus responds to Laodicea with a command.

“I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18)

This command in Christ’s counsel cannot be found written in the ten commandments. Yet, it is there if we have eyes to see. And God so badly wants us to see it.

The history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body. God led His people in the advent movement, even as He led the children of Israel from Egypt. In the great disappointment their faith was tested as was that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Had they still trusted to the guiding hand that had been with them in their past experience, they would have seen the salvation of God. If all who had labored unitedly in the work in 1844, had received the third angel’s message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts. A flood of light would have been shed upon the world. Years ago the inhabitants of the earth would have been warned, the closing work completed, and Christ would have come for the redemption of His people. (GC 457)

For decades, that quote puzzled me. How could the disappointed Millerites after 1844 preach about the mark of the beast and God’s seal and the Sunday law when there was little knowledge of Sabbath and Sunday in or out of the church? They themselves were barely learning about the Sabbath. At best, it might have been like preaching a self-fulfilling prophecy of persecution. In the 1840’s there was no Sunday issue so how relevant was, Don’t worship the beast and get his mark or you will burn?

The answer is that the third angel’s message is not merely about Sabbath versus Sunday in the typical commandment-keeping way.

Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel’s message in verity.” The prophet declares, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” Brightness, glory, and power are to be connected with the third angel’s message, and conviction will follow wherever it is preached in demonstration of the Spirit. How will any of our brethren know when this light shall come to the people of God? As yet, we certainly have not seen the light that answers to this description. God has light for his people, and all who will accept it will see the sinfulness of remaining in a lukewarm condition; they will heed the counsel of the True Witness when he says, “Be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (RH 4/1/1890)

Jesus commands us to be zealous and repent of our narrowminded view of His commandments. He not only has the principles of the ten commandments, which apply to everybody universally in a moral sense, but He also has individual, specific commandments just for you every moment of every day. And He supplies His righteousness, by faith, to you to enable you to obey and live the true transformed Christian life.

The ten commandments are universal moral principles about right and wrong. They are guardrails, but which lane should you be driving in right now? Which exit should you take next? How fast should you be going? These questions are only a few of the many that constantly arise. In addition to that, the Holy Spirit gives us directions when we aren’t even asking.

“Jesus answered, Truly truly I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, You must be born again. The wind blows where it wants and you hear the sound of it, but can not tell from where it comes and where it goes, so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8)

Like a sailboat not fighting the wind, but rather going with the gentle current, we are to be relaxed and trusting in God’s Spirit. When the divine wind blows east, we don’t get hard hearted, stubborn, or anxious about where we might go. We don’t take the sails down to thwart the Spirit’s plan. Instead, we calmly say, Here I am Lord. Send me. We don’t argue and say, It’s not a salvation issue. Everything that God tells me is a salvation issue for me. When God calls me, it is my duty, my pleasure, and my salvation to go.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets, and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

And as Jesus passed forth from there, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. (Matthew 9:9)

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 16:24-25)

And said, Truly I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14)

It’s easy to tell children to obey their parents in everything and to trust God in everything. But it’s so hard for adults to be children, to stop resisting the Spirit’s prompting, to put divine wisdom above personal habit and church practice. A child, a disciple, follows the Lamb where ever He goes. They cling tight and watch carefully so they can imitate the Master and accomplish His missions that He assigns from day to day. They enjoy living and learning with Jesus. They are that simple. Their motives are that pure.

Let’s look at the third angel’s message again.

And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand. (Revelation 14:9)

The message clearly says, Do not worship the beast and receive his mark, of else. But as pastor pointed out last week, the sealing is a process. Guess what? So is the marking. It begins with worshiping, which prepares us to be marked. The Greek word for worship comes from the idea of a dog licking its master’s hand. Humans don’t lick hands, but they submit, conform, fawn, crouch, go along with, and even prostrate themselves to other humans. That message, that warning, is always relevant.

I beg you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith. (Romans 12:1-3)

The apostle Paul has been preaching righteousness by faith and the essence of the third angel’s message for 2000 years!

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

What command has God given you today, and yesterday, and the day before? You have a special place in His work that can only be filled by the talents and experiences He has given you. He has custom commands and personal orders just for you. As you accomplish them together, your friendship becomes stronger, your bond tighter, and your teamwork with God and His church becomes more productive and memorable.

Let me close with a story that happened to me this week.

I’m in the middle of site prep on my property. I rented an excavator to dig a giant hole for the septic tank, trenches for the footings, and for other clearing and leveling needs. I quickly start running into problems because the blade is so small and I’m so new with this equipment. I’m beginning to get a bit scared about the footings, which need to be almost perfectly level and my little laser level is to dim to see in daylight more than 10 feet away.

My brother in law had suggested a transit and that is now beginning to have more weight with me, but it is easier to use with a second person. Therefore, I begin thinking about hiring Conry sooner than we had agreed, but I’m still trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. I finish the first day with lots of questions, including whether or not to call my helper. I go to sleep after watching a few YouTube instructional videos.

The next morning I get up early and head to the rental place to see what they have. I can envision how to use the old school transit with the telescope and can see how Conry could help me. But at this last minute should I bother him? This whole time I am asking God if He is speaking to me and I don’t get a clear yes or no, but what I do get is that it would be wise to at least contact him to see if he is available and it couldn’t hurt to have his help.

I text him. No soon reply. I get to work then he is able to get there at noon. We quickly work out a system, adjust it, then get almost perfect footings by 5pm! No way I could have finished it by myself before my rental was due!

My point is that sometimes God speaks to us by conviction, but other times He shows us the wisdom of an idea and lets us feel the weight of it. Yes, sometimes we mistake human wisdom for divine wisdom, but that is why we always check with Him at every decision point and even in between. There is nothing immoral about working by myself or with a partner, but God has His plans and timing and budget for me. I want to build His house by following His commands in what ever language He chooses to communicate them to me.

If you want to read more stories like that, I highly recommend God still lives.

Summary

We can spend our lives thinking we are just generally good citizens, content with trying to do good and avoiding what is wrong. Our God can be a distant dark God on Mt. Sinai always watching us from on high to see if we are breaking the moral commandments.

Or, we can go beyond that and follow Jesus closely, which results in not only keeping all of the ten commandments, but also living by every word and command that comes from the mouth of God. We can live moment by moment, decision by decision in His presence. We can feel protected and guided like sons and daughters. We can be friends and servants of God to hasten Christ’s coming and save many souls along the way.