The 10 Commandments in the New Testament: Part 2

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The 10 Commandments in the New Testament

Part 2

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The 10 Commandments in the New Testament: Part 2

MP4 Video - 1080p (84.81 MB)
MP4 Video - 720p (29.45 MB)
MP3 Audio (664.26 KB)
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A critical letter found in the book of Acts reiterates the command not to worship any idols. 

Transcript

[Steve Myers] The second commandment listed in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 was the command not to have graven images – no idols, don’t bow down to idols was that command that was given. Now in the New Testament, it’s also reiterated, and we can find that very specifically in an interesting section of scripture that’s found in Acts chapter 15.

In Acts 15, there was a big controversy as the New Testament church began, whether there should be circumcision or not. Is that something that was a requirement? So all the elders got together to discuss this very thing. They came to a conclusion that that was not a requirement. What was most important was a circumcised heart – an attitude, a mind that was godly. That was critical.

Now, in order to get the word out to everyone about their decision, they wrote a letter. Now, what was interesting in the inclusion in that letter was something they wrote about the second commandment.

In Acts 15:20, at the conclusion of their letter, they wrote this, as it says here: “Write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, and from things strangled, and from blood.” And so, at the end of this critical letter, they included this second commandment – that we must not bow down to idols. No graven images. Do not worship anything but the one, true God. And so that became critical.

Well, that’s the second commandment in the New Testament – very many other places, as well, but this is a good place to start. No idols.

We’ll talk more next time on BT Daily.

Comments

  • Kelly Irvin
    Going beyond not bowing to idols, or worshiping idols, as you have read, "abstain from things offered to idols." As with your explanation in part one for the first commandment, we see an emphasis added beyond the minimum, in this case, that goes beyond direct contact with idols to staying away from anything that had anything to do with idols, ever. I think this is apropos for "the season" we are in, where much justification is made for adapting to worshiping Jesus pagan worship practices related to idolatry, reasoning that we don't apply the same things in the same ways anymore. An assumption is made that what was once evil can now be good if we choose it to be. As is so clearly stated in Deuteronomy 12:29-31, our God wants nothing to do with pagan practices adapted to worship him. Idolatry will always be idolatry no matter how many times it is repackaged or renamed. Jeremiah 10 is something good to consider here, also.
  • stephencummings
    the verse seems to point to not comiting audultry as well.
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