Old Testament Vistas

There is a conditional element to the

covenant

Exo 19:1-5a NIV

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.

Exo 19:1-5a NIV

Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:

Exo 19:1-5a NIV

“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

1 Cor 10:1-12 NIV

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. …

1 Cor 10:1-12 NIV

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.

1 Cor 10:1-12 NIV

Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.

1 Cor 10:1-12 NIV

We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

1 Cor 10:1-12 NIV

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

Yahweh’s declaration is central to OT Law

Exo 20:1-2 NIV

And God spoke all these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

The first four commands focus on

our God

No place but first place

Exodus 20:3 NIV “You shall have no other gods before me.”Exodus 20:3 NLT “You must not have any other god but Me.”

The right image

Exodus 20:4-6 NIV “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them;

The right image

for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Something in a name

Exodus 20:7 NIV “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Rest is blessed

Exodus 20:8-11 NIV “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. …

Rest is blessed

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

The last six commands focus on

our neighbors

Honor to whom due

Exodus 20:12 NIV “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

Hands off

Exodus 20:13-16 NIV “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

Contentment or

resentment

Exodus 20:17 NIV “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

New Testament Summary

Mark 12:28-31

NIV

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

Mark 12:28-31

NIV

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Mark 12:28-31

NIV

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Deut 6:4-6 NIV

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.

Lev 19:18-19a NIV

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. “‘Keep my decrees. ...”

Rom 13:8-10 NIV

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”

Rom 13:8-10 NIV

and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Two Extremes

External Only

Obedience is all God requiresRomans 13:9-10 NIV The commandments, … are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Internal Only

Obedience is unnecessaryExodus 19:5a NIV Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.

Challenge

Deut 6:4-5 NIV

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.