With Old Testament. (OT) & New Testament (NT) References
PREAMBLE: THE BASIS OF THE LAW
Exodus 20:1-2; Deuteronomy 5:1-6 – God speaks directly. He’s not just giving rules; He’s a Redeemer: “I brought you out of Egypt.” Law follows grace.
NT Parallel: Titus 2:11-12 – "For the grace of God... teaches us to deny ungodliness." 1 Peter 1:15-16 – "Be holy, for I am holy" — God’s character is the standard.
1. YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME
Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7
Core Issue: Loyalty of the heart. Idolatry = anything we trust, love, or fear more than God.
OT: Deut. 6:4-5 – Shema: "Love the Lord your God with all." Deut. 13:1-4 – Reject prophets who lead to other gods. Joshua 24:14-15 – "Choose... whom you will serve."
1 Kings 18:21 – Elijah: "How long will you falter between two opinions?" Isaiah 42:8 – "My glory I will not give to another." NT: Matthew 6:24 – "No one can serve two masters." Luke 14:26 – "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father... he cannot be My disciple." Priority, not literal hate. Philippians 3:19 – "Whose god is their belly." Even appetites can be gods. 1 Corinthians 10:14 – "Flee from idolatry."
Heart Check: What do I run to for security, identity, or comfort instead of God?
2. YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF A CARVED IMAGE
Exodus 20:4-6; Deuteronomy 5:8-10 Core Issue: Worship must be in spirit and truth, not reduced to man-made forms. God is jealous for exclusive devotion.
OT: Exodus 32:1-8 – Golden calf: Israel tried to worship Yahweh through an image. God called it “corrupt.” Deut. 4:15-19 – "You saw no form... lest you act corruptly and make a carved image." Habakkuk 2:18-19 – "What profit is the image... a teacher of lies?" NT: John 4:24 – "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." Romans 1:25 – "Exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped the creature rather than the Creator." Acts 19:26 – "Gods made with hands are not gods." Revelation 9:20 – End-time idolatry condemned.
Heart Check: Do I limit God to what I can see, control, or understand?
4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY
Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:12-15 Core Issue: Trust + Rest + Worship. Stop striving to remember God is the Provider.
OT: Exodus 16:23-30 – Manna test: will they rest? Nehemiah 13:15-22 – Nehemiah rebuked Sabbath commerce. Ezekiel 20:12-24 – Sabbath = sign of sanctification; Israel profaned it.
NT: Matthew 12:1-8 – Jesus heals on Sabbath: mercy > ritual. Luke 13:10-17 – Heals woman: "Ought not this woman... be loosed on the Sabbath?" Mark 6:31 – Jesus: "Come aside... and rest a while." Principle of rhythm. Hebrews 4:1-11 – Ultimate Sabbath = resting from works, trusting Christ’s finished work.
Heart Check: Am I trusting God enough to stop? Is my rest worshipful or just lazy?
5. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER
Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16 Core Issue: Authority, gratitude, family order. First horizontal command. Promise: “that it may go well with you.”
OT: Exodus 21:17 – Cursing parents = death penalty under Law. Shows gravity. Proverbs 30:17 – "The eye that mocks his father... the ravens will pick it out." Malachi 1:6 – "A son honors his father... if I am a Father, where is My honor?" God uses the parent-child analogy.
NT: Matthew 15:3-9 – Jesus rebukes "Corban" loophole: withholding support from parents. Mark 7:10-13 – Same account. Ephesians 6:2-3 – Only command with promise, repeated for the Church. 1 Timothy 5:4,8 – "Repay their parents... anyone who does not provide for relatives has denied the faith."
Heart Check: Do I honor parents even if they’re imperfect? As an adult, do I care for them?
6. YOU SHALL NOT MURDER
Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17 Core Issue: Sanctity of life made in God’s image. Includes hatred, anger, and carelessness.
OT: Genesis 4:8-10 – Cain murders Abel: "Your brother’s blood cries out." Numbers 35:16-21 – Distinction between murder and manslaughter. Proverbs 1:10-19 – "Let us lie in wait to shed blood" condemned.
NT: Matthew 5:21-26 – Jesus: Anger = murder in heart. Reconcile quickly. 1 Peter 4:15 – "Let none of you suffer as a murderer." 1 John 4:20 – "He who does not love his brother... cannot love God." Revelation 21:8 – "Murderers... shall have their part in the lake."
Heart Check: Do I harbor anger, hatred, or wish harm? Do I value all life?
7. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18 Core Issue: Covenant faithfulness. Marriage reflects Christ & Church.
OT: Genesis 2:24 – "One flesh." God’s design. Proverbs 5:15-20 – "Rejoice with the wife of your youth." Malachi 2:14-16 – "The Lord has been witness between you and the wife... I hate divorce." Job 31:1 – "I have made a covenant with my eyes." Pre-NT heart standard.
NT: Matthew 19:4-9 – Jesus: "What God has joined together, let not man separate." Mark 10:11-12 – Remarriage after unlawful divorce = adultery. 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 – Mutual conjugal rights in marriage. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 – "God’s will: abstain from sexual immorality."
Heart Check: Am I guarding my heart, eyes, and thoughts? Am I faithful in mind and body?
8. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL
Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 5:19 Core Issue: Contentment + integrity. God is Provider; stealing = distrust + harm.
OT: Leviticus 19:13 – "You shall not defraud your neighbor, nor rob him." Proverbs 11:1 – "Dishonest scales are an abomination." Business theft. Jeremiah 7:9-11 – "Will you steal... and 5 come and stand before Me?"
NT: Matthew 21:13 – Jesus: "You have made My house a den of thieves." Corrupt religion. Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus: "If I have taken anything by false accusation, I restore fourfold." Repentance = restitution. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." Laziness leading to dependence can be theft. Titus 2:10 – Slaves: "Not pilfering, but showing good fidelity."
Heart Check: Do I take time, credit, or resources that aren’t mine? Am I generous?
9. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS
Exodus 20:16; Deuteronomy 5:20 Core Issue: Truth. God is truth; Satan is the father of lies. Lying destroys justice and community.
OT: Deuteronomy 19:16-19 – False witness punished with the same penalty he sought for the accused. Psalm 101:7 – "He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house." Proverbs 6:16,19 – God hates "a false witness who speaks lies."
NT: John 8:44 – "Devil... is a liar and the father of it." Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias & Sapphira die for lying to the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:15 – "Speaking the truth in love." 1 Timothy 1:10 – "Liars... are contrary to sound doctrine."
Heart Check: Do I exaggerate, withhold truth, gossip, or slander?
10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET
Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21 Core Issue: Contentment of heart. Coveting is the root of other sins: stealing, adultery, and murder.
OT: Joshua 7:21 – Achan: "I saw... I coveted... I took." Led to death. 1 Kings 21:1-19 – Ahab covets Naboth’s vineyard → murder. Psalm 73:3 – "I was envious of the boastful." Asaph’s struggle.
NT: Ephesians 5:3,5 – "Covetousness... let it not even be named... no covetous man... has any inheritance." Hebrews 13:5 – "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have." 1 Timothy 6:6-10 – "Godliness with contentment is great gain... the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." James 4:1-3 – Wars come from desires/coveting.
Heart Check: Am I grateful for what I have, or always comparing and craving?
SUMMARY: THE LAW’S FULFILLMENT
Romans 13:8-10 – "He who loves another has fulfilled the law... Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Galatians 3:24 – "The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." James 2:8-12 – "Royal law: You shall love your neighbor... whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."
Bottom line: The 10 Commandments reveal God’s character and our sin. Jesus kept them perfectly, then died for our breaking them. Now we obey them not to be saved, but because we are saved — as love-response. John 14:15 – "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
THE APPLICATION OF THE TEN (10) COMMANDMENTS — FOR TODAY'S WORLD
FOUNDATION: WHY THEY STILL MATTER
Psalm 119:160 – “The sum of your word is a truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Romans 15:4 – “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “All Scripture… is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
1. NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME Ex. 20:3
Heart Sin: Idolatry of self, stuff, systems.
OT Examples: 1 Samuel 15:23 – Rebellion = idolatry. Saul feared people > God. Ezekiel 14:3-5 – “Idols in their hearts.” Invisible idols are real. Daniel 3:1-18 – Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. Today: company policy > God’s Word?
NT Examples: Acts 19:23-27 – Demetrius: “Our wealth depends on Artemis.” Economy can be a god. Colossians 3:5 – “Greed, which is idolatry.” Philippians 3:19 – “Their god is their belly.” Appetite, career, image.
2026 Case Study: A developer in Lekki bribes to get C of O because “everybody does it.” God or survival? Matthew 6:33 says seek God first.
Heart Probe: Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, O God… see if there be any idolatrous way in me.”
2. NO CARVED IMAGES Ex. 20:4-6
Heart Sin: Shaping God into what we can control.
OT Examples: 2 Kings 18:4 – Hezekiah broke Moses’ bronze serpent because it became an idol. Even good things become idols. Psalm 106:19-20 – “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox.” Isaiah 40:18-25 – “To whom then will you liken God?” Nothing compares.
NT Examples: Romans 1:23,25 – Exchanged Creator for images. Today: “God just wants me happy” is a man-made image. Galatians 4:8 – “When you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” 1 Corinthians 10:7 – “Do not be idolaters as some of them were.” Paul cites the golden calf for the Church.
2026 Case Study: Using “anointing oil” or “holy water” as talismans instead of trusting Christ. John 4:24 – Worship is Spirit-led, not object-led.
3. NOT TAKE GOD’S NAME IN VAIN Ex. 20:7
Heart Sin: Hypocrisy. Claiming God while living contrary.
OT Examples: Leviticus 18:21 – Sacrificing children to Molech “profanes the name of your God.” Jeremiah 7:9-10 – Steal, murder, then “stand before Me in this house.” Religious but rebellious. Amos 2:7 – Sexual sin “profanes My holy name.”
NT Examples: Matthew 23:16-22 – Pharisees made oaths by temple/gold to escape truth. Titus 1:16 – “They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.” James 2:7 – The rich blaspheme the “honorable name” by oppressing believers.
2026 Case Study: Politician quoting Psalm 35:1 in campaign, then looting treasury. Matthew 15:8 – “This people honors Me with lips, but heart is far.”
4. REMEMBER THE SABBATH Ex. 20:8-11
Heart Sin: Self-reliance. “If I stop, I’ll fall behind.”
OT Examples: Exodus 31:13-17 – Sabbath = sign: “I, the Lord, sanctify you.” Rest proves God makes you holy, not hustle. Numbers 15:32-36 – Man gathering sticks on Sabbath stoned. Why harsh? Rebellion against God’s provision. Isaiah 56:2,6-7 – Sabbath for foreigners too. Rest is universal grace.
NT Examples: Luke 6:9 – Jesus: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good?” Mercy > rules. Colossians 2:16-17 – Sabbath was shadow; substance is Christ. We rest in His finished work Matthew 11:28-30. Hebrews 4:9-11 – “Strive to enter that rest.” Weekly rest trains us to trust.
2026 Case Study: Lagos entrepreneur with 3 side-hustles, no off-day, crashes. Mark 6:31 – Even Jesus said “rest a while.” Burnout is disobedience.
5. HONOR FATHER & MOTHER Ex. 20:12
Heart Sin: Pride, ingratitude, generational disconnection.
OT Examples: Deut. 21:18-21 – Stubborn son judged. Family order mattered. Proverbs 20:20 – “If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will be put out.” 2 Samuel 15:1-6 – Absalom stole hearts by dishonoring David. Rebellion starts at home.
NT Examples: Mark 7:9-13 – “Corban” loophole. Jesus says honoring = financial care too. 1 Timothy 5:3-4 – “Show godliness to their own household… repay parents.” Church welfare starts at home. Ephesians 6:4 – Fathers not to provoke children. Honor is two-way.
2026 Case Study: Japa culture. Children abroad neglect their aged parents in Ibadan. 1 Timothy 5:8 – “Worse than an unbeliever.” Send money, call, visit. Honor includes WhatsApp, not just money.
6. YOU SHALL NOT MURDER Ex. 20:13
Heart Sin: Anger, contempt, devaluing image-bearers.
OT Examples: Genesis 37:18-20 – Joseph’s brothers: “Let us kill him.” Envy led to near-murder. 2 Samuel 11:14-17 – David arranges Uriah’s death. Power murders. Proverbs 6:16-17 – “Hands that shed innocent blood” God hates.
NT Examples: Matthew 5:21-22 – “Everyone angry... liable to judgment.” 1 John 3:15 – Hatred = murder. James 3:9 – “With it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness.” Social media insults count. Revelation 6:9-10 – Martyrs cry for justice. God sees all bloodshed.
2026 Case Study: Cyberbullying a classmate into suicide. Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Also tribal killings in Nigeria: God sees every soul as Acts 17:26 – “One blood.”
7. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY Ex. 20:14
Heart Sin: Lust, unfaithfulness, breaking covenant.
OT Examples: Genesis 39:7-12 – Joseph fled Potiphar’s wife. “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 2 Samuel 11:2-5 – David & Bathsheba. One look → adultery → murder. Job 31:1,9-12 – Covenant with eyes to avoid it. Hosea 1-3 – God uses Hosea’s marriage to show Israel’s spiritual adultery.
NT Examples: Matthew 19:6 – “What God has joined together, let not man separate.” 1 Corinthians 6:15-16 – Joining with prostitute = one flesh. Sex creates soul ties. Ephesians 5:25-33 – Marriage = Christ & Church. Adultery preaches a false gospel. Revelation 2:14,20 – Church of Pergamum/Thyatira tolerated sexual immorality.
2026 Case Study: Emotional affair via Instagram DM. Proverbs 7:25 – “Let not your heart turn aside.” Flirting is the first step.
8. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL Ex. 20:15
Heart Sin: Distrusting God’s provision + entitlement.
OT Examples: Joshua 7:1,11,21 – Achan stole devoted things; Israel lost battle. Private sin = public loss. 2 Kings 5:20-27 – Gehazi lied for Naaman’s silver; got leprosy. Malachi 3:8-9 – “Will man rob God? In tithes and offerings.” Withholding from God is theft.
NT Examples: John 12:6 – Judas “was a thief.” Kept the money bag, stole. Religious theft. 1 Corinthians 6:10 – Thieves won’t inherit the kingdom. 1 Peter 4:15 – “Let none of you suffer as a thief.” Don’t let crime be your “testimony.” Luke 3:13-14 – John Baptist: “Collect no more than authorized… be content with wages.” Applies to police, customs, and lecturers. 2026 Case Study: Downloading paid courses for free, using office Wi-Fi to mine crypto, and AI plagiarism. Leviticus 19:35-36 – “Just balances.” Digital theft is still theft.
9. YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS Ex. 20:16
Heart Sin: Love of self over truth. Fear of man.
OT Examples: 1 Kings 21:8-13 – Jezebel hired false witnesses to kill Naboth. Fake news kills. Psalm 27:12 – “False witnesses have risen against me.” David suffered it. Proverbs 14:5 – “Faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.”
NT Examples: Matthew 26:59-61 – False witnesses at Jesus’ trial. Lying is Satanic John 8:44. Acts 6:13 – Stephen killed by false witnesses. Ephesians 4:15,25 – “Speak truth in love… put away falsehood.” Revelation 22:15 – “Outside are… everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
2026 Case Study: Forwarding “as received” WhatsApp lies without verifying. Exodus 23:1 – “You shall not spread a false report.” Fact-check before you share.
10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET Ex. 20:17
Heart Sin: Idolatry of “more.” Root of all others.
OT Examples: Genesis 3:6 – Eve “saw it was desirable” → Fall began with coveting. 2 Samuel 11:2-4 – David saw, coveted, and took. Coveting led to adultery + murder. Proverbs 28:16 – “He who hates covetousness will prolong his days.”
NT Examples: Mark 7:21-22 – Coveting is listed with evil thoughts from the heart. Luke 12:15-21 – Rich fool: bigger barns, but God called him a fool. Ephesians 5:5 – “No covetous person… has any inheritance in the kingdom.” Philippians 4:11-12 – Paul: “I have learned to be content.” Antidote to coveting.
2026 Case Study: Endless scrolling through “Lagos big boys” Instagram, then taking a loan for a car you can’t afford. Ecclesiastes 5:10 – “He who loves money will not be satisfied.”
HOW TO APPLY TODAY — 4 BIBLICAL STEPS
1. Use as Mirror, Not Ladder James 1:23-25; Romans 3:20 Law shows dirt; it can’t wash you. Run to Christ Galatians 3:24.
2. Keep by the Spirit, Not Flesh Romans 8:4; Ezekiel 36:26-27 God gives a new heart to obey. Ask: “Spirit, empower me to honor parents when they’re difficult.” Galatians 5:16.
3. Start With Heart, Not Behavior Matthew 15:19 – From heart come murders, adulteries, theft. Proverbs 4:23 – Guard heart. Commandments address root motives.
4. Remember Gospel Motivation Titus 2:11-12 – Grace teaches us to say no. We obey because 1 John 4:19 – “We love because He first loved us,” not to earn love.
Final Word: Psalm 119:97 – “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all day.” In 2026 Lagos, Abuja, or anywhere, the 10 Commandments are not killjoys. They’re Psalm 19:7 – “Perfect, reviving the soul.” They protect you from self-destruction and point you to Christ.
