Keep the Ten Commandments
Commandment Keeping in the New Testament
By Paul Nethercott, June 2022
There are at least 1,000 references in the
New Testament to the Ten Commandments. Nine hundred to them individually like
“Thou shat not kill,” “Thou shall not steal” etc.
There are over one hundred references to them as a whole like “If you love me
keep my commandments.”
Matthew
Think not that I
am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to
fulfil. Matthew 5:17
For verily I say
unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:18
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. Matthew 5:19
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12
For all the
prophets and the law prophesied until John. Matthew 11:13
But he answered
and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition? Matthew 15:3
And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by
your tradition. Matthew 15:6
And he said unto
him, Why callest thou me
good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into
life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17
Master, which is
the great commandment in the law? Matthew 22:36
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:37
This is the first
and great commandment. Matthew 22:38
And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself. Matthew 22:39
On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:40
Mark
For laying aside
the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots
and cups: and many other such like things ye do. Mark 7:8
And he said unto
them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own
tradition. Mark 7:9
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not
commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud
not, Honour thy father and mother. Mark 10:19
And one of the
scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he
had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first
commandment of all? Mark 12:28
And Jesus
answered him, The first of all the commandments is,
Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: Mark 12:29
And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. Mark 12:30
And the second is
like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment
greater than these. Mark 12:31
And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master,
thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
Mark 12:32
Luke
And they were
both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of
the Lord blameless. Luke 1:6 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass,
than one tittle of the law to fail. Luke 16:17
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not
commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. Luke 18:20
And they
returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day
according to the commandment. Luke 23:56
John
For the law was
given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17
Did not Moses
give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the
law? Why go ye about to kill me? John 7:19
If ye love me,
keep my commandments. John 14:15
He that hath my commandments,
and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him. John 14:21
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. John 15:10
Acts
Who have received
the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Acts 7:53
And after the
reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them,
saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people,
say on. Acts 13:15
But this I
confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the
God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the
prophets: Acts 24:14
While he answered
for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews,
neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. Acts 25:8
And when they had
appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded
and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of
the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. Acts
28:23
Romans
(For not the
hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be
justified. Romans 2:13
For when the
Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law,
these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Romans 2:14
Which show the
work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness,
and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Romans 2:15
Behold, thou art
called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, Romans 2:17
And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; Romans 2:18
An instructor of
the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the
truth in the law. Romans 2:20
Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? Romans 2:23
Now we know that
what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that
every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
Romans 3:19
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his
sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20
But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets; Romans 3:21
Do we then make
void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law. Romans 3:31
Because the law
worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15
(For until the
law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Romans
5:13
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound: Romans 5:20
For sin shall not
have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans
6:14
What then? shall
we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Romans
6:15
Know ye not,
brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath
dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
Romans 7:1
For the woman
which hath an husband is bound by the law to her
husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be
dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. Romans 7:2
So then if, while
her husband liveth, she be married to another man,
she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from
that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Romans 7:3
Wherefore, my
brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye
should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we
should bring forth fruit unto God. Romans 7:4
For when we were
in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our
members to bring forth fruit unto death. Romans 7:5
But now we are
delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should
serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. Romans 7:6
What shall we say
then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for
I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou
shalt not covet. Romans 7:7
But sin, taking
occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For
without the law sin was dead. Romans 7:8
For I was alive
without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Romans 7:9
And the
commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. Romans 7:10
For sin, taking
occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Romans 7:11
Wherefore the law
is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Romans 7:12
Was then that which is
good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working
death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become
exceeding sinful. Romans 7:13
If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Romans 7:16 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: Romans 7:22
I thank God
through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:25
For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. Romans 8:2
For what the law
could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in
the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: Romans
8:3
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4 Because the carnal mind
is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed
can be. Romans 8:7
Who are Israelites;
to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and
the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the
promises; Romans 9:4
But Israel, which
followed after the law of righteousness, hath not
attained to the law of righteousness. Romans 9:31
Wherefore?
Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.
For they stumbled at that stumbling stone; Romans 9:32
For Christ is the
end of the law for righteousness to every
one that believeth. Romans 10:4
For Moses describeth the righteousness
which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Romans 10:5
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth
another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou
shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and
if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying,
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Romans 13:9
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10
1 Corinthians
Circumcision is
nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of
God. 1 Corinthians 7:19
The wife is bound
by the law as long as her husband liveth;
but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will;
only in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:39
And unto the Jews
I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law,
as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 1 Corinthians
9:20
To them that are
without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law
to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 1 Corinthians 9:21
The sting of
death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56
Ephesians
Honour thy father and
mother; which is the first commandment with promise; Ephesians 6:2
Philippians
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
Philippians 3:5
Concerning zeal,
persecuting the church; touching the righteousness
which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3:6
1 Timothy
But we know that
the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 1 Timothy
1:8
Knowing this,
that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and
disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for
murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1 Timothy 1:9
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind,
for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and
if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 1 Timothy 1:10
Hebrews
For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the
Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I
will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: Hebrews 8:10
James
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his
deed. James 1:25
If ye fulfil the
royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: James 2:8
But if ye have
respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as
transgressors. James 2:9
For whosoever
shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
James 2:10
For he that said,
Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if
thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of
the law. James 2:11
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of
liberty. James 2:12
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of
his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil
of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge
the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. James 4:11
There is one
lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art
thou that judgest another? James 4:12
1 John
And hereby we do
know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1
John 2:3
He that saith, I
know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a
liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God
perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 1 John 2:5
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also
the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his
commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1 John 3:22
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.
And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1 John 3:24
And this
commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God
love his brother also. 1 John 4:21
By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1 John 5:2
For this is the
love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous. 1 John 5:3
2 John
And now I beseech
thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which
we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 2 John 1:5
And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. 2 John 1:6
Revelation
And the temple of
God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his
testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings,
and an earthquake, and great hail. Revelation 11:19
And the dragon
was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with
the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12 And after that I
looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of
the testimony in heaven was opened: Revelation 15:5
Blessed are they
that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelation 22:14
Summary of Ten Commandments References
Verses New Testament book.
|
Book |
All Ten |
|
Matthew |
13 |
|
Mark |
8 |
|
Luke |
4 |
|
John |
5 |
|
Acts |
5 |
|
Romans |
44 |
|
1 Corinthians |
5 |
|
Ephesians |
1 |
|
Philippians |
2 |
|
1 Timothy |
3 |
|
Hebrews |
1 |
|
James |
8 |
|
1 John |
9 |
|
2 John |
2 |
|
Revelation |
5 |
|
Totals |
115 |