Answer:  Many professing ministers and Bible teachers are wrongly proclaiming that the Ten Commandments are "done away” or replaced  by the "new" commandments of Jesus.  Do these "new" commandments replace or contradict the Ten Commandments?

Isaiah prophesied of Jesus in Isaiah 42:21, "He will exalt the law and make it honorable."  Here we find that Christ came not to abolish the law, but to exalt or "magnify" it (KJV).

To exalt, or to magnify, has just the opposite meaning of changing or abolishing something. It means to reveal in the most minute detail—to enlarge upon. Certainly the life and teachings of Jesus do just that with the Father's law.

There is only one place in all the Bible where Jesus said He was giving a "new" commandment.  It is found in John 13:34 -35, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."  Jesus gave this "new" commandment, not replacing in any way, but instead amplifying and encapsulating the entire 10 Commandments, during the last night of His physical life on earth. He had—by teaching and example—already shown the disciples that keeping God's commandments – including the 10 Commandments – was simply an expression of love.

The principle of loving our neighbors was also not new, but Jesus shed a completely new light on the spiritual intent and depth of this commandment.  He did not add to it or take away from it he simply made the commandments more relevant otherwise He would have been in conflict with the scripture that says;  Deuteronomy 12:32, "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it."

In Leviticus 19:18, "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." This command was already in place and Christ emphasized —"As I have loved you, that ye also love one another."

We understand that this does not represent a comprehensive answer on this topic. Comments? Suggestions? Discuss with a minister?

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Booklet: The Ten Commandments



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