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testimony (Exod. 30: 6). Exod. 31: 18 tells us that the two tables of stone were the
tables of testimony. Exod. 34: 28 and 29 calls them both the `tables of the covenant',
the `two tables of the testimony' and the `ten words'.
The Ark and the Mercy Seat together represent the perfect redemption of Christ. The
New Covenant does not set aside the ten commandments, but fulfils them. As we look
through the epistles we find practically every one of the commandments re-stated with
one exception, namely, the sabbath.
(1)
No other God. "To us there is but one God" (I Cor. 8: 6).
(2)
Idolatry. "Ye turned to God from idols" (I Thess. 1: 9).
(3)
The Name. "That the name of the Lord be not blasphemed" (I Tim. 6: 1).
(5)
Honour parents. "The first commandment with promise" (Eph. 6: 2).
(6)
Not kill. "Love . . . not as Cain who . . . slew his brother" (I John 3: 11, 12).
(7)
No adultery. "Adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13: 4).
(8)
Not steal. "Let him that stole steal no more" (Eph. 4: 25).
(9)
Not false witness. "Speak every man truth" (Eph. 4: 25).
(10)
Not covet. "No covetous man hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ
and of God" (Eph. 5: 5).
The fourth commandment is the exception. During the Acts period Paul wrote to the
Galatians, "Ye observe days . . . . . I am afraid of you" (Gal. 4: 10, 11). To the Romans
he wrote, `One man esteemeth one day above another; another esteemeth every day
alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind' (Rom. 14: 5). After the Acts
period Paul wrote to the Colossians, "Let no man judge you . . . . . in respect of the
sabbath days, which are a shadow . . . . ." (Col. 2: 16, 17). These words could not have
been written had the sabbath observance been obligatory.
Exod. 31: 13 tells us that the sabbath is a sign between Israel and the Lord. Like the
other sign, namely, circumcision (Rom. 4: 11) and the signs, namely, the miracles
wrought during the earthly life of the Lord, and the Acts of the Apostles (I Cor. 1: 22;
14: 22), these together with the sabbath belonged to Israel, and cease with the setting
aside of that nation. Let us conclude this survey of the ten commandments with the
Apostle's comment in Rom. 13::
"Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath
fulfilled the law. 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
commandments, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, viz., Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself" (Rom. 13: 8, 9),
and with the Lord's words in Matt. 22::
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law
and the prophets" (Matt. 22: 37, 40).