Why Did God Give the Law and the Ten Commandments?
Was it to control us? To dominate us?
Or was it to protect us?
I believe God gave His commandments to both reveal His holiness and to guard our lives.
He is the righteous Judge, but also the loving Father who knows what brings life and what destroys it.
The Law was given to protect us:
It taught God's people how to live in a broken world - how to treat one another, how to stay pure, and how to walk in covenant with a holy God.
“Now this is the commandment... that you may fear the Lord your God... that it may be well with you...”
- Deuteronomy 6:1-3
The Law was also given to assert God's righteous authority:
It reminds us that He alone sets the standard. And the truth is - none of us can meet that standard perfectly.
“Through the law we become conscious of sin.”
- Romans 3:20
“Be holy, for I am holy.”
- Leviticus 11:44
But that’s not the end of the story...
The Law ultimately points us to Jesus.
He fulfilled the Law we could never keep and made a way for us to be called righteous by faith. We are also made right (justified) before God through Jesus (not the law).
“The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
- Galatians 3:24
God’s commandments (moral law of God) which are written on our hearts and in our minds are not a burden - they’re a mirror, showing us our need for a Savior and leading us into the safety of His truth.
Let’s not rebel against the Law, but let it lead us straight to the grace of God.
Obeying God's moral law (e.g., don’t lie, steal, murder, commit adultery) still brings blessing and protection - even though we aren't saved by it.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul…”
- Psalm 19:7
By Tania Francis