Where Are the Ten Commandments in the New Testament?

While the Ten Commandments were nailed to the cross, obeying the New Tes­tament means submitting to nine of the same moral behaviors. The nine are not listed together but are incorporated into other passages and lists. Here is where the Ten Commandments are found in the New Testament:

1. No other gods (Exodus 20:3; Matthew 4:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 5:19–20; Colossians 3:5; 1 Peter 4:3).

2. No idols (Exodus 20:4; Galatians 5:19–20; Acts 17:29; 1 John 5:21).

3. Do not take God’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7; Matthew 5:33–37; 6:9; Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 2:9–11; James 5:12).

4. Sabbath (Exodus 20:8, not repeated)

5. Honor parents (Exodus 20:12; Mat­thew 15:4; 19:19; Ephesians 6:1–3).

6. No murder (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21–22; 19:18; Romans 13:9; 1 John 3:15).

7. No adultery (Exodus 20:14; Matthew 5:27–28; 19:9; Romans 13:9; 1 Corin­thians 6:9–10).

8. No stealing (Exodus 20:15; Matthew 19:18; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 4:28).

9. No false witness (Exodus 20:16; Matthew 15:19–20; 19:18; Luke 3:14; Ephesians 4:25; 1 Peter 3:10).

10. No coveting (Exodus 20:17; Luke 12:15; Romans 13:9; 1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:3).

Since the fourth commandment was not repeated, there is no Sabbath-keep­ing in Christianity. The Jews were to do no work on the seventh day (Exodus 20:8–11). (The Hebrew word for Sabbath meant “to cease or abstain.”) It was “a Sabbath of the Lord,” which summoned Israel to a day of worship, rest, and re­membering God. It halted normal activities so they could devote a day to God and not to work.

The Lord’s Day (Revelation 1:10) re­placed the Sabbath Day. Christians are commanded to keep the first day of the week—Sunday (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1–2)—and not required to keep the sev­enth day—Saturday (Colossians 2:16–17; Hebrews 4:9–10). Why the change? Jesus was resurrected on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1–7) and established His church on Sunday (Acts 2).¹

Endnote

¹Pentecost always fell on Sunday. Pentecost was reckoned as seven Sabbaths plus one day (a total of 50 days) from the Sabbath of the Passover week (Leviticus 23:15–16).