Have you ever played a game with someone that added rules to the game or changed them as the game went on? Without knowing the rules, you can’t know when you do something wrong or why you might get penalized. It’s also not fair if the rules change and other players get a chance that you didn’t get. It can be very frustrating to not know the rules. You just wish you knew what is required to win the game!
God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments to help them know what is required for a person to be righteous. Everyone had the same commandments, and they didn’t change. The first four commandments showed the Israelites what it meant to love God and how to have a right relationship with Him. The other six commandments taught the Israelites how to live with and love others.
God’s rules are good and are meant to help us love Him, love others, and live a life that is righteous. There was one big problem. The Israelites—and all people for that matter—could never perfectly follow those rules. The Bible is clear that we all sin and fall short of God’s standard for holiness. Our obedience can’t save us.
Salvation is found in Jesus alone, the only perfectly righteous One. He takes away the sin of anyone who believes and welcomes them into God’s family. To those who believe in Him, Jesus gives power through the Holy Spirit to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” and to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37-39).
God gave His people commandments so they would know how to honor Him and live rightly. Because of sin, no one is able to keep these commandments perfectly. God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect, sinless life. Jesus died and rose again so that sinners can be forgiven.