Christians hold that God is in charge of their lives and that the Bible contains revelations of His will. But the Bible is not a simple set of guidelines and prescripts that all believers throughout history must follow. Therefore, how can we tell which of the biblical commandments are timeless principles that also apply to our own lives, and which ones are unique to a particular cultural context?
Commandments for specific situations or people
It is evident that several of the commandments were intended as exceptions rather than as rules for life. For instance, God gave their commander Moses instructions to “strike the rock and water shall come out of it, and the people shall drink” (Exodus 17:6) while the Israelites were lost in the wilderness. In a scenario where God provided food and water to prevent the people from starving in the desert, this was an exceptional command.
Another instance is seen in Genesis 21:5–14, when the Lord tells Abraham to send his son and slave woman away because they pose a risk to Isaac, his son. It is very evident from the rest of the Bible that sending your son away is not always the best course of action!
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there exist generic laws that remain unaffected by particular situations. The first five books of the Bible contain many instructions for the people of Israel, many of which are prefaced with statements like “These things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.” It was evident that these laws included every Israelite.
However, that does not imply that we must continue to hold them.
Who was the original audience?
In addition to the distinction between general and specific commands, we also need to take into account the original audience of each Bible verse. The people of Israel were the target of most of God’s instructions in the Old Testament. Jesus gave several of the New Testament’s precepts to his followers or to a local church. Some are more universal than others. However, we can be certain that modern Christians are not the original readers of any Bible verse and are not necessarily the intended audience because the entire Bible was penned before the year 100 AD.
This is not to argue that the Bible is merely a history book about individuals who lived in the past and has no application to our day. Conversely, according to 2 Timothy 3:16, “all of the Bible is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” To determine the applicability of Biblical commandments for ourselves, however, we must carefully consider their meaning within the framework of the entire Bible. We cannot simply copy and paste a commandment meant for the people of Israel into our own situation.
The Old Testament law has been fulfilled in Christ
Jesus claims that He has come to fulfill the Law and the Prophets in Matthew 5:17. A significant shift has been brought about by his ministry. Animal sacrifices, ritual purity, and Israel’s temple service are all covered under numerous Old Testament rules. The New Testament makes it abundantly evident that since Jesus was the final Sacrifice, believers today are free from having to uphold these. He has perfected those who believe in Him forever by giving a single sacrifice for sins throughout all of time. According to Hebrews 10:1, the law is only a shadow of the good things to come.
These “good things” have come about because of Jesus. The ceremonial laws of the Old Testament have been replaced by a “new and living way” that he made available to us in order to repair our connection with God. Please read [Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?] for more information on this matter. or Acts 15:1–20.
New Testament commands
Scriptures that were not meant to represent universal norms for all places and times can also be found in the New Testament, the portion of the Bible written following the return of Jesus. The directive Jesus gave his disciples to “acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food” when they were sent forth to preach the gospel is a prime example. Matthew 10:9–10 Stated differently, the disciples were to depend on the kindness of those they served.
This, however, is not a universal rule that applies to all missionaries, as Jesus instructs His disciples to do the exact opposite in Luke 22:35–36: “He said to them, ‘When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?'” They responded, “Nothing.” “But now let the one with a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack,” he remarked to them. And let anyone who does not have a sword sell his cloak and purchase one.” Therefore, while Matthew 10:9–10’s immediate context may imply that Jesus’ instruction could be a general rule, the remainder of the Bible makes it abundantly evident that it is not. As a result, it’s crucial to read the Bible in its whole rather than just one or two passages.
Broad theological or moral principles vs specific applications
A number of the biblical commandments are broad guidelines that are continually reiterated. The so-called ten commandments are the most blatant example in the Old Testament (see Exodus 20:1-17). Apart from the Sabbath command, these are also reiterated by Paul and Jesus in the New Testament. The mandate to love God above all else and other people as yourself is also applicable in this regard (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Leviticus 19:18, Mark 12:29-31). The need to extend kindness to the impoverished and destitute, as well as to the outsider and alien, is another recurring topic throughout the Law, Psalms, Proverbs, prophetic writings, the gospels, and the epistles. It is our duty to follow these rules and lead moral lives. Read 1 John 5:2–6.
Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy all provide examples of how to follow and break these broad guidelines. If the principle is to be successfully applied in different contexts, these might need to be adjusted.
An example: the command not to harvest the edges of your field[1]
God forbids farmers in Leviticus 19:9–10 from harvesting their field’s very edges or from returning to their property to get more produce that they may have missed the first time around. The underprivileged and travelers were supposed to receive these leftovers. In an agrarian, rural community where the impoverished have access to the fields, this directive is effective. In today’s cities, it would not function. Therefore, we must reinterpret this passage in new ways if we are to follow God’s instruction to care for the impoverished. One such way would be to combat the wastage and hoarding of excess food in our society by distributing part of it to the underprivileged.
We need God’s Spirit of discernment
It is evident that Christians nowadays are not required to observe certain commandments. Others are obviously applicable to all people on the planet. However, it can be challenging to distinguish between the portions of the Bible that are transient cultural customs and those that are everlasting precepts. Here, the Holy Spirit’s assistance is required. He can help us make moral decisions and provide guidance. God’s will will be carried out in our lives if we follow the Spirit’s guidance (see John 16:13 and Galatians 5:16–18).
[1] The example is from Introduction to Biblical Interpretation by William W. Klein, Craig L. Blomberg, and Robert L. Hubbard, Jr. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2004), page 487.
