I was thinking about this thread today. I searched the internet for spiritual commandments, as I mentioned previously, and found next to nothing, which is both exciting, and disheartening, but do you think that God gave physical Israel just 10 commandments, because they didn't have the Holy Spirit to guide them? (The physical being much more burdensome) Whereas we have God's Spirit working in us, making us capable of understanding so much more?
Concerning ancient Israel, what they were given was the law of Moses. The content of the Law is spread among the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, and then reiterated and added to in Deuteronomy (deutero-nomy is Latinised Greek for "Second reading of the Law").
This includes:
-the Ten Commandments
-Moral laws - on murder, theft, honesty, adultery, etc.
-Social laws - on property, inheritance, marriage and divorce,
-Food laws - on what is clean and unclean, on cooking and storing food.
-Purity laws - on menstruation, seminal emissions, skin disease and mildew, etc.
-Feasts - the Day of Atonement, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, etc.
-Sacrifices and offerings - the sin offering, burnt offering, whole offering, heave offering, Passover sacrifice, meal offering, wave offering, peace offering, drink offering, thank offering, dough offering, incense offering, red heifer, scapegoat, first fruits, etc.
-Instructions for the priesthood and the high priest including tithes.
-Instructions regarding the Tabernacle, and which were later applied to the Temple in Jerusalem, including those concerning the Holy of Holies containing the Ark of the Covenant (in which were the tablets of the law, Aaron's rod, the manna). Instructions and for the construction of various altars.
-Forward looking instructions for time when Israel would demand a king.
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Moses)
Moses' laws to Israel is the old covenant and they were required to follow the physical 'letter of the law,' it was about their actions, not what was in their heart. Now we have what Christ taught which is on another level than the physical 'letter of the law,' we are to obey the spirit of love that is behind these law.
Matt 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
v. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
v. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
v. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
v. 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
v. 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
v. 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt 5:31 "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
v. 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
v. 33 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'
v. 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
v. 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
v. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
v. 37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.
v. 38 "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
v. 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
v. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
v. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
v. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
v. 43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
v. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
v. 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
v. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
v. 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
v. 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
mercy, peace and love
Kat