The 10 commandments - revisted

[Beetow]

So does that mean that you are free to be dishonest?!

Dishonesty was eventually added to the list of behaviors God prohibits so that the
number of commandments now far exceeds the original ten. (Lev 19:11)

* According to Deut 5:2-4, Rom 4:15, Rom 5:13, and Gal 3:17, the laws of God are
not retroactive; so that although dishonesty was wrong before it was codified, it
wasn't illegal.
_

 

[Waggles]

I have thus far been unable to locate a ten-commandment rule prohibiting
dishonesty. The 9th forbids perjury, but not specifically dishonesty like Lev 19:11.
_

Colossians 3:8 but now do ye also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth:
9 lie not one to another; seeing ye have put off the old man with his doings,
10 and have put on the new, who is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Lie not - or, you must not lie. You must not lie translates "mē pseudesthe" a prohibition in the present imperative.

 

[Jonathan_Gale]

I have thus far been unable to locate a ten-commandment rule prohibiting
dishonesty. The 9th forbids perjury, but not specifically dishonesty like Lev 19:11.
_

The 9th commandment doesn't say "you shall not lie," but "you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." This is not about lying in general, but FALSE ACCUSATION with malicious intent, that's a whole spectrum ranges from gossip to perjury, and most importantly, your neighbor is involved, like Commandments 6-8 and 10.

 

[Jonathan_Gale]

So does that mean that you are free to be dishonest?!

Being dishonest is a character flaw that no law can fix or regulate. If you're being dishonest, you experience the natural consequence of losing other people's trust, that's not a legal issue.

 

[Waggles]

Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
This commandment covers a much wider spectrum of speaking falsely than merely the legal sense of lying in court or giving false testimony.
It truly covers the entire spectrum of speaking falsely against the truth and against another person.
Lying, gossip, slander, false accusations, lying to others to avoid penalty, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Jonathan_Gale]

Dishonesty was eventually added to the list of behaviors God prohibits so that the
number of commandments now far exceeds the original ten. (Lev 19:11)

* According to Deut 5:2-4, Rom 4:15, Rom 5:13, and Gal 3:17, the laws of God are
not retroactive; so that although dishonesty was wrong before it was codified, it
wasn't illegal.
_

You'll never get it as long as you consider it as behavioral modification. The Ten Commandments in essence are guiding principles, they're the foundation of all other laws that directly regulate harmful behaviors. And it is written in Rom. 13 and somewhere in 1 Tim. that these laws are made for EVIL people who cannot be trusted. But for good, trustworthy good with a conscience, aka law-abiding citizens. The true imagers of God has a motivation to do good and multiply out of free will that reflects God's character, they don't need laws, only guiding principles to tell them what to do.

 

[Beetow]

You'll never get it as long as yada, yada, yada.

Your way of getting it is unacceptable; Sorry.
_

 

[Jonathan_Gale]

Your way of getting it is unacceptable; Sorry.
_

The acceptable way is Jesus who is the WAY, and the only way to develop a relationship with God. The Ten Commandments were originally meant to be a conevant instead of the law, and the major difference is, a covenant is based on trust, a law is based on distrust.

 

[Oseas]

It wasn't that long ago that the 10 commandments were everywhere. On courthouse walls.
Hanging on the wall of the Whitehouse. Hanging on the wall of the US Supreme court.
When I was in elementary school we had a plaque hanging on the wall with them.
But it seems like, for whatever reason, the 10 commandments have fallen out of favor with men and
have disappeared.

The 10 commandments were originally written by God. ( Exod 24:12; Exod 32:16; ) Not once, but twice.
The first time was in Exodus 31, but in Exodus 32 the people make a golden calf and Moses
breaks the original stone tablets. ( Exod 32:19; Deut 9:17; )

So in Exod 34, God has Moses make some stone tablets, and God writes the commandments again.
( Exod 34:28; )

So then, what happened to these stone tablets? They were placed into something called the "Ark of the Covenant"
( Exod 25:16; Exod 40:20; ) There could easily be a whole thread about the Ark of the Covenant, but that
is another subject. Iw will say there is an Ark of the Covenant still in Heaven today ( Rev 11:19; )

There are actually somewhere between 310 and 616 laws given in the first five Books of the Bible, mostly in
Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. The reason the actual number is vague, is because some people say some
of these laws are duplicates worded slightly differently.

So then... what are the 10 commandments?

Exod 20:3; "You shall have no other gods before Me.
Exod 20:4; "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
Exod 20:5; "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Exod 20:6; but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exod 20:7; "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
Exod 20:8; "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exod 20:9; "Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
Exod 20:10; but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
Exod 20:11; "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
Exod 20:12; "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
Exod 20:13; "You shall not murder.
Exod 20:14; "You shall not commit adultery.
Exod 20:15; "You shall not steal.
Exod 20:16; "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Exod 20:17; "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

There are 14 verses here, but not 14 commandments, in fact verses 3 through 6 are all one commandment.
Verses 8 through 11 are a single commandment as well. So in reality, we only have 8 commandments here. Where do the other 2 come from?

Deut 6:5; "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Lev 19:18; 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.
Deut 11:13; "It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul,
Deut 30:6; "Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.

Again, four verses here, but only two commandments. (This is part of the whole "some are duplicates" thing ) Interestingly enough, Jesus says these last two are the two greatest commandments. ( Matt 22:36-38; Mark 12:28-31; )

... to be continued ...

The most important thing now, in this current time, is the judgment of GOD that will be given to the saints of the Most High on this seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day, or seventh and last millennium, the millennium of Christ, according to Romans 2:1 to 16 combined with Daniel 7:21-27, among other biblical references.

5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the Day of wrath(seventh and last Day/seventh and last millennium)and REVELATION of the righteous Judgment of God;

6 Who will render to EVERY MAN according to his deeds:

7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

12 For as many as have sinned without law(the Gentiles) shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law (the Jews) shall be Judged by the law;

13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

16 In the Day when God shall Judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.


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Jewish Calendar - How to explain the difference of exactly 240 years in the Jewish calendar?

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[complete]

I have thus far been unable to locate a ten-commandment rule prohibiting
dishonesty. The 9th forbids perjury, but not specifically dishonesty like Lev 19:11.
_

'The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:
pride,
and arrogancy,
and the evil way,
and the froward mouth,
do I hate.'
(Pro 8:13)

'For my mouth shall speak truth;
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing froward or perverse in them.'
(Pro 8:7-8)

Hi @Beetow,

Though not found among the commandments made to Israel at Sinai, these are the words of wisdom personified in Proverbs. Of which it is said further on in this chapter:-

'The LORD possessed me
in the beginning of His way,
before His works of old.
I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning,
or ever the earth was.'
(Pro 8:22-23)

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[complete]

Hello @B-A-C,

Whoever believes the gospel of grace, has put into effect the principle of 2 Timothy 2:15, of rightly dividing the word of God. For this gospel is as widely separated from the law as the Mystery is from the Kingdom.

* The main Hebrew word for law is the Hebrew. 'torah', derived from the root, 'yarah', which in one of its forms means ' to teach'. The primary meaning of 'yarah' is 'to direct', 'put straight', 'point forward', and 'to shoot' as well as ' to teach'.

* The Greek word 'nomos' is the word translated 'law' in the New Testament in the majority of cases.

Torah signifies:-
1) the whole body of Mosaic legislation, 'the law of Moses' (q Kings 2:3)
2) the law, as Divine in origin, 'the law of the Lord' (Psa. 19:7)
3) and as pre-eminent 'this law' (Deut. 17:18)
4) the written code, 'the book of the law of Moses' (2 Kings 14:6)
5) some special law, as 'the law of the burnt offering' (Lev. 6:9) or the law of 'the leper in the day of his cleansing' (Lev. 14:2)

* While 'the law' usually refers to the law of Moses, it must be remembered that there are seven passages written before the 'giving of the law' at Sinai, that reveal the existence of laws and statutes. Genesis 26:5 'Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws'. In Genesis alone 34 such laws have been noted as being in operation (see also Exodus 12:49; 13:9; 16:4, 28; 18:16 & 20) some time before the law of Sinai was given. All this before Moses was even born. Romans 2:14-15, & 26-27, testify to the fact that the nations of the earth had something similar to the law of Sinai 'written in their hearts', and the Saviour declared that all the law and the prophets hung upon the primal law of love to God and to neighbour. Exodus 19:1-7 and 24:3-8 make it clear that at Sinai, Israel not only received a law but entered into a covenant with God.

'Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant,
then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.'
(Exodus 19:5-6)

* It is most evident by the words that follow that this was a contract:-

'And all the people answered together, and said,
All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.
And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.'
(Exodus 19:8)

* The ten commandments given at Sinai on the tables of stone were not only broken by Moses at the foot of the mountain, they were broken by the people by their lapse into idolatry, and the remainder of the Old Testament is a witness to the utter failure of Israel to keep the old covenant. Paul likens the old covenant to Hagar, saying 'it gendereth to bondage' (Galatians 4:21-31). It is in the New Testament references that we discern the true place of the law.

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

Reference was made to:- 'An Alphabetical Analysis' (part 2).

 

[complete]

Hello again, @B-A-C,

The first great statement concerning the law in the New Testament is found in John 1:16-17:-

'And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.​

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.'​

(Joh 1:16-17)​

* We see here a marked contrast made between 'the law' that was given by 'Moses', and the 'grace and truth' that 'came by Jesus Christ'. The two words, 'grace and truth' here are in fact one, meaning, 'true grace', with emphasis on the word, 'true': for in the law the 'grace' was merely a 'type' and 'shadow' of the true: whereas true grace came by Jesus Christ. In John 1:16 we can see it expressed as receiving, 'grace for (or 'over against') grace'. This real grace, is out of God's fulness: The law being a shadow of good things to come.

* Like John the Baptist, Moses was a voice, a lamp, a lifted finger to point the way, but it is Christ Who is the Word, the Light, and the Lamb of God.

* 'Nomos' (law) comes but once in the *Prison Epistles namely in Ephesians 2:15, ' the law of commandments contained in ordinances'. That must be considered at another time,

'For He is our peace, Who Hath made both one,​

and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;​

Having abolished in His flesh the enmity,​

even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;​

for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;​

And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,​

having slain the enmity thereby:​

(Eph 2:14-16)​

* Praise God! Praise His Holy Name!

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

* Prison Epistles:- Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon, written after Acts 28, approximately 40 yrs after the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. A revelation of God, given to Paul specifically, by the risen Christ as promised in (Acts 26:16). Concerning the church which is the Body of Christ.

 

[Beetow]

FAQ: The covenant by which Christians associate with God has just as many
commandments as the Jews' covenant. So then what real advantage, if any, do
Christians have over Jews?

REPLY: The Jews' covenant is pretty tough. It levels curses at Moses' people for
failure to comply with its commandments. (e.g. Lev 26:14-39, Deut 27:15-26, and
Deut 28:15-68)

In contrast; Christianity's covenant levels no curses at Christ's people for failure to
comply. In point of fact, compliance is entirely voluntary instead of mandatory.
_

 

[B-A-C]

So then what real advantage, if any, do
Christians have over Jews?

No more earthly priests, ( who themselves weren't perfect )
You don't have to confess your sins to these priests, you can talk directly to the one mediator between God and man.
No more animal sacrifices every time you sin. ( Animals which had to be perfect.. and ex$pen$ive )
No more circumcision.
No more stoning people.
Out of 616 laws in the OT, only 9 are repeated in the NT, and those are boiled down to just 2.
In the OT, most people didn't get revelation directly from God. People prayed to God, but the answer
usually came through a Prophet, Judge, or leader of Israel. For example Hannah prayed for a son,
( 1Sam 1 ) but the answer came through Eli the priest. ( 1Sam 1:17; )
But the biggest difference... was the Holy Spirit.. the Holy Spirit only came "upon" certain people in the OT.
Again, usually prophets, judges and leaders of Israel. The Holy Spirit wasn't given to the church as a whole in the OT.
But after Jesus ascended back into heaven, the Holy Spirit came... to teach, lead, guide, and convict us of sin.

John 7:39; But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 16:7; "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
Luke 3:16; John answered and said to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

In point of fact, compliance is entirely voluntary instead of mandatory.

Luke 13:3; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5; "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
1Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1Jn 2:4; The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1Jn 2:5; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

Rom 2:13; for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
Jas 1:22; But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
1Cor 7:19; Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

Matt 5:20; "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27; but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

Mat 7:22; "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Mat 7:23; "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

1Cor 6:9; Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals,
1Cor 6:10; nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Gal 5:19; Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20; idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
Gal 5:21; envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

John 5:28; "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,
John 5:29; and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.

 

[Beetow]

yada, yada, yada, yada

No doubt you meant well with that lengthy rebuttal but honestly; all you really did
was muddy the waters.

Internet forums are a rough mission field as there are always well-meaning
Christians lurking nearby to make their religion appear even more hazardous than
Judaism. God pity Jews coming thru here looking for answers.
_

 

[B-A-C]

Eph 2:11; Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands—
Eph 2:12; remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13; But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14; For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Eph 2:15; by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
Eph 2:16; and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

It's funny how two people can read the same scriptures, and get two different meanings from them.
But context is king. So what is this passage about "in context". It's about the Gentiles and Jews being two separate groups of people.. but then becoming one group of people.
In the OT, Jews were not supposed to associate with foreigners ( Gentiles )

Jos 23:6; "Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left,
Jos 23:7; so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them.

Acts 10:28; And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.

Ezra 9:1; Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites.
Ezra 9:2; "For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness."

Ezra 9:10; "Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments,
Ezra 9:11; which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end and with their impurity.
Ezra 9:12; 'So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters to your sons, and never seek their peace or their prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.'

So then what is the "Law of commandments contained in ordinances" that Jesus abolish's here? It's the law that divides the two groups.
It has nothing to do with the 10 commandments. It's about the Gentiles getting saved the same way, by the same God as the Jews.

 

[B-A-C]

No doubt you meant well with that lengthy rebuttal but honestly; all you really did
was muddy the waters.

Only to those who can't see clearly, please don't try to hijack my thread.

 

[B-A-C]

there are always well-meaning
Christians lurking nearby to make their religion appear even more hazardous than
Judaism.

Do you think the sermon on the mount made it harder or easier to be a believer?

Matt 5:17; "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Matt 5:18; "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Matt 5:19; "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:20; "For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 5:21; "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'
Matt 5:22; "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Matt 5:23; "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Matt 5:24; leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Matt 5:25; "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Matt 5:26; "Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Matt 5:27; "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';
Matt 5:28; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt 5:29; "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matt 5:30; "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Matt 5:31; "It was said, 'WHOEVER SENDS HIS WIFE AWAY, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DIVORCE';
Matt 5:32; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Matt 5:33; "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FALSE VOWS, BUT SHALL FULFILL YOUR VOWS TO THE LORD.'
Matt 5:34; "But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
Matt 5:35; or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.
Matt 5:36; "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
Matt 5:37; "But let your statement be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.

Matt 5:38; "You have heard that it was said, 'AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.'
Matt 5:39; "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matt 5:40; "If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.

A lot of things became harder under the new covenant.

 

[IamachildofGod4 ever]

If you love the Lord, you will keep His commandments. One of the evidences of loving the Lord is obedience.

 

[IamachildofGod4 ever]

And yes, I agree that many things became more difficult under the new covenant. For example, the command to love one’s enemies is a tough one. It’s one with which I struggle. Anyone else? We are to pray for our enemies, and that’s another one with which I struggle. But the Holy Spirit will pray for me with groanings too deep for words, when I am unable to pray myself for my enemies.