The Ten Commandments: A 10-Day Devotional

This article is part of the ESV.org Reading Plans series.

Inscribed on Hearts

As a part of the Old Testament Mosaic law, some may think of the Ten Commandments as outdated or irrelevant. The law that was written on stone tablets, is now, however, inscribed on human hearts because of Christ—for his glory.

In the introduction to his book, The Ten Commandments: What They Mean, Why They Matter, and Why We Should Obey Them, Kevin DeYoung says:

The Ten Commandments are not to be ignored. It’s important that we study and understand them. But, of course, it’s more important that we obey them. God isn’t impressed by an intellectually careful analysis that puts the Decalogue at the center of Christian discipleship. He expects disciples to actually follow these commands.

Our obedience should be the result of our gratitude to God for his work in Christ. DeYoung continues:

Working hard to obey the Ten Commandments from the wrong motivation and for the wrong end is a surefire way to live out our relationship with God in the wrong way. God gave the commandments that they might be obeyed—not to earn salvation but because of who we are, who God is in himself, who he is to us, where we are, and what he has done.

A New Reading Plan

Available online and/or as a daily email delivered right to your inbox, this free devotional will help you begin to understand God’s law so that you might delight in it as a way to expose your sinfulness and reveal the glories of his grace to you in Christ.

Start the reading plan today at ESV.org!


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