Old Testament Vs New Testament

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Since the new testament came about, we follow the teachings of Jesus and what he preached rather then some things in the old testament like Eye for an Eye. But if we were meant to follow the new testament then why do we follow the 10 commandments,? hence that was written in the old testament.
 
PunnyProtestant said:
why do we follow the 10 commandments
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Because 9.5 of them are just a restatement of natural law that applies to everyone. Keeping kosher, the temple sacrificial system, and so on, no longer applies, to us, or even to Jews, anymore.
 
Our Lord Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 19:16-19, tells us to keep the commandments:
And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
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The catechism of the Catholic Church tells us exactly this in sections 2052-2055:

2052 “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” To the young man who asked this question, Jesus answers first by invoking the necessity to recognize God as the “One there is who is good,” as the supreme Good and the source of all good. Then Jesus tells him: “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” And he cites for his questioner the precepts that concern love of neighbor: “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.” Finally Jesus sums up these commandments positively: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."1

2053 To this first reply Jesus adds a second: "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."2 This reply does not do away with the first: following Jesus Christ involves keeping the Commandments. The Law has not been abolished,3 but rather man is invited to rediscover it in the person of his Master who is its perfect fulfillment. In the three synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ call to the rich young man to follow him, in the obedience of a disciple and in the observance of the Commandments, is joined to the call to poverty and chastity.4 The evangelical counsels are inseparable from the Commandments.

2054 Jesus acknowledged the Ten Commandments, but he also showed the power of the Spirit at work in their letter. He preached a "righteousness [which] exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees"5 as well as that of the Gentiles.6 He unfolded all the demands of the Commandments. "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill.’ . . . But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment."7

2055 When someone asks him, "Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?"8 Jesus replies: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."9 The Decalogue must be interpreted in light of this twofold yet single commandment of love, the fullness of the Law:

The commandments: “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.10*
  • Romans 13:9-10
 
We follow Jesus and what He teaches, but what did Jesus teach? He taught a greater understanding of the Law (from the Old Testament). Before Him the people were too hard-hearted and so God allowed them to behave as culture dictated and allowed (He made concessions. Not because He had to, but because He loved the people so much, despite their failings, that He was willing to work around their evil-desires - for example He allowed divorce even if He wished better for His children - but He also asked rather strange things of His people, it’s my belief He did this to teach them how to obey Him since they were so hard-hearted in some of the more difficult to follow Laws). Eventually Jesus came along and He demanded more of God’s people, and taught a greater, more fuller understanding of the old Laws.

I kind of see the Old Testament as the Law for toddlers and the New Testament as a Covenant for pre-teens (we’re still just as lousy at following Law, as can be seen by the great Catholic/Protestant split).

And that’s my understanding of things. 🙂
 
I have a recent thread about “modern Judaizers” that references a small booklet from an evangelical minister (in my family) that deals with this question, to some extent.

If you go to the www.ewtn.com website and then to the document library, there is a document from the Pontifical Biblical Institute titled “The Jewish People and their Scripture”. You can download it for free. It’s over 100 pages printed.

The booklet mentions about how the New Testament “slams” Judaism over and over, at least the man-made customs and human traditions which have been swept away by Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law.

Yes, this is a question that is easy to ask, and it takes a lot of reading, study, and reflection to answer it. It certainly cannot be answered in a straightforward way, except to refer to documents that answer this question with much more authority and detail than can be given in a single post.

It raises the ulterior question as to why God did things this way, apparently giving all these rituals and ceremonies to follow, and then later abandoning them in their specifics. In a general and abstract way, they were teaching us, among other things, that a blood sacrifice is required to atone for sin. And, in the NT we see quickly that the one and only perfect atonement for sin is the death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gave the covenant at Sinai and the Israelites said “we will obey” but they couldn’t. God later promised a new covenant and He gave it.
 
Well the short answer is that there is nothing in the New Covenant that contradicts the Ten Commandments, and Jesus told us that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.
 
PunnyProtestant;:
But if we were meant to follow the new testament then why do we follow the 10 commandments,?
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If you read the New Testament, you’ll discover that:
  • The Ethical Decalogue is found the Gospels, and the Pauline Epistles.
  • The Ritual Decalogue is not found in the New Testament;
jonathon
 
=PunnyProtestant;6997890]Since the new testament came about, we follow the teachings of Jesus and what he preached rather then some things in the old testament like Eye for an Eye. But if we were meant to follow the new testament then why do we follow the 10 commandments,? hence that was written in the old testament.
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***GOD IS ALWAYS IN CHARGE, God is Perfect and can do no wrong.

The Purpose of th OT is primarily two-fold:
  1. It’s historical acounts of he Jewish nation and Yahweh God’s close relationship with them.
  2. Prophetical. To point to Christ and the events of the NT which Jeus fulfills.
  3. The OT leads to the NT
  4. The NT fulfills and PERFECTS the OT. Thus they ought to be seen for what they are; different parts of THE SAME BOOK. Not seperate books as you seem to indicate. The story continues, not diferent stories.
God never changes, so the ten commandments continue in full force; but now in a expanded manner. Indeed the ten Cmmandment are but catagories of sins; NOT a complete list of offences against God.***

Here are some examples:

Matt.5: 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, `You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire.

28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

32 But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

39 But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also;

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

***This too is part a partial list as viewed By Jesus.

One might add why Christ expanded the list? The simple answer is that He DIDN’T, He simply exposed it. WHY?

Because under Jesus we are living “Under Grace” and no-longer under the Old Jewish laws added to the Commandments. Rom. 6:14***

***Hope this helps you.

:o I’m going to be gone for a couple of weeks.

Gods continued Blessings,***
 
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