But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, (II Corinthians 3:7 NKJV)
What was "the ministry of death?" What "glory" is passing away? Whatever it was, it was engraved on stones.
In Deuteronomy 5 we read the "Ten Commandments." Immediately after them we read...
These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. (Deuteronomy 5:22 NKJV)
So, what was written on stones was the 10 commandments. And because they came directly from God Himself they were glorious. They were a "ministry of death" because those who broke them did so under the penalty of death.
II Corinthians 3:11 & 13 says...
For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. (II Corinthians 3:11 NKJV)
unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. (II Corinthians 3:13 NKJV)
The "ministry of death," the Ten Commandments, part of the Law of Moses was passing away.
having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14 NKJV)
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:8-9 NKJV)
Believers today are under no part of the Law of Moses which included the Ten Commandments as well as some 600 plus other commands. The Law of Moses is replaced by the Law of Christ.
3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised (one of the commandments of the Law - MW) that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:3-4 NKJV)
If we attempt to be made just or pleasing to God by obeying any, or all, of the Ten commandments we have fallen from grace.
Now, some are going to demand, "YOU MEAN IT'S OKAY TO COMMIT ADULTERY, STEAL, MURDER???"
Not at all.
Nine of the ten commandments are restated and expanded in the gospels and the New Testament by Jesus Himself and through his apostles.
For instance, the sixth commandment, "Thou shall not murder..." is changed from a physical act to a mental act.
Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3:15 NKJV)
For instance, the seventh commandment, "Thou shall not commit adultery..." has been changed from a physical act to a mental act.
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28 NKJV)
The remembering the Sabbath one is completely changed, that's another article.
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Marv Walker
706 816-7190
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