The Lord Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of the Ten Commandments. "He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." Yet there is more to consider when looking at the Ten Commandments than the fact that he "kept" them. His teaching also was the very fulfillment of the commandments.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

In his teachings and throughout his earthly life, the Lord Jesus referred to his relationship with his Father, his God. It is axiomatic that the Lord Jesus esteemed no one more than his Father. Witness the statements that he made showing deference to him. My Father…is greater than all John 10.29. Is it not clear that in this we can see that the Lord Jesus Christ had no other gods before his Father.

2. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image.
   His teaching revealed that the Lord Jesus embraced the spirituality of the divine essence. "God is a spirit and they who worship Him must worship him in spirit and in truth." John 4.24 In fact, The Apostle Paul’s teaching concerning the Christ extends that truth by referring to him as the icon (image) of the invisible God. Colossians 1.15.

3. Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy god in vain.

The title "my Father" demonstrated the familial name by which he addressed the principal person of the Trinity. It was his joy to address him thus, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast always heard me". Yet he says tragically, "the cup, which my Father giveth me, shall I not drink it?" John 18.11. But in his passion, he turns from this usual appellative, "Father" and addresses him as Eli (Matthew 27.46) or Eloi (Mark 15.34). El is the Hebrew designation for God. It is the simple for of Elohim, the mighty God. He cries with a loud voice, "My God, My God." He never spoke the name of the Lord his God in vain. It was always appropriate, worshipful and timely.

4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy

Although the religious leaders accused the Lord Jesus on many occasions, he actually kept the Sabbath perfectly. On one instance, he was accused of working on the seventh day. However, he demonstrated that he was Lord of the Sabbath. "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath."

5. Honour thy mother and thy father

"I must be about my Father’s business." Luke 1. The Lord Jesus was respectful to Mary and Joseph, his earthly guardians in his youth. After they found him in the temple it says that he submitted himself unto them. Paul says that it the first commandment with promise. The Lord Jesus was "cut off out of the land of the living", although he was perfectly obedient to his parents in his fulfillment of the will of his heavenly Father. Humanly speaking, he would have lived forever since he honoured his father and mother perfectly. Thus he did not live to experience the fulfillment of the promise of long life for those who honour their parents. In this too he was honorable.

6. Thou shalt not kill
   The Lord Jesus extended the prohibition against murder to include inappropriate anger. Whoso is angry with his brother without a just cause is guilty of murder. He was harmless. Heb. 7.26. Isaiah tells us that even a bruised reed he would not break.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery

He shared the company of women and could be trusted. Mary anointed his head. Another Mary anointed his feet. Moreover, he is the bridegroom to his wife, the church. The perfect relationship is seen in this. The perfect union with a corporate bride, who albeit sinful has been sanctified by the blood of the bridegroom, who loved the Assembly and gave himself for it.

8. Thou shalt not steal

When the disciples passed through the corn and took some of the ears of corn that grew on the corners of the fields he was accused in effigy of taking that, which belonged to another. He knew the Scriptures far better than they. There was no welfare system. However, the law provided for the poor. Jewish farmers were not to harvest the corners of their fields but to leave portions of the fields for the destitute. The Lord Jesus was poor in the coin of this world. He had no place to stay of his own. He was not opposed to partake of the provisions of the law. Yet, strangely, despite a need for food he could say, "I have food to eat that ye know nothing of." 

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness
   He was accused, "thou bearest witness of thyself. Thy witness is not true. The law of Moses stipulated that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word should be established. The testimony of one is no testimony at all. Yet these Pharisees did not recognize the telling signs as to who he really was. He claimed to be the Messiah. He claimed to be God, the titular designation, Son of God, was imbued with the thought of deity. Did he bear false witness? Did he lie? His rebuttal silences all accusations. He agrees, "If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true…There is another who testifies about me. He then declares the Father’s testimony, the works he performed as well as the testimony of John the Baptizer. He did not bear false witness.

10. . Thou shalt not covet
    What was there for him to covet? He owned the cattle on a thousand hills and the wealth in every mine. Satan brought before him the
    kingdoms of the world, which he had himself had usurped from Adam. He thought to appeal to covetousness to entice the Lord Jesus to
    worship him. The vast array of the empires of the world system meant nothing to the Lord Jesus apart from the will and purpose of his
    Father and his God. He cast all those things behind his back. He knew that he would soon take them by right. Why should he sully his
    pathway and take them before the appointed time. Timing is everything. By illustration, sex which is sordid prior to marriage, is sanctified
    in marriage. Reigning over the vast array of sinful kingdoms is villainous outside of the will of God. When he ascends the throne of his
    ancestor David it will be glorious.

    The Lord Jesus kept the law, not to acquire favor with God. Nor did his keeping the law vicariously keep it for us. He kept the law, the ten
    commandment, because he could do no other. His intrinsic holiness as man, albeit a man walking in lowly grace and in dependence upon
    the Holy Spirit, could do no other. As God, he gave the law and was the perfect origin of the commandments.

    As we observe the Life of the Lord Jesus as he walked in lowly grace, may we observe his character and learn of him and in so doing
    emulate his walk in dependence on the same Spirit of God. Keeping the Ten Commandments does not deliver from the penalty of sin.
    Rather it validates the profession of one who has trusted in the Saviour’s blood and seeks to "walk as he walked."