Lesson 5 | Heed the Commands
Study Skill: Identify the Commands
As with all interpretation work, we must come to the Bible prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to guide our hearts and minds as we seek to accurately understand what the text commands. And we must recognize that the Scriptures call us to obedience in a variety of ways.
These are the tasks involved: First, we are seeking to discover what commands are present in the text (Observation). Second, we want to rightly understand the meaning and nature of these commands within their immediate context and within the scope of the whole Bible (Interpretation). Finally, we ask, “What implications does this text have for my life?” (Application).
In the points that follow, let’s focus on the first two tasks (what the text says and means). Then we will consider some important help for faithfully applying the commands of Scripture to our lives.
1. Direct commands
Direct commands are generally clear and easy to identify.
2. Invitations, requests, and appeals
Other times, an author or speaker will call his readers to take action by way of invitation. Such a request does not make obedience optional, but it does soften the force from a command to an appeal to conscience.
3. Implied commands
Sometimes an author will instruct in such a way as to cause his readers to contemplate the obedience required. Commonly, such instruction will come in the form of an if-then statement.
There is no explicit command in either of these verses. Nevertheless, the implicit instruction is quite clear. Do not deceive yourself by thinking you can claim to have fellowship with Christ and still walk in darkness. Those who are in the light must love fellow believers.
4. Examples to follow (or not)
Finally, a significant portion of Scripture tells the story of God’s people and his dealings with them through history. Narratives very rarely contain direct commands to the reader. Still they are full of truths to glean and a plethora of examples, both positive and negative.
In Ruth 1, we find a stark contrast. Elimelech leads his family away from the promised land to settle among pagan neighbors, resulting in devastating consequences for his family. Ruth, on the other hand, sacrificially serves her mother-in-law Naomi. Moreover, she turns from her own people’s false gods to walk in faith, looking to the LORD for help. There is certainly much more to the story, and we would do a disservice to the book of Ruth to reduce it to a call to “be like Ruth.” But neither should we neglect this beautiful example of a life of faith.
Discern Appropriate Application for Today
With all of the types of instruction above, we need to carefully discern how any particular command applies to us. Let’s consider two basic categories: direct and indirect application.
Direct application is when our obedience will look essentially the same as that of the original readers.
Indirect application is when we seek to discern a principle from the command that is translatable to our context.
Such is the case when the biblical command is so rooted in the immediate circumstances of the original author/recipients that it is impossible to apply directly. For example, consider Paul’s letter to Philemon. In its entirety, it addresses a very particular personal situation between Paul, his dear friend Philemon, and a runaway slave named Onesimus. Nevertheless, we can see how the gospel so deeply shapes Paul’s appeal that we may well work out several principles that can apply to contemporary dilemmas.
Obeying OT Law
Let’s move on to the biggest category of commands calling for indirect application: OT law. Because there is both continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenants, we must wisely discern indirect principles and understand when it would be biblically inappropriate to apply an Old Testament command directly. In such cases, we don’t want to ignore the command, but rather translate it to the new covenant life of faith. As Jason DeRouchie writes,
Far from setting aside the OT, Jesus stressed that he came to fulfill it, and in the process he highlighted the lasting relevance of the OT’s teaching for Christians: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:17–19) It’s important to note here that, while the age of the old covenant has come to an end (Rom. 6:14–15; 1 Cor. 9:20–21; Gal. 5:18; cf. Luke 16:16), the OT itself maintains lasting relevance for us in the way it displays the character of God (e.g., Rom. 7:12), points to the excellencies of Christ, and portrays for us the scope of love in all its facets (Matt. 22:37–40). As Moses asserted, in the day of heart circumcision (Deut. 30:6), which we are enjoying today (Rom. 2:29), all of his teachings in Deuteronomy would still matter: “And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today” (Deut. 30:8).
–Jason DeRouchie
10 Reasons the Old Testament Is Important for Christiansby Jason DeRouchie
This article helpfully unpacks the lasting value of the Old Testament for believers today.