Daily Lesson for Thursday 21st of August 2025

The Hebrew meaning of the term dabarim, used in the writing of Moses to describe the Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 4:13, Deuteronomy 10:4), does not literally mean “commandments,” but “words.”

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This “word,” dabar (singular), can have the meaning of a “promise.” That is why, in numerous places (1 Kings 8:56; 2 Chronicles 1:9; Nehemiah 5:12-13; Deuteronomy 1:11; Deuteronomy 6:3; Deuteronomy 9:28; Joshua 9:21; Joshua 22:4; Joshua 23:5), dabar is translated either in a noun or verb form expressing the idea of promise.

Ellen G. White offers an insight into the function of the Decalogue: “The ten commandments . . . are ten promises.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1105. The Decalogue should be understood as promises from God that will guide us on the right path so that He can do wonderful things for us. But we must obey them.

Paul states that Jesus Christ is the telos of the law, but not in the sense that Christ abrogates the law or does away with it. Instead, this means that Christ is the goal and intent of the law; it does not mean that His atoning sacrifice terminates the validity and perpetuity of it.

On the contrary, Paul speaks about the importance of the law, about its legitimacy, and about its enduring authority (Romans 3:31, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Galatians 5:6). The meaning of the word telos is primarily purposeful and goal-oriented, not time related. Christ is the key to unlock the true meaning and purpose of God’s law. Thus, it would be incorrect to state that Christ invalidated, superseded, or abrogated the law. Christ is the goal of the law, the One to whom it points.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/25c-08-the-law-as-gods-promise-for-us/