For many, the word "law" conjures up rules and prohibitions. In the Bible, God's law—the Torah, the instruction—is first of all a gift: a guide for a good life. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about God's law and the commandments.
God's instruction as a gift
How the Bible speaks of the law.
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How I love your law! I meditate on it day and night.
Psalm 119:97
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Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalm 119:105God's wordEarly education
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The law of the LORD is perfect and refreshes the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure and makes the simple wise. The commands of the LORD are right and gladden the heart; the precepts of the LORD are pure and enlighten the eyes.
Psalm 19:8-9
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But I delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on his law day and night!
Psalm 1:2God's word
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For the commandment that I command you today is not hidden from you nor far off.
Deuteronomy 30:11
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I set heaven and earth as witnesses against you today: I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life, so that you and your offspring may live.
Deuteronomy 30:19Decisions
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And do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth, but meditate on it day and night, so that you may keep and do everything written in it. Then you will prosper in all you do and will be able to act wisely.
Joshua 1:8God's wordSuccess
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I am the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:2-3
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And the LORD commanded us to keep all these statutes, so that we may fear the LORD, our God, and prosper all the days of our lives, as we prosper today.
Deuteronomy 6:24
Jesus and the law
Fulfilling rather than abolishing.
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Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill.
Matthew 5:17Prophecy
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But Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." This is the most important and greatest commandment. The other is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:37-40
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For love does no harm to your neighbor. Thus is the fulfillment of the law of love.
Romans 13:10Love of neighbor
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For all the commandments are fulfilled in one word: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:14Love of neighbor
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For no flesh can be justified by the works of the law, since through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20
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For the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.
Romans 7:12
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So the law has been our tutor in Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:24
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For Christ is the end of the law; whoever believes is justified.
Romans 10:4
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But whoever looks intently into the perfect law of liberty and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer, will be blessed in his doing.
James 1:25Freedom
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For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17Grace
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For this is love for God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
1 John 5:3ObedienceLove for God
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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Law as instruction
The Hebrew word tora actually means "instruction", "teaching". It encompasses not only commandments, but also stories and promises. The Ten Commandments do not begin with a demand, but with a reminder of liberation: "I am the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage" (Exodus 20:2). The commandments are therefore rules for liberated people, so that they may remain free. That is why the Psalms can love the law: "How I love your law! I meditate on it day and night" (Psalm 119:97).
Law and grace
Jesus says: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). He summarizes the entire law in two commandments: love God and love your neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Paul shows that the law reveals sin, but cannot save – only grace does that (Romans 3:20-24). Law and grace are not adversaries: The law shows what is good, grace gives what one cannot achieve on one's own. More on this at Bible verses about grace, Bible verses about obedience and Bible verses about freedom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the law in the Bible?
The law (Hebrew Tora, "instruction") encompasses God's commandments, especially in the five books of Moses. The Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.
Does the law still apply to Christians?
Jesus says he came to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). For Christians, the commandment of love is considered the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10), they are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).
