2 Corinthians 3:10 (NASB)

Bible Commentary

2 Corinthians 3:10 is a Bible verse that describes an important difference between the Old Testament law and the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

As we’ve discussed before, there are over 600 laws and commands in the Old Testament which the people of God were expected to follow. The Apostle Paul called it “the ministry of condemnation” in 2 Corinthians 3:9 because all of those laws and rules only revealed the flaws and sin of the people.

It showed them that they were a fallen people, incapable of keeping the whole law of God. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, the One Who lived the perfect life without sin and fulfilled all the law.

Through the law, God revealed our innate need of a Savior, and He provided that Savior through Jesus Christ.

Law vs. Grace

So we have the Old Testament law on the one hand, and the mercy of Jesus Christ on the other, which is far better.

Even though Paul calls the law the “ministry of condemnation,” he talks about its glory (its splendor and greatness). It was so intense that the sons of Israel could not look upon the face of Moses because of the glory that shone on his face.

Moses kept his face covered with a veil after he spent time with God on the mountain, receiving His commands.

2 Corinthians 3:9-10 reads like this, “For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. ¹⁰ For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.”

Paul’s point was this: The glory of the Old Testament law was so bright that Moses’ face shone with its glory, but the glory of the New Covenant (grace through the blood of Jesus Christ) makes the Old Testament look non-existent!

So what does that mean to you and me?

Unlocking the Truth – We Have the Key

Even though Jesus brought us the ministry of righteousness (grace), the devil tries to convince us that we are still under the ministry of condemnation. We not only judge and condemn others, but we feel judged and condemned ourselves.

It’s like living in a prison cell, when we have possession of the key that would unlock the door. That key is faith in Christ. His grace is the door to freedom!

Instead of receiving thoughts (suspicions and lies) from the enemy that you are being judged and condemned by others, reject them as lies. Then replace those lies with the truth—grace and mercy through Christ.

We must replace the old (ministry of condemnation) with the new (grace through Christ). We cannot receive and enjoy the new when we have such a tight grip on the old.

We must discipline our thoughts—take them captive in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Reject the lies of judgement and condemnation toward others and ourselves, and replace them with the truth of love and mercy.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Black and White or HD Color

Living in the ministry of condemnation is like living in the dullness of black and white, when the bright color of high definition is available to us.

With God’s help, it takes an awareness and then a deliberate choice—a choice of the heart to love, instead of criticizing; to accept instead of rejecting; to humble ourselves instead of exalting ourselves; to see others the way Christ sees them; to love others and ourselves the way Christ loves us.

We have the power within ourselves to live in the colorful freedom of pure love and mercy, which is far greater than the black and white prison of condemnation.

We don’t have to wait for Jesus to “come back” in order to have Heaven here on earth. We only need to look within, recognize the old and reach out with the new–the heart of Christ.

As we do that as the family of God, we have brought Heaven to earth. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

Study the Bible verse of 2 Corinthians 3:10 and let’s recognize the old within us, and replace it with the new so we can be the family of God.