These verses come at the end of the story known as the Prodigal Son, a parable in Luke where Jesus paints a powerful picture of our perfect Father. It reveals the tension between someone striving to follow all the rules and someone who tends toward rebellion.
In the story, a man has two sons. The younger son wants his inheritance so he can go off to live life as he wants. The older son stays home and lives life as he thinks he should. The older son is angry when the Father accepts the younger son back into his home, even when the younger son previously chose a path that led to destruction.
In this story, I most relate to the older son. I lived so much of my life trying to get the attention of my earthly and heavenly father by what I did—how well I prayed, how well I sang, how much I served. My identity was wrapped up in doing for the Father instead of being with the Father.
The younger son chased the freedom the world offers, which is not true freedom; it is the shackles of sin masquerading as freedom. The older son chased legalism, which is man-made rules masquerading as righteousness. In reality, both the older and younger son miss the point—relationship with the Father.
Inside the context of the Ten Commandments, I found this imagery very useful. From the very beginning, God was a loving Father and Creator who wanted to commune with His children. In response to all He has done for us, God invites us to respond with obedience rooted in relationship. Time and time again, we miss the mark. And time and time again, He comes running toward us (Luke 15:20) with a new opportunity to be in covenant relationship with Him.
Is God asking you to shed any form of legalism or rebellion in this season? May we find new ways each day to deepen our obedience by truly putting nothing before Him.