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Spiritual Significance of Numbers:  Ten is the Zenith of the Flesh

[Study Aired February 6, 2026]

Very few realize that the law of Moses is “not for a righteous man”. That is why it is called “the law… for the lawless.”

1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

When speaking of “the law” Paul makes it clear he includes the law written on two tables of stone, which included the tenth commandment:

Rom 7:7  What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

The only place in the Old Testament where that phrase, “Thou shalt not covet” is found is in the “ten commandments… for the lawless.”

Each number in scripture is the sum of its factors, so let’s consider what the factors of number ten have for our admonition:

Ten is 1 (God) plus 9 (judgment).

Ten is 2 (witnessing) plus 8 (the new beast) which is “of the seven and goes into perdition.”

Ten is 3 (the process of maturing) plus 7 (completion – Rev 2:10).

Ten is 4 (the whole) plus 6 (mankind – the flesh).

Ten is 5 plus 5 (It is grace through faith two times. Grace performs its fiery work in both the first and second resurrections)

Let’s take note of where this number ten appears in the Old Testament.

It happens that the society of mankind in rebellion against God came to its zenith in Noah’s generation, which was the tenth generation from Adam:

Gen 5:1 (a) This is the book of the generations of Adam… 1) Adam, 2) Seth, 3) Enos, 4) Cainan, 5) Mahalaleel, 6) Jared, 7) Enoch, 8) Methusalah, 9) Lamech, 10) Noah

Ten nations complete Abraham’s victory over his enemies

Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:
Gen 15:19 [1] The Kenites, and [2] the Kenizzites, and [3] the Kadmonites,
Gen 15:20 And [4] the Hittites, and [5] the Perizzites, and [6] the Rephaims,
Gen 15:21 And [7] the Amorites, and [8] the Canaanites, and [9] the Girgashites, and [10] the Jebusites.

After ten years of waiting for the Lord to fulfill His promise, the patience of our flesh is exhausted.

Gen 16:3 And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

Ten righteous men would have saved Sodom from judgment:

Gen 18:32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

It took ten camels to carry “all the goods of Abraham.”

Gen 24:10 And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

Babylon, signified by Jacob’s labors for Laban’s benefit, will rob us completely of our wages:

Gen 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

The complete complement of Babylon will come to God’s elect when the famine of the Word is come:

Gen 42:3 And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

Gen 42:6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s [ten] brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

It took ten asses to carry “the good things of Egypt:”

Gen 45:23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

Ten commandments, obedience to which gives us nothing more that “mine own righteousness, give us the “law for the lawless:”

Deu 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

Exo 20:1  And God spake all these words, saying,
Exo 20:2  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3  [1] Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4  [2] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5  Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Exo 20:6  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exo 20:7  [3] Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exo 20:8  [4] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exo 20:9  Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
Exo 20:10  But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exo 20:12  [5] Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exo 20:13  [6] Thou shalt not kill.
Exo 20:14  [7] Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exo 20:15  [8] Thou shalt not steal.
Exo 20:16  [9] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exo 20:17  [10] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Keeping these 10 commandments is the very best, the zenith, of mankind’s righteousness. Yet it is  lacking what is essential for salvation:

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

This is  what Christ had to say to a rich young ruler who asked him what he must do to be saved:

Mar 10:17  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Mar 10:19  Thou knowest the [ten] commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast [your “righteousness which is of the law], and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Mar 10:23  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:24  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Mar 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:26  And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
Mar 10:27  And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
Mar 10:28  Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29  And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
Mar 10:30  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Mar 10:31  But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

God used ten plagues to destroy Egypt, signifying the destruction of our carnal minded old man:

Exo 9:14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thine heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all the earth.
Exo 9:15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
Exo 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

The flesh of Christ, signified by the boards and curtains of the tabernacle, separates us completely from God.

Exo 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them.

Exo 26:16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board.

Christ’s flesh had to be destroyed before we could enter into the holy place in the heavens:

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, [The death of Jesus. That is why we are to “no longer know Him… after the flesh”]
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the [ten cubit] veil, that is to say, his flesh;

2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
2Co 5:16  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

Ten signifies the rebellions of Israel against God:

Num 14:22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;
Num 14:23 Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:
Num 14:24 But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Ten days of patience do no good for the foolishness of the flesh – Nabal:

1Sa 25:37  But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things [David had intended to destroy Nabal], that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
1Sa 25:38 And it came to pass about ten days after [he learned of David’s intentions to destroy him], that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

Ten in the New Testament

The flesh is completely bankrupt and totally incapable of ever paying for its sins:

Mat 18:23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Mat 18:24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

Inquiring of my ‘Brave search’ this is the modern value of “ten thousand talents” in American dollars today:

“Ten thousand talents in Matthew 18:24 is estimated to be worth between $13.4 billion and $18.15 billion in today’s U.S. dollars, depending on the valuation method.

– “Based on silver value: Using the weight of a denarius (60 grains of silver) and current silver prices (~$17.31 per ounce), one talent equals about $14,244, making ten thousand talents worth approximately $142 million.

– “Based on labor value: If a denarius equals one day’s wages, and using a modern average daily wage of ~$224, one talent is worth about $1.34 million, so ten thousand talents total over $13.4 billion.

– “Based on gold value: If the talent was gold (33 kg per talent), with gold priced at ~$55 per gram, ten thousand talents would be worth roughly $18.15 billion.

“The vast difference reflects the parable’s purpose: to illustrate an unpayable debt—symbolizing humanity’s sin against God—compared to the small debts we owe each other.  The king’s forgiveness mirrors God’s grace, which is beyond human repayment.” (End Quote, Emphasis is the Author’s)

“The ten” were “moved with indignation against [James and John]”:

Mat 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping [him], and desiring a certain thing of him.
Mat 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.
Mat 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
Mat 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

As long as we are in the flesh, “we shall suffer persecution and tribulation”, signified by ten days:

Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days [Our entire lives in the flesh]: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

We are not persecuted for only ten literal days before we die. “Tribulation ten days” signifies being “faithful unto death” even as we go through “those things which thou shalt suffer.”

Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Ten signifies the church in its entirety while still in these ‘earthen vessels.’

Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Both fives will be saved “in [their] own order” (1Co 15:22) by the only formula for salvation – “Grace through faith.”

Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23  But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

Ten thousand signifies our carnal-minded old man who has no chance against twenty thousand:

Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Silver signifies redemption, and it takes two fives, signifying grace through faith, to redeem all mankind:

Luk 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?

All of Adam’s descendants are spiritually leprous, as signified by “ten men that were lepers.”

Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

All of Adam’s descendants will be cleansed, but His own people are not grateful for this truth in this present time:

Luk 17:15  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16  And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Luk 17:18  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

Ten ‘pounds’ or ‘talents’ signify all that is to be accomplished while in this flesh… “Occupy till I come…”

Luk 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
Luk 19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman [Christ] went into a far country [“the heavens”], to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Luk 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Luk 19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.
Luk 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Luk 19:16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
Luk 19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
Luk 19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
Luk 19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
Luk 19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, [here is] thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
Luk 19:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
Luk 19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: [The “idol of [this man’s] heart” Eze 14:4]
Luk 19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
Luk 19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give [it] to him that hath ten pounds.
Luk 19:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
Luk 19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
Luk 19:27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Isa 3:1 For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from  Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

‘Ten thousand instructors’ who are not “in Christ Jesus” are ‘fatherless’ and unable to properly instruct us:

1Co 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Ten thousand words which cannot be understood are worth less that “five words with my understanding.”

1Co 14:19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Ten thousand is the number of God’s saints redeemed from the flesh and is a positive application of the number ten:

Jdg 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

We end our study of the number ten with another positive application of this number, which is used to denote the reconciliation of all things to Christ and His Father:

Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;