--- title: Way of the Master — Ten Commandments Mirror url: https://jw-apologetics.app/playbooks/way-of-the-master/ markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/playbooks/way-of-the-master.md type: playbook perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching jw_source: N/A — this is a Christian evangelism method, not a JW claim doctrines: [Salvation Requires Works and Organisation Membership] attribution: Ray Comfort / Living Waters — livingwaters.com added: '2026-04-06' last_reviewed: '2026-04-06' index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt --- # Way of the Master — Ten Commandments Mirror The classic Ray Comfort / Living Waters evangelism method: use the Ten Commandments as a mirror to show the person their guilt before a holy God, then present the cross as the answer. Particularly effective with JWs because they already believe in the authority of the Ten Commandments (they cite Exodus 20 regularly), they can be honest about their sins under the "accurate knowledge" rubric, and they have no mechanism for forgiveness that produces assurance. The walkthrough naturally exposes why their works-based system cannot answer the verdict of "guilty on Judgment Day." ## Recognition Signals - "are you a good person" - "Ten Commandments test" - "Judgment Day" - "innocent or guilty" - "Way of the Master" - "Ray Comfort method" ## Opening Question > "Can I ask you something a bit personal — do you think you are a good person? Most people say yes. Jesus said 'Why do you call me good? There is none good but God' (Mark 10:18). The way we can actually test whether we are good is to look at the Ten Commandments — the standard God gave to measure a good life. Would you be willing to walk through just a few with me?" ## Doctrines Being Pushed - [Salvation Requires Works and Organisation Membership](https://jw-apologetics.app/doctrines/works-salvation.md) ## Expected JW Responses ### Response 1 **JW says:** "I do believe I'm a good person." **Observation:** Affirm the honesty — most people would agree. Then gently pivot to Mark 10:18 and Romans 3:10–12 ('there is none righteous, no, not one'). The purpose is not to humiliate but to let Scripture do the mirroring. Begin the walkthrough. ### Response 2 **JW says:** "I try my best — I follow Jehovah's commandments." **Observation:** The JW will usually be more cautious than a secular person because they know the standard is high. Use this humility to your advantage. Say: 'Great — then let's test our hearts against what God actually requires. Have you ever told a lie?' and begin the walkthrough. ### Response 3 **JW says:** "We're all imperfect — we inherited sin from Adam." **Observation:** This is the JW 'inherited imperfection' deflection — see the sin-is-just-a-mistake response. The counter is that inheriting a condition does not erase personal guilt for actual transgressions. An imperfect driver is still charged when he breaks the road rules. Then return to the walkthrough. ### Response 4 **JW says:** "Have you ever told a lie? → 'Yes, a few.'" **Observation:** Ask: 'What do you call someone who tells lies?' They will usually say 'a liar.' Note the move from act to identity — the Ten Commandments do not just evaluate behaviour, they expose what we are. ### Response 5 **JW says:** "Have you ever stolen something, even small? → 'Yes, maybe as a child.'" **Observation:** Ask: 'What do you call someone who steals?' They will say 'a thief.' Repeat the identity move: a thief is not defined by the value stolen but by the act of taking what is not theirs. Even small theft breaks the 8th commandment. ### Response 6 **JW says:** "Have you ever used God's name as a curse word? → 'Yes, I have.'" **Observation:** Note that 'using God's name in vain' is more serious than most people realise. Ask: 'Would you use your mother's name as a cuss word? That would dishonour her. Using God's name as a cuss word is called blasphemy — it was punishable by death under the Old Testament law.' This often stops the JW because they understand Jehovah's name to be sacred — they will feel the weight. ### Response 7 **JW says:** "Jesus said if you look with lust you commit adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28) — have you ever looked with lust?" **Observation:** This is the most delicate probe. Phrase it honestly. Jesus is the one who defined the standard — you are just quoting him. Most JWs will acknowledge having done this. The point is that God judges the heart, not just actions. ### Response 8 **JW says:** "So by your own admission you've broken God's law — if God judged you by the Ten Commandments on Judgment Day, would you be innocent or guilty?" **Observation:** This is the landing. The JW will usually say 'guilty' if they have been honest. If they hedge ('it's up to Jehovah'), gently note that Jehovah's standard is the Ten Commandments — and by that standard, they have just admitted they fall short. Guilty is the honest verdict. ### Response 9 **JW says:** "Heaven or hell — how does that concern you?" **Observation:** This is not a scare tactic — it is a pastoral question. Let them answer honestly. Many JWs will say they hope Jehovah will be merciful, or they will invoke the paradise-earth framework. The next move is the courtroom analogy and the cross. ## Follow-Up Once the JW has said 'guilty,' the walkthrough turns from law to gospel. Use the courtroom analogy: "Imagine you are standing in court, guilty of serious crimes. The judge has no choice — the law demands a fine must be paid. You cannot pay it. But then a stranger walks in and pays the fine for you. The judge can legally let you go — not because you are innocent, but because the debt has been paid. That is what Jesus did on the cross. He took the penalty we deserved. That is why his last words were 'It is finished' — the Greek word tetelestai, meaning 'paid in full.'" Then pivot to the parachute analogy (see parachute-analogy argument) — the difference between flapping your arms and trusting the parachute. This is the cleanest illustration of sola fide: you do not earn the rescue, you trust the rescuer. Close with Ephesians 2:8–9 in their own NWT ('by this undeserved kindness you have been saved through faith... it is God's gift, not owing to works') and Romans 10:9 ('if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved'). Both verses work in the NWT and require no argument about translation. The Way of the Master method is especially powerful with JWs because it bypasses the typical deity-of-Christ debate entirely — by the time they have admitted guilt and heard the gospel, the question is no longer 'is Jesus God?' but 'is Jesus enough?' Their entire soteriology is being measured against their own conscience. ## Counter-Arguments (Recommended Order) 1. [Repentance and Faith — The Two-Question Gospel Pivot](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/repentance-faith-gospel.md) — Acts 20:21 / Ephesians 2:8–9 / Acts 16:31 2. [The Parachute Analogy — Trust, Not Effort](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/parachute-analogy.md) — Ephesians 2:8–9 / Way of the Master 3. [Saved by Grace — Past Tense](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/ephesians2-grace.md) — Ephesians 2:8-9 4. [Grace vs Works](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/romans11-grace.md) — Romans 11:6 in the NWT 5. [You Can Know You Have Eternal Life](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/assurance-of-salvation.md) — 1 John 5:13 / John 5:24 6. [The Good Teacher Dilemma](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/good-teacher.md) — Mark 10:17–18 / Luke 18:18–19 ## Pivot To - [The Parachute Analogy — Trust, Not Effort](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/parachute-analogy.md) - [Repentance and Faith — The Two-Question Gospel Pivot](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/repentance-faith-gospel.md) - [Saved by Grace — Past Tense](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/ephesians2-grace.md) - [You Can Know You Have Eternal Life](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/assurance-of-salvation.md)