The Moral and Mosaic Laws

The issue of God’s law is the great matter at the heart of the final crisis. The purpose of this article is to explore what the Bible teaches us about the Moral and Mosaic laws so that we might have a correct understanding of our obligation to God today. As we will come to see, God’s law of Ten Commandments was not nailed to the cross but is ongoing as a part of God’s New Covenant with His people today. It is by God’s grace that we are redeemed from the penalty of sin and empowered to walk in newness of life.

The Old Testament contains some 613 laws that cover a wide variety of issues. However, these laws can be grossly separated into the law of Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses (Mosaic Law). The Mosaic Law can also be broken down into many parts and can go by various names including: sacrificial, ceremonial, civil, and levitical law. At Sinai, both of these laws were handed down by God.

So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone. AND the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might observe them in the land which you cross over to possess. Deuteronomy 4:13-14

The first law outlined here is the Ten Commandments which God Himself commanded the people to perform and then wrote with His own finger on tables of stone (Exodus 31:18). THEN God also gave Moses statutes and judgements to teach the people to observe which Moses faithfully recorded in a book.

So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, Deuteronomy 31:24

The Ten Commandments were placed WITHIN the Ark of the Testament (Exodus 25:16), whereas the book of the Law which Moses wrote was placed BESIDE the Ark.

“Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you.” Deuteronomy 31:26

If it was God’s intention that both of these laws should be viewed as one single law, He would not have gone to such lengths to lay out such a clear distinction between them. In 2 Kings 21:8 God again shows that these laws are separate from one another,

And I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers—only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, AND according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.

These two laws have different purposes and possess different features. The Bible refers to the Ten Commandments as a Law of Liberty (James 2:12). Romans 7:7 addresses this Law that contains the commandment not to covet (the tenth commandment) as a Law that is spiritual (vs 14), and that is holy, and just, and good (vs 12). In contrast, the Law of Moses, is said to be for a witness against us (Deuteronomy 31:26), a law that is carnal (fleshly) and not for our good.

For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law…For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood…who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. Hebrews 7:12, 14, 16

Because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols. Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; Ezekiel 20:24-25

Because the Israelites were unwilling to obey the Moral Law and Sabbath, God gave them a law that was NOT good. Moses law is said to be a law against the people because this law contains curses and judgments against those who should break it. The Ten Commandment law contains no such curses or punishments and is a blessing to those who keep it. To avoid murder, theft, adultery, etc is to have a long and happy life as well as a good relationship with God and others.

Here we see two laws that are described as bearing features that are completely opposite to one another. One is spiritual and good, the other is carnal and NOT good. This cannot be a reference to the same law (for this would be a contradiction of scripture), but two laws with different purposes.

The moral law of Ten Commandments has always existed. This is the law that defines sin (1 John 2:3-4 & Romans 7:7), so it must have existed before sin.

Because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Romans 4:15

It is commonly believed that the Ten Commandments did not exist before Sinai, however, if this is the case then neither did sin. If we look carefully we can find many evidences of the principles of the Ten Commandments existing long before Sinai or ever a Jew existed. There are also many instances in which people before the time of Moses are accused of being sinners (lawbreakers). For example, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the global flood, were all judgments poured upon wicked and sinful people.

Joseph, who lived hundreds of years before Sinai, when tempted with adultery (breaking the seventh commandment), responded in this way,

There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Genesis 29:9

Joseph had a clear understanding that to commit adultery is to sin against God. Cain (Adam’s son) was also aware that hatred, anger and murder were sins (Genesis 4:8-15). Careful study will reveal that all of the Ten Commandments can be found in the Bible prior to God announcing them at Sinai. This includes the Sabbath commandment which was instituted at creation (Genesis 2:2-3) and which Moses attempted to reform among the Israelites while they were still captive in Egypt.

And Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are many now, and you make them rest from their labor!” Exodus 5:5

The word here for ‘rest’ is ‘Shabath’. God was trying to initiate a Sabbath reform while Israel were still slaves in Egypt.

As the law that defines sin, the Ten Commandments are also the standard by which we are judged.

So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:12

In addition to the Ten Commandments that existed before sin, the Bible speaks also of a law that was ADDED because of sin.

What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Galatians 3:19

Here is a reference primarily to the Law of Moses. It was added because of sin and was to remain in effect until Jesus (the Seed) should come. The reason for this was that this law acted as a shadow/type of Christ. God gave this law to Israel to teach them of the coming Saviour who would redeem them from sin.

Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, Ephesians 2:15

The sacrificing of animals as outlined in the sacrificial laws (within the Law of Moses) was unable to make true atonement for sin. Instead, it served as a shadow to point the people to Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29). In Christ’s sacrifice alone can we find salvation from sin.

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. Hebrews 10:1

It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:9-10

Like the sacrificing of animals, the ceremonial sabbaths and feast days were also imperfect in that they could not provide salvation or victory over sin, but served only to point to Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and future ministry. For example, the Passover pointed to Jesus’ death, the feast of unleavened bread to His burial, the Firstfruits to His resurrection, and Pentecost to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is clear to see how these sabbaths served as a shadow of things to come. However, once the events toward which these sacrifices and sabbaths pointed came, this law was no longer necessary and so was nailed to the cross.

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross…Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:14, 16-17

Many consider that Colossians 2:16 does away with the weekly Sabbath, however, we are told that the law here mentioned is a shadow of things to come (vs 17). In ADDITION to the weekly Sabbath there were ceremonial sabbaths/feast days which fell on different days each year:

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Leviticus 23:24

These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day— BESIDES THE SABBATHS OF THE LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord. Leviticus 23:37-38

As we have seen, the sacrifices and feasts of Moses Law were to teach the Israelites how God is dealing with sin and foreshadowed events around Jesus ministry for us. Being shadows of how God is dealing with sin, these sabbaths could not exist before sin as there was no reason for them to exist in a perfect world. This shows us that this passage does not include the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment, because this Sabbath came before sin (Gen 2:2-3), as a memorial of God’s creative work, and not as a shadow of God’s dealing with a sin issue that did not then exist. Furthermore, the context of Colossians 2:16 is founded in verse 14 where we are told that Paul is speaking of the 'handwriting of ordinances that was AGAINST us.' This is a direct reference to the book of the law of Moses which was placed beside the ark of the testament for a witness AGAINST the people (Deuteronomy 31:26). A final point is that this 'handwriting' was 'blotted out' and 'nailed' to the cross. It isn't possible to blot out stone or nail it to a cross, nor can we say that the Ten Commandments were handwritten. The very imagery Paul uses points us to the law that was written by the hand of Moses onto parchment as the law that ended at the cross.

When Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn (Matthew 27:15), indicating an end to the ceremonial and sacrificial laws. The Most Holy Place was opened to the people to approach God directly through Christ, and not through symbols and types. Before Jesus died it was necessary for the Jews to offer animal sacrifices for sin, however, for us to offer animal sacrifices according to the Law of Moses today would be to deny Jesus atoning sacrifice for us; what was previously a legal requirement would now be a sin if followed. Such is the nature of the sacrificial law. Contrast this with the Ten Commandments. If a person were to steal before Jesus died, this would be sin, and if a person were to steal now, this would still be sin. God’s Moral Law does not change.

There are many references to the Ten Commandments in the New Testament, each of which shows that this Law continued beyond Jesus death. In Romans 7:12 we saw that this law IS holy, and just, and good. In Ephesians 6:1-3 Paul says that children should honour father and mother (the fifth commandment) as this IS ‘the first commandment with promise.’ Repeatedly Paul presents the Ten Commandments as having current relevance. However, in Colossians 2 the handwriting of ordinances WAS against us, showing that this law is now nothing more than a thing of the past.

Some believe that Jesus gave us two new commandments that were to replace the Ten Commandments: the commandment to love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves. However, these laws were also among the 613 laws of the Old Testament and are not intended to replace any of them.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5

But you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

Regarding these commandments, Jesus said that the rest of the Law hangs upon these principles of love (Matthew 22:40). When considering the Ten Commandments we can see that the first four commandments relate to our love for God, and the last six to our love for our neighbour. If we love God perfectly and if we love others perfectly, we will be keeping the whole law.

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Romans 13:10

Love is the founding principle of God’s Kingdom and the Law is the foundation of His throne and government. The earthly sanctuary was made after the pattern of the things in heaven (Hebrews 8:5). In the earthly sanctuary, the Ten Commandments sat beneath the mercy SEAT upon which the Shekinah glory (the visible manifestation of God) dwelt. This represents to us that the Moral Law is the very foundation of God's throne. The high priest would take the blood of the sacrifice once a year and sprinkle it on and before the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments, to make atonement for the people for their transgression of this law. Today, Jesus is our High Priest officiating in the heavenly sanctuary and pleading His own blood before the Heavenly Ark containing the original Law.

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 9:11-12

Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. Revelation 11:19

We are told that Jesus continues as our mediator in the Heavenly sanctuary presenting His sacrifice for our sins before the Father that we might receive forgiveness (1 Timothy 2:5 & Romans 8:34). If the Law was made obsolete at the cross, then Jesus is mediating for the transgression of a non-existent law! A mediator is only required while there are offenders who have broken the Law and sinned against God. Reconciliation is only required because sin has separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). The very fact that Jesus continues to mediate for us shows that the Law remains. The New Covenant that God has made with His people is to write His moral law on their hearts and minds.

If you would like to learn more about the balance between the law and grace click here, please also view our article on the Sabbath here to learn more about this important day.