Understanding Mosaic (Old Testament) Law pt.3
Moral Law Commandments
From what I see natural and moral law go hand and hand. Can God violate His own law or constitution? Example: To point out some important passages in regards to the land that was promised to Abraham before the Israelites took possession. First in contrast to God’s law the promise could not be yet fulfilled for one of the very reasons. Genesis 15:16 points to the iniquity of the Amorites had not yet reached its full wickedness.
'15 Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age (God speaking to Abraham). 16 But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”
This does not only point to a holy and just God, but it shows the patience of a merciful God that does not take pleasure in the destruction of the wicked. Read Ezekiel 18:19-32,
"For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and live!”
Also He is patient enough that none should perish. 2 Peter 3:9,
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”.
It is only later on that the Amorites could be driven out, not on the account of Israel's righteousness but because of that nation's wickedness. Deuteronomy 9:4-5.
4 “Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. 5 It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God does not take partiality for any person, people or nations. As noted above, there are certain binding laws that are only for the Jew and not the Gentile, thus ultimately fulfilled through Christ. However the moral law is universal and in context you will see this. Using Leviticus 18 various laws of sexual morality were given not only to the Jew but to the Gentile. Context is very important here because both opening and closing statement makes this claim as to who God was speaking to. Take a look at the opening statement first. Verse 3-5,
3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances. 4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord (This seems to be a universal command to me).
My Statutes and My Judgments, in other words, these laws are very serious to God so just as judgment came upon the Canaanites so will the Israelites who violate these moral laws. We see this in the closing statement. Verse 24-29
24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. 29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
These laws seem to be universal commands to me when reading the context and reason for these commands to be given - either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you. (v. 26) Here is a more in depth summary to the fundamental laws regarding sexual immorality from Leviticus 18. As Leviticus states not to follow their ways either ANY of your own nation or ANY stranger who dwells among you. Incest (v. 6-16), bigamy (v. 18), homosexual conduct (v. 22), adultery (v. 20), bestiality (v. 23), and infant sacrfice (v.21). All this is surrounded by the two opening and closing statements, thus giving the command to ANY who dwell within the land or territory (Kingdom). This is why Jesus would state the following in Matthew 15:16-20,
16 So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”
Paul listed the forbidden as well in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.
There are still many without understanding.
Jesus and his Apostles had much to say regarding moral law throughout the whole New Testament. Many of the traditional laws are complex ceremonial, sacrificial and kosher laws that do not pertain to us today, however all do play great significant role in the anointment of Jesus Christ the sacrificial lamb and is a direct correlation to everyday life spiritually. All of these commands ultimately rests on these two commands, love God and love your neighbor.
Conclusion
I might add, cases built against the bible doesn't make it less true when critics point out supposed errors in the Mosaic law. Perhaps the error isn't the law but those who the law was written for and to. Again the key here is written to. It's obviously clear we don't live under the same government yet we are all influenced and given laws of the conscience we must follow that in itself (Romans 1 & 2). We can agree stoning an adulterer is not ideal but then again committing adultery isn't right either when convicted by his/her own conscience, even I am guilty of many (Romans 3:9). That includes all those pertaining to love your neighbor as yourself.
So universal laws (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) given in the bible do apply to our daily lives because it is made clear in our hearts and minds given by God (Romans 2:15). We pay penalties for violating these laws even in Western society (something our corrupted system has a hard time understanding).
As far as certain kosher, servant (slave) laws is concerned are not in effect and are obsolete just as other ancient near eastern laws are (like Hammurabi). If we truly understood these laws some have a much deeper meaning being a type to come which brings up the purpose of Jesus being the fulfillment of that type pointing back, the fulfillment of the law. It was made clear they were not to wear mixed linens, well that point was separation. We are to be holy as He is holy, separate for He is separate. They were not to mix and prostitute themselves with the surrounding nations and serve their idol gods, again brings the thought of loving God?
These types were not meant to be burdensome but rather a constant reminder. God was and is more concern with relationship and not whether I’m gathering sticks on the Sabbath or not. Those laws are not to be followed but they are to be a constant reminder (except the moral laws we looked at before, the law of love). So for us to go back to the types and shadows of the OT would be trampling on the work of our Lord and Gracious Savior Jesus Christ (read Hebrews 10).
God Bless,
Danny Crypto