Transcript Isreal’s Unique Law Code

Law in Scripture
The Books of The Pentateuch
Genes
isThe
Patriarchs
Exodus
God Redeems His
People from Eygpt
Leviticus
Ceremonial and
religious laws
Number
sA rebellious
Deuteronom
y Reaffirming the
Covenant before entering
the land
generation
wanders
The TORAH “Teaching”
is the five books of moses
The Old Testament Laws are firmly
embedded in the story of Israel and should be
interpreted as and within narrative contexts.
•Historical background of God’s Covenant
with abraham
•The Exodus from Bondage in Eygpt
•Sinai: The Law and the Golden Calf
•The Wilderness Wanderings
•Preparations for a new generation to
enter the Promised Land
Even Leviticus is given in the form of a dialogue
between God and Moses
Israel’s Law “Covenants”
The Decalogue
(Exodus 20:1-17; Deut 5:6-21)
The Book of the
Covenant
(Exodus 20:22-23:33)
The Law of Holiness
(Leviticus 18-20)
The Law of
Deuteronomy
(Deuteronomy 12:1-25:16)
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then
out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.”
Exo. 19:5
Israel’s “Covenants”
with the lord
The Decalogue
The Book of the
Covenant
Law of Holiness
The Law of
Deuteronomy
These Laws were founded
on:
The Holy Character of God
“I am the LORD, your God”
&
His Redemptive
deliverance
of His
People:
OLD TESTAMENT LAW
There are basically three kinds of laws in the OT:
Moral law - declares what God requires of man
Ceremonial law - portrays the salvation to come in Christ
Civil law - ordered the nation of Israel and restrained sin
The Ten Commandments
I (being) the LORD your God [I–III]
Right relations to God
Remember(ing) the Sabbath
Right relations to Work
Honor(ing) your parents
[IV]
[V-X] Right Relations to Society
Though stated in the negative – these are positive commands?
•The Law has a loving spirit that reflects the character, nature and will of God.
•The moral law is “double-sided”: That forbidden requires its contrary duties and visa versa.
•And under any sin or duty, all lesser forms are also included.
•Merely refraining from a forbidden thing is not a moral action. Rejecting virtue is to choose vice
The negative can be stated in fewer words, and meets the strong current
of evil in the human heart. Our freedom in grace is so large that it
would be difficult to state all the positives so simply.
The Moral Law
I, being the LORD, your God
Thou Shalt …..
Positive Principles Taught :
have no other gods before me
Faith and loyalty
not make for yourself idols
Worship
not take the Lord’s name in vain
Reverence
remember to keep the sabbath holy
Holiness, or consecration
honor your father and mother
Obedience, or respect for authority
not murder
Love
not commit adultry
Purity
not steal
Honesty
not bear false witness
Truthfulness
not covet ….
Contentment and unselfishness
THE MORAL LAW
The Ten Commandments
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, The Lord is one, And you shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart and all your mind and all your strength.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself! Luke 12:29-31
The Moral Law has four basic purposes:
It reveals and reflects the holiness of God.
It sets forth God’s standard of righteousness for mankind
It reveals man's short-fall of the Law and his need of a
savior, condemning man for his sin.
It serves as means of grace and sanctification for the
believer.
So not think I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets,
I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.
Matt 5:17
Israel’s Unique Civil Law Codes
• Had a Divinely-given moral base
• Included both simple absolute laws and “If…” case laws
• Made no class distinctions - Was humane
• Allowed for no permanent involuntary servitude
• Disallowed exploitation of the poor, women, orphans
• Called for appropriate justice to suit the offense
• Provided fair compensation to victims
• Punishment was to fit the crime
• Made room for both justice and also for mercy
• Insisted on honesty and responsibility regarding property
• Preserved personal and property rights
• Maintained separation between “Holy” and “common”
• Respected Authority, especially God’s
• Strengthened National and Spiritual unity
The Laws of O.T. Israel
Because Israel was a theocracy:
· There is some over-lap between the
civil and ceremonial laws
· There is not always a sharp
distinction between religious and civil
duties
· The moral law under girds them both.
Some OT Laws (Promises) were designed to be
means of blessing, rather than being restrictive or punitive.
The Ceremonial Laws
related to the religious life of the Hebrew people
•The Tabernacle and its
furnishings
•The Priesthood and their
garments
•Sacred Times and feasts
•Offerings and Sacrifices
•Dietary and Purity Laws
These point to Christ and have their fulfillment in Him and His Work
OLD TESTAMENT LAW
Old Testament Laws take two basic forms:
"APODICTIC” LAWS - “do’s” and “do not’s” – paradigms
“CAUSUISTIC" LAWS - conditional applications of
principles to specific situations
The OT Laws and the Christian
AsAs
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the
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than
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OT law.
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rather
than
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OT
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Though the Bible teaches us that the Ceremonial Law
has
now been
fulfilled
in Christ,
andthe
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live by grace,
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yet the Old Testament Laws are of value to us.
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principles behind theOur
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tasktoisour
to find and apply the
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andthe
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principles
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lawsneeds.
to our
particular social and cultural needs.
Finding the Value in OT Laws
We need to first of all see them in
their context within Israel’s story.
What does God reveal about
Himself? His Concerns?
Priorities? Values?
What do they reveal about our
natures? As sinners? As
redeemed people?
What principles can we abstract
from them and apply to our own
lives and our society?
The Instructive and Faith-Building
Character of the Law
Some Do’s and Don’ts. 
Do see the Old Testament law as God’s fully inspired word for you.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as God’s direct command to you.
Do see the Old Testament law as the basis for the Old Covenant, and
therefore for Israel’s history.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as binding on Christians in the New
Covenant except where specifically renewed.
Do see God’s justice, love and high standards revealed in the Old Testament
law.
Don’t forget to see God’s mercy is made equal to the severity of the
standards.
The Instructive and Faith-Building
Character of the Law
Some Do’s and Don’ts. 
Don’t see the Old Testament law as complete. It is not technically
comprehensive.
Do see the Old Testament as a paradigm - providing examples for the full range
of expected behavior.
Don’t expect the Old Testament law to be cited frequently by the prophets or
the New Testament.
Do remember that the essence of the Law (Ten Commandments and the two
chief laws) is repeated in the prophets and renewed in the New Testament.
Do see the Old Testament law as a generous gift to ISREAL, bringing much
blessing when obeyed.
Don’t see the Old Testament law as a grouping of arbitrary, annoying
regulations limiting people’s freedom.