What can Christians learn from the Mosaic law?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Mosaic law, also known as the law of Moses or the Torah, refers to the laws and commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). It encompasses various aspects of religious, moral, civil, and ceremonial regulations that governed the lives of the ancient Israelites. The Mosaic law includes the Ten Commandments along with detailed instructions on worship, sacrifice, cleanliness, dietary restrictions, social justice, and ethical behavior. Its primary purpose was to set apart the Israelites as a holy people dedicated to God and to establish order and justice within their community.

It is tempting to brush aside the Mosaic law as unimportant. Its long descriptions of the temple and sacrifices are fit for historical study but have seemingly little significance in the average Christian's life. However, this attitude is harmful because it causes people to ignore a whole portion of Scripture rather than learn from the whole counsel of God's Word. The Law, being a part of the Bible, is truth—truth about God, truth about His standards, truth about our sin, and truth about our need for redemption. As such, studying the Law can enrich Christians' understanding of God and the New Testament. There is much we can learn from the Mosaic law.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Exodus 20:1–17 the Ten Commandments are given to Moses on Mount Sinai, which are the foundational moral laws for the Israelites.
• Leviticus 19:1–37 outlines various laws and ethical teachings covering topics such as social justice, holiness, and moral conduct.
• Similar to Exodus 20, Deuteronomy 5:6–21 recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments, emphasizing the covenant between God and Israel.
• The Law reveals God’s character. God is good. He desires to have a relationship with His people which He demonstrated by creating a government, religious system, and culture that allowed Him to live in communion with His people and allowed them to thrive. God protects and brings blessing on those who follow Him faithfully. God called for justice and fair reparation when someone is wronged (Deuteronomy 19:21). God built a system that took care of widows, orphans, and foreigners who are more vulnerable. Knowing that people are sinful in their nature, God promised redemption for those who return to Him in repentance after rebelling against God (Deuteronomy 30:1–10). The Law reveals all these aspects of God’s character.
• The Mosaic law also reveals the seriousness of our sin. The Law specifically identifies what sin is. Without the Law, we would not know our sin or be convicted of it (Romans 7:7). Sins like adultery and idol worship were punishable by death, which seems like an extreme sentence to modern readers, but our view of sin is so light compared to God's. Reading the Law shows us how serious sin truly is and how it separates us from God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• In Matthew 5:17, Jesus affirms that He came not to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them, indicating His fulfillment of the Mosaic law.
• Galatians 3:24 describes the Law as a tutor leading to Christ as it exposes our sin and our need of a Savior, emphasizing the importance of the Law’s role in God’s plan of redemption.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

This sinful nature that separates us from God is the reason we needed a savior. Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). The Israelites were expected to keep the Law perfectly, and each sacrificial lamb reminded them that standard was impossible for them to fulfill; they saw the price for their sin was a life. They were not enough. Knowing that we could not keep the Law perfectly and that animal sacrifices would never be enough, God provided a substitute. God the Son took on human flesh, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. He rose back to life proving that He is who He says He is and that His payment is sufficient. God did this so that we might be cleansed and live in communion with Him through faith (Galatians 2:16). The Law, the sacrifices, and the temple were all "copies of the heavenly things" so that we would understand our need for Christ and the significance of His death and resurrection (Hebrews 9:23). Hebrews 10:1 explains, "the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near." But "we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law and became the once-for-all sacrifice on our behalf. We learn from the Mosaic law the meaning of redemption in Jesus Christ.

We are no longer bound by the Mosaic law, but the Law teaches us about our God and reveals the beauty of Christ's sacrifice. In Psalm 19 David calls the Law perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true. It revives the soul, makes us wise, rejoices our hearts, enlightens us, and endures. It is more to be desired than gold and sweeter than honey. Christians have much to learn from the Mosaic law and do well to study it.

UNDERSTAND

• The Mosaic law, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, outlines ethical standards and religious practices for the ancient Israelites.
• The Mosaic law reflects God's character and reveals the seriousness of sin.
• Jesus fulfilled the Law's purpose, showing humanity's need for redemption and God's plan for salvation through Him.

REFLECT

• How does studying the Mosaic Law deepen your understanding of God's character?
• In what ways does the Mosaic Law reveal the seriousness of sin in your own life? How does this awareness impact your daily walk with God?
• How does Jesus fulfill the requirements of the Law, and what does His sacrifice teach us about redemption and forgiveness today?

ENGAGE

• Why is it important for Christians today to study and understand the Mosaic law, even though we are not under its legal requirements?
• How does the Mosaic law serve as a precursor or foreshadowing of God's ultimate plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, and how does this enhance our appreciation of God's grace?
• Some people believe we are still bound by the Mosaic law. When talking to these people, emphasize that Jesus fulfilled the Law's requirements (Matthew 5:17) and that the New Testament affirms salvation through faith in Christ, not through adherence to the Mosaic law (Galatians 2:16). Encourage a focus on understanding the Law's moral principles while recognizing its ceremonial and civil aspects were fulfilled in Christ and were specifically for the Israelites. If the command is not repeated in the New Testament, is not tied to a universal truth such as the creation mandate or God’s character, we should follow the principles revealed by that command but not the law itself.