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Studying Biblical laws can be confusing,
for there are various types of laws. Among the laws
addressed in God’s word are civil laws, health laws,
ceremonial laws of Moses (having to do with the
sacrificing of animals plus other related rituals,) and
the Ten Commandments of Exodus, chapter 20.
Health
laws and civil laws rarely cause confusion, but the
differences between the Ten Commandments and the Moses’
laws may be puzzling. Therefore, the focus of this column
will be to identify specific characteristics of these two
sets of laws.
The first critical difference between
these two laws is cardinal. The ceremonial laws were
written by Moses in a book. (2 Chronicles 35:12.) However,
the Ten Commandments were written by the finger of God on
two tablets of stone. Notice that the Ten Commandments
were written by God, Himself, and with His own finger. He
did not trust any man to write these commands, for they
are His eternal moral principles by which man will be
judged. (James 2: 10-12.) Observe, also, that God wrote
them in stone, showing their eternal nature and their
being beyond the province of change by man. The Ten
Commandments specifically are called the “law of the
Lord.” (Isaiah 5:24.)
Second, the Mosaic laws are
called “laws contained in ordinances.” These had to do
with the sacrificing of animals and other related rituals.
The shedding of the blood of lambs in the Old Testament
pointed forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who
would shed His blood on the cross for the sins of the
repentant individual. After Christ died on the cross, it
was no longer necessary for lambs to be slain: Christ, the
Lamb of God, died “once for all;” (Hebrews 7:27.) Christ
is our Passover lamb. (1 Corinthians 5:7.) The Mosaic laws
were in force for a time until Christ, our Messiah,
annulled them by shedding His blood for the sins of
mankind. In addition, the Apostle Paul tells us that
circumcision, a part of the Mosaic laws, is nothing. (1
Corinthians 7:19.) Therefore, the Mosaic laws were
“blotted out” and “nailed to the Cross” upon the death of
our Lord, Jesus Christ. (Colossians 2:14.)
The Ten
Commandments, on the other hand, are the “Royal Law,”
written by God Himself, the Creator (King) of the universe
and Originator and Sustainer of life. (James 2:8.) They
are based on the principle of love. Christ taught love for
others; “Thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.” (James
2:8.) You see, if one obeys the first four of the Ten
Commandments, he shows his love and respect for God; if he
obeys the last six of the Ten Commandments, he shows his
love and respect for his neighbor. Therefore, the
Decalogue is based on the foundation of love.
Third, the laws of Moses were placed in the side of the
Ark of the Covenant, which sat in the Most Holy Place of
the Tabernacle. (Deuteronomy 31:26.) On the other hand,
the Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark of the
Covenant, which served as the mercy seat of God. God’s
command to place the Ten Commandments inside the Ark
showed that they were constantly protected from tampering,
from change, by humans. They are eternal, being in force
in Heaven, for it was Satan who sinned in Heaven by lying,
coveting the position of Christ, and staging a rebellion
against Him. (Revelation 12: 7-12.) In addition, the Ten
Commandments will be the standard against which all men
shall be judged by their Creator. (James 2: 10-12.)
So we see that the laws of Moses were for a time until
the Messiah should come, shed His blood on Calvary, and
rise from the grave on the third day. On the other hand,
the Ten Commandments are eternal, written in stone by the
finger of God, protected from human tampering, and the
standard against which we humans shall be judged by our
Creator.
Until next week, may God bless and keep you
and yours.
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