The Law of Moses: God’s Revelation to Israel
The Torah (Pentateuch) contains the foundational covenant law God gave Israel through Moses, comprising moral principles, civil regulations, and ceremonial practices that reflected His holy nature.
The Composition of Mosaic Law
- Core: Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17)
- Summary: Love God and neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18)
- Scope: 600+ commandments across Exodus-Deuteronomy
Threefold Division of the Law
| Moral Law | Civil Law | Ceremonial Law |
|---|---|---|
| Reflects God’s character | Governs societal relations | Regulates worship |
| Ten Commandments | Property/marriage codes | Sacrificial system |
| Universal principles | Judicial penalties | Purity regulations |
Christ’s Relationship to the Law
- Fulfilled its requirements (Matthew 5:17)
- Affirmed its permanence (Luke 16:17)
- Perfectly obeyed it (Hebrews 4:15)
- Established new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
Contemporary Applications
- Moral law reveals God’s standards
- Ceremonial law fulfilled in Christ
- Civil law informs biblical values
- All Scripture remains profitable (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“The Law was our guardian until Christ came… Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian” (Galatians 3:24-25)
