Which Old Testament Laws Should Christians Follow?
“Which Old Testament Laws should Christians Follow?”
Since the early days of the church to our present time, a pressing question has persisted within Christian communities: "Which Old Testament Laws should Christians follow?". To answer this question, traditional Christian teachings have introduced a three-part division of the 613 laws of the Old Testament, aiming to delineate what remains relevant for believers. The division reads as follows:
Ceremonial Laws: These encompass regulations governing religious rituals, including the sacrificial system, religious feasts, and ceremonial purity.
Civil Laws: These laws once facilitated the organization of Israel's society in its specific historical context. They encompass matters such as inheritance distribution, crime management, and the overall well-being of the community.
Moral Laws: Represented by the 10 Commandments, these laws reflect God's ethical desires for humanity which can be taken literally.
The rationale behind this division lies in the belief that, as Jesus fulfilled all sacrificial conditions, Christians are no longer bound by ceremonial laws. Furthermore, considering the diverse, multi-ethnic composition of today's religious community, living far beyond the ancient boundaries of Israel, it is argued that civil laws no longer apply. Consequently, this framework teaches that only moral laws remain applicable to Christians.
But I am compelled to question the effectiveness of this approach when it comes to determining which Old Testament laws Christians should embrace. I want to share four reasons why I find this framework to be an unsatisfactory method for interpreting the law's relevance in the life of the modern Christian.
Lack of Scriptural Basis
Inconsistency with Jesus' Teachings
Tendency to Disregard Non-Literal Application of Scripture
Diminished Emphasis on Spiritual Formation
Lack of Scriptural Basis
The categorization of laws into three distinct parts is not found within the pages of scripture. Neither the authors of the Hebrew Bible, nor Jesus, Paul, or the other apostles, address the law in such segmented terms. In Scripture, the term "law" refers to 1) a single, specific regulation 2) all laws collectively as a unified whole or 3) the entirety of the first five books of the Bible. Scripture simply gives no such paradigm for dissecting or understanding the law in this way.
Inconsistent with Jesus' Teachings
Multiple instances in the Gospels reveal that Jesus emphasized the importance of adhering to the law and urged believers to observe it faithfully. For instance, in both the books of John and Matthew, He explicitly stated:
"If you love me, keep my commands...Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me…Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching."
John 14:15, 21, 23
"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 5:18-19
Jesus never once advocated for disregarding major portions of the law. Instead we see these verses underscore Jesus' unwavering love for the law and the importance He placed on keeping all of the Word of God.
Tendency to Disregard Non-Literal Application of Scripture
Inherent within the three-part division is the implication that Christians should approach the law with the intention of understanding and applying it in a strictly literal manner. Thus, leaving the reader assuming that any law which appears impractical in a different time or cultural context holds no relevance for a follower of Christ.
But if a Christian is conditioned to believe that only texts which can be taken literally are important, they will begin to selectively engage with the Old Testament, gravitating toward pieces that align with their understanding while neglecting or glossing over sections of the text they find challenging or less relevant. I’m sure it is no coincidence that books such as Numbers and Leviticus are largely unfamiliar to the average Christian.
Inherent in the three-part division is a directive to focus solely on the literal interpretation of the law that tends to discourage exploration and understanding of other portions of Old Testament Scripture.
Diminished Emphasis on Spiritual Formation
If we focus solely on the law as a system of moral codes and regulations, we fail to recognize its deeper spiritual significance. In my last post, I discussed how the purpose of the law was not given to demand strict obedience; rather, it was meant to guide Israel closer to God and His holiness. This aligns with what Moses says in Deuteronomy 6, in direct response to the question "what is the meaning of the law?" He made it clear that its function was for people to learn more about the miraculous Redeemer who liberated them from slavery in Egypt in order to love them and bless them.
In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?” then you are to tell him, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Before our eyes the LORD inflicted great and devastating signs and wonders on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his household. But He brought us out from there to lead us in and give us the land that He had sworn to our fathers.
Deuteronomy 6:20-23
The existence of the law is not strictly for moral formation but rather spiritual formation. When we diminish this reality for Israel, we naturally diminish it for ourselves.
A Better Question
It's impossible to come to a full comprehension of the law and its value for Christians by simply dividing it into three parts.
Yes, it is true that Jesus fulfilled all of the sacrificial requirements of the law, and that the body of believers has expanded beyond the physical and cultural boundaries of Israel. But I do not believe these disqualify the importance of the law from our lives. As followers of Christ, our relationship to the law is different, but it is not irrelevant. Recall from the previous post that scripture states how under the new covenant God places the law inside our minds and hearts. It remains an important part of our relationship with God.
But this realization leaves us with our initial question unanswered.
Consider this: If the law is whole, if Jesus loves the law and encourages believers to follow it, if the law has lasting spiritual significance, we should pose a different question.
Instead of asking “Which laws should Christians follow?” maybe we would be better served to ask “How should Christians follow the law in light of Jesus?”.
The law has abiding validity - not as a list of rules to follow in Pharisaic legalism - but because of what the law expresses spiritually and teaches to a people who have been redeemed by God. In this sense, the whole of the law applies to Christians.
I will dive more into the question "How should Christians follow the law in light of Jesus" in the next post. For now, I encourage you to reflect on the passages and questions provided below.
Reflection Questions
How has the three-part division influenced how I understand the meaning of the law for Christians?
Read Jesus’ words in the John and Matthew passages above. How does my understanding compare or contrast with His teachings?
Read Romans 7:7, 12, 14, 24-25 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17. How do these verses encourage me to read the law with a different lens than I did before?
How should I, as a Christian, follow the law in light of Jesus?
Additional Notes:
I am not wholly convinced that dividing the law into three sections is beneficial to a Christian's understanding of which laws apply to us. Yet, I do believe that it is useful for us in comprehending the scope of the law. The law code of ancient Israel is not comprehensive. The scope of the law is limited. It was never intended to account for every unique situation that the individuals within the nation of Israel would face. Instead, God gave them the law so that they would continually strive after his teachings and use them in all other aspects of their lives. This is still true for us today.
Sources:
The Old Testament Law for the Life of the Church by Richard E. Averbeck
Playing with Fire by Walt Russell
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