The Purpose Of The Law

The Title: The Purpose of the Law

Scripture: Matthew 5:18, Romans: 7-12

Reason for this sermon: Twice I have lead Bible studies through the 613 laws in the Pentateuch. It was amazing. The people “ate the studies up” for much of what Jesus said came directly from the Law. The studies strengthened our Christianity. It is my hope that this sermon will encourage you to study of the laws in your church.

How important is the Law: Jesus said, Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Another translation: “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.” Jesus here is saying keep the Law until the universe is no more and do not modify it in even the least way.

What is the purpose of the 613 laws found in the first five books of the Bible: Paul wrote, Romans 7:7-12, “7 What then are we to say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet, if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’ 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived 10 and I died, and the very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity in the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.” The Law sets standards, though it does not mention every possible sin, it guides us to proper civil and moral behavior. Most importantly, the Law establishes loyalty between God and His people. When we Christians read the Old Testament laws, we ought to be humbled to appreciate how unworthy we are to belong to Christ. Note: The word “Law” refers to all of the laws collectively. The word “laws” refers to the 613 laws that the LORD expects the Israelites to keep evidencing their loyalty to Him.

Since Jesus and Paul say that the laws are important, do we need to study and know them? Yes. It is very important for the growing Christian. Do note that Jesus did differentiate between the importances of the various laws for example saying there are two greatest laws: Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” And, Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” The first five Books of the Bible, the Pentateuch or Torah, contain the laws. Those five Books and the rest of the Old Testament are the Word of God. However, nowhere in the Bible does it say that obeying the laws will save your soul. Israel’s problem in the Old Testament was not its inability to keep the laws; it was with their choosing not to do so. The Law, all of the laws, is a gift from God, a gift to live by.

The Law is an instruction manual for life. Obeying the Law sets us apart from godless people setting stipulations and boundaries for our conduct. It explains how to live morally and have kind relationships with others. Following the Pentateuch’s commandments are the means through which we apply these values to our lives and create a society with more happiness and harmony.

God, through Moses, gave the Pentateuch to the Children of Israel at the Mount Sinai. The Pentateuch goes from the Creation though to the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land. God had to take His people who, for hundreds of years, had been suffering under the horrors of slavery and make them into a Nation. The Israelites had to shed the ways and culture of Egypt and be prepared not to adopt the ways and culture of the Canaanites.

God did this with the laws recorded throughout the first five books of the Bible particularly from chapter 19 of Exodus through to the Deuteronomy 34. However, the Law is far more than instructions for former slaves; it presents a way of life for all peoples.

Again, I say, the Pentateuch’s laws are God’s gift to His people Israel and to us living in the Twenty-First Century. These laws establish the ways the Israelites were to live with one another and provide the same civil and moral guides for us. Following these laws provides for the security (food, protection) of all. Further, the Pentateuch provides ceremonial laws that tell the Israelites how to worship God Almighty. God’s instructions begin with the Ten Commandments. Next, the other 603 laws provide detail to the first Ten and give instructions for Levites and Priests.