This is the fourth and last post in my brief series on the Jewish Law.
Here’s a link to the first post which has the contents of all.
In this section I have grouped together all the commands in the scriptural narrative into categories so we can get a better grasp of what the commands of the law actually entail. If you look at the following overviews you can see them listed among the story of Genesis to Numbers.
I have omitted the commands from Deuteronomy (with one exception) because they are generally repetitions of those already given in the first four books of the Torah. Each category has a quotation so you can get a general idea of what the commands involve.
Tabulation of the Jewish Law
This is a tabulation of the law’s commands based on various categories.
| Attitudes | Actions | Prohibitions | Conditional laws |
| Love | Circumcision | Idolatry and Foreign Worship | Firstborn |
| Honor | Festivals and holidays | Murder and Violence | Property, Land and Servants |
| Worship and Sacrifice | Sexual immorality | Punishment and Restitution | |
| Purity and Washings | Stealing | Social Justice and the Poor | |
| False Witness | Vows | ||
| Coveting | Trumpets | ||
| Food laws | Clothing |
The categories – attitudes, actions, prohibitions and conditional laws I will explain as we go along.
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, given at Mount Sinai, give a series of commands which fit into different categories. Some divide up these laws into two halves. Ones about how we ought to treat God (vertical), the others our neighbour (horizontal). After each of the commands I will group them into the categories in the table above.
Ex 20.1-17; Law; Decalogue (Ten Commandments),
- You shall have no other gods before me
- You shall not make carved images or likeness of any god and serve them
- You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain
- Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy (creation and salvation)
- Honor your father and mother, promise that your days may long in the land God is giving
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
- You shall not covet what your neighbour has
[20:1] And God spoke all these words, saying, [2] “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Preamble, describing the basis for the LORD’s authority over them and why they are under the law.
[3] “You shall have no other gods before me.
Prohibition against Idolatry.
[4] “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. [5] You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, [6] but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Prohibition against Idolatry.
[7] “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Attitude of honoring the LORD.
[8] “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, [10] but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. [11] For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Festivals and holidays.
[12] “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
Attitude of honoring parents.
[13] “You shall not murder.
[14] “You shall not commit adultery.
[15] “You shall not steal.
[16] “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
[17] “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Ex 20:1-17)
The last few are all prohibitions.
Attitudes
These commands do not directly involve actions, deeds or works. Like faith and faithfulness, they may well lead to these but there is a difference between the two.
Love
The commands to love include the exception I mentioned earlier in Deuteronomy. The exception is described by Jesus as the greatest of the commandments. The Shema.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” (Dt 6:4–5)
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people,
but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Lev 19:18)
Jesus and Paul believe these commands of the law are important and encourage them on believers (e.g. Lk 10.25-37; Mt 22.36-40; Rom 13.8-10).
Honor
7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. (Ex 20.7)
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. (Ex 20.12)
Jesus and Paul believe these commands of the law are important and encourage them on believers (e.g. Lk 18.20; Eph 6.2).
Actions
These commands do involve actions, deeds and works. They are commands the Israel was obligated under the covenant to obey. They are also the commands by which people of other nations could tell they were Hebrews, Jews, adherents of the law and the righteous.
Circumcision
Gen 17.1-14; Law; Circumcision
Lev 12.3; Law; Circumcision
[9] And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. [10] This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. [11] You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. [12] He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, [13] both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. [14] Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” (Gen 17:9-14)
Hebrews have always believed in order to become one of God’s people the proselyte needs to be circumcised (e.g. Acts 15.1). They circumcised their children when they were eight days old.
In the gospel, Jesus questioned the validity of the Jews attitude to the sabbath when they circumcised children on the sabbath (Jn 7.22-24).
Paul believes the physical circumcision has been superseded by circumcision in Christ (Rom 2.28-29; Gal 2.3; 5.2-3,6; 6.15; Col 2.11).
Festivals and Holidays
Ex 12.14-20; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Ex 12.43-51; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Ex 13.3-10; Law; Festivals and holidays
Lev 16.1-28; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Lev 16.29-34; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Lev 23.1-44; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Introduction (23.1-2)
The Sabbath (23.3)
The Passover (23.4-8)
The Feast of Firstfruits (23.9-14)
The Feast of Weeks (23.15-22)
The Feast of Trumpets (23.23-25)
The Day of Atonement (23.26-32)
The Feast of Booths (23.33-43)
Lev 25.1-7; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Lev 25.8-22; Law; Festivals and holidays,
Num 15.32-36; Story-Law; Festivals and holidays,
The Jewish year is strictly lunar, being 12 lunations with an average 29–1/2 days making 354 days in the year. The Jewish sacred year begins with the new moon of spring, which comes between our March 22 and April 25 in cycles of 19 years.
We can understand it best if we imagine our New Year’s Day, which now comes on January 1 without regard to the moon, varying each year with Easter, the time of the Passover, or the time of the full moon which, as a new moon, had introduced the New Year two weeks before.
Hence the Jewish calendar contains a 13th month, Veadar or Adar Sheni, introduced 7 times in every 19 years, to render the average length of the year nearly correct and to keep the seasons in the proper months.
[23:1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.
[The Sabbath – the seventh day]
[3] “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.
[The Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread – 1st month, 14th – 21st day]
[4] “These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. [5] In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. [6] And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. [7] On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. [8] But you shall present a food offering to the LORD for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.”
[The Feast of Firstfruits – on first harvest]
[9] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [10] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, [11] and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. [12] And on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb a year old without blemish as a burnt offering to the LORD. [13] And the grain offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, a food offering to the LORD with a pleasing aroma, and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, a fourth of a hin. [14] And you shall eat neither bread nor grain parched or fresh until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
[The Feast of Weeks – on first harvest + 7 weeks]
[15] “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. [16] You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. [17] You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD. [18] And you shall present with the bread seven lambs a year old without blemish, and one bull from the herd and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. [19] And you shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old as a sacrifice of peace offerings. [20] And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits as a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. [21] And you shall make a proclamation on the same day. You shall hold a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.
[22] “And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.”
[The Feast of Trumpets – 7th month, 1st day]
[23] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [24] “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. [25] You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD.”
[The Day of Atonement – 7th month, 10th day]
[26] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [27] “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. [28] And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. [29] For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people. [30] And whoever does any work on that very day, that person I will destroy from among his people. [31] You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. [32] It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath.”
[The Feast of Booths – 7th month, 15th – 22nd day]
[33] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [34] “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. [35] On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. [36] For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.
[Summary]
[37] “These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, [38] besides the LORD’s Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the LORD.
[39] “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the LORD seven days. On the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. [40] And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. [41] You shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD for seven days in the year. It is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month. [42] You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, [43] that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.”
[44] Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel the appointed feasts of the LORD. (Lev 23)
In the gospel we can assume Jesus was involved in these observances throughout his life. However he superseded the Passover (e.g. Mk 14.22-25).
Paul allowed Jews to continue in the practice of these festivals and holidays (Rom 3.31). However, he believes these commands were the shadow that predicted the coming of Christ (Col 2.16-17; cf. Heb 10.1). In some cases he seems to redefine them around the new age inaugurated by Jesus (1 Cor 5.6-8). He was vehemently against their imposition on Gentile believers (Gal 4.8-11).
Worship and Sacrifice
Ex 20.24-28; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Ex 28.1-43; Law; Worship and Sacrifice
Ex 29.1-46; Law; Worship and Sacrifice
Ex 30.1-10; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Ex 30.11-16; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Ex 30.17-21; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Ex 30.22-38; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 1.1-17; Law; Worship and Sacrifice, Burnt Offering
[2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. [3] “If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. [4] He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. [5] Then he shall kill the bull before the LORD, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. [6] Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, [7] and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. [8] And Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; [9] but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (Lev 1:2-9)
Lev 2.1-16; Law; Worship and Sacrifice, Grain Offerings
[2:1] “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it [2] and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. [3] But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the LORD’s food offerings. (Lev 2:1-3)
Lev 3.1-17; Law; Worship and Sacrifice, Peace Offering
[3:1] “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. [2] And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. [3] And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, [4] and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins, and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. [5] Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. (Lev 3:1-5)
Lev 4.1-5.13; Law; Worship and Sacrifice, Sin Offering
[27] “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, [28] or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed. [29] And he shall lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering in the place of burnt offering. [30] And the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out all the rest of its blood at the base of the altar. [31] And all its fat he shall remove, as the fat is removed from the peace offerings, and the priest shall burn it on the altar for a pleasing aroma to the LORD. And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. (Lev 4:27-31)
Lev 5.1.14-6.7; Law; Worship and Sacrifice, Guilt Offering
[14] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [15] “If anyone commits a breach of faith and sins unintentionally in any of the holy things of the LORD, he shall bring to the LORD as his compensation, a ram without blemish out of the flock, valued in silver shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for a guilt offering. [16] He shall also make restitution for what he has done amiss in the holy thing and shall add a fifth to it and give it to the priest. And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and he shall be forgiven. (Lev 5:14-16)
Lev 6.8-30; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 7.1-18; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 7.19-21; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 7.22-27; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 7.28-36; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 10.8-11; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 17.1-9; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 21.1-24; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 22.1-9; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 22.10-17; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 22.18-30; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Lev 24.1-4; Law; Worship and Sacrifice;
Lev 24.5-9; Law; Worship and Sacrifice;
Num 3.5-39; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 8.1-4; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 8.5-13; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 8.14-22; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 8.23-26; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 10.1-10; Law; Worship and Sacrifice
Num 15.1-21; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 15.22-31; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 18.1-32; Law; Worship and Sacrifice,
Num 28.1-8; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Daily food (burnt) and drink offerings
Num 28.9-10; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Sabbath offerings
Num 28.11-15; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Monthly offerings
Num 28.16-25; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Passover (feast of unleavened bread) offerings
Num 28.26-31; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Feast of weeks offerings
Num 29.1-6; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Feast of trumpets offerings
Num 29.7-11; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Day of Atonement offerings
Num 29.12-38; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Feast of booths offerings
Num 29.39-40; Law; Worship and Sacrifice; Summary statement, Moses exhorts
[13] “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt, [14] when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. [15] And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the LORD, and the bull shall be killed before the LORD. [16] Then the anointed priest shall bring some of the blood of the bull into the tent of meeting, [17] and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD in front of the veil. [18] And he shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is in the tent of meeting before the LORD, and the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. [19] And all its fat he shall take from it and burn on the altar. [20] Thus shall he do with the bull. As he did with the bull of the sin offering, so shall he do with this. And the priest shall make atonement for them, and they shall be forgiven. [21] And he shall carry the bull outside the camp and burn it up as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly. (Lev 4:13-21)
All these commands of course were the shadow that predicted the coming of Christ (Heb 10.1; cf. Col 2.16-17). They were superseded by Christ’s death on the cross. Continued practice of them demonstrates unbelief and is sinful (Heb 8-10).
Purity and Washings
Lev 12.1-8; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 13.1-44; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 13.45-46; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 13.47-59; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 14.1-32; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 14.33-53; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 14.54-57; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 15.1-30; Law; Purity and Washings
Lev 15.31-33; Law; Purity and Washings
Num 5.1-4; Law; Purity and Washings
Num 19.1-22; Law; Purity and Washings
[12:1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. [3] And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. [4] Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. [5] But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.
[6] “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, [7] and he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. [8] And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.” (Lev 12)
[15:1] The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean. [3] And this is the law of his uncleanness for a discharge: whether his body runs with his discharge, or his body is blocked up by his discharge, it is his uncleanness. [4] Every bed on which the one with the discharge lies shall be unclean, and everything on which he sits shall be unclean. [5] And anyone who touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. [6] And whoever sits on anything on which the one with the discharge has sat shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. [7] And whoever touches the body of the one with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. [8] And if the one with the discharge spits on someone who is clean, then he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. [9] And any saddle on which the one with the discharge rides shall be unclean. [10] And whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening. And whoever carries such things shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. [11] Anyone whom the one with the discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. (Lev 15:1-11)
Jesus abolished the purity and cleanliness laws in the gospel (Mt 15.11). Paul follows his lead (Rom 14.14; Gal 2.11-12).
Prohibitions
Jesus and Paul maintain the emphasis on these commands (e.g. Mk 7.20-23; Lk 18.20; Gal 5.19-21). In a couple of cases Jesus amplified them (Mt 5.21-30).
Idolatry and Foreign worship
Ex 22.18-20; Law; Idolatry and Foreign worship
Lev 19.26-31; Law; Idolatry and Foreign worship
Lev 20.1-9; Law; Idolatry and Foreign Worship
Lev 20.27; Law; Idolatry and Foreign Worship
[20:1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. [3] I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. [4] And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, [5] then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech.
[6] “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. [7] Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. [8] Keep my statutes and do them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you. (Lev 20:1-8)
Paul commands believers not to associate with people who claim to be ‘brothers’ and persist in idolatry (1 Cor 5.9-13).
Sexual Immorality
Lev 18.1-23; Law; Sexual immorality
Lev 18.24-30; Law; Sexual immorality
Lev 19.20-22; Law; Sexual Immorality
Lev 20.10-21; Law; Sexual immorality
Num 5.11-31; Law; Sexual Immorality
[6] “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the LORD.
[7] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness.
[8] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness.
[9] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father’s daughter or your mother’s daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home.
[10] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son’s daughter or of your daughter’s daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness.
[11] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, brought up in your father’s family, since she is your sister.
[12] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is your father’s relative.
[13] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is your mother’s relative.
[14] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
[15] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son’s wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness.
[16] You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
[17] You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity.
[18] And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive. (Lev 18:6-18)
Jesus and Paul do not define what they mean by ‘sexual immorality’. We must define it as the sex acts forbidden in the law and various sex acts which are condemned in other passages. Otherwise believers are commanded to act in accordance with their faith (Rom 4.23) and in respect of other believers (Rom 14).
Paul commands believers not to associate with people who claim to be ‘brothers’ and persist in sexual immorality (1 Cor 5.9-13).
Food Laws
Lev 11.1-47; Law; Food laws;
Animals (11.1-8),
Fish (11.9-12),
Birds (11.13-19),
Insects (11.20-23),
Requirements for dead animals (11.24-28),
Unclean animals (11.29-38),
Touching unclean animals (11.39-45),
Summary statement (11.46-47)
Lev 17.10-16; Law; Food laws
[11:1] And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, [2] “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. [3] Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. [4] Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. [5] And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. [6] And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. [7] And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. [8] You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you. (Lev 11:1-8)
[10] “If any one of the house of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn among them eats any blood, I will set my face against that person who eats blood and will cut him off from among his people. [11] For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. [12] Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood.
[13] “Any one also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. [14] For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life. Therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off. [15] And every person who eats what dies of itself or what is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or a sojourner, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening; then he shall be clean. [16] But if he does not wash them or bathe his flesh, he shall bear his iniquity.” (Lev 17:10-16)
Jesus abolished the purity and cleanliness laws in the gospel (Mt 15.11). These include the food laws (cf. Acts 10.9-16).
Conditional laws
I have distinguished these commands from the ‘Actions’ category because they did not have to be practiced on a regular and ongoing capacity by all people. Rather they had to be observed in certain situations and on certain conditions.
Firstborn
Only has to be observed when the first male child or animal is born.
Ex 13.1-2; Law; Firstborn
Ex 13.11-16; Law; Firstborn
[11] “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you, [12] you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s. [13] Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. [14] And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. [15] For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ [16] It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.” (Ex 13:11-16)
Property, Land and Servants
Only has to be observed if the person owns property, land or servants.
Ex 21.1-11; Law; Property, Land and Servants
Ex 21.28-36; Law; Property, Land and Servants
Lev 19.23-25; Law; Property, Land and Servants
Lev 25.23-34; Law; Property, Land and Servants
Num 36.1-12; Law; Property, Land and Servants
[21:1] “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. [2] When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. [3] If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. [4] If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out alone. [5] But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ [6] then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
[7] “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. [8] If she does not please her master, who has designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has broken faith with her. [9] If he designates her for his son, he shall deal with her as with a daughter. [10] If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights. [11] And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money. (Ex 21:1-11)
[8] “You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years. [9] Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. [10] And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan. [11] That fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. [12] For it is a jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field.
[13] “In this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his property. [14] And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. [15] You shall pay your neighbor according to the number of years after the jubilee, and he shall sell to you according to the number of years for crops. [16] If the years are many, you shall increase the price, and if the years are few, you shall reduce the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you. [17] You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the LORD your God. (Lev 25:8-17)
Punishment and Restitution
Only has to be observed by the governing bodies and communities. And then if the person has broken the law in some sense.
Ex 21.12-32; Law; Punishment and Restitution
Ex 22.1-16; Law; Punishment and Restitution
Num 5.5-10; Law; Punishment and Restitution
Num 35.9-15; Law; Punishment and Restitution
Num 35.16-21; Law; Punishment and Restitution
Num 35.22-29; Law; Punishment and Restitution
Num 35.30-34; Law; Punishment and Restitution
[12] “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. [13] But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. [14] But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.
[15] “Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.
[16] “Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
[17] “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.
[18] “When men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist and the man does not die but takes to his bed, [19] then if the man rises again and walks outdoors with his staff, he who struck him shall be clear; only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall have him thoroughly healed.
[20] “When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and the slave dies under his hand, he shall be avenged. [21] But if the slave survives a day or two, he is not to be avenged, for the slave is his money.
[22] “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. [23] But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, [24] eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, [25] burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
[26] “When a man strikes the eye of his slave, male or female, and destroys it, he shall let the slave go free because of his eye. [27] If he knocks out the tooth of his slave, male or female, he shall let the slave go free because of his tooth.
[28] “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. [29] But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. [30] If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him. [31] If it gores a man’s son or daughter, he shall be dealt with according to this same rule. [32] If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. (Ex 21:12-32)
[5] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [6] “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, [7] he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. [8] But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong shall go to the LORD for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him. [9] And every contribution, all the holy donations of the people of Israel, which they bring to the priest, shall be his. [10] Each one shall keep his holy donations: whatever anyone gives to the priest shall be his.” (Nu 5:5-10)
[9] And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [10] “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, [11] then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. [12] The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. [13] And the cities that you give shall be your six cities of refuge. [14] You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. [15] These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there. (Nu 35:9-15)
Social Justice and the Poor
Only has to be observed if they saw the poor and needy and were in a position to help them. This particular set of commands is close to Jesus’ heart (Mt 25.31-46). Paul was also eager to see to the needs of the poor (Gal 2.10).
Ex 22.21-29; Law; Social Justice and the Poor
Ex 23.1-9; Law; Social Justice and the Poor
Lev 19.9-17; Law, Social Justice and the Poor
Lev 19.32-36; Law, Social Justice and the Poor
Lev 25.35-46; Law; Social Justice and the Poor
Lev 25.47-55; Law; Social Justice and the Poor,
[21] “You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. [22] You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. [23] If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, [24] and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.
[25] “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. [26] If ever you take your neighbor’s cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, [27] for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate.
[28] “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. (Ex 22:21-28)
[9] “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. [10] And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.
[11] “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. [12] You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
[13] “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. [14] You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
[15] “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. [16] You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
[17] “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. (Lev 19:9-17)
Vows
Lev 27.1-33; Law; Vows
Num 30.1-16; Law; Vows,
Num 6.1-21; Law; Nazirite vow
[3] “If a woman vows a vow to the LORD and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father’s house in her youth, [4] and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. [5] But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the LORD will forgive her, because her father opposed her. (Nu 30:3-5)
Jesus encouraged people not to make vows (Mt 5.33-37).
Trumpets
Num 10.1-10; Law; Trumpets
[10:1] The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, [2] “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. [3] And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. [4] But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. [5] When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. [6] And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. [7] But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. [8] And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. [9] And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. [10] On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Nu 10:1-10)
Clothing
Num 15.37-41; Law; Clothing,
[37] The LORD said to Moses, [38] “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. [39] And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. [40] So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. [41] I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” (Nu 15:37-41)
Works of law
Paul uses the term ‘works of law’ (ἔργων νόμου) in a number of important texts (Rom 3.20,28; Gal 2.16; 3.2,5,10). Some of which relate to justification. The expression is not defined in the scriptures. I suspect however, what Paul refers to as ‘works of law’ are termed ‘customs’ in Acts (6.14; 21.21; 26.3; 28.17). I’ve produced this table to look at the underlying Greek words of the expression and what they are translated to mean in English.
| Greek | ἔργων | νόμου |
| Transliteration | ergōn | nomou |
| English | work, deed | law |
Let me take you through various steps to help you understand what Paul means by ‘works of law’.
1) Paul is referring to the Jewish Law. This is the covenant law described in the Pentateuch and given to the Jews at Mt Sinai. The law we have been looking at above.
2) Paul refers to ‘works’ or ‘deeds’ specified in this Jewish law. These are commands in the Jewish law that involve observable actions. In Galatians Paul refers to circumcision (Gal 2.3-5; 5.2-3), observance of various Jewish festivals and sabbaths (Gal 4.9-10).
The commands of circumcision, festival and sabbath observance recall various events in the Jewish story of salvation and are used as ‘signs’ to identify the Jews as God’s people and point them to the LORD (Gen 17.11; Ex 31.13,17).
3) Since the expression refers to ‘works’ and ‘deeds’, Paul’s understanding of works of law does not include the attitudes or prohibitions in the Jewish law. Attitudes may lead to actions, but are not actions in themselves. Prohibitions are sins they should not do.
Paul still instructs Gentiles of all churches to observe the attitudes (Gal 5.6,14; Rom 13.8-10; 1 Cor 16.22; Eph 6.1-2) and most of the prohibitions (Gal 5.19-21; cf. 1 Cor 6.9-11; Eph 5.5-6). The main exception being the food laws.
4) Paul’s understanding of works of law does not include what he describes as ‘good works’ or helping the needy either. Through instruction and his conduct Paul insists believers of all stripes continue in good works (Gal 2.10; 6.7-10; Tit 3.8,14) and commonly lets his audiences know the last judgment will be according to them (Gal 6.7-10; Rom 2.6-10; 2 Cor 5.10).
5) Jews believed the observance of works of law was an ethical and moral obligation on all people. They are part of the law God gave them. Not doing them was an omissional sin in their eyes. Consequently for the Jews, observance of the works of law were a salvation and a fellowship issue particularly for Gentile who did not observe them.
Continued and deliberate sin is a problem for any of God’s people (e.g. Gal 5.19-21; Heb 10.26-31) and God’s people are to avoid people who call themselves believers who continue in a lifestyle of sin (1 Cor 5.11; cf. 1 Cor 6.9-11).
Because the Jews thought Gentiles were continually sinning by not observing these commands they would logically deny they would be saved (cf. Acts 15.1; Gen 17.14) and refuse to be in fellowship with them (e.g. Acts 10.28; Gal 2.11-14; Rom 14.1-23; Col 2.16-23). From their point of view Gentiles had to practice them regularly to be saved otherwise they would be continually sinning.
In the historical context the Jews regularly practiced the works of law, in some cases thinking them more important than the commands relating to justice, mercy and faithfulness (Mt 23.23-28).
6) With respect to the Gentiles, Paul believes observance of the works of law is primarily a salvation issue (Gal 3.3,10; 5.1-4). He insisted they must not observe these commands because they undermine the gospel (Gal 1.6-10; more below) and they could fall away from grace if they practiced them (Gal 5.4).
But the Jews are allowed to continue practicing them (Rom 3.31; Acts 21.20-24) as long as they didn’t rely on them (Gal 3.10).
So in the historical context Gentile believers were caught in the middle. Most Jews believed Gentiles were sinning by not observing them, but Paul believed they would be severed from Christ if they did observe them.
Close
Obviously there are a lot of commands in the Jewish law. Once they are tabulated it becomes easier to understand them and how they were applied to Jewish life.
Hopefully you have found it helpful in gaining a greater understanding of the Torah, the Jewish Law.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.
