Upvote:0
Complementary to @Mac's Musings's answer, one can also distinguish the kinds of laws from how they are presented in the Bible.
In particular, even though it isn't always obvious which is which, there is a significant difference between absolute laws that are for all mankind for all time, those that are part of the first covenant with Israel, and those that are covenants with individuals.
God had laws that were in effect long before Moses, as can be seen by:
Some laws are described with respect to God, not to Israel, such as:
Some laws are specifically directed at individuals or given as part of the terms of the first Covenant with the chosen nation of Israel, such as:
"This is my covenant, which ye [Abraham] shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised." (Gen 17:10).
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people" (Ex 19:5).
Some laws are part of the new covenant, such as:
And some laws can be inferred as being for all mankind by their future existence, such as:
Upvote:2
The Torah laws consisted of a great deal more than just the 10 Commandments and ceremonial laws. The Law of Moses can be loosely divided into several sections that overlap somewhat, but this will help to clarify the discussion.
Historical Positions
Until at least the 19th century, most mainstream churches taught that the Ceremonial system in the Law of Moses had been fulfilled by Jesus and that the only law incumbent upon Christians was the Moral Law (10 commandments and a few others). Indeed, the Church of England 1662 liturgy for Holy Communion required the minister to read each of the 10 commandments and the congregation would respond, “Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.”
King Alfred the Great of England based his original civil code of law on section (2) above - Jewish jurisprudence. That is, while not adopting the Jewish laws directly, he used them to inform his civil code.
In the history of the Church, there have been several official theological positions regarding the ceremonial laws in the Pentateuch. Here is a short list (I will ignore such refinements as Adamic Law and Noahide Law as extra-Biblical ideas):
Position #1: The entire Mosaic Law should be kept.
Position #2: The Ceremonial System should be kept, including sacrifices and holy days, but not the priesthood and temple parts. The Ten Commandments should also be kept.
Position #3: Only the Holy days should be observed, and the Ten Commandments kept.
Position #4: Only the Moral Law should be kept and possibly the personal ethical rules as well
Position #5: No law should be kept because we "under a covenant of grace".
Position #1 is not possible because the temple does not exist and neither does the priesthood. If this position had been intended by God, then God would have preserved both the priesthood and the temple.
Position #2 is similarly inconsistent - the Ceremonial System cannot be implemented without the temple and priesthood - the Pentateuch makes this very clear. Even the Jews understand this. Many Jews want to re-start the whole ceremonial system but realise that without the temple and priesthood they cannot. Therefore, they do not do it.
Position #3 is equally inconsistent as Position #2. The ONLY way to keep the annual holy days is as per the extensive regulations in the Leviticus, including its sacrifices; but all these requirements need the temple and priesthood, and thus cannot be implemented.
Position #4 as stated above, used to be that of most churches. (Now many are not clear.) The usual justification for keeping the Ten Commandments as opposed to the ceremonial laws was based on several observations:
Position #5 is untenable as encouraging lawlessness (1 John 3:4) and anarchy, and is unbiblical. Paul specifically tackles this problem by saying a number of times that by grace we should uphold the [moral] law (Rom 6:15, 7:7-12, 14, etc).
Thus, there is much debate (still) about what laws are still relevant today. Some of the plagues of medieval Europe that devastated much of the population were often stopped (at least on some regions) by implementing the hygiene and quarantine health laws in the Torah. Every church group has a different position that are often historically based rather than really Biblically based.
Upvote:2
The ten commandments and the laws and statutes and judgments all came from God to Moses to the Israelites.
And he [God] declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. Deut 4:13-14
That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 104:45
And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Exo 24:12
The word "law" is torah, which may, among other things, refer to the first five books of the Old Covenant. The word "commandments" is mitsvah, which also refers to laws. So yes, both were given by God.
The purpose of the commandments were, if one could observe them all, to provide righteousness before the LORD.
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us. Deut 6:25
I'm not sure which laws the OP believes contradict the commandments.
As shown, the purpose of the 613 laws and commandments were if one could observe them all to make one righteous before God. Because all would fail at that, part of the commandments given was a sacrificial system, priests to act in sted, and a temple in which to offer.
Obviously, some today still feel their works will work somehow to establish their righteousness.
For Christians, we side with Paul who said this.
And be found in him [Christ Jesus], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law [the law and commandments as noted above], but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Phil 3:9
Should we go sin the more? No way (Rom 6:1-2). Nonetheless we are saved by grace through faith in the work of righteousness found in Christ who did fulfill the law and commandments, not in our own. It is a gift.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9