Two Laws
The Scriptures teach that there are two separate and distinct laws – God’s law and Moses’ law. Let’s examine some references that show that:
1-Moses wrote, “And he 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 statues and judgments, that ye might do them in the land wither ye go over to posses it” (Deuteronomy 4:13,14). Here, Moses separates between the Ten Commandments, which “he (the Lord) commanded you,” from the statues which “the Lord commanded me” to give the people.
2-Again, the Lord spoke of the law “I have commanded” and also the “law … Moses commanded”: “Neither will I make the feet of Israel move anymore out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them” (2 Kings 21:8).
3-Also, Daniel gave the same distinction when he prayed for the desolated sanctuary of his nation. “Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is purged upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God because we have sinned against him” (Daniel 9:11). We can see clearly the phrases “thy law” and “the law of Moses.”
Comparison
| MOSES’ LAW | GOD’S LAW |
| Called “the law of Moses” (Luke 2:22). | Called “the law of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:24). |
| Called “law … contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15). | Called “the royal law” (James 2:8). |
| Written by Moses in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12). | Written by God on stone (Exodus 31:18 32:16). |
| Placed in the side of the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26). | Placed inside the ark (Exodus 40:20). |
| Ended at the cross (Ephesians 2:15). | Will stand forever (Luke16:17). |
| Added because of sin (Galatians 3:19). | Points out sin (Romans 7:7 3:20). |
| Contrary to us, against us (Colossians 2:14-16). | Not grievous (1 John 5:3). |
| Judges no one (Colossians 2:14-16). | Judges all people (James 2:10-12). |
| Carnal (Hebrews 7:16). | Spiritual (Romans 7:14). |
| Made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19). | Perfect (Psalms 19:7). |
Moses’ Law
Moses’ law consisted of the annual, ceremonial sabbaths that were “a shadow of things to come” and not to the seventh-day Sabbath. There were seven yearly holy days, or feasts, in ancient Israel that were also called sabbaths (Leviticus 23). These were in addition to, or “besides the Sabbaths of the Lord” (Leviticus 23:38), or seventh-day Sabbath. These foreshadowed or pointed to the cross and ended at the cross. God’s seventh-day Sabbath was made before Adam’s sin, and therefore could foreshadow nothing about deliverance from sin. For this reason, Colossians 2 differentiates and clearly points the sabbaths that were “a shadow.”
God’s Law
God’s law has existed at least as long as sin has existed (Romans 4:15). When people sin they break God’s moral law (1 John 3:4). Unlike the Mosaic law, the Ten Commandments (God’s law) “stand fast for ever and ever” and therefore, are binding today (Psalms 111:8). And the weekly seventh day Sabbath of the fourth commandment remains in effect (Romans 7:12; Hebrews 4:9…etc.).
Jesus affirmed, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17,18 also Luke 16:17).
Paul confirmed also that God’s Moral Law is still in effect: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, thou shalt not covet” (Romans 7:7); “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law?” (Romans 3:31 also Romans 7:12).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
