Musing – Why Don’t We Christians Follow All of the Mosaic Law?

Hebraic Musing – Why Don’t We Christians Follow All of the Mosaic Law?

Athol Dickson in “The Gospel According to Moses” proposes five reasons – rather interesting perspectives.*

First, some of the commandments are from the Oral Torah, not necessarily from the written Torah. Thus, Christians do not believe that the oral traditions in the Talmud necessarily came from God.

Second, both Jews and Christians do not observe many of the Torah’s commandments because to do so relies on the existence of a Temple in Jerusalem.  Since AD 70, that temple no longer exists; as a result, the Jews have devised ‘work arounds’ which the Christians do not accept.**  Notice that the temple was destroyed in AD 70 – providential timing since its purpose was fulfilled and the Word was out!

Third, many of the Torah’s commands can be classified as either mishpatim or chukim.  These can be translated “Laws” and “Decrees”; the difference being –

·      Laws are like our case law – dealing with daily life situations.  Laws are socially logical – shalt not kill, steal, false witness, etc.  These make sense and have become guides for our lives.

·      Decrees are orders coming down from a king or authority like God.  Decrees may seem to be at the whim of the king and are to be obeyed without necessarily understanding the rationale – holiness codes and the sacrifices and detailed preparations for same.  Christianity tries to accept these decrees as symbolic and fulfilled by Jesus Christ.  Symbolism is no longer needed when the real thing comes along.

Fourth, Jesus taught a different method to reach the same objective. 

·      Jews build a “fence” around the “Laws” to avoid any chance of breaking the law or offending God.  Example, the Torah decree to “not cook a baby goat in its mother’s milk” is resolved by creating separate kitchenware to avoid any chance of breaking God’s decree – one of many such rabbinic “fence” laws.

·      Jesus used a different approach to achieve meaningful obedience.  His Sermon on the Mount is classic in which He admonishes us to – don’t even think about it –  and Jesus equates some angers to murder, solving the problem at its source!  BUT, how does one control one’s thoughts or heart?  For that, we need the fifth difference between Jewish and Christian view of observance of the law…

Fifth, note that in the Torah, God puts His Spirit “on” certain people in certain situations – David and Joshua for example.  And He removed His Spirit from Saul.  The Holy Spirit’s involvement was for specific purposes, times and reasons.  As Christians we believe we have an “indwelling of the Spirit.”  Before we became Christians, we were comfortable with sin; but as “new creations” our fundamental desire is to be obedient to Our Lord.  Not a new concept, it was promised in the OT – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezek. 36:26-28  NIV

SUMMARY – Ceremonial Law was fulfilled/abolished in the NT; but the Moral Law remains.  Maybe Jews and Christians are not as far apart as we tend to believe!

 Points to ponder

Which would you rather follow… 
The shekinah glory of God over the Tabernacle/Temple?
or the guidance and counsel of the Holy Spirit residing in your “temple”?

God started working on His people from the “outside in”;
but Jesus came to give us an “inside out” approach!

♫ Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.  Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
        Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                  November 28, 2017

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

*     Inspired and excerpted from Athol Dickson’s in “The Gospel According to Moses” pp 148-154
**   See “Hebraic Musing - Can Prayer Replace Sacrifices?” published October 24, 2017.