Author : Sunday Ayandare
In the first part of this article (the reader is advised to read that before continuing with this), an attempt was made to explain Matthew 5:17-18. We pointed out that “the law and the prophets” refer to the Old Testament scriptures in their entirety and that these were fulfilled in, and by Christ.
Having been fulfilled by Christ, they were replaced by the law of Christ – the New Testament. This fulfills the prophecy of Jeremiah 31:31-34. Jesus took away the old covenant that He might establish the second (Hebrews 10:9; cf. 8:7-13). He took away the Old Testament and nailed it to His cross (Colossians 2:14-17). The Old Testament law, given by Moses, is done away in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:11-17). Mike Willis summed up this in a very beautiful way when he wrote:
Jesus was to the law what marriage is to an engagement, a flower is to a bud, and a completed picture is to a silhouette. When an engagement ends in marriage, a bud produces a flower and a silhouette is finished in a picture; the engagement, but and a silhouette are not destroyed. They accomplish their intended purpose are a left behind that the completed form might exist. In a similar way, Christ ‘is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth’ (Ro 10:4).
(Mike Willis, Guardian of Truth, Oct. 20, 1988).
What Is the Nature Of the Old Testament?
Now, let us shift our focus and beam our searchlight on what the word of God teaches us constituting the nature of the law of Moses and the entire Old Testament system.
- The Law of Moses was Weak – “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin, He condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3). The weakness of the law derives from the fact that it demanded that man keep it perfectly; and no man except Jesus kept it so perfectly.
- The Old Covenant Was Imperfect – “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then would no place have been sought for the second” (Hebrews 8:7). “For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19)
- The Law Could Not Provide Justification – “By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Galatians 2:16; Romans 3:20; Hebrews 10:4).
- The Law Was Only An Addition – “What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator” (Galatians 3:19)
- The Law Of Moses Was Given Provisionally Until The Coming of Christ – “It was added because of transgressions till the seed should come…” (Galatians 3:19). It was to be valid until it is fulfilled (Matthew 5:17-18).
- The Law Of Moses Was Our Custodian Until Christ Came – “But before faith came, we were kept under the law (of Moses – SA), shut up unto the faith which would afterwards be revealed. Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:23-25). The word schoolmaster in King James Version (KJV), is rendered custodian in the Revised Standard Version (RSV). The idea of a schoolmaster, or custodian is that of a pedagogue. A pedagogue was an old trusted slave who accompanied minor children to and from school to ensure that they did not loiter along the way. In a sense, a pedagogue supervises the morals and the manners of these children and conducts them to their teacher. Galatians 3:23-25 teaches that now that faith has come, we are no longer under a pedagogue. Christ is the Teacher, while the law served only as the custodian to bring men to Christ.
From these premises, therefore, it could be palpably seen that the nature of “the law and the prophets” is an eloquent testimony to the fact that the Old Testament in its entirety has been abrogated. As a result of this, the Old Testament ordinances have given way to the New Testament ordinances – the apostles’ doctrine (Colossians 2:14-16; Acts 2:42; 15:23-29). Not only that, the priesthood has also been changed from the Levitical priesthood to the priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 7:11-14). Under the priesthood of Christ, all Christians are priests and Christ is the High Priest (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14-16; 5:5,10). Besides, we no longer need animal sacrifices. We now enjoy the efficacy of the sacrifice of the Son of God. Christ is now, under the New Testament, our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Hebrews 7:26-27; 10:10-18).
Another noticeable change that follows the abrogation of the Old Testament is that of the items of temple worship (Hebrews 9:1-14). The items of worship under the New Testament are listed in Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7. The Old Testament made provision for the Sabbath day (Saturday) as the day of worship. But the New Testament makes provision for the first day of the week (Sunday) as the day of Christian worship (Exodus 20:8-11; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10). The Old Testament stipulated that the temple in Jerusalem was the only place where the Jews could offer acceptable worship (John 4:20; Deuteronomy 12:5-11; 2 Chronicles 7:12). But Christians are now free, under the New Testament, to worship God at any place as long as they worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24).
As a corollary to the change of the law, what was binding in the Old Testament as to what animals one could lawfully eat (Leviticus 11:1ff) is no longer binding today under the New Testament. For Christians, “every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). “Whatever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof” (1 Corinthians 10:25-26).
What Are the Consequences Of Mixing the Practices of the Old Testament With the New?
Our study so far has led us to the point that whatever is taught and practiced today must be authorized by the New Testament. However, there are millions of religious people today who appeal to the Old Testament to justify their teachings and practices. Most popular among these are paying and receiving of tithes, the use of mechanical instruments of music, observance of Sabbath, special priesthood, burning of incense and candles, observance of Feast of Tabernacle, Feast of Pentecost, Harvest and so on. What are the consequences of teaching and practicing these things under the New Testament dispensation?
- It means such people are obligated to keep the whole law – “For I testify to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law” (Galatians 5:3). The law of Moses is structured in such a way that nobody could take one of its provisions and leave the other. “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen” (Deuteronomy 27:26). This principle is amplified in James 2:10 – “For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” As a result of this principle, to perform circumcision on the basis of the law of Moses is to be obligated to keep the law in its entirety. Now, nobody really wants to go back to the Old Testament completely. What happens is that when people are so obsessed with an Old Testament teaching or practice like tithing, polygamy, special priesthood, celebration of harvest, etc, and finding no authority for it in the New Testament, they desperately resort to the Old Testament. In politics, this is a kind of kangaroo arrangement.
- It means such people are “entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1) – Peter declared at the gathering in Jerusalem that the law of Moses was a yoke “which neither our fathers (Jewish fathers) nor we (Jews) were able to bear” (Acts 15:10; vss. 1,5).
- It means such people have forfeited the grace that is in Christ – “Behold, I Paul say unto you that if you are circumcised (according to the law of Moses – SA) Christ shall profit you nothing… Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law (of Moses – SA); ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:2,4).
- It means such people are committing (spiritual) adultery – “For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then, if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adultress; but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adultress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law (of Moses – SA) by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Romans 7:2-4). Just as a woman cannot be married to two men at the same time without committing adultery, just so Christians cannot be amenable to both the Old and the New Testaments at the same time.
- It is sinful – The sinfulness of mixing the teachings and practices of the two testaments stems from the fact that it involves tempting God. “Now therefore, why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples…” (Acts 15:10). Moreover, it is tantamount to subverting of souls. “Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, ‘Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law (of Moses – SA)…” (Acts 15:24). Besides, the sinfulness of mixing the teachings and practices of the Old and New Testaments is underscored by the fact that the apostles “gave no such commandment” (Acts 15:24). To go beyond the teachings of the apostles is to go beyond the teachings of Christ and God (1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 14:37; 2 John 9-11).
Conclusion
The law of Moses has been abrogated, making way for the New Testament (Colossians 2:14-17). God changed the Levitical priesthood to that of Christ. Since the priesthood has been changed, “there is made of necessity a change also of the law” (Hebrews 7:12). The New Testament has better promises (Hebrews 8:6-13). The Old Testament with all its ordinances were only to remain until the time of reformation – the coming of Christ (Hebrews 9:1-28).
To state these things does not mean Christians are today without law. Indeed, we are under the law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21). “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). To state these things does not mean we can derive no benefit from a study of the Old Testament. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Surely, “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we, through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). We learn of the patience of Job, the faith of Abraham, and the courage of Elijah.
Regarding certain recorded events of the Old Testament, the apostle Paul says, “Now these things happened unto them by way of examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
Keep in mind that the law of Moses had a purpose, and this was accomplished in Christ. To that extent, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4).
Today, if what you do or practice cannot be found in the law of Christ, please, give it up.
