Anaya Nolan
Christians are not bound by the Torah, or the Jewish law, because Jesus kept it for them. He fulfilled its ceremonies, festivals, sacrifices, and its moral demands. The New Testament writers emphasise that Christians are not bound to the law of Moses, but are subject to the law of Christ, a moral norm encapsulated by sacrificial love. Christians seem to universally follow the Ten Commandments, albeit in a Christianised form, with the Sabbath replaced by Sunday. However, there is no consistency in which other laws are followed, and Christian theology and law do not always align.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Christians are not bound by the Torah | The Old Testament law was given to the ancient nation of Israel, not Christians |
| Christians are under the "law of Christ" | Christians are subject to the "law of Christ", a moral norm encapsulated by sacrificial love |
| Christians are not under the law | Christians are not bound to the law of Moses |
| Christians are under grace | Christ kept the law and died for our failure to do so, so those united with him through faith are under grace |
| Christians are not obligated to obey the Torah | Paul did not require obedience to the Torah |
| Christians are not Torah observant | Christians are under the headship of Christ, not Adam |
| Christians fulfill the law | Christians fulfill the law even as they don't keep it |
| Christians follow the Ten Commandments | Christians universally follow the Ten Commandments |
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What You'll Learn
Christians are not bound by the Torah
The Torah, or the Mosaic Law, is the law that God gave to Moses, as written in the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. While the Torah provides ethical and moral guidelines for Jews, it is not a requirement for Christians to follow.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus, did not require obedience to the Torah. In his letters, Paul emphasizes that Christians fulfill the law by loving one another as Christ loved them, a commandment that surpasses the law's demands. This is further supported by Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17).
It is important to note that while Christians are not obligated to follow the Torah, they are still subject to the "law of Christ," which is a moral norm encapsulated by sacrificial love. This new covenant, established by Jesus, does not require Christians to keep the feasts, avoid certain foods, or observe religious festivals as outlined in the Torah.
In conclusion, Christians are not bound by the Torah because Jesus fulfilled the law and established a new covenant. Christians are now under the headship of Christ and are called to follow his commandment of sacrificial love, which fulfills and surpasses the demands of the Torah.
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The Torah was meant to govern God's covenant people
The Torah, the central Jewish scripture, provides Judaism with its history, theology, and a framework for ethics and practice. It is comprised of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Colloquially, it refers to all 24 books of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh.
The Torah is the expression of the covenant (brit) given by God to the Jewish people. Covenants are a major theme in the Bible, with God entering into formal partnerships or covenants with humans to restore humanity to its divine calling. The Mosaic covenant, made with Moses and the Israelites at Horeb-Sinai, contains the foundations of the written Torah. God promises to make the Israelites his "treasured possession" and a "holy nation" if they follow his commandments. The Ten Commandments are given to Moses as part of this covenant and are later elaborated on in the Torah.
However, with the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, the question arises as to whether followers of Christ should observe the Torah. Jesus himself announces, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17). This indicates that Jesus came to keep the law and show its true intent, fulfilling its ceremonies, festivals, sacrifices, and moral demands.
Paul, in his letters, also addresses the relationship between Christians and the Torah. He separates the Law from the New Covenant, stating that Christians are not under the law but under grace through their faith in Christ. While he does not require obedience to the Torah, he also does not mandate disobedience. Instead, he emphasizes that Christians are subject to "the law of Christ," a moral norm of sacrificial love.
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The Ten Commandments are a summary of the Torah
The Torah is a collection of laws and commandments that guide the Jewish people. The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a set of ten religious and ethical directives that form the basis of the Torah. They are considered a summary of the Torah's fundamental principles and are believed to have been given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.
The Ten Commandments are not as explicit or detailed as other biblical laws, but they provide universal guiding principles. They are written in a terse style and are said to have been "written with the finger of God" (Exodus 31:18). They were originally inscribed on two stone tablets, which were placed in the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:21, Deuteronomy 10:2,5). The text of the Ten Commandments appears in three distinct versions in the Bible: Exodus 20 1-17, Deuteronomy 5 6-21, and the "Ritual Decalogue" of Exodus 34:11-26.
While Christians are not bound by the Torah or the Mosaic Law, the Ten Commandments hold a special place in Christian history and theology. Most traditions of Christianity consider them to have divine authority and continue to be valid, with varying interpretations. The early Church valued them, as seen in the Apostolic Constitutions, which urge believers to "always remember the ten commands of God."
The Ten Commandments are not exhaustive, as the Torah contains 613 commandments. However, they are significant because they contain the core principles from which the other commandments emerge. They are recited and studied regularly in Jewish tradition and form the basis of Jewish Rabbinic law.
In conclusion, the Ten Commandments are indeed a summary of the Torah, providing a concise and universal set of religious and ethical directives that form the foundation of Jewish law and have influenced Christian theology as well. They are considered divine and essential in understanding and following God's laws and standards of behaviour.
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Jesus fulfilled the law
The question of a Christian's relationship to Mosaic Law in the Torah has been a source of confusion for many Christians. Paul, in his letters, seems to separate the Law from the New Covenant, and he was persecuted for not requiring obedience to the Torah. However, he also followed the Torah when he was among the Jews, and he did not require disobedience either.
Jesus himself, in the Sermon on the Mount, clarified his stance on the Law and the Prophets (a phrase referring to the whole Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament):
> Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Jesus did not come to abolish or invalidate the Law and the Prophets but to fulfill them, to establish and embody the Word, and to accomplish all that was written. He fulfilled the Prophets by fulfilling hundreds of prophecies concerning himself. He fulfilled the Law as a teacher and as a doer. He taught people to obey the Law and obeyed the Law himself, living a perfect life and fulfilling the moral laws. Through his sacrificial death, he fulfilled the ceremonial laws.
Jesus, therefore, fulfilled the Law in its threefold division: the moral, civil, and ceremonial law. He fulfilled the moral law by saving humanity, the civil law by expanding his people beyond the Israelites, and the ceremonial law by being the perfect sacrifice for sins.
Christians are now under the law of Christ, which is a moral norm encapsulated by sacrificial love.
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Christians are under the law of Christ
Christians are not bound by the Jewish law or the Mosaic Law in the Torah, but they are subject to the law of Christ. The New Testament makes it clear that Jesus fulfilled the law, its ceremonies, festivals, sacrifices, and its moral demands. He kept the law and died for humanity's failure to do so.
The apostle Paul clarifies that through Jesus, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and believers are freed from the condemnation of the law. In other words, Christians are "not under law, but under grace." This does not mean that Christians are without moral obligations. Instead, they are subject to the moral norms encapsulated by sacrificial love, as taught by Jesus.
Paul further distinguishes between the Law of Moses and the Law of Liberty, emphasizing that the former is a ministry of death, while the latter is a ministry of life. The Law of Moses was given specifically to Israel, and no man can perfectly meet its demands. James quotes from the Ten Commandments to mock those who try to follow the Law, illustrating the futility of keeping it partially.
Christians, therefore, are not obligated to obey the Torah or the Old Testament law. However, they are called to follow the law of Christ, which is characterized by sacrificial love and grace. This law is written on the hearts of those in the New Covenant, empowering them to please God.
In conclusion, Christians are under the law of Christ, which fulfills and supersedes the Mosaic Law. This new law brings grace, love, and redemption, freeing believers from condemnation and empowering them to live according to God's standards.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Christians are not bound by the Torah, or the Jewish law. Jesus is believed to have fulfilled the law and died for humans' failure to do so. Christians are now "under grace", secure in the realm of God’s unmerited favour.
Christians are subject to the "law of Christ", a moral norm encapsulated by sacrificial love. This is a central message of the New Testament: God gives in the gospel what he demands in the law.
The Old Testament law was given to the ancient nation of Israel, not to Christians. The law was meant to govern God’s covenant people living in the Promised Land. The Ten Commandments, for example, were to teach the Israelites how to obey and please God.
Paul stood against imposing Torah observance on Christians, as it can be seen as a way to please God. He believed that either Christians are justified and declared righteous by faith in Christ, or it is through the law. Both cannot coexist.
