Old Testament laws???

[palmaceae]

Have a question, just recently I have seen some post here and some people at work saying that we do not follow some old testament laws anymore, such as the laws in Leviticus. I thought we still follow all laws in the word, didn't Jesus say He did not come to change the law but to fulfill the law?
Thank you!

[HeIsEnough]

To answer your question specifically...

Have a question, just recently I have seen some post here and some people at work saying that we do not follow some old testament laws anymore, such as the laws in Leviticus. I thought we still follow all laws in the word, didn't Jesus say He did not come to change the law but to fulfill the law?
Thank you!

There are approximately (or specifically depending on who says it), 613 laws given to the nation of Israel. The church does not follow them, they were given to Israel by God in that dispensation.

Jesus Christ is our High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek. And as such, a change in the priesthood (from the Levitical) required a change in the law. You are now living in that dispensation.


Hebrews 7

Melchizedek the Priest

1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek

11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=65&chapter=7&version=31#fen-NIV-30066a)] 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
'You are a priest forever.' "[b (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=65&chapter=7&version=31#fen-NIV-30070b)] 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely[c (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=65&chapter=7&version=31#fen-NIV-30074c)] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.If you would like further information regarding these things, look around in this forum or someone may provide you some links. This subject is not up for debate in this forum...just as a general reminder, not saying you desired to do that..:hug

[Biblenuggetlady]

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

:thumb

[palmaceae]

To answer your question specifically...



There are approximately (or specifically depending on who says it), 613 laws given to the nation of Israel. The church does not follow them, they were given to Israel by God in that dispensation.

Jesus Christ is our High Priest, in the order of Melchizedek. And as such, a change in the priesthood (from the Levitical) required a change in the law. You are now living in that dispensation.

If you would like further information regarding these things, look around in this forum or someone may provide you some links. This subject is not up for debate in this forum...just as a general reminder, not saying you desired to do that..:hug

Thank you, I totally agree! Definitely did not post it to debate it, just wondering how the laws were no longer valid, I wanted to make sure I was explaining it right to them. One of the questions that came up is homosexuallity, which of course is in Leviticus, so they were saying it is no longer valid, but I did point them to Romans 1:27.
Thanks again!

[palmaceae]

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:36-40

:thumb

Thanks! So the statement Jesus made there "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" means we should still follow the laws of the old testament. I guess I am still confused :scratch I guess I am wanting to know what laws in the old testament that we do not need to follow. Like I mentioned above, homosexuallity, Romans 1:27 is clear about that, but I have also heard, today actually, that since it is a Lev law you do not need to follow that. I am a firm believer in that this is a sin, but I got confused when it says the Lev law is not being followed anymore, I hope that makes sense??

[Kliska]

Thanks! So the statement Jesus made there "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" means we should still follow the laws of the old testament. I guess I am still confused :scratch I guess I am wanting to know what laws in the old testament that we do not need to follow. Like I mentioned above, homosexuallity, Romans 1:27 is clear about that, but I have also heard, today actually, that since it is a Lev law you do not need to follow that. I am a firm believer in that this is a sin, but I got confused when it says the Lev law is not being followed anymore, I hope that makes sense??

One of the things you need to consider is that they were to follow the Law for salvation. If anyone could keep all the laws since birth, God would deem them sinless, and hence, capable of "saving" themselves. The point was to teach man a firm lesson; we are not capable of doing it ourselves and need a Saviour; someone to save us. Christ fulfilled the law, we are no longer under it. Salvation is of faith, not works. We rely on Christ alone to save us, not on any work. We aren't to put ourselves back under the law. For example, it calls for animal sacrifice in the law; this is a no-no because Christ is the fulfillment of those laws.

"All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments" means if you Love God and Love thy neighbor, you won't have to "work" at keeping the law, it just happens by Loving God and loving thy neighbor. The idea is that there is not a list of rules now that we have to work through to be saved.

[Hootmon]

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one.

Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Gal 3:17-25)

[Sing4Him]

Hebrews 10 !:thumb

[Tio-Peregrino]

Have a question, just recently I have seen some post here and some people at work saying that we do not follow some old testament laws anymore, such as the laws in Leviticus. I thought we still follow all laws in the word, didn't Jesus say He did not come to change the law but to fulfill the law?
Thank you!

To specifically answer your question about Jesus saying that He didn't come to change the Law, but to fulfill it...

I've read a couple things on this. Evidently, this has to do with a Hebrew idiom. When a rabbi would say fulfill as opposed to abolish its stating that he is interpreting is correctly. So He didn't come to misinterpret it, but to interpret it correctly (which was basically the claim that the Pharisees made regarding what Jesus had to say).

Jesus disregarded the oral law, which had been compiled after the return from Babylon as a "fence" around the Law. It was an attempt for Israel never to break the 613...hoping never to be captive again in Babylon or Assyria. So the Pharisees, for other reasons too, didn't like what Jesus was preaching.

Here's some good reading on this. Dr. Constable is very balanced:

http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/matthew.pdf

[Tio-Peregrino]

One other point to note is that if Jesus would have instituted an extension of the the Law (the 613, which are never Scripturally dissected) then we would have seen a much different letter written to the Galatians by the Apostle Paul.

Galatians 3:24 is an important verse to look at--contextually, as well.

The Law is referred to as a "pedagogue." Different translations have this as "schoolmaster," or "tutor." When looking at what the pedagogue (the word used in the original Koine Greek) was to the Roman society (the society of the Galatians) everything falls into place.

a tutor i.e. a guardian and guide of boys. Among the Greeks and
the Romans the name was applied to trustworthy slaves who were
charged with the duty of supervising the life and morals of boys
belonging to the better class. The boys were not allowed so much
as to step out of the house without them before arriving at the
age of manhood.

NETBible Notes

So the Law was the pedagogue until when...the time of Christ. In verse 27 we read about being "clothed in Christ," and this is also a reference to "coming of age." When the young man grew up he would wear the toga virilis (that which was worn by the grown-ups).

Is this to say we shouldn't give any credence to the Old Testament Law? Of course not. 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us that we should praise God for all of His Word. Yes, you can have that slice of ham. Just not too much.:rabbi