Elements of the Law That Have Been Replaced by the New Covenant

The animal sacrifices. The opening chapters of the Book of Leviticus describe the fellowship, peace, sin, trespass, and other offerings. Now that the one perfect sacrifice has been made it would be almost blasphemous to continue with the offering of animals and birds.

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Hebrews 7:27)

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)

When we say we are not under the Law but under grace, and Christ is the fulfilment of the Law, we may speak with confidence regarding the sacrifice of animals and birds. The blood offered on the cross by the Lord Jesus Christ has made an eternal atonement for the sins of the whole world.

And he is the propitiation [appeasement] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:2)

The ordinances of the priesthood and of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. A great part of the Book of Exodus is devoted to the Aaronic priesthood and the ordinances concerning the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

Now that our High Priest, Christ, has come we no longer are bound by the rules of the Aaronic priesthood. He—Christ—is the fulfilment of all tabernacles and temples. He is the aim, the purpose, the end, the fulfilment of the Altar, the Lampstand, the Showbread, the Ark of the Covenant. All is filled up and revealed in Him; and also in His Church, which is His Body.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. (Hebrews 8:1,2)

The feast days. There is no greater type in the Scriptures than the feasts of the Lord listed in Leviticus, Chapter 23 and commanded in other passages also. The Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Tabernacles, and the other celebrations reveal the Lord Jesus, the growth of the believer to maturity, the development of the Church, and the building and installation of the Kingdom of God.

Many Christians in our day, both Jewish and Gentile, celebrate the Passover and the feast of Tabernacles. We see no harm in celebrating the Old Testament convocations provided it is realized that all of these are completely fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. It is somewhat anticlimactic to observe Passover after the Lord Jesus has instituted the Communion [fellowship] service—the body and blood of the Son of God.

There always is a temptation to go back to that which humans can practice, because the redemption we are awaiting is still invisible and invisible things are difficult to work with.

Be it clearly understood, however, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the complete fulfillment of all the feast days of the Torah. Observance no longer is required. The feasts of the Lord were shadows of the infinitely greater Christ toward which they pointed.

But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. (Galatians 4:9-11)

Dietary regulations, washing of dishes and pots. The Lord explained in detail what the Jews could and could not eat. Also, there were rules for the cleansing of dishes and pots.

It appears that the vision given to Peter changes the injunctions concerning clean and unclean foods.

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (Acts 10:11-15)

"All manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air"! There probably was a swine or two in the sheet. This is enough to shock an Orthodox Jew.

We Christians, in spite of the good that may derive from governing one’s diet, are no longer under the dietary and culinary ordinances of the Law of Moses. These all are done away in Christ.

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (Romans 14:2,3)

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. (Romans 14:20)

"All things indeed are pure." Remarkable words from a former Pharisee of the Pharisees. Paul would agree that saints no longer are under the stipulations concerning clean and unclean food and the washing of dishes and pots. These have been done away in Christ.

Property and money ownership and management, tithing, usury and interest, the redemption of land. Although tithing dates back to Abraham it definitely is part of the Law of Moses.

And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. (Deuteronomy 14:23)

Although tithing is not expressly enjoined in the Epistles, the giving of a tenth of our money or produce to the work of the Kingdom may be a minimum offering. However, as in the case of keeping all days holy and not just the Sabbath day, we are not to be thinking in terms of fractions of our possessions. Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. Whatever surplus of money we have is to be used to assist the poorer disciples, as the Lord directs. We are to work so we may be able to give to the needy Christians.

. . . but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Ephesians 4:28)

It is necessary also that we support the Lord’s work, as the Lord guides us to do so.

The Sabbath of the land may be beneficial in terms of agriculture but the commandment is not repeated in the writings of the Apostles.

The laws governing lending, usury, and interest reveal that God frowned on the taking of interest. Christian capitalists may make a great distinction between usury (excessive interest) and interest, but we do not think the Scripture does.

Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. (Leviticus 25:36,37)

For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. (Psalms 15:5) "Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase."

It appears to us, from the use of the term "usury" in the Scripture, that usury is just another name for interest. It was the Lord’s will, under the Law of Moses, that the rich be generous with the poor, and give and lend money without charging interest. Since the laws governing property and money ownership and management, tithing, usury and interest, and the regulations governing the redemption of land, are not repeated in the New Testament writings we probably can assume they are not binding on the believer in Christ. These have been fulfilled in Christ.

However, the concept of generosity is repeated in the New Testament.

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (II Corinthians 9:6,7)

Lending money on interest is an important aspect of capitalism. Our personal opinion is that the practice does more harm than good. It appears that because money is used to make more money by lending on interest, the poor become poorer and the rich become richer.

Whether or not lending on interest is always a wicked practice we are not certain. It is not condemned in the New Testament. Peter tells us of a righteous new world that is coming. If the present author has any control over the economy there will be no lending of money on interest in the ages to come.

As in all other matters, the individual believer must seek the will of Christ concerning his ownership and management of money and property. But we think the letter of the Old Testament ordinances no longer are binding on him whether he is Jewish or Gentile.

Marriage and divorce. Jesus commented on this aspect of the Law of Moses.

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Matthew 5:31,32)

It is interesting that the Lord would separate Himself from the authorship of this commandment: "It hath been said . . . but I say unto you." "It hath been said"! It was the Lord Jesus Himself, the Lord of Israel, who said it. If it was Jesus who said it in the first place, then Jesus has all authority over all laws and principles.

When the woman caught in adultery was brought before Him, the Lord wrote on the ground with His finger. It was the Lord Jesus who wrote the Ten Commandments with His finger on slabs of granite.

This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. (John 8:6)

But then He wrote again.

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (John 8:8)

The new covenant also is the writing of the finger of God—this time on the heart of man. The Lord wrote once on Sinai. The Lord has written again.

It seems likely that the specific statutes governing marriage and divorce were done away in Christ.

Special dress, mixtures, appearance. The Jews were forbidden to wear garments made of two different materials, such as linen and woollen. Also, they were to sew a fringe of blue on their garments.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a rib band of blue: (Numbers 15:38) The manner in which they cut their hair and beard was prescribed.

Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. (Leviticus 19:27)

We may say with confidence that these ordinances were not carried over into the new covenant.

Laws regarding leprosy. There were strict rules governing the person who contracted leprosy.

When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: (Leviticus 13:2) The rules governing the leper are not mentioned in the writings of the Apostles of the new covenant. We do know that our Lord Jesus healed many lepers and that He always touched them.

Laws governing slavery. Under the Law of Moses slaves were considered to be the property of the person who purchased them or who gained them as booty in war. While the ownership of a slave was considered valid there were limits placed on the degree of harshness the owner could apply.

And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. (Exodus 21:20)

A distinction was made between a Hebrew servant and a Gentile servant.

And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. (Deuteronomy 15:12) And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty: (Deuteronomy 15:13) Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. (Deuteronomy 15:14) How did the Apostle Paul view slavery?

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou called being a servant? care not for it [do not be concerned about it]: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. (I Corinthians 7:20-23)

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. (I Timothy 6:1,2)

The preceding passage is not the same as the Old Testament passages that discuss slavery. We conclude that the laws of slavery are not to be carried into the new covenant.

Cities of refuge, murder. Whoever killed someone intentionally was to be put to death.

Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death: but he shall be surely put to death. (Numbers 35:31)

Because of the possibility of accidental death, God provided a number of cities of refuge where the man that caused the death could be protected against the avenger of blood—a relative seeking vengeance for the murder.

And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities. (Numbers 35:6)

The cities of refuge were an important aspect of the Law of Moses. It does not seem likely they are to be part of the new covenant. The Lord Jesus Christ is our City of refuge.

Various ordinances regarding sorcery, thievery, paying of wages, pledges, surety, personal injury. There were numerous injunctions covering these several areas. Perhaps the best known is the "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth."

And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:23-25)

Jesus commented on this ordinance:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Matthew 5:38-41)

Again, the Lord Jesus seemed to distance Himself from the Law that originally came from Him. It is evident that we have here a change in the Law. Therefore, we can state that the personal injury section of the Torah was fulfilled in Christ and does not carry over into the new covenant.

The preceding elements of the Law of Moses have been replaced by the new covenant. They have been fulfilled in Christ who kept them all perfectly and then died on behalf of others, the guiltless on behalf of the guilty. Because He kept His own law He is able to redeem the guilty by dying in their place.

Therefore we are not under these statutes any longer. In Christ they have been fulfilled and terminated, having accomplished their purpose, which was to govern and guard Israel and finally bring Israel to the Deliverer, the Seed promised to Abraham.

The remaining aspects of the Law cannot be dismissed as readily. Their relationship to the new covenant requires more explanation:

Circumcision.

The Sabbath day.

Moral purity.

Righteous behaviour.

Worship and holiness.

Elements of the Law That Are Covenants With the Elect and Have Been Expanded