Gods 10 Commandments and the Ceremonial law
Select the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial law for a much more detailed page of the following. What is the relationship between these two laws and how did they sustain each other? If a man sinned, he broke LAW No. 1, the moral law of the Ten Commandments. Then he brought his offering, according to LAW No. 2, the law of sacrifices, and he received forgiveness. Here the two laws were brought into right relation. LAW No. 1 defines sin, for sin is the transgression of the moral law, the Ten Commandments. 1 John 3:4 LAW No. 2 defined sacrifices, the ceremonial law which was the remedy for sin. When the Israelite sinned, he broke the first law. To secure forgiveness he had to obey the second law. So here are two very distinct laws of which this fact cannot be overlooked. Christ became that One and perfect final sacrifice for us when He cried out “It is finished” and bowed His head and died. See Hebrews 10:8-10
| Moral Law (Ten Commandments) | Ceremonial Law (temporary Jewish law) |
| 1. Spoken personally by God. Exodus 20:1, 22 | 1. Spoken by Moses. Exodus 24:3 |
| 2. Was written by God. Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:16 | 2. Written by Moses. Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 31:9 |
| 3. On stones. Exodus 31:18 | 3. In a book. Exodus 24:3, 7; Deuteronomy 31:24 |
| 4. Handed by God its writer to Moses. Exodus 31:18 | 4. Handed by Moses its writer to Levites. Deuteronomy 31:25-26 |
| 5. Deposited by Moses “in the ark.” Deuteronomy 10:5 | 5. Deposited by the Levites “by the side of the ark.” Deuteronomy 31:26, ARV. |
| 6. Deals with moral precepts. Exodus 20:3-17 | 6. Deals with ceremonial ritual matters. (See parts of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) |
| 7. Reveals sin. Romans 7:7 | 7. Prescribes offerings for sins. (See book of Leviticus) |
| 8. Breaking of “the law” is “sin.” 1 John 3:4 | 8. No sin in breaking for now “abolished.” Ephesians 2:15. (Where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15) |
| 9. Should “keep the whole law.” James 2:10 | 9. Apostles gave “no such commandment” to “keep the law.” Acts 15:24 |
| 10. Because we “shall be judged” by this law. James 2:12 | 10. Not to be judged by it. Colossians 2:16 |
| 11. The Christian who keeps this law is “blessed in his deed.” James 1:25 | 11. The Christian who keeps this law is not blessed. (See for example Galatians 5:1-6) |
| 12. “The perfect law of liberty.” James 1:25 (Cf. James 2:12) | 12. The Christian who keeps this law loses his liberty. Galatians 5:1, 3 |
| 13. Paul said, “I delight in the law of God.” Romans 7:22 (Cf. verse 7) | 13. Paul called this law a “yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1; Galatians 4:3, 9 (See Acts 15:10) |
| 14. Established by faith in Christ. Romans 3:31 | 14. Abolished by Christ. Ephesians 2:15 |
| 15. Christ was to “magnify the law and make it honorable.” Isaiah 42:21 | 15. Blotted “out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us.” Colossians 2:14 |
| 16. Eternal? Yes. Psalm 111:7-8; Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17 | 16. Eternal? No. Hebrews 7:12; Galatians 3:19; Colossians 2:14 |
| 17. Good? Yes. Romans 7:12 | 17. Good? No. Colossians 2:14; Galatians 4:9 |
| 18. Points out sin. 1 John 3:4 | 18. Points to Jesus. Leviticus 4:27-31 |
| 19. Obey Now? Yes. Matthew 5:19 | 19. Obey Now? No. Colossians 2:14-17; Galatians 4:9-10 |
| 20. Perfect? Yes. James 1:25; Psalm 19:7 | 20. Perfect? No. Hebrews 7:19 |
| 21. Liberty? (freedom) Yes. James 2:11-12 | 21. Liberty? No. It was bondage. Galatians 4:9; 5:1 Note: Freedom and bondage are exact opposites. |
| 22. God’s Sabbath. Began at creation. Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11 | 22. Ceremonial Sabbaths. Began after Sinai. Exodus 20:24 |
| 23. God’s Sabbath. Before sin. Genesis 2:1-3 | 23. Ceremonial Sabbaths. After Sin. Leviticus 23:4 |