The Law of God vs the Law of Moses
The following verses (with comments) arranged in a table
setting
show clearly the comparison between the Law of God (The Ten
Commandments) and the Law of Moses (ceremonial law of ordinances).
Note: many Christians are confused that the Law of God was nailed to the cross and done away with because the Bible does
say that a law was done away. The conclusion drawn is that it must be the Ten Commandments because—well, that is part of the law of Moses,
isn't it? The problem is easily resolved with the understanding that the Bible actually teaches 2 Laws—The Law of Moses (law of ordinances
and ceremonies), AND the Law of God (the Ten Commandments). The following verse shows this clearly:
"Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I
have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them." 2 Kings 21:8.
| TEN COMMANDMENTS Moral Law |
LAW OF MOSES Ceremonial Law |
|---|---|
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Spoken by God to people "And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deuteronomy 4:12, 13. |
Given through Moses "And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel." Exodus 24:4. |
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Written by God Himself "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18. |
Written by Moses "And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen." "And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel." 2 Chronicles 35:12; Deuteronomy 31:9. |
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Written on tables of stone "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18. |
Written in a book "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished," Deuteronomy 31:24. |
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Placed in the Ark "There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." 1 Kings 8:9. |
Placed by the side of the Ark "Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." Deuteronomy 31:26. |
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Complete "These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me." Deuteronomy 5:22. |
Added to and built up "And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD." "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering." "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Leviticus 1:1-3; 4:1-3; Galatians 3:19. |
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Forever settled in Heaven "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever." Revelation 11:19; Psalm 119:89, 151, 152. |
Ceased with Christ's death "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27. |
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Eternal "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Psalm 111:7, 8. |
Temporary "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Hebrews 7:12. |
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Holy, Just and Good "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12. |
Contrary, not good "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Colossians 2:14. |
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Points out Sin "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." 1 John 3:4; Romans 7:7. |
Points out Saviour "And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him." "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Leviticus 4:27-31; John 1:29. |
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Must not break "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19. |
Must not keep "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: to whom we gave no such commandment:" Acts 15:24. |
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Spiritual "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." Romans 7:14. |
Carnal "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." Hebrews 7:16. |
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Perfect "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." Psalm 19:7. |
Made nothing perfect "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." Hebrews 7:19. |
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Law of Liberty "For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:11, 12. |
Yoke of bondage "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1. |
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Delight "Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight." "I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight." Psalm 119:77, 174. |
A burden "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" Acts 15:10. |
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Christ magnified "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable." Isaiah 42:21. |
Christ abolished "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Ephesians 2:15. |
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Till Heaven and Earth pass "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17. |
Till seed come "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Galatians 3:19. |
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Summary of all moral duties to God and man "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13. |
Shows how sins forgiven and sinners reconciled to God "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." "And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein." "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." Leviticus 1:4; 6:7; Hebrews 9:22. |
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Contained no offerings or anything typical There are no verses for this—except perhaps the fourth commandment Exodus 20:11 last part which states "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth..." and so on; which actually points us back to Creation. Not forward to the cross as the Law of Moses does. |
Typical and shadowy "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" Hebrews 9:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 5:7. |
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Contained weekly, seventh-day sabbath "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11. |
Contained yearly sabbaths and feasts "Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field." "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Exodus 23:14-16; Leviticus 23:24, 27, 32. |
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Contained eternal principles "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." Revelation 11:19; Isaiah 66:22, 23. |
Stood only in ordinances, rites, and ceremonies "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Hebrews 9:10 (margin—or rites, or ceremonies). |
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All Christians to keep these Commandments "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Matthew 19:16-19; Revelation 14:12; 22:14. |
No Christian should keep this law since the Cross "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:15. |
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Judged by these Commandments "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:8-12. |
No one judged by this law "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Colossians 2:14-17. |
| TEN COMMANDMENTS Moral Law |
LAW OF MOSES Ceremonial Law |
|---|---|
|
Spoken by God to people "And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deuteronomy 4:12, 13. |
Given through Moses "And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel." Exodus 24:4. |
|
Written by God Himself "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18. |
Written by Moses "And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen." "And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel." 2 Chronicles 35:12; Deuteronomy 31:9. |
|
Written on tables of stone "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18. |
Written in a book "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished," Deuteronomy 31:24. |
|
Placed in the Ark "There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." 1 Kings 8:9. |
Placed by the side of the Ark "Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." Deuteronomy 31:26. |
|
Complete "These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me." Deuteronomy 5:22. |
Added to and built up "And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD." "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering." "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Leviticus 1:1-3; 4:1-3; Galatians 3:19. |
|
Forever settled in Heaven "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever." Revelation 11:19; Psalm 119:89, 151, 152. |
Ceased with Christ's death "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27. |
|
Eternal "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Psalm 111:7, 8. |
Temporary "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Hebrews 7:12. |
|
Holy, Just and Good "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12. |
Contrary, not good "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Colossians 2:14. |
|
Points out Sin "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." 1 John 3:4; Romans 7:7. |
Points out Saviour "And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him." "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Leviticus 4:27-31; John 1:29. |
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Must not break "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19. |
Must not keep "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: to whom we gave no such commandment:" Acts 15:24. |
|
Spiritual "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." Romans 7:14. |
Carnal "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." Hebrews 7:16. |
|
Perfect "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." Psalm 19:7. |
Made nothing perfect "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." Hebrews 7:19. |
|
Law of Liberty "For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:11, 12. |
Yoke of bondage "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1. |
|
Delight "Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight." "I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight." Psalm 119:77, 174. |
A burden "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" Acts 15:10. |
|
Christ magnified "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable." Isaiah 42:21. |
Christ abolished "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Ephesians 2:15. |
|
Till Heaven and Earth pass "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17. |
Till seed come "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Galatians 3:19. |
|
Summary of all moral duties to God and man "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13. |
Shows how sins forgiven and sinners reconciled to God "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." "And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein." "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." Leviticus 1:4; 6:7; Hebrews 9:22. |
|
Contained no offerings or anything typical There are no verses for this—except perhaps the fourth commandment Exodus 20:11 last part which states "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth..." and so on; which actually points us back to Creation. Not forward to the cross as the Law of Moses does. |
Typical and shadowy "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" Hebrews 9:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 5:7. |
|
Contained weekly, seventh-day sabbath "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11. |
Contained yearly sabbaths and feasts "Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field." "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Exodus 23:14-16; Leviticus 23:24, 27, 32. |
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Contained eternal principles "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." Revelation 11:19; Isaiah 66:22, 23. |
Stood only in ordinances, rites, and ceremonies "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Hebrews 9:10 (margin—or rites, or ceremonies). |
|
All Christians to keep these Commandments "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Matthew 19:16-19; Revelation 14:12; 22:14. |
No Christian should keep this law since the Cross "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:15. |
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Judged by these Commandments "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:8-12. |
No one judged by this law "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Colossians 2:14-17. |
| The Law of God, The Ten Commandments, Moral Law [LoG] vs The Law of Moses, Ceremonial Law [LoM] |
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LoG: Spoken by God to people "And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deuteronomy 4:12, 13. LoM: Given through Moses "And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel." Exodus 24:4. |
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LoG: Written by God Himself "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18. LoM: Written by Moses "And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen." "And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel." 2 Chronicles 35:12; Deuteronomy 31:9. |
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LoG: Written on tables of stone "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Exodus 31:18. LoM: Written in a book "And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished," Deuteronomy 31:24. |
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LoG: Placed in the Ark "There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt." 1 Kings 8:9. LoM: Placed by the side of the Ark "Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee." Deuteronomy 31:26. |
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LoG: Complete "These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me." Deuteronomy 5:22. LoM: Added to and built up "And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD." "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering." "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Leviticus 1:1-3; 4:1-3; Galatians 3:19. |
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LoG: Forever settled in Heaven "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever." Revelation 11:19; Psalm 119:89, 151, 152. LoM: Ceased with Christ's death "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:27. |
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LoG: Eternal "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." Psalm 111:7, 8. LoM: Temporary "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Hebrews 7:12. |
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LoG: Holy, Just and Good "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12. LoM: Contrary, not good "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Colossians 2:14. |
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LoG: Points out Sin "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." 1 John 3:4; Romans 7:7. LoM: Points out Saviour "And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him." "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." Leviticus 4:27-31; John 1:29. |
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LoG: Must not break "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19. LoM: Must not keep "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: to whom we gave no such commandment:" Acts 15:24. |
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LoG: Spiritual "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." Romans 7:14. LoM: Carnal "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." Hebrews 7:16. |
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LoG: Perfect "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." Psalm 19:7. LoM: Made nothing perfect "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." Hebrews 7:19. |
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LoG: Law of Liberty "For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:11, 12. LoM: Yoke of bondage "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1. |
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LoG: Delight "Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight." "I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight." Psalm 119:77, 174. LoM: A burden "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" Acts 15:10. |
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LoG: Christ magnified "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable." Isaiah 42:21. LoM: Christ abolished "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Ephesians 2:15. |
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LoG: Till Heaven and Earth pass "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17. LoM: Till seed come "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Galatians 3:19. |
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LoG: Summary of all moral duties to God and man "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13. LoM: Shows how sins forgiven and sinners reconciled to God "And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." "And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein." "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." Leviticus 1:4; 6:7; Hebrews 9:22. |
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LoG: Contained no offerings or anything typical There are no verses for this—except perhaps the fourth commandment Exodus 20:11 last part which states "For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth..." and so on; which actually points us back to Creation. Not forward to the cross as the Law of Moses does. LoM: Typical and shadowy "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:" Hebrews 9:9, 10; 1 Corinthians 5:7. |
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LoG: Contained weekly, seventh-day sabbath "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." Exodus 20:8-11. LoM: Contained yearly sabbaths and feasts "Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field." "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Exodus 23:14-16; Leviticus 23:24, 27, 32. |
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LoG: Contained eternal principles "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD." Revelation 11:19; Isaiah 66:22, 23. LoM: Stood only in ordinances, rites, and ceremonies "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Hebrews 9:10 (margin—or rites, or ceremonies). |
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LoG: All Christians to keep these Commandments "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Matthew 19:16-19; Revelation 14:12; 22:14. LoM: No Christian should keep this law since the Cross "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Colossians 2:14-17; Ephesians 2:15. |
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LoG: Judged by these Commandments "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:8-12. LoM: No one judged by this law "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Colossians 2:14-17. |
| "Circumcision counts for nothing, uncircumcision counts for nothing; obedience to God's commands is everything." 1 Corinthians 7:19 Moffatt. |
Bible: except where stated, KJV used.
Stephen Buckley
E-mail: chodesh [at] duck.com
Last revised: 24 Mar 2021.
Construction started possibly 18 Sep 1997.
Companion pages
God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone and gave them to Moses on Mount Sinai. This page gives the text for the Ten Commandments.God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone and gave them to Moses on Mount Sinai. So just what would they look like? These table pictures show a 'Hebrewised' style of text but it's English so you can read it.
God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone and gave them to Moses on Mount Sinai. But what did the actual text on the stone tablets look like? This page takes this thought one step closer by trying to reconstruct the actual text of the Ten Commandments as they were written by God on the two tables of stone. The language script used was chosen by tracing back Hebrew to it's original roots as far as possible. Not all groups are in agreement with this script choice but this is my attempt at it.
This is a very curious study showing Moses' wilderness tent structure in the Old Testament was symbolic of the Heart of God. The interesting connection here is that the Law of God was placed in this tent structure and that God has said that He would write His laws into our hearts. Also it would be pretty obvious that God's Law would also be in His Heart.
Page design/construction Stephen Buckley 1997.