CEREMONIAL LAW AND MORAL LAW
There are some who claim that God made a difference between the ceremonial law and the moral law in the
Law of Moses. In other words, they say that there were two laws given by God: one is the Ten commandments
(moral law) and the other is by Moses (ceremonial law). The ceremonial law included such things as animal
sacrifices, the burning of incense, etc. Some teach that the ceremonial law was the only law that was nailed to
the cross and that the Ten Commandments (not being a part of the ceremonial law) were not nailed there.
The word “ceremonial” is found only once in the King James Version of the Bible (in Num. 9:3). The word
as it is used means judgment, law, custom or prescribed rules. However in this context it must be understood
only of the essential rites and ceremonies of the Passover. This verse does not teach that the ceremonial law was
different from the moral law. Both of these laws are used interchangeably in Nehemiah 8:1, 8 and also in Luke
2:22-23. The Book of Law contains all five books written by Moses (also known as the Penteteuch). These are
the first five books of the Old Testament. In order to see that both the ceremonial law and the moral law were
the same, study these verses in Nehemiah and Luke. We also find in 1 Corinthians 14:34 that Paul refers to
Genesis 3:16 and that Joshua 8:1 refers to Exodus 20:25. Ezra quotes Numbers 3:6, and Matthew 22:36-40 is
a reference to Leviticus 19:18. A study of these verses will prove that the ceremonial and moral laws are simply
called the Law.
It is interesting that four of the Ten Commandments are ceremonial in that they deal with man’s relation-
ship with God, and six of them are moral because they deal with man’s relationship to man. The Sabbath law,
that is the keeping of the Sabbath day, was not a moral law, but was rather a ceremonial law. Thus those who
advance the idea that God made a difference between the ceremonial and moral law have one big problem: They
try to keep that which they believe has been nailed to the cross.
Jesus came into this world to fulfill all of the Law, not just part of it (Matt. 5:17-18). The word fulfill used
by Jesus in that passage means to “completely fill up to the point of running over.” To say that Jesus only ful-
filled part of the Law would be the same as saying that Jesus did not know what He was talking about in
Matthew 5:17-18. Also Paul made it clear that Jesus took away the handwritten law--all of it, not part of it
(Col. 2:14-15).
Some try to make feeble attempts to make a difference between ceremonial law and moral law. God’s Word
does not do that. If one teaches such a doctrine, that person is plainly in contradiction to the Word of God.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: When duty calls, some people are never at home!
Have a great week!
Love ya,
Jesse
Law of Moses. In other words, they say that there were two laws given by God: one is the Ten commandments
(moral law) and the other is by Moses (ceremonial law). The ceremonial law included such things as animal
sacrifices, the burning of incense, etc. Some teach that the ceremonial law was the only law that was nailed to
the cross and that the Ten Commandments (not being a part of the ceremonial law) were not nailed there.
The word “ceremonial” is found only once in the King James Version of the Bible (in Num. 9:3). The word
as it is used means judgment, law, custom or prescribed rules. However in this context it must be understood
only of the essential rites and ceremonies of the Passover. This verse does not teach that the ceremonial law was
different from the moral law. Both of these laws are used interchangeably in Nehemiah 8:1, 8 and also in Luke
2:22-23. The Book of Law contains all five books written by Moses (also known as the Penteteuch). These are
the first five books of the Old Testament. In order to see that both the ceremonial law and the moral law were
the same, study these verses in Nehemiah and Luke. We also find in 1 Corinthians 14:34 that Paul refers to
Genesis 3:16 and that Joshua 8:1 refers to Exodus 20:25. Ezra quotes Numbers 3:6, and Matthew 22:36-40 is
a reference to Leviticus 19:18. A study of these verses will prove that the ceremonial and moral laws are simply
called the Law.
It is interesting that four of the Ten Commandments are ceremonial in that they deal with man’s relation-
ship with God, and six of them are moral because they deal with man’s relationship to man. The Sabbath law,
that is the keeping of the Sabbath day, was not a moral law, but was rather a ceremonial law. Thus those who
advance the idea that God made a difference between the ceremonial and moral law have one big problem: They
try to keep that which they believe has been nailed to the cross.
Jesus came into this world to fulfill all of the Law, not just part of it (Matt. 5:17-18). The word fulfill used
by Jesus in that passage means to “completely fill up to the point of running over.” To say that Jesus only ful-
filled part of the Law would be the same as saying that Jesus did not know what He was talking about in
Matthew 5:17-18. Also Paul made it clear that Jesus took away the handwritten law--all of it, not part of it
(Col. 2:14-15).
Some try to make feeble attempts to make a difference between ceremonial law and moral law. God’s Word
does not do that. If one teaches such a doctrine, that person is plainly in contradiction to the Word of God.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: When duty calls, some people are never at home!
Have a great week!
Love ya,
Jesse
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