The Laws of Sacrifice

1. BESIDES the Ten Commandment code what other laws did God give to ancient Israel? Be you therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left. Joshua 23:6. See also Deuteronomy 5:31, 32. 2. Of what did these other laws consist? Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin; ... which are offered by the law. Hebrews 10:8. 3. In what way did the ceremonial laws differ from the moral law of the Ten Commandments? For the law [of sacrifices] ... a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things. Verse 1. NOTE-The ceremonial or ritualistic law-an important part of the Mosaic code-constantly points to Jehovah as the King of the Jews, as well as their Supreme Deity, for whose worship the rites and ceremonies are devised with great minuteness, to keep His personality constantly before their minds. Moreover, all their rites and ceremonies were typical and emblematic of the promised Savior who was to arise; in a more emphatic sense their King, and not merely their own Messiah, but the Redeemer of the whole race, who should reign finally as King of kings and Lord of lords. And hence these rites and sacrifices, typical of Him who should offer Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world, are not supposed to be binding on other nations after the great sacrifice has been made, and the law of Moses has been fulfilled by Jesus and the new dispensation has been established. John Lord, Beacon Lights of History, Volume 1, Part 2, Pages 113, 114. 4. To what did these sacrifices point forward? Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Colossians 2:17. The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29. NOTE. What the ceremonial law obscurely typified, the prophets more plainly predicted. Both pointed to the coming Messiah. The daily sacrifices of the one, and the successive utterances of the other, pointed to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. - H. Grattan Guinness, Creation Centered in Christ, pages 31. 32. 5. In contrast with the moral law, how transient were the ceremonial ordinances to be? Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. Hebrews 9:10. 6. How was the difference in permanency between the ceremonial and moral laws emphasized? Moses made an end of writing the words of this law in a book. Deuteronomy 31:24. He gave unto Moses two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18. See also Exodus 32:15, 16. 7. As a further distinction between them and the Ten Commandments, where were the ceremonial laws deposited? 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. Compare Deuteronomy 10:1-5. 8. On what occasion did Jesus expressly state that the temple service would one day end? Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. John 4:21. 9. How was the ceremonial system brought to an end? 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. 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. NOTE-Martin Luther writes: Question. Are we under obligation to keep the ceremonial or church law of the Jews? Answer. No; the ordinances which it enjoined were only types and shadows of Christ; and when they were fulfilled by His death, the ceremonial law was abolished, because it was no longer necessary. Shorter Catechism, 1834 ed., p. 16. 10. By what startling event was its termination indicated? Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent. Matthew 27:50, 51. 11. How did the apostle Peter urge believers to recognize the abolition of the ceremonial law? Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you

know them, and be established in the present truth. 2 Peter 1:12. 12. What did Paul declare to be the only law to which the believer now owes a debt of obedience? Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God [obedience to Gods commandments is everything, Weymouth]. 1 Corinthians 7:19.