Twin Error of the Law of Moses
There are “two major error” or “false teaching” perpetuated based on the ‘Law/Custom of Moses’ as mentioned in the Book of Acts as follows:
(1) First Error: Gentile believers need to practice ‘all’ of Law of Moses
Proof verses:
“Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1)
“But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.” (Acts 15:5)
(2) Second Error: Jewish believers have ‘no’ need to practice ‘all’ of Law of Moses
Proof verses:
“And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;
and they have been told about you, that you are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.” (Acts 21:20 – 21)
Solution:
There was a ‘great debate’ and ‘discussion’ regarding this matter:
Proof verses:
“And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.” (Acts 15:2)
“The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.” (Acts 15:6 – 7)
What was the conclusion reached?
As follows:
(i) Jewish Believers may practice ‘the’ of ‘Law of Moses’
Proof verses:
“For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21)
“take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.” (Acts 21:24)
(ii) Gentile Believers need to practice only these four essentials from the Law of Moses (“no” exhortation exists in Scripture that they should practice any more to ‘show more love to God’, not mentioned).
Proof verses:
“But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.” (Acts 21:25)
“that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:29)
Now, is this conclusion endorsed by the Holy Spirit of God? Yes, as the verse below mentions (thus to teach contrary to it might not be good):
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:
that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.” (Acts 15:28 – 29)
Is it good to trouble the” Gentile Believers” with ‘anything more from this Law of Moses’?
No! As it is warned (it is considered ‘testing God’ to teach otherwise):
““Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10)
“Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls,” (Acts 15:24)
“Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.” (Acts 15:19 – 20)
Implication:
For example, “tithing” (from Law/Custom of Moses) is never mentioned to be carried forward to a “Gentile Believer”.
Tithing pre-dates Moses but it’s mentioned as a practice via the Law. Also, it is never mentioned once in the New Testament toward a Gentile believer. Christ mentioned it to Pharisees (“Jews” only).
Some might argue to ‘follow Christ’ if He did it, then they want to do it (Christ observed all Law of Moses to fulfill it). For example, He was circumcised but Gentile Believers don’t need to follow this as it’s written:
“Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.” (Galatians 5:2)
Many Gentile Believers who like to ‘quote following Lord Jesus’ when they try to practice ‘all law of Moses’ (which doesn’t apply to them as we have seen from the verses above) miss many self contradictions as ‘they pick & choose too’. A Famous example is as follows:
‘Some Gentile believers like to quote tithing but they eat pork which is also against the law of Moses’. So, we are to stick to the 4 essentials as mentioned in Acts 21:25 toward “Gentile Believers” to ‘correctly’ follow this command regarding ‘all Law of Moses’. No need to add/remove beyond this for a ‘Gentile Believer’. It’s a closed case & adding/removing from it only adds opinions and false doctrines.
Please don’t be deceived.
P/S:
Please note that the 10 Commandments is different from the Law/Custom of Moses which is the ‘topic’ referred to here.
The question:
“And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain age-during life?” (Matthew 19:16)
The Reply:
“And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER; YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY; YOU SHALL NOT STEAL; YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS;
HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER; and YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” (NASB, Matthew 19:17 – 19)
Note that since “age-during life” (life in the coming age) applies to both “Jewish and Gentile Believers”, the Answer below to ‘keep the Commandments’ as Christ only quotes from the ’10 Commandments’ (“not” from the Law of Moses) as relevant to a requirement for ‘age-during life’ is ‘clear’.
The questioner is ‘smart’ because he asked our Blessed Saviour ‘which ones (which commandments)’ and our Blessed Lord only replies with the “10 Commandments” and one part from the ‘Law of Moses’ which is the ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ verse in Leviticus 19:18. Interesting.
**Does it mean that the Jews can keep ‘all’ the Law of Moses such as the ‘sacrifices of blood’?
Of course not! Verses:
“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a Body hast Thou prepared Me:
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:1 – 10)
A Brief Explanation:
a) The correct meaning of ‘I desire Mercy and not Sacrifice’ is explained by inspired the author of Hebrews in verse below:
“Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a Body hast Thou prepared Me:” (Hebrews 10:5)
b) Christ became the “Body”through which we obtained “His Mercy” for “our sins” (to be forgiven):
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
c) So, the ‘sacrifices’ for ‘sin’ according to the ‘Law’ applies ‘no’ more and thus “cannot” be practiced by Jewish believers either should they ‘keep the Law’:
“Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.” (Hebrews 10:8 – 9)
d) Doing Will of God
Notice that to do the ‘Will of God’ is to ‘fulfill’ what is ‘written’ in verses of Holy Scripture (and not our self made ‘human opinions’ which are meant for us likewise in analogy too, in principle) as the verse below clearly states:
“In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.” (Hebrews 10: 6 – 7)
In Principle, the last two verses above also reveal that to “do the Will of God” is to “do what is commanded in verses” —-> ‘volume of the Book written of Me’.
To ‘do the Will of God’ is to “not” follow our ‘opinions’ against ‘written verses’ directed to us —-> which though may produce “sacrifices” even with regards to ‘living a new life’ on account of our ‘past sinful life’ —> but it does ‘not’ mean fulfilling the ‘Will of God’ when it is “not” fulfilling what is ‘written’ with regards to “us” (the ‘part of Scripture which refers to us, e.g. Distinctions in Law for Gentile vs Jewish believers, Male vs Female believers etc. as written in ‘New Testament’ verses too).
e) So, how do the Jewish believers decide which part of the Law of Moses is still valid for them to keep if they may?
As long as they don’t keep the Laws which are ‘prohibited’ by the New Testament verses (e.g. the Book of Hebrews mentions this), they should be ok. Since I am not a Jewish believer and am a Gentile believer, these part does not affect me at all. A Jewish believer will be responsible for which laws he keeps or doesn’t keep according to the verses. It is for him to put forth responsibility to find out according to New Testament verses which are those and decide for himself.
I have no further comment regarding it as I only mention the principle of ‘what a Jewish believer can keep or cannot keep’ (as the discussion above relates) vs ‘what a Gentile believer must keep’ from the ‘Law of Moses’ according to the ‘distinctions’ marked our by Holy Scripture in New Testament verses ‘as it is written’.
Let us not be deceived by strange doctrines which teach otherwise and stick to ‘what is written’ in ‘Holy Scripture’.
An Example from Holy Scripture:
The Dilemma:
“And when they heard it they began glorifying God; and they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed, and they are all zealous for the Law;
and they have been told about you, that you (Paul) are teaching all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.” (Acts 21:20 – 21)
The Correct Interpretation and Doctrine of The Law in Practice (Correct Context):
(i) As a Jew “only”, apostle Paul could keep “the Law of Moses” part
“What, then, is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. “Therefore do this that we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow; take them and purify yourself along with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads; and all will know that there is nothing to the things which they have been told about you, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Law.” (Acts 21: 22 – 24)
“Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purifying himself along with them, went into the temple giving notice of the completion of the days of purification, until the sacrifice was offered for each one of them.” (Acts 21:26)
(ii) As a Gentile believer, we can ONLY keep these things from ‘the Law of Moses’ part, nothing more:
“But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.” (Acts 21:25)
