The Ten Commandments Versus the Ceremonial law

LESSON 3

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS VERSUS THE CEREMONIAL LAWS

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on The Law of God. The topic for this study is: The Ten Commandments Versus the Ceremonial Laws. In this study, we are going to consider briefly from Scripture the relationship and major differences between the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial Law.

Even though the Bible records several laws that were being kept by the people of ancient Israel, two particular laws do stand out among the lot. These two laws are the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial Law. The Ten Commandment law is also called the Moral Law or the Decalogue. It was originally written on two tablets of stone by God Himself, and provides a framework that governs the moral life of the people of God. The Ceremonial law is also called the Law of Moses, the Sacrificial Law or the Ordinances. The Ceremonial Law was written by Moses on parchments, and provides the blueprint for the atonement of various sins.

During the time of ancient Israel, there existed an important working relationship between the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial Law. When any of God's people sinned, he or she broke the Ten Commandments. To obtain forgiveness for the sin committed, the transgressor had to provide an offering as specified by the Ceremonial Law. However, the death of Christ brought to an end the Ceremonial Law and its various requirements. Now, the transgressor of God's holy law has to only believe in the shed blood of the Lamb slain at Calvary's cross for the forgiveness of his sins (1 John 1:7-9).

Friends, despite the working relationship that existed between the Ten Commandments and the Ceremonial Law, the two laws were however differentiated in several respects. Here are some of the major differences:

1) The Ten Commandments deals with moral precepts while the Ceremonial Law deals with various purifications, ordinances, rituals, sacrifices, and feasts (compare Exodus 20:3-17 with Leviticus 1; Leviticus 4; Leviticus 5; Leviticus 23).

2) The Ten Commandments gives knowledge of sin while the Ceremonial Law prescribes offerings for sins (compare Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7 with Leviticus 1; Leviticus 4).

3) The Ten Commandments is referred to as the Royal Law or the Law of Liberty while the Ceremonial Law is called the law contained in ordinances or the handwriting of ordinances (compare James 2:8, 12; James 1:25 with Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14).

4) The Ten Commandments were to be magnified and made honourable by Christ while the Ceremonial Law was taken out of the way by Christ (compare Isaiah 42:21 with Colossians 2:14).

5) The Ten Commandments is to stand fast forever and ever while the Ceremonial Law was nailed to the cross (compare Psalm 111:7-8 with Colossians 2:14).

6) The Ten Commandments is described as perfect while the Ceremonial law made nothing perfect (compare Psalm 19:7; James 1:25 with Hebrews 7:19).

7) The Ten Commandments was not destroyed by Christ but the Ceremonial law was abolished by Christ (compare Matthew 5:17 with Ephesians 2:15).

8) The Ten Commandments was spoken by God Himself while the Ceremonial law was spoken by Moses (compare Deuteronomy 4:12-13 with Leviticus 1:1-3).

9) The Ten Commandments were originally written by God on two tables of stone while the Ceremonial Laws were written by Moses in a book (compare Exodus 24:12; Deuteronomy 4:13 with Colossians 2:14).

10) The Ten Commandments were placed in the ark by Moses himself while the Ceremonial Laws were placed by the side of the ark by the Levites (compare Deuteronomy 10:5 with Deuteronomy 31:26).

Friends, the differences between these two commandments are clear. The Ceremonial Laws were only types, figures or shadows that were pointing forward to the Great Antitype, Jesus Christ. After the death of Christ, the Ceremonial Laws of the sanctuary ceased and became unnecessary. On the contrary, the Ten Commandment law which is the express character of God, and provides a moral framework for His children was to stand fast forever and ever. In fact, it is this law that is going to be the standard of God's judgement for the human race (see James 2:8-12).

Exhortation: In relation to the Ten Commandments, we read the following from the beloved apostle:

i) "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).

ii) "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" (Revelation 22:14).

In our next study, we will consider the topic: Are we saved by grace or the keeping of the law? The Bible Study references for this study are Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 2:11-14, Romans 3:20, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:31, James 2:26, 1 John 3:4 and Romans 7:7, 12. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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