Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy

[arvinsim]

Most of the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are filled with rules followed by the Jews. How does this books relate with the Catholic today? What do we need to learn from this books?

 

[Dorothy]

Most of the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are filled with rules followed by the Jews. How does this books relate with the Catholic today? What do we need to learn from this books?

The Jews were a people set apart from all other peoples, because the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Saviour, Redeemer, was to take place in their culture/race (Israel).

The rules that they were given set them apart as different from all other cultures. They believed in one God, who is a loving Father, ready to forgive. They did not yet know, from Revelation, of the Son and the Holy Spirit. And, they were not always faithful to the Lord, and He always called them back.

I see that as relating to our Catholic faith because the fullness of revelation is given to us. We too have rules that set us apart. When we obey with love for the Lord he can sanctify us.

The Magisterium of the Church, an authority given by the Lord, teaches us what is correct in faith and morals, for our eternal good. (The Creed, the Sacraments, and all the truths that the Church teaches us.) Catholics are not all faithful, and the Lord is always calling on them to hear Him and follow. What an awesome gift we have in the Eucharist!

I know that I stumble in my words because I don’t have the background to adequately articulate a response to the question you have asked, but hopefully someone else will come and elaborate.

Peace,

Dorothy

 

[Charlie_Zeaiter]

Most of the books of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are filled with rules followed by the Jews. How does this books relate with the Catholic today? What do we need to learn from this books?

I think the only thing Jesus wanted us to follow from those books are the Ten Commandments.

Everything else, Jesus has replace with His new laws (love thy neighbour, do unto others as you would have do to you, love your enemies, etc…)

I suppose what you can learn from those books is prophecy - which is quite fascinating.

 

[juliamajor]

I think the only thing Jesus wanted us to follow from those books are the Ten Commandments.

Everything else, Jesus has replace with His new laws (love thy neighbour, do unto others as you would have do to you, love your enemies, etc…)

I suppose what you can learn from those books is prophecy - which is quite fascinating.

First mistake- prophecy-prophets- main function is to speak for God. They are God’s 'mouthpiece on earth. Prophecies don’t always have to with the future- often they talk about the here and now -here’s an article-
What is a Prophet?

Many people today think of a prophet as any person who sees the future. While the gift of prophecy certainly includes the ability to see the future, a prophet is far more than just a person with that ability.

A prophet is basically a spokesman for G-d, a person chosen by G-d to speak to people on G-d’s behalf and convey a message or teaching. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to G-d. They set the standards for the entire community.

The Hebrew word for a prophet, navi (Nun-Beit-Yod-Alef) comes from the term niv sefatayim meaning “fruit of the lips,” which emphasizes the prophet’s role as a speaker.

 

[David_Castlen]

You will find an excellent answer to your question by referring to Tim Staples’ CD series, Salvation. Mr. Staples shows how we can be easily confused reading Romans and Galations and coming to the conclusion that we are saved by faith alone. He points out that our protestant friends will refer to Romans 3:28 and Romans 4:5. These two verses would appear to one to be saying that we are saved not by the law; i.e., not by works but by faith. This conclusion is a Material Fallacy: oversimplification, "He doesn’t hate me?! Oh, I knew he loved me.

But how does this have to do with your question? Read:

Mr. Staples shows that “the law” is the law referred to that was given AFTER the ten commandments were given. And Mr. Staples clearly shows that these laws were given as a punishment. See the 20th chapter of Ez. (Ezekiel 20:25 "therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good ** and judgments by which they could not live…" “They” in this sentence is referring to the Jewish nation that had offerred up sacrifices and done a number of offenses against God. Mr. Staples goes on to show that when the law was first given it was only the Ten Commandments, the Natural law and IN FACT the bible (even) says that Ten Commandments is all that is needed. Read Dt where the commandments were given and just after the presentation is made this statement (The Ten Commandments is all that is required) is made.
As an ex-protestant this was one of the most revealing pieces of information I’ve ever listened to YOU MUST GET THIS SERIES FROM TIM STAPLES. It goes into minute detail regarding all facits of salvation; it is particularly inlighting regarding predestination. If you are not enligtened and find more confidence in your faith after reading this then you must be the Pope.**

 

[Fidelis]

You can’t do better than go to the official teaching of the Church:

**CHAPTER IV

THE OLD TESTAMENT**

1. In carefully planning and preparing the salvation of the whole human race the God of infinite love, by a special dispensation, chose for Himself a people to whom He would entrust His promises. First He entered into a covenant with Abraham (see Gen. 15:18) and, through Moses, with the people of Israel (see Ex. 24:8). To this people which He had acquired for Himself, He so manifested Himself through words and deeds as the one true and living God that Israel came to know by experience the ways of God with men. Then too, when God Himself spoke to them through the mouth of the prophets, Israel daily gained a deeper and clearer understanding of His ways and made them more widely known among the nations (see Ps. 21:29; 95:1-3; Is. 2:1-5; Jer. 3:17). The plan of salvation foretold by the sacred authors, recounted and explained by them, is found as the true word of God in the books of the Old Testament: these books, therefore, written under divine inspiration, remain permanently valuable. “For all that was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4).

1. The principal purpose to which the plan of the old covenant was directed was to prepare for the coming of Christ, the redeemer of all and of the messianic kingdom, to announce this coming by prophecy (see Luke 24:44; John 5:39; 1 Peter 1:10), and to indicate its meaning through various types (see 1 Cor. 10:12). Now the books of the Old Testament, in accordance with the state of mankind before the time of salvation established by Christ, reveal to all men the knowledge of God and of man and the ways in which God, just and merciful, deals with men. These books, though they also contain some things which are incomplete and temporary, nevertheless show us true divine pedagogy. (1) These same books, then, give expression to a lively sense of God, contain a store of sublime teachings about God, sound wisdom about human life, and a wonderful treasury of prayers, and in them the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way. Christians should receive them with reverence.

1. God, the inspirer and author of both Testaments, wisely arranged that the New Testament be hidden in the Old and the Old be made manifest in the New. (2) For, though Christ established the new covenant in His blood (see Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25), still the books of the Old Testament with all their parts, caught up into the proclamation of the Gospel, (3) acquire and show forth their full meaning in the New Testament (see Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:27; Rom. 16:25-26; 2 Cor. 14:16) and in turn shed light on it and explain it.

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1. Pius XI, encyclical 'Mit Brennender Sorge," March 14, 1937: A.A.S. 29 (1937) p. 51.

1. St. Augustine, “Quest. in Hept.” 2,73: PL 34,623.

1. St. Irenaeus, “Against Heretics” III, 21,3: PG 7,950; (Same as 25,1: Harvey 2, p. 115). St. Cyril of Jerusalem, “Catech.” 4,35; PG 33,497. Theodore of Mopsuestia, “In Soph.” 1,4-6: PG 66, 452D-453A.

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DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION
ON DIVINE REVELATION
DEI VERBUM
vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

I was actually wondering about this too. I thought that one had to have an understanding of Judaism and how it evolved to better understand why these laws were not valid for Christians. Perhaps a Christian with a Jewish background or knowledge of Judaism won’t see the break so dramatically as a Christian that isn’t in the know?

One thing I don’t get though. If these laws are no longer in effect for Christians, then why do some Christians refference them to defend certain points of view? I have thought of doing the same myself to show my parents that Spiritism is forbidden by God, because in one of those books God forbids people to communicate with the dead. But, if those laws are no longer valid, how do I justify that God doesn’t want you to engage in Spiritism?

 

[Nita]

One thing I don’t get though. If these laws are no longer in effect for Christians, then why do some Christians refference them to defend certain points of view? I have thought of doing the same myself to show my parents that Spiritism is forbidden by God, because in one of those books God forbids people to communicate with the dead. But, if those laws are no longer valid, how do I justify that God doesn’t want you to engage in Spiritism?

Mostly the laws that are no longer in effect pertain to:

1. the worship/liturgical rites. They have all changed and been replaced because the prophecied new Covenant is now in effect; (with a different sacrificial victim, the high priest, etc.)
2. the judicial regulations. When the Mosaic Laws were given, Israel was established as a nation, as well as a religion. “National/judicial” laws and health laws, as well as religious laws were given. (eg. what was considered a crime, and the punishment to be inflicted. Like our criminal laws.) The New Covenant was to include all nations - and would not be a single nation with its own laws. Those in the New Covenant follow the laws of their particular nation - unless it contradicts a New Covenant law. We owe allegiance to God first.

Most of the OT moral laws have been upheld in Christianity - and in many cases brought up to an even higher level/standard by Jesus.

I see you are Catholic, so you know that Jesus also gave His Church authority to establish regulations (to bind and loose). The Church forbids divination/spiritism.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church - vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P7E.HTM
#2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

#2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others - even if this were for the sake of restoring their health - are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.

 

[Ora_et_Labora_1]

Mostly the laws that are no longer in effect pertain to:

1. the worship/liturgical rites. They have all changed and been replaced because the prophecied new Covenant is now in effect; (with a different sacrificial victim, the high priest, etc.)
2. the judicial regulations. When the Mosaic Laws were given, Israel was established as a nation, as well as a religion. “National/judicial” laws and health laws, as well as religious laws were given. (eg. what was considered a crime, and the punishment to be inflicted. Like our criminal laws.) The New Covenant was to include all nations - and would not be a single nation with its own laws. Those in the New Covenant follow the laws of their particular nation - unless it contradicts a New Covenant law. We owe allegiance to God first.

Most of the OT moral laws have been upheld in Christianity - and in many cases brought up to an even higher level/standard by Jesus.

I see you are Catholic, so you know that Jesus also gave His Church authority to establish regulations (to bind and loose). The Church forbids divination/spiritism.

Thanks. I was wondering about that, seeing as how in Deuteronomy it says that he who is hanged from the wood is cursed. I can imagine why Saul would have had a problem intially with Jesus as the Messiah, and why the “Cross is scandal to the Jews”.

As for the Church’s teachings, they don’t carry any weight with my parents, sadly. I guess I’ll have to keep on looking for a way to convince them to leave Spiritism. I wish the Church would address these matters.

 

[Dorothy]

Thanks. I was wondering about that, seeing as how in Deuteronomy it says that he who is hanged from the wood is cursed. I can imagine why Saul would have had a problem intially with Jesus as the Messiah, and why the “Cross is scandal to the Jews”.

As for the Church’s teachings, they don’t carry any weight with my parents, sadly. I guess I’ll have to keep on looking for a way to convince them to leave Spiritism. I wish the Church would address these matters.

Perhaps you can find a priest knowledgable in these matters to teach them? There are many.
Spiritism is dangerous and leads away from the Truth. It is a great deception. There are books also about involvement in the occult by those who were trapped in this, and then were mercifully led out of it.