Old Testament Law

[ConfusedTim]

What was considered the Law under the old testament and how do we know what parts to keep and what are abolished?

 

[thistle]

What was considered the Law under the old testament and how do we know what parts to keep and what are abolished?

The coming of Christ fulfilled the Laws, but he told us to continue to keep the moral laws, i.e. the ten commandments.

 

[Truth_Seeker123]

The coming of Christ fulfilled the Laws, but he told us to continue to keep the moral laws, i.e. the ten commandments.

Ephesians 2:14-16 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 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; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Here it says the ordinances, not the law. i will post more on this topic later.

 

[thistle]

Ephesians 2:14-16 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 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; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Here it says the ordinances, not the law. i will post more on this topic later.

The verse you quote, among other things, talks about the ending of Mosaic law (laws of man) and not the Commandments which were from God.

Jesus himself told us to keep the moral laws which were the Commandments from God.
Matt 19:16-19

16 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”

17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness;

19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"

 

[diggerdomer]

What was considered the Law under the old testament and how do we know what parts to keep and what are abolished?

The Law is contained in the first five books of the Old Testament.

Regarding which to keep, follow Catholic Church teaching.

 

[ConfusedTim]

But which laws do we keep and which are discarded e.g. i know the food laws and circumcision are no longer adhered to, but what else and on what basis do we know what’s in/out?

 

[Reuben_J]

But which laws do we keep and which are discarded e.g. i know the food laws and circumcision are no longer adhered to, but what else and on what basis do we know what’s in/out?

Any laws that do not contribute or enhance the greatest commandments should be discarded. And you are right - we should discard circumcision, kosher food, stoning of adulterers, animal sacrifice, etc.

The greatest Commandments:

Mt 22: 37-38
Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

 

[NHInsider]

But which laws do we keep and which are discarded e.g. i know the food laws and circumcision are no longer adhered to, but what else and on what basis do we know what’s in/out?

We believe that when Jesus delegated His authority to the Apostles and promised to send the Holy Spirit to teach them everything they needed to know, that He was providing for the on-going interpretation and application of Scripture and faith in a changing world. The first example of this is the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) where the Apostles and those they had appointed reviewed the questions swirling around the conversion of Gentiles (essentially, did Gentiles have to convert to Judaism in order to become Christians?) and, as led by the Holy Spirit, set aside most of the obligations placed upon the Jews by the Law. This process has continued throughout the history of the Church as new situations arise.

So the good news is, WE don’t have to decide for ourselves, each individual believer struggling to apply Scripture to his own situation. We have the awesome gift of the Church’s authority, for which we give thanks to our gracious Lord.

 

[ryanoneil]

Dont forget to include feast days. It is really any legal precept that sets Israel apart from the Gentiles.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendant, heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3:28-29)

 

[crazzeto]

What was considered the Law under the old testament and how do we know what parts to keep and what are abolished?

These can mostly be found in the book of Leviticus, Christ fulfilled the laws as stated. Specifically, God tells us Levitical laws no longer apply in Acts 10:

11 And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said: Far be it from me; for I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean. 15 And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.

 

[diggerdomer]

But which laws do we keep and which are discarded e.g. i know the food laws and circumcision are no longer adhered to, but what else and on what basis do we know what’s in/out?

I tend to rely on the Catechism.

 

[Truth_Seeker123]

The verse you quote, among other things, talks about the ending of Mosaic law (laws of man) and not the Commandments which were from God.

Jesus himself told us to keep the moral laws which were the Commandments from God.
Matt 19:16-19

16 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?”

17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, " 'You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness;

19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’"

I don’t think you understood what I was saying. I meant the ordinances and not the Law itself. Look at what I made bold. I didn’t have time to come back and elaborate.

 

[Mailman]

What was considered the Law under the old testament and how do we know what parts to keep and what are abolished?

The Ten Commandments were considered the Law under the Old Testament. It is God’s basic spiritual law, in force since the time of Creation. These were the commandments Abraham kept: “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Gen. 26:5).

Now, notice Abraham also kept God’s “statutes and laws”. In addition to the Ten Commandments, many other statutes were also given for the general well-being of the people – together with judgments for the protection of everyone’s legal rights. These statutes and judgments magnify the Ten Commandments. (As an example, God forbids us to eat unclean meats. To lust after what He forbids is to covet. One of the Commandments say: “Thou shalt not covet.”)

During the time of Moses and the Old Covenant, other statutes regulating material rituals, such as sacrifices, lighting of candles, burning incense, and various washings for the unclean were added. These ritualistic laws were added “because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19) – because God’s spiritual law was being broken – until Christ should come. They foreshadowed the sacrifices of Christ and were a “reminder of sin” to teach the people the need of the Messiah who would pay the penalty of human transgression (Hebrews 10:3).

Now, to know what laws to keep and what have been abolished by Christ’s sacrifice, we go to Heb. 9:10. Speaking about the carnal sacrifices and rituals added due to sin, Paul says: “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”

The ritualistic laws which were added during the time of the Old Covenant are the ones abolished and not now necessary for Christians.

 

[Cristian_B]

It’s simple. Christians keep everything.