The Law?

[Montie_Claunch]

Hey guys,

I could sure use some help.

I am trying to figure out what the aplication of the law is. I have heard that we are not bound by the law (including the 10 commandments). And I have also heard that we are (why else would the Ten Commandments be in the CCC). Which leads me to be rather comfused and really frustrated that I can’t figure this out. Could someone sit down with poor ol’ montie and go over with me Point (And counterpoint) by point (And counterpoint) what we as good catholics are supposed to veiw the Law as? Thanks and God bless.

 

[Chipper]

Hey guys,

I could sure use some help.

I am trying to figure out what the aplication of the law is. I have heard that we are not bound by the law (including the 10 commandments). And I have also heard that we are (why else would the Ten Commandments be in the CCC). Which leads me to be rather comfused and really frustrated that I can’t figure this out. Could someone sit down with poor ol’ montie and go over with me Point (And counterpoint) by point (And counterpoint) what we as good catholics are supposed to veiw the Law as? Thanks and God bless.

Hope I don’t sound like a know-it-all, but I usually keep these passages in my mind.

The New Testament says to “Obey the Law of the Land”.

And also:
When the rich man asks Jesus what he must do to be saved, Jesus answers" :keep the commandments" (Mt. 19:16-17).

Regards,
Chipper

 

[Fidelis]

The *liturgical, sacrificial, and ritual Laws *of the Old Testament ceased to be binding when Jesus made the ultimate Sacrifice to which the OT requirements were only a shadow. The tearing of the Temple curtain at Jesus’ death was the sign of this; the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD iced it – no more Temple, no more OT sacrifices. For more info about this, read the Book of Hebrews.

The moral laws of the Old Testament (most prominently the Ten Commandments) are based on the natural law; that is, they are binding on all persons in all places at all times because they are written in the very fabric of our nature and do not – cannot – pass away.

 

[Montie_Claunch]

Hope I don’t sound like a know-it-all, but I usually keep these passages in my mind.

The New Testament says to “Obey the Law of the Land”.

And also:
When the rich man asks Jesus what he must do to be saved, Jesus answers" :keep the commandments" (Mt. 19:16-17).

Regards,
Chipper

I know but in the council of Jerusalem as described in acts says that it was reduced to no fornication, no scrangled animals and a few other things.

While the epsitles seem to condmen for things.

And there are proboly more things I could think of if I wasn’t so stressed with this (not to sound like a know it all ).

 

[Fidelis]

I know but in the council of Jerusalem as described in acts says that it was reduced to no fornication, no scrangled animals and a few other things…

The rulings of the Council of Jerusalem were made to address a specific problem for a specific time and place – i.e., the problem of Jewish believers associating with Gentile believers, and each being scandalized by the behavior of others. It was not meant to be a norm into perpetuity, just a measure to address tensions in that specific situation.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Hey guys,

I could sure use some help.

I am trying to figure out what the aplication of the law is. I have heard that we are not bound by the law (including the 10 commandments). And I have also heard that we are (why else would the Ten Commandments be in the CCC). Which leads me to be rather comfused and really frustrated that I can’t figure this out. Could someone sit down with poor ol’ montie and go over with me Point (And counterpoint) by point (And counterpoint) what we as good catholics are supposed to veiw the Law as? Thanks and God bless.

The NT more fully revealed the Law of the OT.
In regards to the 10 Commandments for example they took on a more demanding and complete role of what God expects: 1. I am the Lord, your God. You shall have no other gods besides Me.
This was more fully revealed with the Trinity, especially Jesus as the Son of God becoming man. 2. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.
This was extended to “every careless word” we utter as places like Matt12:31-36 3. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
This was changed to the Lord’s Day, the day of the new creation when Jesus rose from the dead. 4. Honor your father and your mother.
Pretty much the same though the understanding had been corrupted by the pharisees, Matt15:4-6 5. You shall not kill.
This was expanded upon by Jesus "21 “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment” (Matt5) This commandment extends to hating your brother deep down. 6. You shall not commit adultery.
Again Jesus extends this to a more fuller meaning: 27 "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matt5 7. You shall not steal.
This stays pretty much the same but extends to doing charity for your neighbors.28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. Eph4 8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Basically the same with Jesus expanding on love of neighbor: 43 "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matt5 9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
Same as the adultery above and also includes prohibition against divorce:10 To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) --and that the husband should not divorce his wife. 1Cor7 10. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
This is expanded into the general sense of charity of not allowing people to go without basic needs.

Read passages like Matt ch5-ch7 and from the CCC like this for more info:
vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2.htm
one excerpt:
[2055](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/2055.htm’) When someone asks him, "Which commandment in the Law is the greatest?"8 Jesus replies: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets."9 The Decalogue must be interpreted in light of this twofold yet single commandment of love, the fullness of the Law:

The commandments: “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this sentence: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.10

 

[Lazerlike42]

soladeiverbum.com/law.shtml

 

[dcdurel]

Everyone is bound by the commandments. No one for example is allowed to murder. The commandments are the moral law written in our hearts.

Thus, Cain broke the moral law by killing Abel, even though there was no written law at this time.

Later God gave Moses the written law, the Law of Moses, in which the 10 commandments were written. The Law of Moses also had ceremonial and ritual laws, and civil laws. The law of Moses was only for the Isrealites. It was not for the Gentiles. But, the Gentiles, the non-Jews, still had to obey the 10 commandments because they are the moral law God has made known to everyone internally.

When a Jew became a Christian he was no longer under the Law of Moses. Thus, he no longer had to obey the ceremonial, ritual and civil laws. But, Jesus incorporated the moral law, the commandements into the Gospel. And He expanded upon them. Jesus said,
“if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments”. Thus, the commandments are necessary for salvation. If we break the commandments and don’t repent, then we are in rebellion against God and if we never repenet, we will refuse to enter heaven when we die, for we must obey God in heaven, thus, we will end up in hell.

So Christians are not under the Law of Moses,
so they don’t have to be circumcised, etc.,
but they are under the Law of Christ, the Gospel, the Catholic faith, and this law of course, necessitates keeping the moral law, the commandments, as Jesus expanded upon them and as the Church teaches.

Of course, everyone is under the moral law, whether they heard of God or not and thus no one is allowed murder, steal, commit adultery, etc., otherwise the do evil and separate themselves from God.