The Law

Hebrews 7:11-19
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 8:3-5
Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already men who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."

Galatians 2:14
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

Hebrews 10:8,9
First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.

(He sets aside the physical requirements to establish the spiritual requirements)

Since Jesus has replaced the physical sacrifices with a spiritual sacrifice than the remaining attributes of the law have also become spiritual and not physical.

1 Corinthians 9:7-12
For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."Is it about oxen that God is concerned? Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? (Paul is demonstrating that the law is to be interpreted by the spirit and not according to natural things)

Galatians 4:21-26
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way;(circumcision of the flesh) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.(circumcision of the spirit) These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: (Children of the physical, earthly Jerusalem) But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. (spiritual, holy, heavenly, Jerusalem)

John 8:4-10 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go and sin no more."

Yes this woman was guilty of physical adultery but the men who were against Jesus were guilty of spiritual adultery. The woman was not condemned. Why did the men leave unless they felt they had sinned? Jesus nor His apostles taught any to follow mosaic law (torah) according to the flesh. Jesus demonstrated the new covenant would be based on the spiritual interpretation of that same law. The law is very much relevant to our everyday lives and is timeless. As Paul pointed out that oxen in the law represent those who have been called to labor for God. People don't use oxen to plow or thresh anymore they use machinery. But God still uses oxen to plow and to thresh so the law is still very much in affect in a new spiritual way. As Paul proclaimed in Romans we have been crucified with Christ. If our physical bodies are dead how can we obey a law according to the flesh? Are we not made alive by the Spirit. If Joseph had obeyed the physical law of Moses Mary would have been stoned and Jesus never would have been born. Did God violate His own Law to manifest Himself to the world. NO! In fact He has proclaimed that a virgin betrothed to a husband can be made pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Paul has proclaimed that we are virgins betrothed to Jesus, and there is a new creation within us, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jewish people have attempted to live the physical law for centuries and in Christ, Paul says, that the veil is lifted and the spiritual interpretation of the Law (Torah) can be seen.

2 Corinthians 3:11-18
And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

In the law of Moses are things concerning a husband, a wife, oxen and sheep. These are all shadows of the reality that is found in Christ. Jesus Christ is The Spiritual Husband, the church is the spiritual wife. Oxen are the Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists. The sheep are those who follow The Shepherd and obey His voice. So if you apply the law to these spiritual things then you are obeying the Law of Christ.

Romans 7:6
But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

Colossians 2:20-22
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings.

The sheep and the oxen of the law of Moses are temporal animals. But the sheep and the oxen of Christ are redeemed eternal beings that do not perish.

John 10:27,28
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.