the word “servants” or “bondslaves” and the word “children.” For the old covenant from Mount Sinai gendereth to bondage; whereas the new covenant answers to Jerusalem that is above, which “is free, which is the mother of us all” (Gal. 4: 24-26). At Mount Sinai the ten commandments were spoken by the Lord in the hearing of all the people (Ex. 20), and they were also written on tables of stone. In addition, there were given certain “judgments” regulating the relations of the Israelites with one another (Ex. chaps. 21, 22, 23). Later God gave to Moses also the “ordinances” for worship; i.e., directions for the tabernacle, its appointments, the priests, their garments, the manner of their consecration, etc. (Ex. chaps. 24 to 30 inclusive). Inasmuch as God’s mind and will in all matters pertaining to the conduct of men are unchanging, it is of necessity true that the law given on Mount Sinai stands forever as the expression of His will, except in those particulars wherein He Himself has repealed or modified it. Hence we find in “the doctrine of Christ” many of the same commandments that were given at Sinai. In fact, every one of the “ten commandments” is repeated in the New Testament excepting the fourth6 It need hardly be said that all commandments which have to do with what is right and wrong must stand as God’s inalterable requirement. Looking closely, therefore, at the law in its completeness. we can distinguish three kinds of commandments; first, those having to do with righteousness (called in Romans 8:4 “the righteousness of the law”) ; second, those having to do specially with “Israel after the flesh” (as, for example, the laws pertaining to their inheritance in the land of Canaan, their reciprocal duties as Israelites, their relations with the Moabites, Egyptians, and other neighbouring peoples, and the like) ; and third, the ordinances relating to “the service of God,” that is to say to worship. The third heading embraced a very large part of “the law,” including many details concerning the tabernacle, the sacrifices, the priesthood, the keeping of feast-days and seasons, and the like. All this part of the law has been fulfilled and is done away. For this we have the clearest statements of the New Testament. Thus, in Hebrews 7: 12, it is stated that “the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.” And again (7:18, 19): “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before, for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect.” The context shows clearly that what is here spoken of is that part of the law which has to do with 6
“See “Concerning the Sabbath,” by Philip Mauro.
