8.7 The Moral Law and the Ceremonial Law                       

 

1. What title of distinction is given to the law of God?
James 2:8-9
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

 

2. By what law is the knowledge of sin?
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

 

3. By what are all men to be finally judged?
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

 

4. What system was established because of the transgression of God's law by man?
The sacrificial system, with its customs and ceremonies, which pointed to Christ.

 

5. Why did the patriarch Job offer burnt offerings?
Job 1:4-5
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

 

6. How early was this sacrificial system known?
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Genesis 4:3-5
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

 

7. By whom was the law of the Ten Commandments proclaimed?
Deuteronomy 4:12-13
12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
13 And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even Ten Commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.

 

8. How was the ceremonial law made known to Israel?
Leviticus 1:1-2
1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
Leviticus 7:37-38
37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;
38 Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

 

9. Were the Ten Commandments a distinct and complete law by themselves?
Deuteronomy 5:22 These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and He added no more. And He wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.
Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to Me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

 

10. On what did God write the Ten Commandments?
Deuteronomy 4:13 And He declared unto you his covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.

 

11. In what were the laws or commandments concerning sacrifices and burnt offerings written?
2 Chronicles 35:12 And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the book of Moses. And so did they with the oxen.

 

12. Where were the Ten Commandments placed?
Exodus 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:

 

13. Where did Moses command the Levites to lay the book of the law which he had written?
Deuteronomy 31:25-26
25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

 

14. What is the character of the moral law?
Psalms 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

 

15. Could the sacrifices commanded by the ceremonial law satisfy or sanctify the conscience of the believer?
Hebrews 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

 

16. Until what time did the ceremonial law impose the service which was performed in the earthly sanctuary?
Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

 

17. When was this time of reformation?
Hebrews 9:11-12
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

18. What influence did the death of Christ have on the ceremonial law?
Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
Ephesians 2:15 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;

 

19. Why was the ceremonial law taken away?
Hebrews 7:18-19
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

 

20. What miraculous event took place at the death of Christ, signifying that the sacrificial system was forever at an end?
Matthew 27:50-51
50 Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

 

21. In what words had the prophet Daniel foretold this?
Daniel 9:27 And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

 

22. How enduring is the moral law?
Psalms 119:152 Concerning Thy testimonies, I have known of old that Thou hast founded them for ever.

 

The Moral law (ML) and The Ceremonial Law (CW)
(ML) Is called the royal law. James 2:8
(CW) Is called the “law consisting of ordinances”. Ephesians 2:15

(ML) Was spoken by God. Deuteronomy 4:12-13
(CW) Was spoken by Moses. Leviticus 1:1-3

(ML) Was written by God on stone tablets. Exodus 24:8
(CW) Was the manuscript consisting of ordinances. Colossians 2:14

(ML) Was written with the finger of God. Exodus 31:18
(CW) Was written by Moses in a book. 2 Chronicles 35:12

 
(ML) Was placed in the ark. Exodus 40:20/ 1 Kings 8:9
(CW) Was placed at the side of the ark. Deuteronomy 31:24-26

(ML) Is perfect Psalms 19:8
(CW) Has nothing perfect. Hebrews 7:19

(ML) Sustained forever and ever. Psalms 111:7, 87
(CW) Is nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14

(ML) Was not dissolved by Christ. Matthew 5:17
(CW) Is annihilated by Christ. Ephesians 2:15

(ML) Would be magnified by Christ. Isaiah 42:21
(CW) Is taken away by Christ. Colossians 2:14

(ML) Gives knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20; 7:7
(CW) Was instituted as a consequence of sin. Leviticus 3-7