The Mosaic Law in Christian Perspective

Abstract

When Jesus spoke of fulfilling the law and the prophets, he was referring to the Mosaic law, nearly all of which is in the four books we consider in this Article: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In an effort to discern the Mosaic law’s guidance for contemporary secular law, we first place it in covenantal perspective and identify three of its key concerns: God’s nature, as revealed in Scripture; the nature of Israel; and the role of the land. After summarizing the regulation in the four books under consideration and noting a few of its characteristics, we conclude by discussing a few possible implications of a Christian perspective on the Mosaic law for contemporary criminal law; economic and commercial law; and the fraught issues of marriage, divorce and sexuality.

Keywords: God, Jesus Christ, Moses, Hebrew Law, Old Testament, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Torah, New Testament Context, Bible, Behavioral Regulation, Criminal Intent and Punishment, Economic Justice, Debt Relief, Marriage and Divorce, Gay Marriage, Mosaic law’s Implications for Contemporary Law