This book has been written to guide the reader to further understand the difference between these two laws and to learn how to keep the most important law, the law of Christ.
The Law of Christ
These laws were established for the Jewish nation. They were not then to be passed onto the Church. The Church was established just over 50 days after Jesus died on the cross. At his death the New Covenant came into effect, and this is the law of Christ that Christians are meant to keep today.
Jesus has been described as of greater worth than Moses; Moses himself tells us there would come another prophet, and we must listen to him. And that prophet was Jesus Christ. When Jesus was baptised in the river by John. God the Father’s voice was heard, and he also said, “Listen to him”.
We cannot keep both laws, so we must keep either one or the other. The new laws of Jesus Christ came into effect the moment Jesus died on the cross, and these are the laws all people must keep. Jews and Christians alike. Keeping these laws is the only way to be considered righteous according to God.
The Bible is clear about whom we should be listening to. Even Moses himself told us to listen to Jesus Christ, as we can see from Deu 18:15.
Deu 18:15 The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.
Then in Mark 9:7 we have the words of God the Father when Jesus was baptised by John in the river Jordan. God said we must listen to him
Mar 9:7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!
Luke
Then Luke informs us in the book of Acts that it is Jesus who we are to take notice of. He quotes what Moses said and then states anyone who does not listen to Jesus will be cut off from his people.
Act 3:22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you.
Act 3:23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’
If we are to listen to Jesus and not to Moses, then whose law should we be keeping? The law of Moses or the law of Christ?
When you search for the answer, you will find that Jesus tells us there are just two commandments that cover the entire law, and that also includes the law of Moses. This is made evident in the book of Matthew.
Mat 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Mat 22:37 Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Mat 22:38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Mat 22:40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two ”commandments.”
The holy scriptures are not always easy to read and understand. The Old Testament has many laws that are impossible for us to keep. Consider some of the following laws. Should we apply capital punishment for incorrigible children? (Exodus 21:18-21), for those caught in adultery? And if you will be honest with yourself, this will include a vast number of people today (Leviticus 20:10). What about the false teachers among us (Deuteronomy 13:1-11)? Should we be stoning them to death?
1Pe 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1Co 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.