Understanding the “difficult” Old Testament rules

We’ve all read them. The rules about stoning rebellious children and women who lie about being virgins. The dietary restrictions. The offerings. To our modern eyes these may seem odd; to critics, they seem barbaric and backwards.

But the “difficult” Old Testament rules, particularly the ones found in the first five books of the Bible, are actually not as difficult as they may seem. Here are a few observations I’ve come across as I’ve studied these:

1. Remember, the Israelites agreed to be bound by these rules, like a contract. An example of this is found in Deut. 26:17-18:

“You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.”

The Israelites could have remained enslaved in Egypt. They were given their freedom, at the cost of only obeying the Lord their God. These rules become less problematic when you consider that they agreed to obey them.

2. Many of the OT rules were designed to set the Israelites apart from their pagan neighbors or to keep them away from idolatry. A particular example of this is found in the prohibition of boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk. This was a pagan practice and the Lord did not want His people wrapped up in it. The Lord called His people to be distinct, and that requires distinct rules.

3. We learn from Paul (in Romans, I believe) that the Mosaic Law existed, at least in part, to prove that man could not save himself. These laws were so demanding because God wanted His people to understand they could never live up to His standard. Which leads to the next reason.

4. The rules were there to show us the need for grace. Because we cannot save ourselves, because all of our acts of righteousness are but “filthy rags” before the Lord, we understand the need to be saved. We understand that God saves us as an act of mercy and grace and love. The rules remind us how badly we need God because we could never live up to His holiness.

5. Many of the rules embody God’s holiness. God took sexual purity seriously, which is why you see many of these rules aimed at this concept. He took all of His values seriously. And He wanted us to know HOW seriously He took them.

6. Every culture has their unique mores that may seem strange to outsiders. You can probably think of some off the top of your head. But imagine telling someone 3,000 years ago that if they had uttered something the least bit offensive two decades ago, that a mob would rise up and attempt to ruin their lives and careers, even though their lives bring joy to others or their careers were lucrative and successful. No one was injured by said utterance. It wasn’t even intended to be bigoted or hateful. But no matter, they need to have their lives ruined because someone dug up an old quote by them.

This cultural practice exists in the United States today, known as cancel culture. I’d bet though that if you tried to explain this stuff to ancient Israelites they’d scratch their heads just like we scratch ours about some of their rules. Cultures are different. They are unique. And when you factor in thousands of years and different regions around the world, the uniqueness becomes even more apparent.

What are your thoughts on these rules? How would you explain them to a non-believer or a new Christian?

Are you speaking of the LAWS given to the Jews? If so, they are LAWS given by God to His people, not "rules." There IS a difference.

Just saying

Adam was sent to annex the earth into the Kingdom of the Living God. He was a son of God and a servant of God. God intended that Adam manifest the image and likeness of Himself so that the whole of creation could see Adam and simultaneously see the Father.

Adam failed. The first relationship casualty was that between a son and his father. The second: between a man and his bride. Because of Adam's sin, all who would come after him would likewise have the sin nature.

Now, the wage of sin is death. Wage is a legal term: an obligation of payment, remuneration because of activity. So, in Adam, or all who came from Adam, died.

However, even though the end result was the same for all (death), the Law placed boundaries on the consequences of certain sins (among other things). The Law preserved the people through whom the salvation of all men would come. Nevertheless, the Law could not produce the heirs of God the Father. It could only produce slaves within the house. So, the Jews were included under the care of the Master, but they could not inherit the promises from the Father. They were under a contract, a quid pro quo arrangement where they did things for God and God agreed to protect them, feed them, and nurture them. God kept his part of the deal but the Jews could not keep theirs. Thus, this made the Jews a debtor to God. And, because God owned everything the Jews had, the only thing the Jews could give God was their own lives. God already agreed to save their lives, so the Jews were trapped under the contract until One could be sent to pay their debt of life.

That is why the last Adam had to be sent: so that God's original intent could be fulfilled and men could become the sons of God and inheritors of the riches of the House of God, their Father. Christ is the last Adam and now all who are in Christ, those who have the spirit of Christ alive in them, are considered sons of God and they are able to receive the promises bestowed upon the progeny of the Living God.

My view ----

For me I would never start to try and explain God's Laws to an unbeliever or a new Christian ------

I would start with Genesis ----and explain the basic foundation of what is needed to gain understanding of why God brought His laws into place ------Faith is the foundation of God's Kingdom -----and explaining what True Faith is in God's Kingdom is essential as well as explaining God's type of Love --Agape------ and How God works under that Love ----and that because of this love ---he will chastise and punish disobedience --like any Father or Mother would do if their child disobeys their orders ----

So Explain in great detail who God is ---what he expects from people and what is needed to please Him --and Genesis is a good place to Start ----many say that new Christians or unbelievers should read the New Testament first ----but here again ---you need to inform them of the basics of how the Kingdom of God works ----

Without knowing what God's Faith is ----you are setting them up for failure -----if there is no foundation under your house it can be reduced to rubble in a sever storm ------

Without the Right Faith you can't even please God --------Many have no idea how to explain God's Faith --and it is not taught in Churches today -----it is talked about but not explained ------today Faith like Christianity is used very loosely and misunderstood -------

In my humble opinion, the church is embroiled in a slave culture. Many people in the pews, today, believe that if they say their prayers, memorize scripture, sing in the choir, etc, then God will be pleased with Him. This is the quid pro quo found in the Law. Such an arrangement can only be a doctrine of demons: do things for God and He will give you what you need. Sons observe the birds and flowers and know that their Father loves them.

Good post; good topic!

Not difficult at all. I keep almost all of them, as I became convicted to in my studies a few years ago. Actually, if one is a good Christian and following the example of Jesus (Himself a Torah observant Jew) then you are already keeping all but a handful.

Yes, and so do we when we accept Jesus, who is eternal God and does not change. Like I said, a "good" Christian is already keeping most of what is actually in Torah. NOT the 613 "laws" of contemporary Rabbinical Judaism, but the actual instructions in the 1st five books.

Actually, all of Torah is meant to do just that. Torah is God's instructions for holy living, set apart from the world for God's service. It does contain commandments which should be taken as "law" if we are smart. Yet God never interrupts our freewill. Laws, by contrast are meant to do just that! They restrict freewill in favor of absolute standards.

Yep. They couldn't, and neither can we. Doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Absolutely. Grace cannot exist without some standard which we violate. Without Torah who would need grace? Those instructions are a gift, not a curse. They become a curse when we violate them, yet that opens the door for a greater gift: grace!

Actually they all "embody God’s holiness." Holy (Hebrew qadosh, Greek hagiasmos) means a set apart state or quality. As God is set apart from false gods and the world, so are we to be set apart for and to Him. Sexual immorality is important because it attacks the family, God's picture of our relationship to Himself and the foundation of a free, moral society.

Ain't that the absolute TRUTH in capital letters!

Well, those are mine. Again, good topic!

pretty good read thanks for sharing !

I would note that the people were corrupt who the law was given to we’re this category

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if your speaking to people like that it’s going to be a lot of “ Thou shalt not “ sort of like you would set rules for violent me wicked inmates in a maximum security prison.

but if you have a person who’s sins are remitted you speak to them like free people like children who you are teaching the right ways to go and you don’t begin treating them as dangerous inmates

if you teach a child the importance of telling the truth , you don’t then need to tell them not to lie

if you teach then to love other people in deed and truth , you don’t have to teach them how not to treat other people

if you teach a man the right way , and the importance of following him , you don’t have to warn them of the wrong way

Christians should simply ignore what unbelievers and unbelieving critics have to say about the Torah and the laws embedded in the Old Covenant. When you distill all the laws down to their essence they comprise (a) loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength and (b) loving your neighbor as yourself (love worketh no ill to his neighbor).

What should be noted is that because God is absolutely holy, righteous, and just, and since there is a penalty for breaking His laws, the penalties written in the OT for heinous crimes are just and righteous. Therefore the death penalty is what God has ordained for certain crimes.

What should be further noted in that Christ bore the penalty for sin (all sins) in His own body on the cross, and He also shed His own precious blood for the remission of sins. Therefore God now commands all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And those who believe have all of God's laws written on their hearts. Therefore Christians are commanded to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-14).

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

“The law and the prophets were until John:

since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭16:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For the law was given by Moses,

but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Let's not quibble over details, please. Clearly you understand what I am referring to.

This is a really good explanation. Thank you.

So if a non-believer or new Christian were to ask you, you'd just ignore them?

This is a profoundly unChristian and frankly terrible attitude. We are specifically instructed to tell others why we have the hope we do. Read 1 Peter 3:15. If you are asked tough questions by unbelievers and critics, we do not run away! That is cowardly and will only discourage someone with an open heart and mind who may be considering Christ Jesus.

Your apparent attitude is to let them burn. This is not good and I hope nobody follows this awful advice.

I say ------Well have no idea why you just took that and quoted it and didn't quote the rest of my post which says what I would do first ---------so I am reposting here so you can read the whole thing

this is my post below Please Read it all -------

I did read it all. It seems you are saying we should skirt the topic. Correct?

It's not that what you say is bad. But insufficient. We are told to always be ready with an answer, not with another topic. Sorry but I don't agree.

I say -----You don't have to be sorry in your disagreement ---that is your right to disagree -----

This is one of your quotes from your OP -------

You say here -----God saves us as an act of mercy and grace and love. ----

But here is the thing ----you forgot Faith -----Saving Grace comes through Saving Faith ------and without Faith you won't be saved -----Just saying

Fair.

And so if you just go on and on about all the rules you have posted and never get into the meat of why or how these rules were implemented you will most likely turn them off and they will RUN From You --thinking they don't want to know this God who makes all these rules if you can't explain the Why's --How's and Character of this God ------

wasn’t his whole point to open a discussion on the whys and what’s and who’s of the rules ? And ask for other peoples thoughts about them ?

“What are your thoughts on these rules? How would you explain them to a non-believer or a new Christian?”

Seems that would lead somewhere to better understanding of we would just freely share our thoughts regarding the subject of the op then Others could weigh what we’ve said and maybe understand some small point better

I was thinking more about this in the context of being approached by one of them and challenged on the rules. If I were introducing someone to Christianity I would not start here. But the Law is one reason many nonbelievers reject God out of hand. My belief is we should understand it better to be ready with an answer, not to use it as a starting point for evangelizing.