•        The Mosaic Covenant

–     Was Represented by the Sabbath (as the sign of the covenant)

–     Was Summarized in the Ten Commandments

–     Was Ultimately Embodied in the 600+ Laws Given by Moses

•        Leviticus 26:15 - and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant,

•        Deuteronomy 7:12 - If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers.

 

•       The Mosaic Covenant with its many laws is often referred to in the Bible as the “law of Moses” or just “the law”.

–     John 7:23 - Now if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing the whole man on the Sabbath?

–     1 Corinthians 9:20 - To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.

 

•   The Law of Moses was given exclusively to the nation of Israel.

–        Psalm 147:19-20 - He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.

•       The Law of Moses was given as a complete unit.

•       Therefore the Law of Moses had to be kept completely. The Israelites were not allowed to just keep one part and ignore the rest of it!

–        Galatians 3:10b - Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.

–        James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

 

•       The Law of Moses promised to give (eternal) life to all who would obey it perfectly – but in reality it brought death, because sinful man cannot keep the Law perfectly

•       The Jews thought (at first) that they would keep the Law:

–       Exodus 19:7-8 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.

•       They eventually found out that they couldn’t keep the Law

–       Romans 7:10 - I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death.