A Favored People
JEHOVAH'S way is always right. It is a great satisfaction to the seeker of truth to know that Jehovah God can never be wrong. "As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried; he is a buckler to all those that trust in him." (Ps. 18: 30) The meek desire to be taught and led in the way of God because it is right. God's favors are for such. "The meek will he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way." (Ps. 25: 9) The one who desires to be led in the right way prays as David prayed: "For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name." (Ps. 86:10, 11) Such receive the favor of Jehovah, and his favor is that which is of greatest value. (Prov. 16:15) Such rest confidently by faith in the Lord. "For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield." (Ps. 5:12) "In his favour is life." (Ps. 30:5) These great and unchangeable truths set forth in the Scriptures stand boldly forth as a true guide for those who desire life and peace.
The lineal descendants of Abraham under the guiding hand of Jehovah found a domicile in the land of Egypt. God took them there to use them to make pic-
tures foreshadowing his plan for the reconciliation of man. Egypt was a picture of this present evil world of which Satan is the god. Abraham's descendants, the Israelites in that land, were greatly oppressed and persecuted by the ruler of Egypt and his agencies. The Israelites had a great desire to be relieved from this oppression. In that condition they represented the peoples of earth suffering under the oppressive hand of Satan and his agents and representatives. The peoples of earth now have a great desire to be delivered from oppression and to be brought into a condition of peace and happiness.
Manifestly God did not interfere with this oppression for a time but permitted it to continue that the Israelites might have their hearts turned to him. They cried unto God for relief, and God sent Moses to Egypt to be the deliverer of the Israelites. In that Moses pictured the beloved Son of God, Christ Jesus, whom Jehovah sent into the world to redeem the people of the world; and then again he comes the second time to be the great Deliverer of the peoples of earth from the oppression of Satan and from sin and death. — Deut. 18:15, 18; Acts 3:19-24.
It was when God sent Moses into Egypt that he first revealed himself as to the meaning of his name Jehovah. By that name he was to be known among the Israelites, which people were to be his favored people or nation. The name Jehovah also signifies his purposes concerning his favored people. Mark how he directed Moses to say to the Israelites what he purposed then to do. He said: 'I will do for you these things.' "And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty; but
by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord." — Exod. 6:3, 6-8.
Jehovah then made a covenant with the nation of Israel. By that covenant he greatly honored and favored the Israelites. Among other things he said to them: "Now therefore, if ye obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exod. 19:5, 6) That covenant is designated in the Scriptures as the law covenant. (Gal. 3:17) It had to do with preparing the way for the reconciliation of man to God.
A clear distinction must be made between the law of God and his law covenant which he made with Israel. The law of God concerning man is his expressed will. It is the rule of action which he provides and which commands obedience to that which is right and punishment for wrong-doing. Abraham kept God's law, namely his expressed will, as far as he knew it. But Abraham was not under the law covenant. "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and
kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." (Gen. 26:5) "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." — Rom. 4:3, 13.
In the covenant God made with Abraham concerning the "seed" he used Abraham, and Sarah his wife, and Isaac his only son, symbolically to illustrate and picture the covenant and the offspring thereof. Abraham pictured Jehovah God; Sarah pictured the covenant; while Isaac pictured or represented the "seed" or offspring of the covenant. God made other covenants in which a woman was used to represent the covenant. In the law covenant, here under consideration, God used Hagar, a bondwoman, to picture the covenant, and her son Ishmael to foreshadow the offspring thereof. This allegory or picture was for the purpose of instructing particularly the Christians whom God in his own due time began to select and prepare.
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were designated as fathers by the Israelites. The law covenant was not given to them. "The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers." (Deut. 5:3) Their fathers were dead before the law covenant was made. The original promise made to Abraham, and which was confirmed to Isaac and Jacob, was specifically regarding the "seed" through which blessings should come to all the families of the earth. God's promise was not dependent upon any works of the law. His promise was unalterable, and the law added nothing thereto.
Since Isaac was not under the law covenant he pictured the "seed", which is not under the law covenant.
When Made
Hagar was an Egyptian woman. (Gen. 16:1) She pictured or represented the law covenant. (Gal. 4: 24) It would seem appropriate therefore that the covenant, which she represented, should be made in Egypt. God's prophet Jeremiah wrote concerning that covenant: "The covenant that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt." (Jer. 31: 32) "According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you; fear ye not." — Hag. 2: 5.
These scriptures show that the law covenant was made in Egypt in the day that the Israelites came out of Egypt, and that it was exactly 430 years from the time Abraham entered Canaan. It was on the fourteenth day of Nisan, 1615 B. C., that the Israelites left Egypt. Their first passover was instituted and eaten on that day. "And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." (Exod. 12:41) Paul corroborated this testimony when he wrote: "And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." — Gal. 3:17.
The Apostle Paul wrote: "For where a covenant is it is necessary for the death to be brought in of
him that hath covenanted; for a covenant over dead persons is firm, since it is not then of force when he is living that hath covenanted." (Heb. 9:16,17, Rotherham) This same text the Emphatic Diaglott renders, "is firm over dead victims." The passover lamb was the victim to be slain. Moses was represented in the passover lamb; and, the lamb being slain, Moses was considered dead from that time. This is further proof as to the time of the making of the law covenant and that it was made in Egypt.
On the fifteenth day of the second month, after leaving Egypt and while in the wilderness, the Israelites murmured against Moses because of their hunger. "Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no. Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none." (Exod. 16: 4, 26) The law covenant was then in force. That was before the Israelites reached Sinai.
At Sinai
Horeb is the general name for the Sinaitic mountains in Arabia. The two names as used in the Scriptures mean practically the same thing. The question may arise, Do not the following scriptures prove that the law covenant was made at Sinai and not in Egypt? "The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb." (Deut. 5:2) "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him
in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." (Mal. 4:4) "Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar." (Gal. 4:24) They do not so prove for the reasons hereinafter stated.
What took place at Mount Sinai in connection with the law covenant was about fifty days after the Israelites left Egypt. Manifestly at Sinai the action there taken was the dedication or confirmation of what had taken place in Egypt at the time of the passover. At Sinai the law of the covenant was specifically stated to the Israelites. First was given the fundamental law, which constitutes the ten commandments. (Exod. 20: 1-17) That was followed by the statutory provisions of the law. At the dictation of Jehovah, Moses wrote the law and then it was delivered to the Israelites. Animals were sacrificed at that time and the blood thereof was sprinkled upon the altar and upon the people. (Exod. 24: 7, 8) This was a confirmation or dedication of what had been done in Egypt. At the passover in Egypt the Israelites sprinkled the blood of the lamb upon their door posts and over the door of the house, and all the family remained inside. That was equivalent to sprinkling all the members of the household. There the blood was a test upon each one of the household.
At Mount Sinai it was more of a national matter, confirming with all the nation what had been done with each household which constituted the nation. Because of the covenant made by the passover rite Jehovah immediately gave the Israelites the benefit of the covenant by delivering them from Egypt. That
constituted the ransom of the Israelites from Egypt, as it is written: "I gave Egypt for thy ransom." (Isa. 43:3) "Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?" (Isa. 51:10) Egypt represented the world wherein the Israelites were. Horeb is the mount of God and represents heaven itself. In making the picture here it was only appropriate that the book of the law should be sprinkled with the blood at Horeb, and not at Egypt. The evidence therefore shows that the covenant was made in Egypt and confirmed or ratified at Mount Sinai.
Why Made
"Why should Jehovah make a covenant with the Israelites? Surely not because they were worthy or that God was under any obligation to them! They had defiled themselves with the idols of Egypt. When God was about to lead them out he said: "Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." (Ezek. 20: 7) This proves that they were not deserving of God's favor. Then why should God make a covenant with them at all? Jehovah had made his covenant with Abraham, which must stand firm. He restated it to Isaac and Jacob. These men constitute the fathers of Israel. God loved Israel for their fathers' sakes. The apostle writes: "As touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes." (Rom. 11: 28) Through his prophet God said: "And
I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant." (Exod. 6:5) It is here stated that God remembered his covenant. What covenant did he remember? The one with Abraham, of course, because at that time the law covenant had not been made. "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments." — Exod. 6:6.
Jehovah had promised that he would bless all the families of the earth and that the blessing of reconciliation and life he would extend to all the families and nations of the earth through the "seed" of promise. God could not and would not use to carry out his plan of blessing mankind any creature who was in league with or under the control of Satan the enemy. The Israelites had denied themselves with idols which Satan furnished for the Egyptians. Now God would teach these natural descendants of Abraham that none of them could be of that promised "seed" unless he depart from iniquity. The Israelites must be informed as to what constitutes sin. God would now give them his law whereby they would gain a knowledge of what constitutes sin.
The inspired words of Paul show a reason for the law covenant: "By the law is the knowledge of sin." (Rom. 3: 20) "I had not known sin, but by the law." (Rom. 7:7) "For until the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Rom. 5:13) "Sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John
3:4) "Where no law is, there is no transgression." — Rom. 4:15.
Had the human race been sinless, there would have been no need for a law covenant. The descendants of Abraham were and are children of Adam, who by reason of sin brought condemnation upon all. (Rom. 5:12) Laws are not made for righteous men but for sinners. " 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." (1 Tim. 1:9) In discussing the law covenant Paul says this is the reason it was made, to wit: "Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." — Gal. 3:19, 24.
Jehovah God is the source of all life, and none can have life everlasting who oppose him. Satan the enemy would turn all men against God; and that would result in man's destruction, with no hope of life. Therefore God announced his law to the Israelites for their good and for the good of all mankind. It is noted that the first statement of the fundamental law is concerning Jehovah as the only true God. "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the
earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." — Exod. 20:2-4.
The doctrines taught by the clergy that there are three gods in one, which they call the holy trinity, is in direct contravention of the above statement of the fundamental law of God. The trinity clergymen teach the people that there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, all equal in power and in personality and in eternity. Such is in direct contradiction of the first great commandment.
In addition thereto the clergy tell the people that Mary is the mother of God and that she has and exercises the power to intercede for forgiveness of sins and that the people may pray to her for that purpose. They go further in violation of God's plain statement in the law and make graven images before which the clergy worship and before which they call upon the people to fall down and worship. This is further proof that Satan the Devil is the author of the doctrine of the trinity and the author of the practice of worshiping a woman and praying to her and of bowing down before graven images.
When God gave Israel the ten commandments, which are properly called the fundamental law, he was placing before the people the fact that the only way to life is by being obedient to him. This he did for the benefit of the people. It was the purpose of the Devil to turn the people away from God, and he has used the clergy for that very purpose. Whether he has deceived the clergy or whether they have acted deliberately makes no difference as to the result. It does prove conclusively that the clergy do not represent
the Lord God. God has repeatedly magnified his Word and kept the great truths thereof before the minds of truth seekers that they might learn the way to life everlasting.
All his laws are consistent with and based upon the great truth that Jehovah is the only true God. Satan has forced the issue, "Who is God?" and that issue must be determined on the side of Jehovah, and all who ever get life must take that side. Jehovah is just and righteous. That great truth God announced to Israel at Mount Sinai. From that time forward the law would serve as a schoolmaster to lead Israel in the way of righteousness until the coming of the promised "seed" through which the Jews would receive their blessing. Without the law, by the time of the coming of Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God, every Jew would be turned away from Jehovah and none would therefore have an opportunity to be made a part of the "seed". The law covenant was given to Israel because of Israel's sinful condition.
The "seed" of promise must be wholly and completely devoted to Jehovah God. If one, knowing God, turns his heart to Satan, then he is impure. By the law covenant God showed Israel what was required of her to be holy unto him. From the time the covenant was made with Israel until that people broke it they were 'holy unto the Lord'. (Jer. 2:3) They were God's chosen people and not the Devil's. Satan had all the other nations under his control. If Israel would obey the law unto the coming of the "seed" she would then have an opportunity to be a part of that "seed". God said to them: "Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." — Exod. 19: 6.
God warned Israel against making any contracts with their enemies and commanded them to keep themselves free from other gods, which gods were of the Devil. (Exod. 23:32) He told them that if a man or woman among them should serve other gods and worship them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, they should be stoned to death. (Deut. 17:2-5) The law provided that their first-born must be holy unto the Lord. God gave Israel the various statutes which instructed them in the way of righteousness. These laws served as a schoolmaster to keep them in the right way until the coming of Christ, the promised "seed". These things were written aforetime for the benefit of Christians. — Rom. 15: 4.
Likewise the Word of God, which is his law and expressed will, serves to lead the Christians and to teach them that Jehovah is the only true God and that his plan of salvation is through Christ Jesus the "seed" of promise and that there is no other name under heaven given amongst men whereby mankind can be reconciled and saved. (Acts 4:12) But now the clergy deny the Word of God; they deny the shed blood of Jesus Christ and teach that men are inherently immortal and can not die and that by means of man's own efforts he can bring himself up to perfection. This is another proof that the clergy do not represent God and Christ but represent Satan the Devil. God is now bringing to light the truth on this and similar matters that the people may see the necessity of forsaking that which is called "organized Christianity". Those who thus earnestly and honestly seek the truth God will show the right way. — Ps. 25:9.
Promised Life
But did not the covenant promise life to the Jews if they would keep it? It did. "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments; which if a man do, he shall live in them." (Lev. 18: 5) "For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." — Rom. 10: 5.
Had the Jews kept the law of God perfectly, would they have been granted everlasting life? Certainly, because God had so promised, and he always keeps his promises. (Isa. 46:11) If there was any doubt in any mind, the words of Jesus make the matter clear. "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live." — Luke 10: 25-28.
When Jesus came, did he keep the law perfectly? He did; and that proves that the law could be kept by a perfect man and that no one else could keep it. As Paul states, he who would keep the law would be righteous and every righteous creature is entitled to life. Therefore had the Jews kept the law it would have proved their righteousness, which would entitle them to life. The reason the Jews could not keep the law was because of imperfection, the result of sin. Sin entered the world by reason of Adam's disobedi-
ence; and all, including the Jews, were born sinners. (Rom. 5:12) No sinner has the right to life. (Rom. 6:23) The law therefore proved to the Jews and to all men that if the human family is ever to receive the blessing of life, as promised by the Abrahamic covenant, something must be done to remove the sin or make atonement for sin. The basis for reconciliation must first be laid by the perfect sacrifice.
God, foreknowing the scheme of the Devil to bring forth amongst men a crop of evolutionists who would declare that men do not need a Redeemer, demonstrated the falsity and foolishness of that position by the operation of the law covenant. No man can ever be heard to truthfully say: "If I had an opportunity I could make myself perfect and live. The operation of the law covenant is absolute proof that the theory of evolution is from the Devil, and that those who advocate it are the instruments of the evil one, whether they know it or not. The so-called conscientious preachers will never be permitted to hide behind a conscience which has been trained contrary to God's Word of truth.
Better Things Foreshadowed
Paul declares that the law foreshadowed good things to come. (Heb. 10:1) While the law covenant was made primarily because of the transgression, God employed it also to make shadows or pictures of his plan for the reconciliation of man to himself. The apostle further states: "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances [ceremonies] of divine service, and a worldly [orderly arranged] sanctuary."
(Heb. 9:1) What were these ceremonies and orderly arrangements of divine service? At the time of making the covenant in Egypt a lamb without blemish, a male of the flock, was slain and its blood sprinkled upon the door-posts, which served as a means of salvation to the Jews on the passover night. That lamb was eaten, together with unleavened bread. (Exod. 12: 8) That ceremony must be repeated or performed once each year thereafter on the fourteenth day of Nisan.
The lamb represented the sacrifice of Jesus, the beloved Son of God, who would redeem all mankind from sin. He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". (Rev. 13: 8) "As of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Pet. 1:19) By this ceremony the ransom sacrifice was foreshadowed. God made promise that he would ransom man from death and the grave. (Hos. 13:14) This ceremony would teach the Jews and others thereafter that the Lamb of God would take away the sin of the world, and it was so announced by John at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. — John 1: 29.
After the confirmation of the covenant at Sinai, Moses, under God's instruction, erected the tabernacle. In the holy place thereof God showed his presence by the cloud and the light. (Ex. 40:34) Once each year there was a special divine service in connection with the tabernacle. On a day certain bulls and goats were slain and the blood thereof carried by a priest into the Most Holy and sprinkled upon the mercy seat to make atonement. (Lev. 16; Heb. 9:6-8) That tabernacle service foreshadowed something better to come and showed that the sacrifice of the reality would make atonement for the sin of man and make it
possible for man to be reconciled to God as he bad promised. The sacrifice of these animals was done by a priest, for which the law made provision. These ceremonies were to teach lessons to the Jews and others thereafter. The sacrifice of the paschal lamb referred to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and pictured the ransom; and the sacrifice of bulls and goats and the sprinkling of the blood in the Most Holy represented the offering of the blood of Christ Jesus in heaven itself as a sin-offering for man. Furthermore, they taught that Christ, as the great High Priest appointed by Jehovah, would offer the sacrifice and make atonement for sin. — Heb. 9:10-14, 24.
The law covenant therefore shows absolutely the necessity for the great ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ and for a sin-offering to be made by him first in behalf of the members of the "seed" and then in behalf of mankind in general. Also, that covenant foreshadowed a new and better covenant thereafter to be made; and the ceremonies in connection therewith bore testimony to the fact that there would be a long period of time elapsing between the making of that new covenant and the time of its confirmation or inauguration.
Best Efforts
Suppose the Jews had put forth their best efforts to keep the law covenant, would any special benefit have resulted to them? Yes. They would have shown their faith and confidence in God and in his promises, and their allegiance to him rather than to the Devil. The Jewish clergy who were leaders of Israel did not try to keep the spirit of the law covenant. They kept
it in form, with their mouths, and outward show, while their hearts were far removed from Jehovah. (Isa. 29:13) They were frauds and hypocrites, making an outward show for a selfish reason. (Matt. 23:13-35) They claimed to be children of Abraham; but Jesus told them plainly they were liars and children of the Devil because they would do Satan's will and not the will of God. (John 8: 39-44) The fact that they were sons of the Devil shows that they had no faith in the law covenant and were not trying to keep it. Their exact counterpart is found today in the so-called "Christian clergy" who 'having a form of godliness, deny the power thereof'; and from such the people are warned to 'turn away'. — 2 Tim. 3: 5.
But some of the Jews did try to keep the law covenant. They had faith in God, and they did their best to obey him. When Jesus came he found some of these who were looking for the coming of the Messiah, and they accepted him. The leaders, looking to the letter of the law, expected the coming of the Messiah; hut they were looking for him entirely from a selfish motive. They practised fraud and deceit. When "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1:47) Nathanael then and there accepted him as the Son of God and the King of Israel. "Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." (John 1:49) He had no deceit or subterfuge about him such as did the Pharisees. Nathanael and other honest Jews kept the spirit of the law because of their faith in God and in the promised "seed". They were pleasing to God and accepted by him, not because of
the law which they attempted to keep perfectly, but by reason of faith in Christ. Upon this point Paul says: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal. 2:16) Those who did have faith in God and in his promises, and who tried to keep the law, to them the law served as a schoolmaster to lead them and safeguard them unto the coming of Christ. (Gal. 3: 24) They were therefore a people greatly favored of God.
Mediator
The law covenant had a mediator. And why? Because the people of Israel were not competent to enter into a covenant with God. They were sinners by reason of inheritance from Adam's sin. Moses was appointed the mediator between God and Israel in the covenant. (Gal. 3:19) Was not Moses also born a sinner; and, if so, how could he be a mediator? Moses was born a sinner; but by reason of his faith in God and obedience to his commands, thereby proving his faith, he was justified by faith and therefore accepted by Jehovah as a competent one to enter into a covenant as mediator for Israel. (Heb. 11:23-28; Exod. 3:5) Concerning Moses Jehovah said: "My servant Moses....is faithful in all mine house." (Num. 12:7, 8) "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." (Mal. 4:4) "This
[Moses] is he that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, . . . who received the lively oracles to give unto us." — Acts 7: 38.
Moses as mediator of the law covenant foreshadowed Christ the Mediator of the new and better covenant. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. " — John 1:17.
At the slaying of the passover lamb Moses represented Jesus alone and exclusive of his body members, the church. In the new covenant Jesus alone was and is all-sufficient for the office of Mediator, to which he was appointed at the slaying of the antitypical Lamb. It would not be necessary for him to wait until the establishment of the kingdom to make the new covenant. At Mount Sinai, when the law covenant was confirmed, Moses pictured The Christ, both Jesus and the members of his body. There the blood of bulls and goats was sprinkled both upon the book of the law and upon the people. The blood of the bullock pictures Christ Jesus, whereas the blood of the goats pictures the church sharing with Jesus in the ministration of the new covenant.
Made Under the Law
Why was it necessary for Jesus to be born a Jew? God through his prophets foretold that the Redeemer would come from the seed of Abraham. That of itself would be sufficient. The Apostle Paul shows an additional reason when he says: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Gal. 4:4, 5) The Jews' being unable to keep the law covenant proved them to be sinners and therefore servants of sin. The law defines sin, and their inability to meet the terms of the law gendered them unto the bondage of sin. As sinners they could not become the sons of God. Of their own selves they could not get out from under this disability. They would therefore during their existence be subject to bondage. — Heb. 2:15.
In due time Jesus came. He was not a son of Hagar, and therefore can not be said to be the 'seed of the law covenant'. The fact that he was made under the law evidently means that he was under the discipline of the law covenant from the time of his birth, as a child, until his consecration. In this same connection Paul says: "The heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father." (Gal. 4:1, 2) The Son of God from his birth until his majority at thirty years of age was nothing different from a servant because he was under the discipline of the law, which was his tutor. Clearly this is the argument of the apostle. As a direct Son of God, Jesus was free as a man; but it pleased Jehovah to subject him to the discipline arrangement of the law covenant. The record is that Mary and Joseph brought the boy Jesus to Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, as the law provided. (Luke 2:22-24) Thereafter he was subject to his parents while a child, as the law provided. Jesus being presented to Jehovah as a first-born of his Jewish
parent, Jehovah had the legal claim upon him from that time forward.
The apostle in this same connection says: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." — Gal. 3:13.
Were the Jews, by reason of their covenant, under two death penalties, one as children of Adam, and another by their failure to keep the covenant? Such does not seem possible. As children of Adam they were sinners and must die. (Rom. 3: 9; 6: 23) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets died because of inherited sin making them imperfect. Their deaths, however, were not ignominious. But if a Jew should wilfully violate the law covenant and be subject to death therefor, he should die an accursed death. How must he die an accursed death? "He that is hanged is accursed of God." (Deut. 21:22, 23) The apostle evidently had this in mind when he said: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal. 3:13) The curse can hardly be said to be death itself, but the ignominious manner of death by hanging.
The death of the perfect man Jesus provides the ransom price, regardless of the manner of his death. The man Adam had sinned, and all of his offspring had come under sin. The perfect man Jesus tasted death for every man. (Heb. 2:9) It is the death of the perfect man that provides the ransom price. But dying in an ignominious manner, by crucifixion or hanging on a tree, was manifestly for the purpose of removing the curse from Israel. Being "made under the law" as a Jew in the flesh, by his ignominious
death on the tree he removed the curse from the Israelites. Jesus fulfilled every requirement of the law, even dying as if an accursed sinner. Thus he purchased Israel as a nation from that curse and made it possible for the Israelites to become of the house of sons, of which he is the Head. — Heb. 3: 6.
The covenant being made with Israel as a nation, the curse upon that nation was the ignominious death of hanging on a tree, which was inflicted for a violation of the law and which called for the infliction of the death penalty. Jesus died on the cross as a sinner, yet without sin; that is to say, he died as an accursed one of God would die, yet holy, harmless and undefiled. Thereby he took away the curse. He relieved the Jews of the disability upon them as a nation by reason of the law covenant and their inability to keep it, and made it possible for those accepting Christ to become the sons of God. — John 1:12.
Covenant Ends
The death of Jesus Christ upon the cross put an end to the law covenant. He in no wise annulled the law covenant, but he fulfilled it. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matt. 5:17) Being fulfilled, its abolishment was in order. The "seed" had come, and no longer was the covenant necessary. He magnified the law and made it honorable. — Isa. 42:21.
The objective of the law covenant, as stated by Paul, was to operate until the "seed" should come to whom the promise was made. Christ the seed having
come, all now of the Jews who accepted him were made free from the law. "For Christ is the end [objective as well as the finis] of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Rom. 10:4) He put an end to the law by nailing it to the cross; that is to say, by dying as though he were a sinner and in the sinner's place and stead, "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." (Col. 2:14) The law was against Israel because she could not keep it. Christ by his death abolished it to those who would believe and accept him as the Messiah. " 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." (Eph. 2:15) Again, the Apostle Paul says in Hebrews 8: 6 that Christ also is "the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises", which is proof that the old covenant of the law was abolished at the time of Jesus' death.
Was It a Failure?
Was the law covenant a failure? For the purposes for which God made it, the law covenant was not a failure. It failed to make men perfect because of weakness and imperfections of men. God promised that he would give life to all who would keep the law. But Paul says: "I found [it] to be unto death. . . . Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it
might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." — Rom. 7:10-13.
Then adds the apostle: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Rom. 8:3) This can not mean that the law itself was weak, but that the law covenant was weak because of Israel, who was on one side of the covenant. The Israelites were weak; and Moses, its mediator, was weak; and what the law could not do because of such weakness, God did through his perfect and beloved Son.
It is manifest therefore that the purposes of the law covenant may be summed up as these: (1) It was made because of the weakness or sin of the Israelites and it defines sin and teaches what would be required of any one to become of the "seed"; and knowing this, it operated as a teacher or schoolmaster to direct and lead the Jews in the right way until the coming of the Messiah. This was for the purpose of keeping the people free from the influence of the Devil, that not all might forget God. God had set a fixed time when he who was to be the "seed" of promise should come to earth, and until that time the law covenant would serve as a shield and protection and aid to the Jews. He selected the Jews as a people for himself. They became his peculiar people. They were a much favored people. They ofttimes fell away from their covenant, and he showed mercy toward them. The nation under their leaders fell entirely away from God, and when Jesus came the nation rejected him.
A few, however, of Israel accepted Jesus as the Messiah.
(2) In addition thereto the law covenant demonstrated beyond a question that there could be no life granted to mankind without a ransom and a sin-offering. It foreshadowed the great sacrifice and taught that there must be a sacrifice before the terms of the Abrahamic covenant could be fully carried out. It foreshadowed better things to come; and among these better things is the new covenant which God makes for the purpose of carrying out the promise made to Abraham.
The mediator of the law covenant was himself imperfect, and whatsoever he could do would be limited by his death. Moses died in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. (Deut. 34:5) Christ Jesus is the great High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. He is the Mediator of the new covenant and his ability knows no limitation. "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." — Heb. 7:24,25.
God selected from amongst the people of Israel a portion of those who shall be associated with Christ Jesus and members of the "seed" of promise. God foreknew that there would not be a sufficient number amongst the Jews who would accept Christ to make up the entire number required for the "seed". Therefore God long in advance provided that a part of the "seed" should be taken from amongst the Gentiles or non-Jews. The due time came that the Jews were cast off and "concerning the gospel, [became] enemies for
your [the Gentiles'] sakes". (Rom. 11: 28) That is to say, God made it possible for Gentiles to be brought to him through Christ and to be justified and begotten and made a part of the "seed" of Abraham according to the promise. It is from amongst the Gentiles that he takes out "a people for his name". (Acts 15:14) That "people for his name" are especially the true Christians now on earth, and it becomes the privilege and duty of all such to glorify the name of Jehovah by telling the hungry people his truth. Soon the new covenant will go into operation for the purpose of carrying out God's promise to reconcile and bless all the families of the earth.
The nation of Israel was greatly honored and favored by the Lord. Concerning the Jews Paul wrote: "What advantage then hath the Jew? . . . Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God." (Rom. 3:1, 2) They were given the privilege of being the representatives of God on the earth. The Jewish nation foreshadowed organized Christianity, particularly those who profess to be the followers of Christ but who have fallen away and have become mixed up with the affairs of this evil world. The Jews forsook God and were east off. Organized Christianity has forsaken God and has been cast away, even as God foretold. "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity
is marked before me, saith the Lord God. How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? See thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways; a wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her. Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go." — Jer. 2:13, 21-25.
Jehovah's great and loving plan goes majestically on to completion, and in his due time all mankind shall be brought in contact with the truth and given a full opportunity to be reconciled to God and to live. The time has now come for the people to begin to understand the truth, and for this reason the message of truth is being given to the people.
