The Law of Moses

IAUA Third Elijah Message
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I believe the observance of the Law of Moses is the heart of the Third Elijah Message. The proximity and context of these two verses indicates this truth. You cannot separate verse four from verse five.

4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
Malachi 4:4-5

The word "with" was acknowledged by the translators as a supplied word. I submit the Law of Moses is the statutes and judgments.

5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Genesis 26:5
37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:37
12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 14:12

I believe most of God's Law was verbally passed from one generation to the next until the decline of human ability made it necessary for the law to be written to preserve its content. God personally dictated His law to Moses to preserve accurately its content for future generations. He added some details to increase its scope of guidance to His people as the ravages of sin increased the degenerate nature of humanity.

If the statutes did not exist until Sinai, how could God say Abraham kept them? Was God mistaken or are we mistaken?

Statutes

There is a Bible reference where one can read the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21) and know what they are. What is a Bible reference for the statutes? The statues are scattered throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

These are the primary chapter references for most of the statutes and judgments.

  • Exodus 12-13, 20-23, 34-35
  • Leviticus (all)
  • Numbers 5-6, 15, 18-19, 27-30, 35
  • Deuteronomy 4-7, 10-27

A statute is any commandment given by God through Moses. A statute is often introduced with the same words.

1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel…
Exodus 14:1-2

A judgment is any commandment with a punishment attached. The punishment of the judgments is now the responsibility of the state government. It is no longer up to us to take the punishment of the law into our own hands. God will shortly be performing the final judgment himself.

Fulfilled Statutes

There are some statutes, which are no longer being practiced:

  • Sacrifices and oblations

    The purpose of the animal sacrifices was a symbolic atonement for sin until the true atoning sacrifice of the Messiah. After His sacrifice, the symbolic purpose was completed. There is no meaning to continued animal sacrifices so they ceased.

    27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
    Daniel 9:27

  • Temple functions

    After the perfect sacrifice, the primary purpose of the temple on earth ceased. The Messiah continues the function of the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

    21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
    22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
    23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
    24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
    John 4:21-24

  • Levite responsibilities

    The Messiah is now our High Priest. The Messiah continues the function of the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

    14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
    Hebrews 4:14

    There are no specific Levite responsibilities anymore, now that the animal sacrifices and the earthly temple have ceased. However, we are all described as priests unto God. The statutes for the lifestyle of a priest therefore apply to all of us.

    5 Now therefore, if ye will 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:
    6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
    Exodus 19:5-6
    9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
    1 Peter 2:9
    6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
    Revelation 1:6

  • Adult circumcision.

    There is a statute, which was specific to the eating of the Passover lamb. (See Exodus 12:43-49.) Adults were required to be circumcised before they could eat of the sacrificial lamb. It is important to note, since the Passover lamb is no longer sacrificed, the statute of adult circumcision no longer applies. (See Acts 15.)

Summary of Statutes

This summary is a brief introduction to the statutes. The statutes are grouped under a relevant commandment. Remember, every individual is responsible for their personal study and understanding from the Bible. This is my understanding of the most significant of the unique statutes, which are to be practiced today.

Great Commandment

There are two great commandments. Love God. Love Others.

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 22:36-40

Love God

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5

First Commandment

2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:2-3 Deuteronomy 5:6-7
  • God proclaims circumcision of the male offspring, eight days after birth, as a private sign of our commitment. Leviticus 12:3
  • God commands us to put tassels on the 'corners' of our clothing as a reminder and public sign of our commitment to His law. Numbers 15:38

Second Commandment

4 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.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Exodus 20:4-6 Deuteronomy 5:8-10

Third Commandment

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 Deuteronomy 5:11

Fourth Commandment

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 Deuteronomy 5:12-15
  • God proclaims the start of the sacred calendar. Exodus 12:2
  • God proclaims the yearly Sabbaths and how they are observed. Leviticus 23
  • God proclaims the Sabbatical year, the Jubilee year and how they are observed. Leviticus 25

Love Others

18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18

Fifth Commandment

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Exodus 20:12 Deuteronomy 5:16

Sixth Commandment

13 Thou shalt not kill.
Exodus 20:13 Deuteronomy 5:17

Seventh Commandment

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Exodus 20:14 Deuteronomy 5:18

Eighth Commandment

15 Thou shalt not steal.
Exodus 20:15 Deuteronomy 5:19

Ninth Commandment

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Exodus 20:16 Deuteronomy 5:20

Tenth Commandment

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Exodus 20:17 Deuteronomy 5:21

The Law of God

The Law of God is a covenant with His people to obey the guidance He provides for us. God's covenant does not change but stands forever. Additional guidance is given as sin progresses and specific promises are added over time. The terms of the covenant grow and are never rescinded except where the covenant explicitly states the terms are based on behavior.

This is a part of the covenant spoken to David.

30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;
31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;
32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Psalms 89:30-34

New light is about the law of God not prophecy. The phrase "lighten the earth with its glory" refers to Revelation 18 and ties "new light" to the Fourth Angel's Message.

Said my guide, "There is much light yet to shine forth from the law of God and the gospel of righteousness. This message, understood in its true character, and proclaimed in the Spirit, will lighten the earth with its glory. The great decisive question is to be brought before all nations, tongues, and peoples. The closing work of the third angel's message will be attended with a power that will send the rays of the Sun of Righteousness into all the highways and byways of life, and decisions will be made for God as supreme Governor; His law will be looked upon as the rule of His government. {1888 166.1}

I offer this rebuttal to one excuse I occasionally hear about why some of the statutes do not apply to our time. The variations of this argument are that the particular statute did not exist at creation, or, it did not exist at Sinai in the Ten Commandments, or, it was added later. This is mostly used against the yearly Sabbaths because this is the most disputed of the statutes.

The argument that the yearly Sabbaths were not mentioned before Sinai has at least two weaknesses. The weekly Sabbath is not mentioned either, between creation and Sinai, for the same reason. The word Sabbath does not even appear until Exodus 16:23. This is because it is assumed background knowledge known to the reader. This is the same reason it is also observed in the New Testament that both the weekly and the yearly Sabbaths are rarely mentioned.

Secondly, there are some references that probably refer to the yearly Sabbaths, for those willing to consider the plain word of God, whether it agrees with their view or not. Consider that the word translated "seasons" in the following verse is the identical Hebrew word that refers to the yearly Sabbaths in Leviticus 23.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
Genesis 1:14

The sun, moon, and stars are certainly the signs that determine the yearly Sabbaths. I am not a Hebrew scholar but referring to Strong's concordance a literal translation might be "Let them signal appointed times, days, years".

When Lot entertained angels, he gave them unleavened bread. I suspect it was during the time of Unleavened Bread Sabbath. The Bible does not refer to unleavened bread except in the context of a yearly Sabbath, religious observance, or rarely some other solemn occasion. Why is there explicit note of the unleavened bread, because it was a yearly Sabbath observance?

3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Genesis 19:3

Joseph appears to have celebrated Trumpets Sabbath in Egypt.

3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.
Psalms 81:3-5

Whether a particular statue existed before it was written God specified it or not, is not proof that it does not apply later. It is stated numerous times in the Bible that God does not change. When God specifies a requirement, He does not change His mind later. A requirement does not change unless it is clearly stated that it changes. There is also likely to be a stated reason why, as in the case of the animal sacrifices.

6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Malachi 3:6

It is a clear demonstration of the power of God and His knowledge of the future to speculate God's Calendar may have existed in heaven from before God created the world, as a testimony to what He would do in the future. We also forget, sin began in heaven, not on earth. Eve's sin was not the beginning of sin. She was deceived into sin by the father of lies who had already sinned by his distrust of God.

Paul offers at least one observation about added laws.

19 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.
Galatians 3:19

Ellen White spoke clearly of the added laws because of sin.

The principles of the ten commandments existed before the fall, and were of a character suited to the condition of a holy order of beings. After the fall, the principles of those precepts were not changed, but additional precepts were given to meet man in his fallen state. {3SG 295.2}
If the law of God had not been transgressed there never would have been death, and there would have been no need of additional precepts to suit man's fallen condition. {3SG 295.3}
In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law. {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 10}
The principles were more explicitly stated to man after the fall, and worded to meet the case of fallen intelligences. This was necessary in consequence of the minds of men being blinded by transgression. {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 13}
After the transgression of Adam the principles of the law were not changed, but were definitely arranged and expressed to meet man in his fallen condition. {ST, March 14, 1878 par. 3}

I am going to keep God's added laws even if they did not exist before creation or were not included in the Ten Commandments. There is a clear directive from God that the law regarding animal sacrifices was completed with the sacrifice of the Messiah. Paul spent a significant portion of the book to the Hebrews explaining clearly in detail why the law regarding animal sacrifices was over. Paul clearly pointed to the transfer of focus to the heavenly temple. Paul clearly pointed to the Messiah as becoming the only High Priest. Paul clearly taught that the circumcision of adult males was over. This is no surprise or mystery because circumcision was only required to eat the sacrifice of the Passover lamb, which was ended.

43 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
Exodus 12:43-48

It is very dangerous to claim that Paul taught that any other part of God's law was abolished. This would make Paul worse than antichrist, who would only change the laws and times but not abolish them.

In reviewing this topic, it occurred to me what a little thing it was when Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Modern theologians would reason, "What can possibly be wrong with eating a piece of fruit? This certainly does not apply after the crucifixion." This is a clear indication that even the smallest of God's laws are not to be taken lightly.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:17-19

What we might consider one of the least of God's laws is a little thing called the tzitzit. This statute was apparently one of the latest if not the last of the statutes to be "added". It is particularly interesting that it was given because of a "Sabbath" violation.

37 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.
Numbers 15:37-41

I am not willing to turn my back on the smallest part of God's law. When I am convicted by God of truth, I dare not disobey. It is one thing to break one of God's laws through our human weakness or lack of knowledge or lack of understanding. It is quite a different thing to casually deny the validity of God's law and willfully disregard even one.

Those who have accepted the weekly Sabbath have a large number of presentations to support this belief and combat the arguments of Sunday-keepers against the weekly Sabbath. Sabbath-keepers hypocritically apply every one of the arguments by Sunday-keepers against the weekly Sabbath against the yearly Sabbaths. Many arguments are used to try to separate the weekly Sabbath from the yearly Sabbaths. Sabbath-keepers use the same arguments to excuse themselves from observance of the yearly Sabbath, which Sunday-keepers use to excuse themselves from observance of the weekly Sabbath.

One unique argument is this claim. God did not create the yearly Sabbaths until after sin but God created the weekly Sabbath before sin. There are several flaws in this argument. I am reminded of the words of the Saviour.

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
Matthew 22:29

The first thing this argument ignores is this. Sin did not begin on earth. Sin began in heaven before God created the earth. This argument ignores God’s power because He knew what was to come. I believe the weekly Sabbath and the yearly Sabbaths began in heaven to demonstrate God's patterns, His knowledge, and His power. Do you think the Sabbath is only for human beings? Every Sabbath testifies to God's plan from the foundation of the world.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8
I believe He knew what was to come and defined His yearly Sabbaths to be fulfilled and remembered through all eternity.
22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 66:22-23
The Saviour specifically mentions the Passover celebration, known and modified by Christianity as The Lord's Supper, to occur in heaven.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.
Matthew 26:29

It is important to avoid judgment and criticism of those who do not understand all of God's truth. It is not our place to be critical and judgmental of anyone.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Acts 17:30-31

Are you prepared to face God at that appointed day? Is the Holy Spirit pricking your heart with some dismissed and forgotten truth? Will your heart become calloused? Will you no longer hear the prompting of the Holy Spirit?

The Ten Commandments

There is no teaching against the Bible more dangerous in these last days than the currently common teaching, which says the limit of God's love and the detailed guidance He provides in His Law is the Ten Commandments. The devil fights us each step of the way to keep us from all truth. The weekly Sabbath truth of the Fourth Commandment is extremely critical and must rightly be upheld. Satan is thrilled when we stop here and ignore the guidance God provides in the rest of His Law.

I am deeply saddened because the powerful work of many ministries in spreading the gospel to the world is tainted with this heresy. Numerous books and other teachings spread the lie of Satan, which says the "Law of Moses" is nailed to the cross. While upholding the Ten Commandments on special Ten Commandments Weekends it is taught the "Law of Moses" is nailed to the cross. Millions of books about the Ten Commandments are distributed for free which openly proclaim the "Law of Moses" is nailed to the cross. It is amazing how many people do not know this teaching is included in the book. It is amazing how many people promote the book, but have never actually read what it says.

What does God say?

4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Malachi 4:4

It is interesting to note the parallel command to remember in this scripture.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8

I have examined every occurrence of the word remember in the Old Testament and the Hebrew word translated remember. These two verses are the most prominent place where God has commanded that we should specifically remember something. Does this mean anything to you? It means a lot to me!

I know these are strong words. It saddens me deeply to say them. They are the truth, which I must speak. I am happy to be working for a church and a ministry, which does so much to spread most of the truth. I agonize before God asking how I can bear the constant reminders of the error, which is being spread in the name of serving God.

I am reminded by the Holy Spirit how the Bible records so much evil performed by His chosen people, the children of Israel, even in the courts of the temple. Surely, there were some among the priests who agonized over the evil. I am also reminded of some other words of God to Ezekiel.

6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
Ezekiel 8:6

God took special notice of those who agonized over the abominations. This prophecy shows them as those who were sealed from the destruction.

4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:4

What happened to those who were not marked with the seal of God? This judgment began with those who were the leaders who stood in service before God.

6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
Ezekiel 9:6

Here is another special verse where God also speaks about remembering the Law.

39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe (tassel), that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments[H4687] of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments[H4687], and be holy unto your God.
41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.
Numbers 15:39-41

The Hebrew word used here [H4687] is the word usually translated commandments. This word is mitzvah, which is universally recognized as applying to all the Law of Moses given by God. Verse 40 explicitly emphasizes "all". Many people subconsciously (sometimes verbally) put the word "Ten" before the word commandments when this is not what the Bible says.

Did you know it appears the concept of only Ten Commandments exists only about three times in the Bible? Take careful note of the Hebrew word [H1697] and the different ways it is translated.

27 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words[H1697]: for after the tenor of these words[H1697] I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.
28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words[H1697] of the covenant, the ten commandments[H1697].
Exodus 34:27-28
12 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words[H1697], but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments[H1697]; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
Deuteronomy 4:12-14
1 At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
2 And I will write on the tables the words[H1697] that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
3 And I made an ark of shittim wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in mine hand.
4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments[H1697], which the LORD spake[H1696] unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me.
Deuteronomy 10:1-4

The Hebrew word [H1697], used here actually means speech, or word, or saying. The translation "commandment" is somewhat inaccurate. The identical (except for vowel points added in the 7th century) Hebrew word [H1696] is speak. Therefore, the phrase "Ten Commandments" is a translation error resulting in a deliberate deception of the idea there are only ten commandments we need to obey.

Those who teach against the "Law of Moses" attach great significance to this verse:

26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
Deuteronomy 31:26

They interpret this to mean it was put in a pocket outside of the ark and thus they claim it reduces its status in comparison to the tables inside the ark. The construction of the ark is clearly detailed, but it describes no pocket. The tablets very well may have been in the center of the ark and the writings placed to the side.

Sometimes this verse is interpreted to mean beside the ark. This may have been for easy access because the law was to be read to the people every year. Does this reduce the importance of the book? What did God say to Malachi for the End of Time?

It is true God's Ten Statements are a beautiful summary of the principles of His Law. There is also a beautiful simpler summary mentioned by the Messiah, the principle of Love for God and Love for your neighbor. God reminds us there is a broad range of guidance in all His Law.

What was Nailed to the Cross?

Why is there so much confusion over the words of Paul? Satan works hard to deceive and confuse those who do not study the scripture carefully. Even Peter noted the difficulty of rightly discerning the words of Paul.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
II Peter 3:15-16

Paul warned of the deception to come to those who do not have a love for the truth but look for excuses to disobey the Law of God

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
II Thessalonians 2:10-12

Paul never uses the phrase "handwriting of ordinances" to refer to God's Law (Law of Moses) anywhere else. Why do those who do not wish to obey God's Law claim it is being described here.

14 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;
Colossians 2:14

It is clear from the verse, which precedes this one, the writing against us is the charges of sin, which are forgiven and nailed to the cross like a cancelled debt.

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Colossians 2:13

The man of judgment in this verse is Satan, unbelievers, and those who want to create their own rules in place of God's rules. We follow God's rules as the body of Christ.

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17

The love demonstrated by His death abolished the hatred between the law and us. It did not abolish any part of the law for those who have the love of God in their hearts.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 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;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Ephesians 2:14-16
The Galatians were Gentiles who came out of idol worship and pagan festivals.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Galatians 4:8-11

The weak and beggarly elements were paganism. Paul would never despair of their observing God's Calendar.

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Revised 2015-08-21