G-d's Justice מִשְׁפָּט-Mishpat

We are going to start taking an extensive look at G-d’s justice system as it functioned in ancient Israel. I could easily have titled this lesson the Wilderness Tabernacle Part Two, but have decided against it because while the Wilderness Tabernacle plays a very central role in G-d’s economy it does not cover all the facets that need to be dealt with. So let’s start.

The first thing I need to explode is the general Christian understanding concerning the relationship between what Jesus did on the cross and Old Testament Law (as Christians refer to it). Though a bit bleary, if I was to attempt to depict in words what goes on in a Christian’s mind, it would probably go something like this:

“Well back in the Old Testament days, since them Jews were under the Law of Moses, they had to rely on them animal sacrifices to pay for their sins. But since Jesus came and paid the ultimate price, we don’t have to do them animal sacrifices anymore. Yipee! Hee-haw!”

Or

“Them Old Testament animal sacrifices were just symbolic and foreshadowed what Jesus would ultimately do on the cross. They really didn't pay for the people’s sins.”

I think the above statements basically capture the general notions that most Christians hold in their minds. In other words, before Christ, the Jews were under the law that required animal sacrifices. However, after Christ, since the law was “done away with”, we no longer are obliged to obey the law. Well, that’s not entirely incorrect but it is based on a mistaken construct or model so to speak. So let’s get into some solid biblical truth.

First, the sacrificial system and the law are not the same. They are actually two different components that together comprise G-d’s system of justice or mishpat in Hebrew. The law is what determines what is right or wrong and the sacrifices are what need to be done when the law is broken. This is an important distinction.

Now the first explosive point that needs to be made is that the sacrificial system was not sufficient to provide atonement for all sins! In other words, G-d literally divided sin into two categories: the forgivable ones and the unforgivable ones. If an Israelite committed an unforgivable sin such as idolatry, adultery or murder, he or she was eternally damned. The sacrificial system had absolutely no provision to atone for somebody who committed an unforgivable sin. The offender was brought outside the camp and stoned, and after he or she died, the fear of hell was all that awaited him or her. The Christian idea that in G-d’s eyes all sin is equal is hogwash. There is no way that theft for example is on the same level as intentioned murder or adultery for that matter.

However, for the sins it was designed to provide atonement for such as theft or mistreating a servant, the sacrificial system was completely sufficient and allowed for the offender to be forgiven. The Christian idea that the sacrificial system failed and that was why Christ had to come is false. The sacrificial system was completely efficacious and accomplished exactly what it intended.

The problem was what to do about those sins that could not be atoned for under the sacrificial system. One slip up in breaking the Sabbath or in worshiping a false idol or one rash, impulsive act of adultery and that was it, you were sentenced to both physical and eternal death. Imagine the terror and fear that the Israelites must have lived under. It lends new meaning to the New Testament expression being enslaved to sin, doesn't it?

Now it is specifically these unforgivable sins that Paul is referring to when he mentions the curses of the law. This is where a lot of Christians are mistaken when it comes to understanding what Paul meant when he referred to the curses of the law. A lot of Christians think that when Paul talks about the curses of the law, he is referring to all of the law and the sacrificial system itself. They lump it all together. THIS IS INCORRECT! The curses of the law are ONLY those sins that cannot be forgiven under the sacrificial system. The other sins that could be forgiven under the sacrificial system didn’t fall under the curse of the law. Why should they? Just sacrifice the prescribed animal and all was good.

Hence, the reason the Apostle Paul was delirious with joy is because not only did Jesus’ sacrifice fulfill the sacrificial system’s requirements but His death also provided atonement for those sins that couldn’t be forgiven under the sacrificial system and had thus fallen under the curses of the law. This was unbelievably good news for the Hebrews. Not only did the necessity for animal sacrifices disappear but those who had committed the so-called unforgivable sins such as adultery, the door was now open for them to receive forgiveness and thus obtain peace with G-d. One reason the ruling Jewish elite were so angry with Jesus is because He was pronouncing forgiveness on those who had also committed the “unforgivable sins”.

L-rd,

Thank you for the sacrifice of Your Son Yeshua who has rescued us from the curses of the Law.

Amen.