288. The law is frequently mentioned in the Word. I must state what the law means in the strict sense, what in a wider sense, and what in the widest sense. In the strict sense the law means the Ten Commandments; in a wider sense the rules given by Moses to the Children of Israel, and in the widest sense the whole Word.

It is well known that the law in the strict sense means the Ten Commandments. The law in a wider sense means the rules given by Moses to the Children of Israel, as is evident from the individual rules in Leviticus each being called a law:

This is the law of the sacrifice, Leviticus 7:1.

This is the law of the sacrifice for making one's peace, Leviticus 7:7, 11.

This is the law of the grain-offering, Leviticus 6:14ff

This is the law of the burnt-offering, the grain-offering, the sin-sacrifice and the guilt-sacrifice, and the completions, Leviticus 7:37.

This is the law of beast and bird, Leviticus 11:46-47.

This is the law of the woman who gives birth to a son or a daughter, Leviticus 12:7.

This is the law of leprosy, Leviticus 13:59; 14:2, 32, 54, 57 This is the law of the person with a discharge, Leviticus 15:32.

This is the law of jealousy, Numbers 5:29-30.

This is the law of the Nazirite, Numbers 6:13, 21.

This is the law of cleansing, Numbers 19:14.

This is the law concerning the red cow, Numbers 19:2.

The law for the king, Deuteronomy 17:15-19.

In fact the whole book of Moses ¹ is called the law (Deuteronomy 31:9, 11-12, 26; also in the New Testament, as Luke 2:22; 24:44; John 1:45; 7:22-23; 8:5; and elsewhere).

[2] The context plainly shows that these rules were what Paul meant by 'the deeds prescribed by the law', when he says that man is justified by faith without the deeds prescribed by the law (Romans 3:28). The same is shown by his words to Peter, whom he criticised for behaving like the Jews, when he says three times in one verse that no one is justified by the deeds prescribed by the law (Galatians 2:14, 16).

The law in its widest sense means the whole of the Word, as is plain from these passages:

Jesus said, Is it not written in your law, you are gods? John 10:34.

This is said in Psalms 82:6.

The crowd answered, We have heard from the law that the Christ remains for ever, John 12:34.

This is said in Psalms 89:29; Psalms 110:4; Daniel 7:14.

That the word should be fulfilled which is written in their law, They hated me without cause. John

This is said in Psalms 35:19.

The Pharisees said, Have any of the princes believed in him? But the crowd which does not know the law.... John 7:48-49.

It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one dot of the law to fall out, Luke 16:17.

The law in these passages means the whole of Holy Scripture; and there are a thousand further passages in the Psalms of David.

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