The Undying Law - part IV

As we study a block of verses like we have been doing for the past Month, it is wise to see “where they fit” in the overarching counsel of God. Because “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” every section of Scripture is connected to every other. Which means that when we venture into the territory to follow, and see the connections that our verses have to many others; we, as Christians, will be all the more “...complete, (and) thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:16) Plainly stated; if we want to understand what God has to say, we need to look at numerous places where He talks about it, not just a few verses.

Before we do, however, let's remember last week to help us see the thread that we will be pulling on as we move forward. Last week we spoke about lawyers and “experts” being offended by Christ’s understanding of The Law because it challenged their attitude of being the final authority over what, precisely, is ‘against the law’. They were offended that He healed a man on The Sabbath, based on their own interpretations of what is ‘legal’ to do on The Sabbath; and their anger grew deeper when He forgave sins, because only God can do such a thing.

All of this, however, was Christ showing them, and us, that He is the final authority over what a law means or doesn't mean. As such, when He summarized “all The Law and Prophets” in Matt. 22:34 - 40, we saw that every law in The Old Testament is the logical application of The Ten Commandments (The Moral Law) being applied to different contexts. Be it agriculture or economics, The Moral Law of God has jurisdiction over everything. We concluded last week by carefully taking into consideration this very truth; that there is no area or aspect of our life free from His authority. All of us will be judged at the end of time and held accountable for every transgression of The Moral Law, regardless of what area in our life it was broken within. Praise be to Jesus Christ for accepting in His body the due penalty of our sins, dying in our place, and declaring us innocent.

Reading → Matthew 5:17-20 & Opening Prayer

Last week I mentioned that we would be taking a few different Sundays to discuss the different “categories” of laws we see in Scripture. Moral, Ceremonial, & Civic (Judicial). Having discussed The Moral Law last week, and seeing it as the fountain which every law comes from, we will be moving into the other two.

It must be said, however, that each of these two categories (Ceremonial and Civic) is like a container that has other categories within them that, while Scripture does not have any charts or tables clearly identifying this or that law to land in this or that “sub-category”; they have been organized that way by Christians far smarter than myself. 

The temptation to call a “Time-Out” here, and honor the giants of the faith that have poured blood, sweat, and tears into such organization…is strong. We truly do stand on their shoulders. But…let's keep moving. 

When we do benefit from the organizational work of those before us, we see that within the container of The Civic Law is where we find the category of Criminal law; covering things like adultery, kidnapping, or murder. We also see Property law; giving us the legislation for architecture, negligence, theft, and restitution. The category of National law; instructing humanity how governments should be organized and operated, and what makes a war “just” or not. And lastly (for this morning) inside of the Civic container is where we see laws governing how families are to be structured, being the brick and mortar of any civilization. As of right now, The Civic Law will be the topic of our Sermon next week.

Today, however, we will be focusing our message on The Ceremonial Law.

And just like the Civic; The Ceremonial Law contains other categories as well. It is where we see Sacrificial laws regulating offerings. Temple laws; governing every object or material in the Temple and Tabernacle, be they lampstands, incense, or curtains. The Priestly laws about their clothing and duties. And Festival laws; Cleanliness laws; and Purification laws.

Now, this might be either confusing or seemingly unrelated to everyday life, right? So, to tackle those one at a time:

Confusion:

Learning about the this (or any complex Doctrine) can cause some confusion to come up, not only in the sheer amount of amount of them (The Ceremonial laws make up roughly 40-60% of all Old Testament laws), but because of two different dangers that our “old man” brings up when we begin to study it.

Remember, the deepest desire of the unredeemed heart is to be like God (Gen. 3:5), who is omniscient (all-knowing); so when we approach something that is beyond us, the first danger shows up when we incessantly attempt to categorize and systematize Him. The percentage I just quoted, is exact proof of that, because it isn't that simple. Some laws overlap all three categories…so where do we place them?

Trying to categorize God beyond what He has revealed to us, is; to quote last week’s Sermon; an attempt at domesticating a dangerous God. “If I can just create a flowchart, a table, or a system that makes everything plain, and answers every question, then I have placed God inside of a box of my own construction, and can thereby place him on the shelf in my living room. I've got it all figured out, my eyes are open and I'm just like Him.”

We fight against this danger like we do all dangers. We confront it. We learn, and read, and grow, and do all we can to “study to show ourselves approved” (2 Tim. 2:15). Not to make ourselves God, but to find the end of ourselves.

The second danger that comes in; like the first just opposite; is never trying to understand God. Never studying or reading or trying to grow and refine our thoughts. The person who falls to this danger is he who, when faced with a long list of laws, or a Doctrine he or she has never confronted before; and someone offers a time-tested system to help understand it; says something along the lines of: “I don't need theology, I just need Jesus.” This danger, brothers and sisters, is born from the same sin as the first; thinking that you, alone, are the arbiter of truth. Never benefitting from the blood of the martyrs who have come before you, never reaping the fruit of their labor, and standing on nothing but you, yourself.

And the way to combat this danger, just like the first, is to confront it…by actually knowing something about the Jesus you claim you love. How does He act? Why does He do it that way? What does He have to say about this or that situation? And where can you find all of this out? Through the systematic study of what God has revealed about Himself.

Now, to add some grace to both of these two dangers.

Perhaps you do find yourself studying and trying to systematize or categorize God, not because you want to prove yourself to be the ultimate say, but out of a deep, deep hunger to know Him more. If that's you; and God has gifted you to be able to do such a thing; thank Him, and then use the gift He gave you for the benefit of others.

In the second danger, perhaps your aversion to such deep study isn't because of smug self idolatry, but because you truly have found the limit to your own understanding. If that's the case, thank Him for revealing it to you…then ask for more. God really has promised to continually grow and build and transform us from one level of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18).

All of that to say; when confusion does arise when trying to understand The Ceremonial Laws, confront it, regardless of the reason why, and kill your sin where- and how- ever it arises. Has your studying what God has revealed brought you to a place of arrogance? Then repent, and keep studying. Has your lack of studying brought you to a place of arrogance? Then repent, and keep studying.

Unrelated to everyday life:

The second aspect that comes up when studying The Ceremonial law, is that it can feel disconnected to the actual life that you are currently living. 

You look at the news; you look at your neighbors; or you look at your family; and you see sin running free. We see a culture awash in degradation and evil, loving the sin that is killing it; you see families falling apart, maybe even your own; and nations invading and attacking one another. So, you grit your teeth, wake up early enough, and go to Church. Surely a Church is the place to be when surrounded by such evil. “I'm sure the Pastor is going to say something profound, the worship songs are going to give me the warm fuzzies inside, and when I leave that building that is either too hot or too cold, I will be able to see the silver lining in my life.”

Without going too far off track; if you're going to Church for yourself, and not for God, then any silver lining you see will melt away at its first opportunity.

So, you, your family, your town, your state, your nation, and the whole world seems like its falling apart; you've dragged your tired butt out of your comfortable bed just in time to sit on an old wooden pew…then your Pastor says the Sermon is going to be laws governing 3,000yr old ceremonies. Incense, Lamps, Fabric, Food, Festivals, and Sacrifices…what does that have to do with anything?

Now, while I can understand where this kind of thinking comes in, once or if it does, immediately kill it. No matter if it was intentional or not; to think that of all words that the time-less and space-less God of reality chose to communicate, these ones aren't as important as the others…is a sin. 

God didn't include the Ceremonial Law “just because”. He is not a student looking to fill a word count on an essay, purposely and mindlessly rambling across the page. Every word you have in front of you, children of Clyde-Savannah, every verb, noun, and adjective; each chosen according to His flawless will and standard, is what the voice of God sounds like.

He chose each word intentionally, knowing full-well what He was communicating, how it would be received, and the effect it would have on humanity. He even speaks of this very truth in Isaiah 55: 10 & 11 → “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, [11] So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

The Word of God will always return to Him carrying the precise profit He ordained when He first spoke it, because “All of Scripture is profitable” (2 Tim. 3:16 - emphasis mine). The truth that the Word of God is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12) is the precise reason why Paul was thankful to God for other believers in 1 Thess. 2:13 → “we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

The Word of God, all of it, works effectively; not uselessly;

at bringing about growth in the life of every Christian,

Yes, our situations and circumstances cause us to grow, of course. Yes, the furnace of affliction brings our sin to the surface, thereby allowing us to kill it, of course. And we could very easily continue pulling examples from The Bible to see how we are sanctified…and therein lies the source of it all.

It is the day by decade exposure to Scripture that causes the Christian to grow into the image of The Son. Which is what The Son Himself prayed for in His ‘high priestly prayer’ in Jn. 17:15-17 → “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. [16] They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. [17] Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

When our great high Priest Jesus Christ prayed for us to be sanctified, He asked His Father to do it by His Word…which includes The Ceremonial Law.

So now, after we have acknowledged and confronted the confusion that comes up; were made aware of the dangers we can fall into; and repented of thinking that a portion of God’s Word is useless to us…what do we do? We study it with the expectation that God is going to use it as the primary means to transform us into the image of His Son. 

The Ceremonial Law itself:

And here we are, brothers and sisters, The Ceremonial Law. 

This category of law has to deal with, as we mentioned earlier, the totality of the spiritual life of the Israelites. How should the Tabernacle be built? Could they have used any material, and what about the colors? What about the Ark and its lid, The Mercy Seat? How wide should it be? How should sacrifices be performed? Can it be any animal, any grain, and performed anywhere? Who can be a Priest? Anyone? How should they dress? Not only that, but we can keep digging to see the laws surrounding Festivals and Sabbaths, or Cleanliness and the purification necessary if someone is unclean. Plainly stated, if the object, date, person, or action was related to the worship life of the Israelites, it was a Ceremonial Law.

In Leviticus 11, the entire chapter is dedicated to what animals can be eaten; what animals are “clean”, and even what happens if an “unclean” animal touches a stove used to cook “clean” animals on.

Along those same lines, we are given the laws surrounding and defining “clean vs. unclean”, in Leviticus 15. Meaning, if someone was “unclean” they were removed from the camp, and thereby excluded from being in community with the rest of the people.

If someone were to become unclean; by eating an animal God told them not to; a woman’s monthly cycle; or by touching a dead body; we see the laws for purification all throughout Leviticus 11-16. Depending on what happened to make someone unclean; there were set rituals throughout that day that must be performed; certain foods that must be eaten; and a set timeframe for them to be outside of the camp. 

In Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 we see laws about specific festivals and feasts that God commanded His people to follow. Covering everything about when they need to start, how long they last, and what sacrifices need to be made during them.

In Ex. 25:10 & 11 we see how big The Ark should be and even what kind of wood it needs to be made of; and in Num. 4:15 we read how it needs to be transported. We even see laws surrounding where God meets with His people, The Mercy Seat (the lid of the Ark), in Ex. 25:17-22; that specifically instruct the Israelites about what it needs to be made of (pure gold); that the angels on top are actually one with it; and what direction they need to be facing.

In Exodus 26, God gave them laws to govern the Tabernacle, which was a “mobile” Temple. When the pillar of fire stopped, the people would set up camp, so to speak, and put the Tabernacle together; and He commanded everything down to the length of the studs in the walls, and even the type of wood they need to be made of. 

Then, in Leviticus 16, we are told about a place inside of both the Tabernacle and the permanent Temple, The Holy of Holies, where The Ark was to be placed. It was here, between the Cherubim and woven into the fabric of space-time itself, that the infinite God of the Universe chose to meet with His people.

As such, only The High Priest could enter in, and only once a year, while wearing specific clothing (v.4). As he entered the first time that day, he had to bring a censer of burning incense to cover him, obscure his vision, and fill the Holy of Holies (v.12) with its smoke. Then, a bull would be killed (v.11), its blood dripped into a bowl, and he would then take it, enter a second time, and sprinkle it a specific number of times on a specific side of the Mercy Seat (v.14) to atone for his own sins. Lastly, with two goats having been selected ahead of time; one to be the scapegoat and cast out, the other to be killed; the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies again and sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat and atone for the sins of the people.

If the High Priest did this perfectly, the bells he was told to wear on his robe in Ex. 28:33-35 would continue to ring as he walked within the Holy of Holies. If they fell silent, it meant that God killed him.

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There are many more categories inside of The Ceremonial Law, yes, but to give a preview of Easter morning before moving on:

In Levi. 17:11 as God is explaining that humans shouldn't be eating blood, we read this → “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’”

Lastly, we see laws for priests, instructing them how and where to kill the sacrifice; what to do with the blood; and even what to wear while they are doing it. But…to be specific, and lead your thoughts forward:

Leviticus 4:20 & 21 → “So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them. [21] Then he shall carry the bull outside the camp, and burn it as he burned the first bull. It is a sin offering for the assembly.

Numbers 3:7 → “And they shall attend to his needs and the needs of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of meeting, to do the work of the tabernacle.

Malachi 3:7 → “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.”

Deuteronomy 33:10 & 11 → “They (the priests) shall teach Jacob Your judgments, and Israel Your law. They shall put incense before You, and a whole burnt sacrifice on Your altar. [11] Bless his substance, Lord, and accept the work of his hands; strike the loins of those who rise against him, and of those who hate him, that they rise not again.”

The priest was someone who stood between God and man,

communicating to God, on behalf of the people. 

That right there is the key to understanding it all. God, being perfect in every way, gave us The Ceremonial Law to show how sinful people can interact with a patient, merciful, and Holy God.

Patient

God, being perfectly patient, is why The Israelites wandered for 40yrs in the Desert, each step another one of His longsuffering endurance of their disobedience (Acts 13:18). His patience is why Noah was able to preach warnings for 120 years (Gen. 6:3; 1 Pet. 3:20) before the rain began to fall, and why, even now, our sins don’t result in our immediate physical death. Peter summarizes the patience of God when he writes this in 2 Peter 3:8 & 9 → “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [9] The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (esv)

The Ceremonial Law shows us the patience of God, and if you sinned today, knowing something about His patience is beneficial to you.

Mercy

God, being perfectly merciful, is why He performed the first sacrifice in Scripture when He clothed Adam & Eve in Gen. 3:21, and thereby shed blood to atone for their sin. It was a display of His mercy when He put a mark upon another member of that same family, Cain, in Gen. 4:15, to save his life. It was the mercy of God that shut Noah and his family inside the Ark in Gen. 6; and saved Lot in Gen. 19. This is why, in Ex. 34:7, when the glittering image of the pre-incarnate Christ when walking past Moses in the cleft of the rock, God tells humanity that He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth.”

The Ceremonial Law shows us the mercy of God, and if you sinned today, knowing something about His mercy is beneficial to you.

Holy

Because He is perfectly holy, sin and evil cannot occupy the same space as He does. This is why the idol of Dagon fell from its place on the shelf in 1st Sam. 5:4 when the Ark of The Covenant was in its proximity. This is why Uzzah was killed when he touched the Ark in 2nd Sam. 6:6&7; and why those unclean were cast out of the community until they were purified.

John 1:5, in speaking of Jesus, summarizes this principle when it says → “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (esv uses “overcome”) When a light, no matter its strength, begins to shine, the darkness runs away.

Because God is perfectly holy, He will never tolerate evil regardless of if it was intentional or not. He is unmoving, and can not be persuaded, bought off, or bamboozled into accepting it. I have used this illustration before, but to bring it up again; God is not the highest being in a list, far holier than everything below Him, even if that distance were vast. No. He is the only being, in a list with no one else, fully separated from everything.

The Ceremonial Law shows us the holiness of God, and if you sinned today, knowing something about His holiness is beneficial to you.

_____

Every single Ceremonial Law; what trees can be used for what; the color of fabric; the length and width and height of The Tabernacle; the material of the Lampstands; the dates for all of the Feasts; what animals to kill and what to do with their blood; all of them are object lessons from a holy teacher showing petulant students how they can approach and interact with Him.

Plainly stated: How far away is God from humanity? So far that perfect obedience isn't even enough to span the gap, so something has to die.

So now, the big question. Do we still have to follow all of these laws?

How many God-hating pagans have you heard, fellow Christian, ask you why you oppose sexual degeneracy while eating shellfish, or wearing a shirt made of two different types of fabric? “You dumb Christian, you are just picking and choosing what laws you want other people to follow because of your hatred and bigotry.”

Well, did God say anything else about these Ceremonial Laws? Were they confined to The Pentateuch and disappeared after that? Remember, if you want to know what God has to say about something, it is wise to look at everyplace He talks about it.

To bring back the verse we ended with last week, then place it inside of its context: 

Colossians 2:13-17 → “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, [14] having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. [15] Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. [16] So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, [17] which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

All of the ceremonial laws were a way to bring humanity into proximity to the presence of a holy God…and we failed over and over and over again. However, because He is perfectly patient and perfectly merciful, He sent Christ to do them in our place. 

It was Jesus Christ cast out, while the cleansed leper went in (Lk. 5:12-15). When the woman with the issue of blood, unclean day after day for 12years, touched Him, she became clean (Lk. 8:44 & 45). It was His head wrapped about with thorns that saved Isaac from the Altar (Gen. 22:13) and He is the spotless lamb, slaughtered for the sin of His children (Rev. 13:8).

He is our ceremony, He is our feast, and He is our Sabbath.

He is the Temple and The Ark. He is the Sacrifice and The Mercy Seat.

The totality of the Ceremonial Law points to Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:11 - 25 → “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. [12] But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, [13] from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. [14] For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified… 

Jesus Christ, being the substance that created the shadow of The Ceremonial Law, fulfilled it, and closed it. So now, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, hear clearly the words of your King:

[19] Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, [20] by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, [21] and having a High Priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ”

Jesus Christ is our great high priest, who, being the only one able to do so,

laid one hand on The Father, one on us, and died.

Rev. Jacob Marchitell

March 22nd 2026

Extra Notes:

There is a section in Amos where God is telling His people how He feels in response to their carrying out the Ceremonial Law as if their actions could make them righteous while their hearts remained dead.

Amos 5:21-24 → “I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies.

[22] Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. [23] Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. [24] But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”