Is the law of Moses useful? Yes. All scripture is... profitable... (2 Timothy 3:16) No. . . . A former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness... (Hebrews 7:18)

I. Definition and Scope of the Law of Moses

The term “Law of Moses” typically refers to the commandments and ordinances God gave to the Israelites through Moses, as recorded primarily in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These directives encompass moral principles (e.g., prohibitions against murder and theft), ceremonial practices (such as sacrificial instructions and priestly regulations), and civil laws for governing ancient Israel.

Throughout Scripture, this Law is revered as part of God’s revelation to His people. It shaped the nation of Israel’s identity and placed them under a covenant obligation to be a holy community, pointing forward to a greater fulfillment in the Messiah (cf. Galatians 3:24).

II. Scriptural Passages Affirming the Usefulness of the Law

1. All Scripture Is Profitable

In 2 Timothy 3:16, we read: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Since the Law of Moses is part of Scripture, it shares in these divine purposes. It contains crucial historical lessons, moral guidelines, and spiritual truths.

2. Jesus’ Affirmation

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” Here, we see our Savior speaking of the Law’s ongoing significance. He completes its prophecies and legal demands—yet He does not dismiss its worth.

3. Moral Clarity

Romans 7:12 proclaims, “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.” The Law reveals God’s righteous standards, clarifying moral excellence and exposing human sinfulness (cf. Romans 3:20).

III. Context and Meaning of Hebrews 7:18

Hebrews 7:18 reads, “So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless.” In context, this statement highlights the contrast between the Levitical priesthood (established by the Law) and the superior priesthood of Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 7:11–28).

1. Weakness Explained

The Law was never intended to impart ultimate salvation. It revealed sin but could not spiritually transform sinners. As Hebrews 7:19 clarifies, “(for the Law made nothing perfect),” it could not cleanse the conscience in the way Christ’s sacrifice does.

2. Transition to the New Covenant

This “setting aside” refers to the priestly and sacrificial system’s limitations. Jesus fulfills and supersedes these rituals through His once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12). The Mosaic system’s function as a tutor (Galatians 3:24) is completed in Christ’s redemptive work, establishing a new covenant sealed by His blood.

IV. The Law’s Role in God’s Redemptive Plan

1. A Guardian Pointing to Christ

Galatians 3:24 teaches, “So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The Law acts as a guide, diagnosing our sin and driving us to seek salvation in the Messiah.

2. Shadows and Fulfillment

The ceremonial aspects (like animal sacrifices and priestly duties) served as types and shadows of the coming redemption (cf. Hebrews 10:1). Once Christ came, the shadow’s purpose was accomplished, yet the moral principles continue to reflect God’s righteous character.

3. Permanent Moral Principles

The moral commands within the Law align with God’s timeless holiness (e.g., commandments against murder and adultery). Though believers are under grace, the moral truths within the Law still teach us about righteous living (cf. Romans 13:8–10).

V. Resolving the Apparent Contradiction

1. Different Purposes in the Same Divine Plan

When 2 Timothy 3:16 states that all Scripture (including the Law) is “useful” and Hebrews 7:18 states that a “former commandment is set aside,” we see two perspectives on the same reality. Scripture remains profitable—historically, morally, and theologically—while portions of its ceremonial framework are fulfilled and thus no longer binding in their original form.

2. Law’s Weakness vs. God’s Power

The “weakness” and “uselessness” in Hebrews 7:18 do not deny the Law’s purpose or authority in redemptive history; rather, they point out its inability to perfect humanity (cf. Hebrews 9:9–10). By comparison, Christ’s sacrifice accomplishes what the Law could only foreshadow.

VI. Practical Benefit for Modern Believers

1. Study and Reflection

Reading the Law of Moses enriches our appreciation for God’s holiness, the seriousness of sin, and humanity’s need for a Savior. Modern believers grow in gratitude to Jesus, who met these legal demands on our behalf (Romans 8:3–4).

2. Moral and Ethical Insights

Though Christians are not required to observe the Jewish ceremonial system, the underlying ethics—such as caring for the poor (Leviticus 19:9–10), practicing justice (Deuteronomy 16:20), and loving one’s neighbor (Leviticus 19:18)—remain timeless principles.

3. Foundation of the Gospel Message

Understanding the sacrifices, feasts, and rituals described in the Law of Moses illuminates the significance of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice and atoning work (Hebrews 10:10). The Law’s requirements enable us to share the gospel with greater depth and conviction, showing how God uniquely tailored a redemptive plan culminating in Jesus.

VII. Historical, Manuscript, and Archaeological Support

1. Textual Consistency in Ancient Manuscripts

The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered in 1947 near the Qumran Caves, confirm substantial agreement with the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. This demonstrates that the Law of Moses—recorded centuries before Christ—was preserved with remarkable fidelity. Scholars such as Dr. Dan Wallace and others have documented the extraordinary bibliographic reliability of the Scriptures, supporting the conclusion that the Law has been accurately transmitted.

2. Archaeological Corroboration

Archaeological sites in Israel, including findings related to ancient altars, priestly garments, and known city locations (e.g., Lachish, Hazor), confirm cultural and historical details aligning with the biblical account. These insights underscore the Law’s historical background, rather than it being a later invention.

3. Cohesion with a Young Earth Perspective

From a viewpoint that reads Genesis as literal history, the Law of Moses fits seamlessly into the biblical timeline that places the Exodus event in the mid-second millennium BC. This alignment reaffirms the internal consistency of Scripture in both theological and chronological frameworks.

VIII. Answering Common Objections

1. “If the Law is no longer binding, why read it at all?”

Though believers are no longer under the Mosaic covenant, the Law reveals God’s character, demonstrates His justice, and exposes our need for grace. Its study fosters worship and genuine spiritual growth (Romans 7:7).

2. “Doesn’t Hebrews 7:18 call the Law ‘useless’?”

“In its weakness” refers to the Law’s inability to provide true purification of sin apart from Christ (Hebrews 7:19). It does not negate the Law’s intrinsic value as God-breathed Scripture, nor its role in leading us to the Savior.

3. “Why keep referring to Old Testament regulations if Jesus fulfilled them?”

Fulfillment does not mean erasure. Instead, it testifies to the Law’s prophetic witness and continuity in God’s grand design. Studying these regulations helps us grasp the magnitude of Christ’s fulfillment and fosters a deeper knowledge of God’s redemptive plan.

IX. Conclusion: Harmonizing the Yes and No

Yes, the Law of Moses remains profitable for teaching, convicting, and offering insight into God’s nature (2 Timothy 3:16). Simultaneously, because of its limited ability to perfect humanity, it was set aside as the ruling covenant once Christ established the new covenant (Hebrews 7:18).

The Law’s moral and spiritual truths endure as a guide to understanding God’s holiness, while its ceremonial and sacrificial elements find their ultimate completion in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Believers glean wisdom, moral insight, and history-shaping context from the Law, even as they rest in the saving power of Christ’s resurrection. Through this lens, Scripture remains united, reinforcing the Law’s continuing significance within the overarching framework of God’s redemptive story.