Page 22 - Advanced OT Survey Revised

Chapter 3: Study Section 3: The Pentateuch
(Five Books of the Law) - Genesis

Connect…

The word Genesis means “origin”. In it we find the information about the origin of all things. When we
know the origin of something, we can understand the meaning for its existence. Further to understand
where we are going – our future, we must understand where we have come from – our past. Genesis
gives us the origin of the universe, marriage, evil, language, government, culture, nations, and God’s
chosen people. It gives us the foundation upon which to rest our entire theological system.

In the book of Exodus, God have the Mosaic Law to Israel through Moses. Of course, the most well-
known are the Ten Commandments. But God also gave many more laws to them which covered the
kinds of food they ate, how they were to treat one another, and how to keep themselves pure from sin.
They were told to build a tabernacle and offer sacrifices to God. The books of Exodus and Leviticus
contain God’s original Law given to Moses for the people of Israel.

By the time Jesus came to earth, the religious leaders, to make themselves righteous before others,
added additional laws to Moses’ Law. In fact, they added 465 negative commands and 248 positive
commandments equaling 613 additional laws. The Pharisees believed that adherence to their Laws
made them righteous and in right standing with God.

An example of their enthusiasm to add additional rules, the Ten Commandments told Israel to honor the
Sabbath Day, and keep it holy. The Rabbis during Jesus’ Day added an additional 39 rules to be
emphasized to the level that adherence to the additional instructions become as important as
obedience to the original commandment. That’s why the Pharisees where so upset when Jesus healed
someone on the Sabbath. It was one of their NEW rules they added to the Mosaic Law. There was no
end to the additional rules they could create.

Originally, God gave Israel (and every living person) the Law to show us that we are sinners. The Law is
perfect, but we find that we cannot wholly keep it. Galatians tells us the Law was given to us to show us
our need for a Savior. Let’s now learn about the coming of the Mosaic Law…

Objectives…

1. The student should be able to discuss the five books of the law and provide a summary of each of
them.

2. The student should be able to discuss the important questions such as: what, when, where, how’s of
the five books of the Law

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