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Do you remember the first time you tried to read through the Old Testament?

Genesis is full of stories—creation, the flood, Abraham, Joseph. Exodus brings drama and deliverance as God rescues Israel from Egypt. But then comes Leviticus … and that’s where many of us slow down. Suddenly we’re reading about sacrifices, ceremonial washings, dietary restrictions, skin diseases, and even mold inspections. If you’ve ever thought, “What does any of this have to do with me?”, you’re not alone.

As Christians, we believe the entire Bible is God’s Word. And yet, we don’t follow all the Old Testament laws the way the Israelites did. We eat bacon (despite Leviticus 11), wear clothes with mixed fabrics (contrary to Deuteronomy 22:11), and no one is building altars in their backyard for animal sacrifices.

So, are we picking and choosing which laws to follow? Or is there a faithful, biblical way to understand how these ancient commands apply to us today?

Let’s explore how Christians can think clearly—and joyfully—about the Old Testament law, and how Jesus makes all the difference.

Understanding the Three Kinds of Old Testament Laws

Over the centuries, Christians have found it helpful to recognize three general categories of laws in the Old Testament: moral, ceremonial, and civil. While the Bible doesn’t list these categories explicitly, they serve as a useful framework for understanding how different laws functioned, and how they relate to us today.

1. Moral Laws. These are commands that reflect God’s character—His holiness, justice, and love. Think of the Ten Commandments: don’t steal, don’t murder, don’t lie, honor your parents. These moral standards are rooted in Who God is and are repeated throughout the New Testament. They’re not just rules for Israel—they’re enduring truths that still guide us as believers today. In fact, Jesus perfectly obeyed these moral laws and calls us to follow Him in living them out (Matthew 5:17-20).
2. Ceremonial Laws These laws governed Israel’s worship—regulations about sacrifices, festivals, dietary restrictions, and ritual purity. They were designed to teach Israel about God’s holiness and to point forward to a coming Savior. When Jesus died and rose again, He fulfilled all that these ceremonial laws anticipated. That’s why Hebrews 10:1 and 14 says that Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice makes further offerings unnecessary. We don’t follow the old rituals anymore, but we do learn from them. They remind us to worship a holy God and to live lives set apart for Him.
3. Civil (or Judicial) Laws These were the laws that organized Israel’s society as a nation directly governed by God. They dealt with things like property rights, crime, and community justice. We don’t live in a theocracy like ancient Israel, so we don’t apply these laws exactly as they were written. But they still teach us important principles—like justice, responsibility, and care for our neighbors. For example, Deuteronomy 22:8 says to build a railing on your roof for safety. The principle behind that command? Love your neighbor enough to prevent harm. That still applies today, even if we’re installing a fence around a swimming pool instead.

What Did Jesus Say About the Law?

Jesus said something remarkable in the Sermon on the Mount:

“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” (Matthew 5:17 ESV).

He didn’t throw out the Old Testament laws. He fulfilled them. That means Jesus completed what the laws were pointing toward. He obeyed every moral command perfectly. He became the final and perfect sacrifice that the ceremonial laws anticipated. And He established a better covenant—one based not on external rules, but on grace and transformation of the heart (Hebrews 8:6).

That’s why Christians don’t offer sacrifices, avoid certain foods, or wear specific clothes to honor God. Jesus has already fulfilled those laws. And that’s also why we look beyond outward rule-keeping and examine our hearts. As Jesus taught in Matthew 5, it’s not just about not murdering—it’s about dealing with anger. It’s not just about avoiding adultery—it’s about honoring purity in our thoughts.

Jesus summarized the entire law this way:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart … and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39 ESV).

“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (v. 40).

In other words, love is the heartbeat of every law God ever gave.

Living Under the New Covenant

So where does that leave us today?

The New Testament makes it clear that Christians are no longer under the Mosaic Law as a system for earning righteousness. Paul says in Romans 6:14,

“You are not under law but under grace.”

We’re saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not by obeying the law (Ephesians 2:8–9). But that doesn’t mean the law is useless. It still teaches us about God’s holiness, exposes our sin, and shows us what a godly life looks like.

Think of the Old Testament law as a signpost. It pointed people forward to Christ. Now that Jesus has come, we don’t need to camp at the sign. We follow the One it was pointing to. Yet we still glance back at the signpost, learning what it says about God’s heart and intentions.

One of the most beautiful promises of the New Covenant is that God writes His law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). That’s not about memorizing rules—it’s about a transformed heart that wants to honor God. As believers, we’re guided by the Holy Spirit, who helps us live out the law’s righteous principles in our daily lives.

Applying Old Testament Laws Today

So how do we do this? When we read an Old Testament law, we ask a few questions:

• Is this a moral law? If so, it still applies. We obey it, not to earn salvation, but to honor God and reflect His character.
• Is it a ceremonial law? Then we look for how Christ fulfilled it and what it teaches us about holiness, worship, and grace.
• Is it a civil law? We consider the principle behind it—justice, protection, love—and apply it wisely in today’s context.

Take the Sabbath, for example. Exodus 20:8 tells Israel to keep the seventh day holy. As Christians, we’re not bound by all the detailed Sabbath laws of the Old Covenant. But we still recognize the need for rest, worship, and rhythm in our lives. We may set aside Sunday, not from obligation, but as a loving response to God’s design.

Or consider laws with harsh penalties—like stoning for certain sins. We don’t apply those today. But they remind us that God takes sin seriously. In the church, we deal with unrepentant sin through loving correction, as taught in the New Testament—not legal punishment, but spiritual restoration.

In Summary

Reading Old Testament laws can feel confusing. But when we read them through the lens of Christ, they come alive with meaning and purpose.

We’re not under the old covenant anymore, but we are shaped by it. The law still points us to the holiness of God, the beauty of His justice, and our deep need for a Savior. And in Jesus, we find that Savior who fulfilled the law on our behalf and invites us into a new way of life.

When you come across an unusual command in Leviticus or Deuteronomy, don’t skip it. Ask: What does this reveal about God’s heart?How does this law point to Jesus?What principle still applies today as I seek to love God and others?

As followers of Christ, we don’t discard the Old Testament law. We delight in it—not as a burden, but as a path toward holiness, written on our hearts and walked out by His grace.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.” —1 John 5:3 ESV