Is the Law a Path to God or Just a Shadow?
In this article, you will learn how Exodus 24:13 contradicts Acts 13:39, Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:20 and Hebrews 10:1. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The Bible is a tapestry of narratives, laws, and teachings, guiding believers on their spiritual journey. Central to this tapestry is the complex relationship between the law and grace—a theme that often leads to seeming contradictions. For example, Exodus 24:13 portrays Moses and Joshua ascending a mountain to receive divine directions. This passage underscores the importance of the law as a direct communication from God, emphasizing obedience and adherence as a means to reach closer to the divine.
Contrasting sharply with this Old Testament perspective are several New Testament verses that challenge the sufficiency of the law. Acts 13:39, for instance, suggests that ultimate justification cannot be achieved through the law alone but rather through belief in Jesus Christ. This implies a shift in understanding how one attains spiritual justification, moving from a foundation rooted purely in law to one built on faith.
Galatians 2:16 reinforces this shift, explicitly stating that a person is not justified by observing the law but by faith in Christ. This is akin to an analogy where following traffic laws diligently might lead someone safely through a single journey, but faith in a trustworthy guide (representing Jesus) promises safe passage through life’s entire journey.
Romans 3:20 adds another layer, suggesting that the law serves primarily to make one aware of sin rather than offering a means for justification. It likens the law to a diagnostic tool—spotting the problem but not providing the cure. Lastly, Hebrews 10:1 describes the law as a mere shadow of the good things to come, unable to perfect those who adhere to it, much like a photo of an item that cannot fulfill one’s desire for the real thing.
These perspectives invite believers to question: Is adherence to the law sufficient for spiritual fulfillment, or is faith in something greater the true key? Such contradictions encourage a deeper exploration of scripture, urging a balance between understanding divine instructions and embracing transformative faith.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Exodus 24:13 | And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. |
| 2. | Acts 13:39 | And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. |
| 3. | Galatians 2:16 | Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. |
| 4. | Romans 3:20 | Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. |
| 5. | Hebrews 10:1 | For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. |