Skip to content
The Historic Faith
Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About Jewish Law

Early Christian writers usually said the Jewish law was real, good, and given by God, but that Christians were no longer bound to live under it in the same way. Ignatius says not to live by the Jewish law or let others preach it as binding, while Novatian, Lactantius, and Tertullian describe the law as spiritual, filled with hidden meaning, and brought to completion in Christ.

Justin Martyr, Origen, and Archelaus also argue that the old law pointed forward and that some Jewish customs were not required for Gentile believers. The evidence is broad on Christ fulfilling or surpassing the law, but mixed on how strongly each writer framed the old law’s continuing value for moral teaching versus its ending as a binding system.

Study This Topic Next

Open the best tools and THF resources before the full reference list.

Key Passages

Jump into the first references before scanning the full Scripture map.

How to Study Jewish Law

A tighter path from the primary text into context and application.

Start with the clearest command or anchor text Read the primary passage in context before building doctrine from supporting references.
Trace the apostolic pattern Compare how the apostles preached, practiced, warned, and applied this topic in the churches.
Connect to witness and formation Use early Christian sources, courses, lessons, and discussion questions only after the Bible map is clear.
Continue with connected study Use the attached Bible reader, cross-reference, original-language, and THF resource links to keep studying the topic in context.

Scripture Map

Grouped passages make the topic easier to scan, compare, and teach.

35 references

Foundation Texts

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Direct Bible statement about works of law and curse

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.

Direct Bible statement that works of law do not justify

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.

Direct Bible statement on justification by faith not law

Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

Direct Bible statement about temporary ordinances

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Direct Bible statement that law is not of faith

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Direct Bible question about receiving the Spirit by law or faith

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Direct Bible statement that law cannot give life

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Direct Bible statement about first covenant ordinances

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Direct Bible contrast between law of works and law of faith

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Direct Bible statement on justification apart from law works

To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

Direct Bible statement about law of Christ

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Direct Bible example of pressure to keep Moses' law

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Direct Bible statement that law was a guardian until Christ

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Direct Bible statement that Christ is end of law

Supporting Passages

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the LORD made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

They kept also the feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, as the duty of every day required;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.