Issue 1890 This is the Law January 20, 2026

Does anyone remember the 1970s television panel show “This is the Law”? (I couldn’t find any images.) The panel tried to guess what obscure law was being broken from a short video vignette. Some of the laws were not only obscure but seemingly bizarre. 

I can’t recall specific examples, but there might be something about how many ducks you could walk down Yonge Street in Toronto or being illegal to take your horse into a Winnipeg department store. Laws that made sense (perhaps) when they were drafted but seem ludicrous in today’s world. Most communities still have obscure, now meaningless laws on the books.

Last night at our community group, we were discussing the miraculous conversion of Zacchaeus. That took us down a sidebar of the Old Testament laws and covenants as we considered the offering that Zacchaeus made.

We touched on some of the practical reasons that the Law of Moses was given to Israel. Those reasons include necessary rules for law and governance, dietary and health laws to keep the people healthy, and ceremonial laws to set the Israelites apart from their neighbors.

One of the biggest reasons for the Law was to teach people that it couldn’t be kept and point them towards their need for a Savior.

Salvation was never made possible by the observance of the Law because it is impossible to fully keep the letter and the Spirit of the Law.  It’s always been by faith.

Paul had a high regard for the Law. “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” Romans 7:12, That chapter is an interesting read, and worth looking at if you have the time.

 He writes about the purpose of the Law in Galatians 3. 

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.  Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one. Galatians 3:19-10

The ceremonial, religious, and laws were made for the Jew. The moral Law for Jew and Gentile alike.

Celebrate that we have a Saviour who can redeem us. We’d all be doomed if keeping of the Mosaic law or any other code of Law was what saved us.

Be blessed

Kevin

Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life. 

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Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.