Are you bound by the Old Testament Laws?

Answer 1

Yes. In fact, they have been incorporated in the body of Western law.

There have been attempts by various religious organizations and ministers to tell us that "the old laws" were nailed to the cross, that Jesus nullified them, or other assorted theories why we should not obey them. These interpretations are based, not on The Bible, but upon their interpretation of isolated verses in the New Testament.

One famous theory for eating forbidden meat is the vision of the sheet that Peter saw. Yet even in the same chapter, Peter interpreted his own vision to mean that God did not want him to judge men as clean or unclean, not meat.

If one decides that the words of Jesus are to be the criteria for deciding that the laws are to be followed, then in Matthew He is quoted as saying that not one jot of tittle of the law shall not pass away until all that must be accomplished is accomplished. Since there are several wars that have not happened that were predicted, all things have not been accomplished. Therefore, the laws of the Old Testament still are in effect.

Answer 2

It was technically fulfilled by Christ.

Matthew 5:17-18

17 "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. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

But doesn't that mean [not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen,will in any means disappear from the Law] mean that the Law is fully intact and to be obeyed?

Answer 3

Many countries' laws are based on the 10 commandments so in that respect they are still valid today.

The purpose of the Law was to give knowledge of sin:

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The Law was to prepare people for the Redeemer:

Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

For Christians the command is not to obey the "Law" but to be led by the Spirit:

Galatians 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Answer 4

With the first coming of Jesus Christ, parts of the Law were amended as they were no longer necessary. The 'sacrifical laws' ceased as Christ is mankind' perfect and only sacrife needed. The Levitical Priesthood discontinued as Jesus is our Eternal High Priest, interceding for mankind to the Father.

All the Commandments of God are still in place and followed by Jesus Himself, the Apostles and all subsequent disciples of Christ.

Answer 5

Those laws may be divided into three categories:
1) Those mitzvot (laws) that are obligatory only for Jews. This category includes the majority of the mitzvot of the Torah.
2) Those mitzvot that are obligatory upon non-Jews as well as Jews. This category includes seven commands (Talmud, Sanhedrin 56a):

a] not to eat from an animal which is still alive;

b] not to curse God;

c] not to steal;

d] to maintain courts of law;

e] not to commit adultery or incest;

f] not to worship idols; and

g] not to murder.

3) There are certain mitzvot which are not explicitly commanded for non-Jews but which non-Jews are nonetheless expected to learn from and adopt. This category includes such examples as:

a] going in the ways of God (Deuteronomy 28:9);

b] giving charity (Leviticus 25:35), and other ethical teachings (such as Leviticus 19:13-18);

c] learning from the lessons of history (Deuteronomy 32:7);

d] not to ignore reproof (Deuteronomy 10:16);

e] not to mindlessly follow mass behavior (Exodus 23:2); and more.

4) There are some things that are the universal tradition of mankind, so much so that the Torah doesn't command them at all, and considers them as being self-understood. These include burying the dead, not eating human flesh, belief in the afterlife, and more.

See also the Related Links.

Link: The example that Judaism set

Link: Jewish ethics

Link: The afterlife