Leviticus 19:27 - Questions

[pw89]

Hey all,

So, Lev. 19:27 reads:

"'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.'"

I've always been somewhat confused at the laws in the Old Testament. The idea that I have been taught is that we are not bound to the law, but we follow God's laws as a response of love towards Him.

So, my question is two-part:

1. Does this law (Lev. 19:27) apply to us as Christians?

2. This second part is an extension into a more general question: What laws (from OT) do apply to Christians and what laws don't? We can't just pick and choose which laws from the OT we want to follow and which we don't, simply because we "agree" with some laws and others we don't--that would not be the right standard, so which are the ones that apply to us? For instance, the Ten Commandments (with exception of the Sabbath) still apply to us, but which other OT laws still do? What is the standard for determining this?

Lastly, I have a potential answer in my mind that the standard for determining this is to throw away all the laws from the OT and look only at the commands given in the New Testament; is this correct?

I appreciate clarification on these questions. Also, please support what you say with Scripture.

Thanks,

In Christ,
-pw

​

 

[Bouke285]

Hey all,





So, Lev. 19:27 reads:

"'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.'"​

I've always been somewhat confused at the laws in the Old Testament. The idea that I have been taught is that we are not bound to the law, but we follow God's laws as a response of love towards Him.​

So, my question is two-part:​

1. Does this law (Lev. 19:27) apply to us as Christians?​

2. This second part is an extension into a more general question: What laws (from OT) do apply to Christians and what laws don't? We can't just pick and choose which laws from the OT we want to follow and which we don't, simply because we "agree" with some laws and others we don't--that would not be the right standard, so which are the ones that apply to us? For instance, the Ten Commandments (with exception of the Sabbath) still apply to us, but which other OT laws still do? What is the standard for determining this?​

Lastly, I have a potential answer in my mind that the standard for determining this is to throw away all the laws from the OT and look only at the commands given in the New Testament; is this correct?​

I appreciate clarification on these questions. Also, please support what you say with Scripture. ​

Thanks,​

In Christ,
-pw​

Hey!, I'm just gonna say what I can as I am relatively new to this area myself. A LOT of the law in the old testament is actually prophesy believe it or not. I have learned not too long ago that there are so many things in the OT that have multiple meanings God has amazingly filled his word in a way we can study it forever and still not learn everything. I do not know much about this particular law, but look at the animal sacrifices to God. This prophecies the death of Christ and it symbolizes the blood of the lamb that was needed to wash away our sins. You will have to pray and study deeply. Also consider the time these laws were given and how a lot of the time these laws were all that the people had. Really the only laws that are understood to be kept today are the 10 commandments. Jesus even ignored the Sabbath law. Again I'm just giving my opinion someone else will be able to come in and answer with scripture after me.



Paul gives a great example of when a law gave a great second, and more important meaning.

1Cor 9:9-10 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say [it] altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, [this] is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

Here are 2 very important verses I think you should pray about and study.

[SIZE=+0]Romans 3:20 [/SIZE][SIZE=+0]Therefore by the deeds of the [SIZE=+1]law[/SIZE] no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the [SIZE=+1]law[/SIZE] [is] the knowledge of sin. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=+0]Romans 3:27 [/SIZE][SIZE=+0]. Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what [SIZE=+1]law[/SIZE]? Of works? No, but by the [SIZE=+1]law[/SIZE] of faith. [SIZE=+0]Romans 3:28 [/SIZE][SIZE=+0]Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the [SIZE=+1]law[/SIZE].[/SIZE][/SIZE]

To me Romans 3:27 is telling us what is truly important. To have faith in God and faith that he will guide us.

 

[VinsonBrown]

I've always been somewhat confused at the laws in the Old Testament. The idea that I have been taught is that we are not bound to the law, but we follow God's laws as a response of love towards Him.​

In regards to Leviticus, this is generally true. In other instances though,
it is not-- as in murder, theft, etc.

Does this law (Lev. 19:27) apply to us as Christians?

No.

What laws (from OT) do apply to Christians and what laws don't?...What is the standard for determining this?

Lastly, I have a potential answer in my mind that the standard for determining this is to throw away all the laws from the OT and look only at the commands given in the New Testament; is this correct?

The questions you ask are much more complicated than you seem to believe, Brother-- the standard for determining such things is through the art and science of Exegesis. In other words, you have to see the forest through the trees. Sometimes one cannot find a specific Scripture that will address problems and/or questions directly. For example, Scripture does not say that smoking crack/cocaine is wrong, but we can make that determination through looking at the whole of scripture. Likewise, the Bible does not address Drunk Driving directly but we know that by doing so we are violating several Scriptural principles.

Take a look at Acts 10:10-16 where God gave an indication that we're no longer under all of the laws in Leviticus.

Many of the laws in Leviticus were a matter of the survival of the people it was written for-- the book actually shows scientific principles that those people couldn't possibly have had. The rules on cleanliness, avoiding the spread of leprosy almost all show ways to avoid cross-infection, a concept that ancient people did not have.

I sincerely hope that helps you.

May you be blessed in your studies...

VB

​

 

[ebia]

Hey all,



So, Lev. 19:27 reads:

"'Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.'"​

I've always been somewhat confused at the laws in the Old Testament. The idea that I have been taught is that we are not bound to the law, but we follow God's laws as a response of love towards Him.​

So, my question is two-part:​

1. Does this law (Lev. 19:27) apply to us as Christians?​

2. This second part is an extension into a more general question: What laws (from OT) do apply to Christians and what laws don't? We can't just pick and choose which laws from the OT we want to follow and which we don't, simply because we "agree" with some laws and others we don't--that would not be the right standard, so which are the ones that apply to us? For instance, the Ten Commandments (with exception of the Sabbath) still apply to us, but which other OT laws still do? What is the standard for determining this?​

Lastly, I have a potential answer in my mind that the standard for determining this is to throw away all the laws from the OT and look only at the commands given in the New Testament; is this correct?​

I appreciate clarification on these questions. Also, please support what you say with Scripture. ​

Thanks,​

In Christ,
-pw​

None of it applies to us - it was all given to Israel and fulfilled in Jesus. However, all of it is part of that story that we are grafted into. It's our history. We need to live in the later part of the story in continuity with that part, but we can't (and shouldn't) try to relive that part. That said, although the Mosaic Law was delivered for a particular time and place (indeed, Torah is a single whole of narrative that contains the rules - the idea of Torah includes the narrative as much as the rules themselves) it does include some reminders of things that are universally true - Love the Lord your God, Love your neighbour, do not steal,....

But trying to separate the things that apply from things that do not tends to lead to getting your knickers in a twist - Torah doesn't make that distinction about itself. We have to wrestle and improvise how to live our part of the story in continuity and in character with what has gone before and what came in between.

 

[VinsonBrown]

None of it applies to us...

That's incorrect. Leviticus 13:40 applies to ME perfectly!

VB

 

[pw89]

Hey all,

Thanks for the responses. I guess my question right now would be: what's the Scriptural basis for Lev. 19:27 not applying to us as Christians? And along those lines, what's the Scriptural basis for most of the Levitical and Mosaic Law not applying to us?

I ask this because I'm hoping we're not simply saying that because it's convenient to say that--could you give some explanation and Scripture to support this?

Thanks again,

In Christ,
-Pennson W.

 

[IronManMatt]

The law as recorded in the OT has always and will always apply to us.

Jesus said in Matthew 5: 17-20
17: Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.


Laws of what is right and wrong do not change. It was wrong to murder long before God said so in the form of the ten commandments (remember Cain and Abel). God's laws are not arbitrary rules. All of God's laws are refelections of His nature and relationships. For example God commands us to tell the truth because He cannot lie; God commands us to love everyone because He loves everyone. God did not just sit around and say, "gee I wonder what I should tell them to do next" Go did say "Be holy for I am holy". Something is good if it reflects God, somthing is bad (ie sin) if it does not reflect God.

But one might ask me why I don't kill goats on an alter. My answer is that many things changed when God came to earth and lived, died, and rose, as a man.

So how can we know what changed and what we are currently supposed to be doing. By studying the NT. The NT clarifies how the laws are different since Christ came. I don't really know how to say it any better than that but I know I'm not really doing the subject full justice. Because the reason behind the laws (God's nature) have not changed from the OT to the NT only how they are played out.

For example; in the OT people are command to kill animals for their sins. We no longer do that but why, because Christ died for all of our sins. Each one of us killed Jesus by sinning, so we have all participated in the sacrificial law. The law, killing something to take our place for our sins, did not change, the only thing that changed is how it is played out.

So one can only justify not following a command from the OT if they can find somewhere in the NT where we are told to obey that law in a different way. But be careful because the law (God's nature) never changes.

 

[ebia]

Hey all,

Thanks for the responses. I guess my question right now would be: what's the Scriptural basis for Lev. 19:27 not applying to us as Christians? And along those lines, what's the Scriptural basis for most of the Levitical and Mosaic Law not applying to us?

A good starting point would be Acts 15 and the Letter to the Galatians.

 

[christandisrael]

Cultural Practice of the Jews. That's all it is. Keep religion in mind when studying scripture.

 

[Vaynan]

Yeah, you could look at it this way, especially concerning that particular law about the hair and the trimming of the beard.

Those laws were in place because those were common pagan practices, and to be seen with your hair cut at the sides (Mohawk) and the beard clipped, (Most likely extreme styles) was to show association with the pagans, and their beliefs.

Now Christ taught us that we are to appear as Christians to the world, and don't you think it would be hard, if we looked and acted like people who weren't?

Just a thought, and I know I didn't really touch on the subject in depth, but yes, I do believe that a lot of the old laws still apply.

 

[ittarter]

A good starting point would be Acts 15 and the Letter to the Galatians.

I'd like to add: before getting to Paul, read the gospel of Luke, noting Jesus' use of Torah law, his debates with the Pharisees about its application, and his teaching regarding "law" to his disciples.

Then Acts 15 and Galatians.

And after Paul, finish up with the letter to the Hebrews.

 

[ittarter]

Now Christ taught us that we are to appear as Christians to the world, and don't you think it would be hard, if we looked and acted like people who weren't?

Jesus told us to LOOK like Christians? Show me.

I remember that Jesus told us to ACT like Christians, John 16/17ish, "and this is how the world will know you are my disciples, that you love one another."