Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 21:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 21:24

"Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,"

I am grateful I don't live under the law of Moses, or under carnal commandments. I knew the law of Moses was to point the children of Israel to Christ but how do these carnal commandments do that? I found some explanations.

"From these passages of Scripture, we learn this: The Gospel was preached to Abraham, and also to ancient Israel. The Israelites were unable to live the law of the Gospel—so a law of carnal commandments, known as the law of Moses, was given as a schoolmaster to bring them up to the higher law: Christ came and introduced that higher law—the Gospel, explained its precepts, and pointed out the difference between it and the law of Moses. The Gospel took the place of the law of Moses, which was laid aside, having fulfilled the object for which it was added to the Gospel."

(Brigham H. Roberts, "Joseph Smith's Mission, Etc.", JD 25:130)

"Now here is something, perhaps, that may be a little new to strangers, to hear the Latter-day Saints say that the Gospel of the Son of God was withheld from the people of Israel. But in proof of my assertion, I will refer you to Paul's declaration to the Hebrews, wherein he says—“The gospel was preached unto them in the wilderness, as well as unto us; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (Heb. 4:2) From this we learn that the children of Israel, at first, were not placed under the law of carnal commandments. (Heb. 7:16 D&C 84:27) They were not placed under the law which exacts an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, (Ex. 21:24) and if a man smite thee on the cheek, turn and resist the evil. (Matt. 5:38-39) This was not the first law that was given to Israel. The law of the Gospel, the same Gospel that was taught in the days of Christ, was given to them first, with this one exception—the children of Israel were required to look forward to the coming of their Messiah, and to the atonement that he should make upon the cross, that they, by faith in the future atonement that was to be made, might be partakers of the blessings of the Gospel. But having hardened their hearts against Moses and against God, the Lord determined to take away this higher law from the midst of the children of Israel, (D&C 84:23-25) and give them a law which is termed by the Apostles the law of carnal commandments (Heb. 7:16 D&C 84:27) a law by which they should not live. (Ezek. 20:25) They could have lived by the law of the Gospel; they could have entered into the Lord's rest by that law, even into the fulness of his glory; (D&C 84:24) but having transgressed the higher law, God gave them an inferior law adapted to their carnal capacity. This law is mentioned in the 20th chapter of Ezekiel, in these words—“Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live.” (Ezek. 20:25) Why is it that the Lord gave to Israel statutes, and judgments, and laws that were not good? Because they were incapable of receiving anything greater or higher. He gave them this law as a schoolmaster, to school them and bring them to the higher law, namely, the law of Christ, (Gal. 3:24) and they continued under this law, under this condemnation for a long time, and the Lord swore in his wrath that they should not enter into his rest in consequence of having broken the higher law. (D&C 84:24)"

(Orson Pratt, "The Setting Up of God's Kingdom, etc.", JD 15:67)

Day 2230