The Full Law: No Additions or Subtractions

No Additions or Subtractions

The Law cannot be added to or subtracted from because it includes everything in the first five books. Including the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 4:1-2 CSB
Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to follow, so that you may live, enter, and take possession of the land the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. [2] You must not add anything to what I command you or take anything away from it, so that you may keep the commands of the LORD your God I am giving you.

Deuteronomy 12:32 CSB
Be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.

All the Laws from the Book of Moses were read aloud including the 10 Commandments.

Joshua 8:30-35 CSB
At that time Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal to the LORD, the God of Israel, [31] just as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool has been used. Then they offered burnt offerings to the LORD and sacrificed fellowship offerings on it. [32] There on the stones, Joshua copied the law of Moses, which he had written in the presence of the Israelites. [33] All Israel—resident alien and citizen alike—with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark of the LORD’s covenant facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded earlier concerning blessing the people of Israel. [34] Afterward, Joshua read aloud all the words of the law—the blessings as well as the curses—according to all that is written in the book of the law. [35] There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read before the entire assembly of Israel, including the women, the dependents, and the resident aliens who lived among them.

Every single Command Moses ever gave were read aloud. One of the Commands being do NOT add or subtract from the Law.

The Law is Directly Connected to the Ten Commandments

Book of the Law of Moses is directly associated with the Ten Commandments and pointing out to do EVERYTHING written in the first five books of the Bible.

Joshua 23:6-8 CSB
Be very strong and continue obeying all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you do not turn from it to the right or left [7] and so that you do not associate with these nations remaining among you. Do not call on the names of their gods or make an oath to them; do not serve them or bow in worship to them. [8] Instead, be loyal to the LORD your God, as you have been to this day.

Ezekiel 20:10-12 NLT
So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. [11] There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. [12] And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy.

God and Moses Gives the Same Law

The Book of the Law is interchangeable between God giving it and through Moses giving it. They reference the SAME thing… the ENTIRE Book of the Law of Moses

Nehemiah 8:1,8 CSB
all the people gathered together at the square in front of the Water Gate. They asked the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses that the LORD had given Israel. [8] They read out of the book of the law of God, translating and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was read.

God gives the Law of Moses…

Ezra 7:6 CSB
—came up from Babylon. He was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was on him.

Now, Moses gives the Book of the Law or the Law of God.

Nehemiah 10:28-29 CSB
The rest of the people—the priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, and temple servants, along with their wives, sons, and daughters, everyone who is able to understand and who has separated themselves from the surrounding peoples to obey the law of God— [29] join with their noble brothers and commit themselves with a sworn oath to follow the law of God given through God’s servant Moses and to obey carefully all the commands, ordinances, and statutes of the LORD our Lord.

2 Chronicles 34:14 CSB
When they brought out the silver that had been deposited in the LORD’s temple, the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law of the LORD written by the hand of Moses.

Jesus References Moses Giving the Ten Commandments

Even Jesus referenced the Law of Moses (Book of Instructions) the first five books of the Bible as a unique combined set of writings.

Luke 24:44 CSB
He told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Jesus’ own statements provide the clearest evidence that the Ten Commandments were delivered by Moses, and that the Law encompasses the entirety of the Book of the Law of Moses.

John 7:19 CSB
Didn’t Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?

Mark 7:10 CSB
For Moses said: Honor your father and your mother; and Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must be put to death.

The Commands of God are Written in the Law of Moses

The Ten Commandments are clearly included in the scroll or also known as the Book of the Law of Moses.

Exodus 24:3-4,7-8,12 CSB
Moses came and told the people all the commands of the LORD and all the ordinances. Then all the people responded with a single voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has commanded." [4] And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early the next morning and set up an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel at the base of the mountain. [7] He then took the covenant scroll and read it aloud to the people. They responded, "We will do and obey all that the LORD has commanded." [8] Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you concerning all these words." [12] The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay there so that I may give you the stone tablets with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction."

1 Kings 2:3 CSB
and keep your obligation to the LORD your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn,

This is directly related to…

Deuteronomy 29:9 CSB
Therefore, observe the words of this covenant and follow them, so that you will succeed in everything you do.

What were the words of the Covenant?

Deuteronomy 4:13 CSB
He declared his covenant to you. He commanded you to follow the Ten Commandments, which he wrote on two stone tablets.

The Whole Law

2 Kings 17:13 CSB
Still, the LORD warned Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commands and statutes according to the whole law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through my servants the prophets."

2 Kings 21:8 CSB
I will never again cause the feet of the Israelites to wander from the land I gave to their ancestors if only they will be careful to do all I have commanded them-the whole law that my servant Moses commanded them."

2 Chronicles 33:8 CSB
I will never again remove the feet of the Israelites from the land where I stationed your ancestors, if only they will be careful to do all I have commanded them through Moses-all the law, statutes, and judgments."

2 Kings 22:11,13 CSB
When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. [13] "Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words in this book that has been found. For great is the LORD's wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us.

Galatians 3:12 CSB
But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them.

Galatians 5:2-3 CSB
Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. [3] Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law.

James 2:10 CSB
For whoever keeps the entire law, and yet stumbles at one point, is guilty of breaking it all.

Questions that Challenge Your Current Understanding

1. How do you understand the significance of the Law being unchangeable, with no additions or subtractions allowed?
   
   
2. How do the scriptures emphasize that the Law given by God and the Law given by Moses are essentially the same? What implications does this have for our understanding of divine authority?
   
   
3. Considering our mission to expose deceptive teachings, how can you ensure that your understanding remains true to the scriptures, particularly the Book of the Law of Moses?
   
   
4. Finally, how does the repeated emphasis on adhering strictly to the Law encourage you to surrender to the love and grace of Jesus?