In the statutes under the Mosaic law covenant there are many similarities to those of the Christian system of things. This is to be expected because ‘the Law was holy, and the commandment holy and righteous and good.’ It was “spiritual.” (Rom. 7:12, 14) And as having a shadow of the good things to come, the Mosaic Law shows us God’s thinking and his manner of dealing with his people.​—Heb. 10:1.

2. Why did the Jews under the Law need help, and what help was provided by Jehovah?

² But the Law condemned the nation of Israel because of their violation of God’s covenant. They were said to be under a curse by it. (Gal. 3:10) For this very reason Jesus Christ died on a torture stake. By his death he could redeem the Jews from their sinfulness inherited from their forefather Adam. More than that, by the manner of his death he could remove the additional curse that the Law had brought on the Jews because of their violation of it. The apostle Paul, himself a Jew, explains this when he says: “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake.’” (Gal. 3:13; Deut. 21:23) Their atonement day sacrifices each year, the apostle says, sanctified to the extent of cleanness of the flesh, but were unable to impart to the Jews cleanness of conscience.​—Heb. 9:9, 13, 14.

For example, under the Jewish law polygamy was practiced, and divorce was allowed on grounds besides that of adultery. It was not God’s time to restore marriage to its original status. Jesus Christ explained that the Law merely made a concession to the Jews because of their hardness of heart.​—Matt. 19:7, 8.

6. Why could no one keep the Law, but how can Christians keep the law of Christ?

⁶ Now, no imperfect man under the perfect law set forth through Moses could keep it. For illustration, he might not be one committing murder or adultery; he might not be a thief; but the tenth commandment would convict him, because it prohibited wrong desire. An individual could never overcome the sinful flesh by his own efforts. Under the Law covenant, God’s spirit operated to help faithful men to be pleasing to him and to do the work he gave them.

Any man that has disregarded the law of Moses dies without compassion, upon the testimony of two or three.

9. Although the two greatest commandments in the Law could not be enforced by human agency, can they nevertheless be call “laws”?

⁹ Jesus said the greatest commandment in the Mosaic Law was to love God with one’s whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and the second was to love one’s neighbor as one’s own self. (Mark 12:29-33) Now, neither the Law to Israel nor the law of Christ states any specific punishment that human agents should apply to an Israelite failing to show love, unless that failure manifests itself in some overt wrong action, such as stealing, murder, and so forth.