[Box on page 152]

Some Basic Principles in the Mosaic Law

Responsibilities Toward God

Worship only Jehovah Ex. 20:3; 22:20

Treat his name with respect Ex. 20:7; Lev. 24:16

Fear to disobey, be in awe of him Deut. 5:29; 6:24

Give him your best; it came from him Ex. 23:19; 34:26

Worshipers must be physically clean Ex. 19:10, 11; 30:20

Forbidden Religious Practices

Idolatry Ex. 20:4-6; Deut. 7:25

Marriage and Family Life

Adultery prohibited Ex. 20:14; Lev. 20:10

No marriage to one not serving Jehovah Deut. 7:1-4

Incest forbidden Lev. 18:6-16; 20:11

Avoid sex perversions Lev. 18:23; 20:13

Respect life of unborn child Ex. 21:22, 23

Teach your children Jehovah’s ways Deut. 6:4-9; 11:18-21

Duties Involving Other Persons

Hold human life sacred Ex. 20:13; Num. 35:9-34

Love fellowman; avoid grudges Lev. 19:17, 18

Be considerate of elderly ones Lev. 19:32

No mistreatment of deaf and blind Lev. 19:14; Deut. 27:18

Be honest in business practices Lev. 19:35, 36; 25:14

Do not covet what belongs to others Ex. 20:17

Expose gross wrongdoers Lev. 5:1; Deut. 13:6-11

Be truthful; not bear false witness Ex. 20:16; 23:1, 2

No partiality because of position Ex. 23:3, 6; Lev. 19:15

13. Why is it beneficial to meditate on the fine principles reflected in the Law?

¹³ The Mosaic Law is part of the Scriptures inspired by God, all of which are “beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight.” (2 Tim. 3:16) Our searching out and meditating on the enduring principles on which the Law is based can help to build up in us a heartfelt desire to do the things that are pleasing to God. If we perceive the spirit toward which the Law pointed and reflect that spirit in our lives, how beneficial that can be!

14. (a) How did Jesus illustrate the value of grasping the spirit toward which the requirements of the Law pointed? (b) Draw attention to some of the additional fine principles embodied in the Law, as shown on page 152. (c) How can appreciation of these things aid us to be more pleasing to God?

¹⁴ Jesus effectively illustrated this in his Sermon on the Mount. Speaking to people then under the Law, he showed that, instead of merely refraining from murder, they needed to root out any tendency to continued wrath and refrain from using their tongue in downgrading speech about their brothers. Instead of being content because they had never committed adultery, they should not even look at a woman lustfully. As was true of them, so, too, we should endeavor to use all our body members in harmony with Jehovah’s righteous ways. (Matt. 5:21, 22, 27-30; see also Romans 13:8-10.) If we do this, we will show that we also understand the meaning of the greatest commandment in the Law: “You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.” (Matt. 22:36, 37) Surely this will draw us closer to Jehovah God. Though we are not under the Mosaic Law code, we will definitely be benefited by accurate knowledge of the principles on which it is based and the prophetic patterns that it contains.