Hebrews 8:3-5 in Hebrews, we will attempt to find the answers to those questions, which are very important in our contemporary society today in every According to the Law area – from the academic arena in higher education, as well as the secondary education level; to the written, visual, and audio media; to “For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; every expression of entertainment; to every avenue of business and hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. investment; and finally to all the religious components of our society. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there In addition, the comparison between the Law Code given by God to are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy Moses with reference to the Levitical Priesthood and their and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God responsibilities, and the ministry of Christ while on this earth and when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, ‘See,’ He says, ‘that beyond is central to all of this. For when we look at the ancient you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on cultures of the Middle East, the reason for the similarities is that they the mountain.’” are all corruptions of what God intended as far as human accountability to Him and the promise of an eternal home; moral Introduction guidelines and direction for our well-being; societal relationships; and the ultimate blessing of following His truth in faith and obedience, When we look at the Old Testament Law and its purpose as stated which leads to His life-giving holiness in our lives. We will see that by Paul in Galatians 3, as well as the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:17- this divergence began with Noah’s son, Ham, and was perpetuated 20, we discover that the Law, in all of its forms (from the written throughout the Mesopotamian culture, beginning with Sumer and commandments concerning personal morality, business relations, continuing from there up to our very own time. Consequently, when marriage, etc., to the instructions of the building of the Temple and the Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to requirements of the Priests and their duties), we do begin to see that as the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6), we can begin to get a better Paul states in Galatians 3:23, “Therefore the Law has become our tutor picture of this ABSOLUTE TRUTH in light of man’s written history to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith.” However, it is before and since Jesus’ first coming. also very interesting to note that in the Ancient Near East, with the oldest known literate society in the history of man, the ancient I. Pre-Law Times Sumerians, they too had a law code with similarities on the surface of A. Biblical History the later Old Testament Law Code, but there were also some 1. One of the significant things to take note of is that God’s significant differences in the area of defining just who or what is God, message of salvation has run continuously the same as well as personal morality, especially in the arena of sexual mores. throughout man’s existence – from the Garden of Eden up Among those who dismiss the Old Testament Law Code as merely to today. a copy of older law codes, such as that of the ancient Sumerians and a. After Adam and Eve fell, we read that “the LORD God Babylonians (e.g., Hammurabi’s Law Code), as stated above, there are made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and some definite similarities, but there are also some drastic differences, clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). and the two questions before us are, Why are there the similarities, and (1) Thus, we see that in Adam and Eve’s attempt to Why are there the differences? Therefore in our study of this passage cover their sin as “they sewed fig leaves together 1 and made themselves loin coverings” (Genesis 3:7) lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is that they failed miserably – not only could they not crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but 8 atone for their sin by their actions to cover it you must master it." ¶ And Cain told Abel his themselves, they could in no way hide their sin from brother. And it came about when they were in the the Eternal God. field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. (Genesis 4:1-8) (2) However, God in His great mercy, “clothed them” with the skins of animals that had to be killed and (1) We see in the above passage the expression of our their blood shed in order for Adam and Eve’s sin to depraved natures as a result of the genetic be covered and atoned for. permeation of sin throughout the core of man’s (a) In Hebrews 9:22, we read: “And according to mind and thinking. the Law, one may almost say , all things are (2) However, in verse 7, we see God’s blueprint of cleansed with blood, and without shedding of victory over the compulsive direction of our corrupt blood there is no forgiveness.” and depraved natures: “If you do well, will not your (b) Thus, even before the ‘written Law’ was countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do established through Moses, the truth that was well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is the foundation of that Law was enacted with the for you, but you must master it.” first two human beings who sinned and fell. (a) The problem with this passage is that based on b. Before Cain’s sin in killing Abel, God clearly spelled the rules of Hebrew grammar, it doesn’t out the nature of the spiritual battle we face and how to properly fit. be victorious: (b) The phrase, “be lifted up” is taken from the śĕ ē Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and Hebrew verb taeêf. ( ’ t), which is a qal she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she infinitive construct from the root verb af'n" said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of āś 2 (n â), and it means “to lift up, carry away, the LORD." And again, she gave birth to his pardon.” Thus, “pardon,” or “forgiveness,” may brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, 3 legitimately be used as the translation. The but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an reading, therefore, would be, “Is there not offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. 4 forgiveness if you do well?” However, the And Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings problem arises with the remainder of the verse: of his flock and of their fat portions. And the “but if you do not do well, sin is crouching at LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 the door. .” but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. (c) The trouble with the above translation is the last So Cain became very angry and his countenance phrase, “sin is crouching at the door.” In fell. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you 7 Hebrew, unlike with English, you have angry? And why has your countenance fallen? masucline and feminine nouns, as well as "If you do well, will not your countenance be 2 masculine and feminine verb forms, except for [3] Therefore, if rābi ŝu is indeed the correct the 1st common singular (“I”) and plural (“we”) word to be used, and I firmly believe it is, it for the perfect and imperfect respectively. Thus, would appear to make extremely good sense, whatever gender a noun may be, the verb used and it fits in contextually with the grammar, with it must be the corresponding gender. as well as with the overall message. (d) In verse 7, the problem we have is that the word [4] Therefore, the following translation would “sin” is a feminine noun, and the verb follow: “Is there not forgiveness of sin if you “crouching” is a masculine participle, which, cause to behave well, but if you do not cause according to Hebrew syntax, cannot be to behave well, the demon is at the door, and connected. his desire is for you, but you will exercise (e) In addition, in the phrase, “and its desire is for dominion over him.” you,” the “its” is masculine, which would [5] Here is a promise of God to Cain, even in literally read, “and the desire of him is for you.” the midst of his great sin of murder, both of That being the case, the “its” cannot be referring grace, as well as of judgment. The phrase, to “sin” since “sin” is a feminine noun. It has to “if you cause to do well,” is not an be referring to a masculine noun, but which endorsement of ‘good words’, but rather it one? categorically refers to Hebrews 11:6: “And (f) The word “door” is a masculine noun, but that without faith it is impossible to please Him , doesn’t appear to make any sense – “the door’s for he who comes to God must believe that desire is for you.” There is one other possibility, He is, and that He is a rewarder of those and that is with the Hebrew masculine who seek Him.” participle, “crouching.” (3) Therefore, we can see that from the very outset of [1] The word in Hebrew is #be_ro (rōbēƒ), and it God’s creation and the fall of man, His plan of salvation by grace through faith has not changed, comes from the Hebrew verb, (rābaƒ), #b;r' but rather it has been identical ALL THE WAY which means “to lie down, or to crouch.” THROUGH, and this is the ‘tutoring’ that I believe [2] However, this word also has an Akkadian ā ŝ Paul is referring to about what the Law does in look-a-like and sound-a-like, r bi u, and pointing us to Christ! this is a masculine noun in Akkadian, (a) The “dominion” that God promised Cain he “denoting various officials and also demons, would “exercise” over the “demon” is not a especially those that guard entrances to strength contained within his own, corrupt, buildings.