Is there a difference between God’s Law and the law of Moses?
There are a few texts in the Bible that make a clear distinction between God’s Law and the law of Moses. Daniel clearly points out that the law of Moses was applied to the children of Israel because they did not obey God’s Law:
“We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him.” Daniel 9:10–11
We must remember that sin is transgression of God’s Law—the Ten Commandments (1 John 3:4). Israel made a covenant with God in Exodus 19:3–8, and what was that covenant based on? The very next chapter, Exodus 20, is the verbal record of those Ten Commandments. The nation of Israel agreed to honor God by obeying His Law. But because they did not honor it, the law of Moses was given as a witness against them until Jesus came to fulfill its requirements (Deuteronomy 31:24–28; Colossians 2:14).
Even God, Himself, made a clear distinction between His Law and Moses’ law because He wanted the people to know that the two laws are not of the same authority (2 Kings 21:8). In Psalm 11:7–10, we are reminded that God’s covenant/commandments last forever.
God’s Law was written by His finger in stone (Exodus 31:18; 32:16). The law of Moses was only temporary, written by his hand in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12; Deuteronomy 31:24).
The Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 40:20), while the law of Moses was placed in a side compartment on the outside of the Ark (Deuteronomy 31:26). Here is a chart for further reference:
| MOSES’ LAW | GOD’S LAW |
| Called “the law of Moses” (Luke 2:22) | Called “the law of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:24) |
| Called “law…contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15) | Called “the royal law” (James 2:8) |
| Written by Moses in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12) | Written by God on stone (Exodus 31:18, 32:16) |
| Placed on the side of the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26) | Placed inside the ark (Exodus 40:20) |
| Ended at the Cross (Ephesians 2:15) | Will stand forever (Luke 16:17) |
| Added because of sin (Galatians 3:19) | Points out sin (Romans 3:20, 7:7) |
| Contrary to us, against us (Colossians 2:14) | Not burdensome (1 John 5:3) |
| Judges no one (Colossians 2:14–16) | Judges all people (James 2:10–12) |
| Fleshly (Hebrews 7:16) | Spiritual (Romans 7:14) |
| Made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19) | Perfect (Psalm 19:7) |