“Why was the Law given only to the Jews and not to the Gentiles?” The Master’s master plan for the redemption of humanity unfolded over 4,000 years from creation and the Garden of Eden through the ministry of Jesus Christ, His death, His resurrection, His Ascension and the establishment of His church. In those 4,000 years, God introduced three successive religious law systems—Patriarchy, Judaism and Christianity. Patriarchy was a family-type religion; Judaism was a national religion; Christianity is a universal religion. The first two law systems were preparatory for and foreshadowed the third law system—Christianity—which has been in place for nearly 2,000 additional years so far. Especially Judaism was ‘wiped out, taken out of the way and nailed to the cross of Christ’ (Colossians 2:14), being “…a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ” (Colossians 2:17 NKJV; cf., Hebrews 8:5; 9:9; 10:1). The three law systems were related to one another and progressive toward the unveiling of the Messiah, through whom actual forgiveness of sins is possible.
Regarding Judaism or the Law of Moses, the Master’s master plan for human redemption began with one man—Abraham—to whom God made promises (Genesis 12:1-3; 18:18; 28:18) and through his descendants the Messiah was to come. Between Abraham and the coming of Jesus Christ into the world the promises were repeated to Abraham’s son Isaac (Genesis 26:4) and grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:14), also called Israel, (Genesis 32:28). Ultimately, the children of Jacob or Israel became a nation on the move after they exited Egyptian captivity and trekked to Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:6; 32:10). God inaugurated Judaism or gave the Law of Moses beginning at Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). Jacob’s son Judah, great-grandson of Abraham, headed the tribe through which the Messiah was to descend (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood” (Hebrews 7:14).
Specific prophecies regarding the lineage through which the Messiah would come necessitated details such as are contained in God’s master plan for human redemption, coming down to the selection of Abraham and his descendants, as well as inaugurating a complementary law system to foreshadow the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Initially, that kingdom was manifested in the church (Acts 2:47), but it will be removed finally to Heaven (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). God chose to unfold His plan for human redemption in this narrow, logical fashion, which through comprehensive prophecy and minute fulfillment of itself contributed to proof regarding the Master’s redemptive plan and His Redeemer.
