The dispensation of Law refers to the time period in the Bible when God’s people, the Israelites, were required to follow the Law of Moses. This dispensation lasted from when the Law was given to Moses on Mount Sinai around 1446 BC until the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ around 30 AD. The Law was given to reveal sin, point people to the need for a Savior, and prepare the way for the coming of Christ. Let’s take a deeper look at the dispensation of Law and what the Bible teaches about this important period in salvation history.
The Giving of the Law to Moses
After God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through the Exodus, He established a covenant with them and gave them the Law through Moses. This occurred after the people reached Mount Sinai in the wilderness. Exodus 19-24 describes how God descended upon the mountain in fire and spoke the Ten Commandments to all the people. God then gave further instructions for the Law to Moses, which included everything from the design of the tabernacle to moral codes to ceremonial regulations. The whole Law is recorded in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The Law provided comprehensive guidance to the Israelites about how to live as God’s holy people. It covered their moral, spiritual, ethical, ritual, and civil life. The Law also revealed the perfect holiness of God and showed the Israelites that they fell short of God’s standards (Romans 3:20). The Law condemned them because no one could perfectly keep it, showing people their need for a Savior.
Purpose of the Law
The Law served several important purposes during the dispensation of Law:
- It revealed sin – Romans 3:20 says, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” The Law acted as a mirror to show people their sinfulness before God.
- It restrained evil – The Law set standards that discouraged open rebellion and anarchy among God’s people.
- It showed people their need for salvation – Galatians 3:24 says, “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” The Law made people aware of their inability to save themselves.
- It prepared the way for Jesus – The Law included many symbols, sacrificial practices, and prophecies that foreshadowed the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Life Under the Law
The dispensation of Law was characterized by the rule of Law over God’s people Israel. Some key aspects of life under the Law included:
- The Ten Commandments and the rest of the Law provided comprehensive legal direction for moral, ethical, spiritual, and civil conduct.
- Harsh punishments and penalties were instituted for breaking the Law, including execution for serious offenses.
- A complex system of sacrifices and offerings was commanded as the way to atone for sins, foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
- The Levitical priesthood mediated between the people and God, overseeing the tabernacle/temple system.
- Records of genealogies and family trees were closely kept to ascertain purity of descent from Abraham.
- The promised land of Canaan was divided among the 12 tribes after the conquest under Joshua.
- Judges and eventually kings ruled over the people in matters of everyday law.
- Prophets were sent by God to call the people back to the Law and covenant when they strayed into idolatry and sin.
Life under the Law was intended to set Israel apart from other nations as God’s chosen people. Yet the people repeatedly broke the covenant and suffered God’s discipline through famines, plagues, foreign invasions, exile, and more. The dispensation of Law ultimately showed that no one could earn righteousness through good works and law-keeping (Galatians 2:16).
Shortcomings of the Law
Although the Law was good and served important purposes from God (Romans 7:12), it had limitations and shortcomings, including:
- It could not make anyone righteous – Romans 3:20 says, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight.” Keeping the Law could not earn salvation.
- It increased awareness of sin – Romans 7:7-8 says, “I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.”
- It was a curse because no one could keep it perfectly – Galatians 3:10 says, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”
- It was merely a shadow of Christ – Hebrews 10:1 says, “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”
Fulfillment in Christ
What the Law could not do because of human weakness, Jesus Christ did for us (Romans 8:3). Jesus perfectly fulfilled the righteousness of the Law through His sinless life (Matthew 5:17). His death was the ultimate sacrifice for sins that the Law’s sacrifices could only foreshadow. Several passages describe how Christ fulfilled the Law:
- “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)
- “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5)
- “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
Therefore, the dispensation of Law came to an end when Jesus established a new covenant through His blood that provided the only truly effective atonement for sins.
Transition to the Dispensation of Grace
The dispensation of Law transitioned into the dispensation of grace at the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This transition involved:
- The fulfillment of the Law – Christ perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law.
- The end of the curse of the Law – Christ’s death redeemed people from the Law’s curse (Galatians 3:13).
- The establishment of grace – Righteousness now comes through Christ’s work, not through the Law (Romans 6:14).
- The gift of the Holy Spirit – The Spirit writes God’s laws on believer’s hearts, not on tablets of stone.
- Freedom from bondage – Believers are no longer under the yoke of slavery to the Law (Galatians 5:1).
The book of Hebrews has the most detailed explanation of how Christ fulfilled the Law and established the new covenant of grace for all who believe in Him as Savior.
Application for Today
For Christians today, the Law no longer has direct jurisdictional authority as a covenant. However, it still contains timeless moral truths and principles that reflect God’s character. As born-again believers, we now have the privilege of living by a higher standard – the law of Christ and the law of love (Galatians 6:2; John 13:34-35). Through the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can fulfill righteousness in a way the Law could never provide.
The dispensation of Law serves as an essential backdrop to the grace we now have in Christ. It helps us understand the surpassing glory of the new covenant and motivates us to gratitude, holiness, and obedience to Christ. As we walk by the Spirit, we fulfill the righteous requirement of the Law, which is love (Romans 13:8-10).