Tuesday, October 6 The Law has a shadow of the good things to come.​—Heb. 10:1.

[Áine]

Tuesday, October 6

The Law has a shadow of the good things to come.—Heb. 10:1.

 

Early Christians of a Jewish background faced a big challenge. At one time, the Jews had been Jehovah’s chosen people. Jerusalem was the earthly seat of God’s Kingdom, and the temple was the center of pure worship. All faithful Jews followed the Mosaic Law as explained by their religious leaders. Those teachings governed their diet, their view of circumcision, and even their association with Gentiles. However, Jehovah no longer accepted the Jewish sacrifices after Jesus’ death. That presented a challenge for Jewish Christians who were used to following the Law. (Heb. 10:1, 4, 10) Even mature Christians, such as the apostle Peter, struggled to adapt to some of these changes. (Acts 10:9-14; Gal. 2:11-14) Because of their new beliefs, those Christians became a target of the Jewish religious leaders. w24.09 9 ¶4

[Seasider]

Scripture says that the Law covenant was a shadow not the substance. It was meant to direct them to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 
“ A tutor leading to Christ “ …. Even today some Jews follow parts of their law. They have the shadow, we have the substance.

[LeolaRootStew]

The early Christians struggled to adapt from a highly ritualized religion to one with less visible structure. We are going through a similar change with every update that invokes "the conscience". The trend toward personal responsibility has been thousands of years in the making, and it will continue until we pass the Final Test and no structure or organization will exist as a crutch for our personal relationship with Jehovah.