The Precepts of the Old Law

The precepts of the Old Law have a single purpose, but they concern various things.

In the Old Law we find moral precepts, for the law that is to bring man back to God must make man morally good.

Besides moral precepts the Old Law contains ceremonial prescriptions for giving expression toman’s turning to God, by a common and fitting ceremonialworship.

Further, the Old Law contains certain judicialdirectives or precepts which regulate the conduct of the Chosen People towards one another, towards strangers in their midst, and among those occupying different stations in life.

These three items make up the whole prescription of the Old Law: moral precepts, ceremonial laws, and judicialdirectives.

The Old Law disposed man for the Christiandispensation, that is, for the New Law, as the imperfect disposesfor the perfect. Hence, it was fitting that temporal rewards and punishments were used to enforce the Old Law; such incentives suit man in his imperfect state.