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Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law was not from God.
For it is written (Dt. 32:4): "The works of God are
perfect." But the Law was imperfect, as stated above (Article
1). Therefore the Old Law was not from God.
Objection 2: Further, it is written (Eccles. 3:14): "I
have learned that all the works which God hath made continue for
ever." But the Old Law does not continue for ever: since the
Apostle says (Heb. 7:18): "There is indeed a setting aside
of the former commandment, because of the weakness and unprofitableness
thereof." Therefore the Old Law was not from God.
Objection 3: Further, a wise lawgiver should remove, not only
evil, but also the occasions of evil. But the Old Law was an
occasion of sin, as stated above (Article 1, ad 2). Therefore
the giving of such a law does not pertain to God, to Whom "none is
like among the lawgivers" (Job 36:22).
Objection 4: Further, it is written (1 Tim. 2:4) that God
"will have all men to be saved." But the Old Law did not suffice
to save man, as stated above (Article 1). Therefore the giving of
such a law did not appertain to God. Therefore the Old Law was not
from God.
On the contrary, Our Lord said (Mt. 15:6) while speaking to
the Jews, to whom the Law was given: "You have made void the
commandment of God for your tradition." And shortly before (verse
4) He had said: "Honor thy father and mother," which is
contained expressly in the Old Law (Ex. 20:12; Dt.
5:16). Therefore the Old Law was from God.
I answer that, The Old Law was given by the good God, Who is the
Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ. For the Old Law ordained men
to Christ in two ways. First by bearing witness to Christ;
wherefore He Himself says (Lk. 24:44): "All things must
needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law . . . and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me": and (Jn.
5:46): "If you did believe Moses, you would perhaps believe
Me also; for he wrote of Me." Secondly, as a kind of
disposition, since by withdrawing men from idolatrous worship, it
enclosed [concludebat] them in the worship of one God, by Whom the
human race was to be saved through Christ. Wherefore the Apostle
says (Gal. 3:23): "Before the faith came, we were kept under
the law shut up [conclusi], unto that faith which was to be
revealed." Now it is evident that the same thing it is, which gives
a disposition to the end, and which brings to the end; and when I say
"the same," I mean that it does so either by itself or through its
subjects. For the devil would not make a law whereby men would be led
to Christ, Who was to cast him out, according to Mt. 12:26:
"If Satan cast out Satan, his kingdom is divided". Therefore the
Old Law was given by the same God, from Whom came salvation to
man, through the grace of Christ.
Reply to Objection 1: Nothing prevents a thing being not perfect
simply, and yet perfect in respect of time: thus a boy is said to be
perfect, not simply, but with regard to the condition of time. So,
too, precepts that are given to children are perfect in comparison with
the condition of those to whom they are given, although they are not
perfect simply. Hence the Apostle says (Gal. 3:24): "The
law was our pedagogue in Christ."
Reply to Objection 2: Those works of God endure for ever which
God so made that they would endure for ever; and these are His
perfect works. But the Old Law was set aside when there came the
perfection of grace; not as though it were evil, but as being weak and
useless for this time; because, as the Apostle goes on to say, "the
law brought nothing to perfection": hence he says (Gal.
3:25): "After the faith is come, we are no longer under a
pedagogue."
Reply to Objection 3: As stated above (Question 79, Article
4), God sometimes permits certain ones to fall into sin, that they
may thereby be humbled. So also did He wish to give such a law as men
by their own forces could not fulfill, so that, while presuming on
their own powers, they might find themselves to be sinners, and being
humbled might have recourse to the help of grace.
Reply to Objection 4: Although the Old Law did not suffice to
save man, yet another help from God besides the Law was available for
man, viz. faith in the Mediator, by which the fathers of old were
justified even as we were. Accordingly God did not fail man by giving
him insufficient aids to salvation.
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