Did Not Moses Give You the Law

by Hugh DeLong

Did Moses write the books of the law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy)? This question has been debated for more than 100 years. There have been many theories and speculations concerning who is believed to be the author(s) of the books of Moses; yet the testimony of the Bible, as a whole, keeps pointing us to Moses, the man of God.

• Joshua wrote: “…just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses" (Joshua 8:31-32).
• The writer of I Kings referred to “what is written in the Law of Moses” (I Kings 2:3).
• Likewise, II Kings records: “But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses” (II Kings 14:6).
• Later, Daniel spoke of that: “…which is written in the law of Moses the servant of God,”… and “As it is written in the law of Moses" (Daniel 9:11-13).
• Reading Ezra, we note: “Then they appointed the priests to their divisions… as it is written in the book of Moses” (Ezra 6:18).
• Nehemiah states: “On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses…” (Nehemiah 13:1).
• Malachi concludes the Old Testament writings, saying: “Remember the law of Moses, my servant” (Malachi 4:4).

The New Testament simply adds to this testimony.

• Paul states: “For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness” (Romans 10:5).
• Then Peter said, as he quotes from Deuteronomy 18:15: “Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you” (Acts 3:22).

The clincher, for disciples of Jesus, is that Jesus said so!

• First, "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?” (Mark 12:26).
• Then, in discussing divorce: “He said to them, 'Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way'” (Matthew 19:8).
• Again, in speaking to the Jewish leaders, He said: “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:45-47).

While there are others*, this brings us to the statement where Jesus plainly asks: “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?" (John 7:19).

Thus, the statement of Abraham to the rich man: “But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them'" (Luke 16:29). Finally, Jesus warned the Jewish leaders: “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me” (John 5:46).

Believing that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was not only with God in the beginning, but was (is) God, I trust that He knew who wrote the books! What do you think?

*The list of such witnesses is even longer than the above and would include Acts 15:1; 28:23; Romans 10:19; I Corinthians 9:9; II Corinthians 3:15; Luke 24:27, 44; Matthew 8:4, plus numerous other Old Testament references. But if this doesn’t persuade you, adding these others would do no good!