You Can’t Cherry-Pick Leviticus: Why the Law Isn’t Divided into Three Categories

You Can’t Cherry-Pick Leviticus: Why the Law Isn’t Divided into Three Categories

One of the most common defenses Christians use when quoting the Old Testament—especially Leviticus 18—is the idea that some parts of the Law still apply (the “moral” parts), while other parts (like food laws or sacrifices) are obsolete. But here's the truth:

The Bible never divides the Law into “moral,” “ceremonial,” or “civil” categories. That division is manmade—rooted in church tradition, not Scripture.

Where Did the 3-Part Division Come From?

It’s not Jewish. It’s not biblical. It’s from the Church Fathers—especially people like Origen, Augustine, and later Thomas Aquinas. This division was systematized during medieval theology and then adopted by Reformers like John Calvin.

The goal was simple: justify keeping some laws and ignoring others.

For example:

“You shall not murder” (good, moral—keep it).

“Do not eat pork” (ceremonial—ignore it).

“Stone adulterers” (civil—just for Israel’s government).

But this framework was never taught by Moses, Jesus, Paul, or the apostles. To ancient Israel, the Law was a unified covenant—you kept it all or you broke it all.

Ancient Jews Didn’t Split the Law

To the Jews, the entire Torah was God’s instruction. They didn’t divide it into moral, ceremonial, or civil parts. So if you quote Leviticus 18:22 (against male same-sex intercourse) as binding, then logically, you must also affirm:

Leviticus 18:19 – no sex during menstruation

Leviticus 20:13 – death penalty for same-sex acts

Leviticus 11 – dietary laws (no pork, shellfish)

Leviticus 19:27 – don’t round off the corners of your beard

These weren’t "categories." They were part of one covenant package.

Paul’s View: You Break One, You Break All

Paul writes:

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” — James 2:10

“I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.” — Galatians 5:3

There’s no picking and choosing in the Torah. Paul saw the Law as a complete system. If you appeal to one part (like Leviticus 18), you are invoking the entire old covenant system with it.

Why This Matters

If you're using Leviticus to condemn certain behaviors, you have only two consistent options:

1. Keep the whole thing—dietary laws, Sabbaths, menstrual purity, sacrifices, and death penalties.

2. Recognize it’s been fulfilled and replaced in Christ (Romans 10:4, Hebrews 8:13).

But you can’t do this:

Quote Leviticus 18:22 as moral law

And ignore Leviticus 18:19 or 20:13 as “ceremonial” or “civil”

That’s not biblical—it’s inconsistent.

What Replaces the Law?

The New Testament gives us something better:

The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2)

The law of love (Romans 13:8–10)

Walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18)

The new creation (Galatians 6:15)

Israel is no longer under an old written code. You are transformed by the indwelling presence of God—a gift fully realized after the old covenant system passed away in 70 AD.

Freedom Doesn’t Mean Lawlessness

Although everything was fulfilled in 70 AD, that doesn’t give us a license to do whatever we want. The fulfillment of the Law doesn’t mean sin is now acceptable.

We cannot:

Engage in child sacrifice—which finds a modern parallel in abortion

Approve of incestuous relationships

Practice bestiality

Or affirm gay marriage

Just because we aren’t under the old covenant doesn’t mean those behaviors are now permissible. For example, If gay marriage had been culturally accepted among ancient Jews, we would have seen historical records, increased execution rates, or rabbinic commentaries responding to it. But we don’t. It wasn't normative—and that silence says a lot.

Moral chaos is not freedom. True freedom is walking in the Spirit and honoring the image of God in ourselves and others.

Conclusion 

We either follow all of Leviticus, or we acknowledge that it’s not our covenant anymore—unless reaffirmed in the New Covenant through Christ and His apostles. Let’s be honest about where we stand. The Law was holy, but it pointed to something greater. That “something” is here—and it’s Christ in you, not Moses over you.