JOHN CALVIN

12
QUESTION 2
JEW: I ask you, since it is written in Matthew 4 , I did not come to destroy (the law), etc., and in
the law of Moses it is held, "On the eighth day he will circumcise the flesh of the foreskin", and
likewise that, "Every command which I give to you today, you observe and do: you will not add
nor subtract from it". But if it is thus, then is it not certain that Christ destroys the law of Moses?
CALVIN: In return I ask you, since the law of Moses forbids that any work be done on the
seventh day, how is it that he orders male infants to be circumcised on that very same day?
Likewise, how does Moses order one day out of seven to be sanctified to God, but Isaiah
(66:23) 5 prophesies that under the reign of Christ there will be a continual sabbath and continual
new moons, unless God exhibits in circumcision that his works are free of the general law?
Truly Isaiah, when prophesying something more excellent than what was presented to the Jews
under the law, shows that the command about the sabbath is a shadow of things to come. 6
And here is a fuller solution to the question: even though God wanted sacrifices to be
offered to himself in just one altar, Ezekiel nonetheless prophesies that under the reign of the
Messiah there will be altars in Egypt and Assyria. Although it was unlawful to seek the face of
God or offer sacrifices elsewhere than at Jerusalem, Isaiah (19:19) nevertheless says that there
will be a temple in Egypt. And Malachi (1:11) 7 does away with every distinction of location
with these words, "Incense will be offered in my name throughout the entire world". Without a
doubt it appears that under the reign of the Messiah there is a clear change in external worship.
This does not mean, however, that the law is destroyed, or that one tittle is subtracted from it.
Rather this is the true decree of the law, not an empty spectacle cast before the eyes in ancient
figures, but the essence exhibited in Christ which these figures signified. Now it is seen to what
4 Matthew 5:17. See Section III, page 43.
5 See Section III, page 45.
6 Cf. Hebrews 10:1. See Section III, page 46.
7 See Section III, page 47.