The relationship between Christians and the Old Testament laws, particularly those found in Leviticus, is deeply rooted in the understanding of the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Jesus is seen as fulfilling the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 5:17 states, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” This fulfillment is understood in the sense that Jesus completes the purpose and intent of the Law, bringing it to its intended conclusion.

The Apostle Paul further discusses the role of the law in the lives of Christians in his letters. For example, in Romans 7:6, he writes, “But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.” This suggests a transition from adhering to the letter of the Law to living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, in a relationship of grace through faith in Christ.

The council at Jerusalem, as described in Acts 15, also addresses this issue. The apostles and elders met to discuss whether Gentile believers should be required to follow the Old Testament laws. They concluded that Gentiles were not obligated to follow most of the Jewish ceremonial laws. Instead, they were asked to abstain from practices particularly offensive to Jews (Acts 15:28-29), embodying a principle of love and unity within the diverse body of Christ.

Therefore, Christians view the moral principles of the Old Testament as enduring but understand that the ceremonial and civil laws were specific to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Through Christ, believers are said to be under a New Covenant, where the law of love and the guidance of the Spirit take precedence. This does not mean the Old Testament is irrelevant; rather, its laws are seen in the context of their fulfillment in Jesus and the new life he offers.