Question: What are the Noahide Laws?

Question: What can you tell me about the Noahide Laws? I have been confronted with this issue and need more information in order to understand what it is and if it should be a concern of ours.

Response: The Noahide Laws teaching in Judaism is commonly defined as “seven ancient basic laws that determine a moral and civilized society.” The name is given as the “Noahide” laws because they are considered to be God’s word to Noah after the flood.

This group of laws, which are to be given to humanity (who are all the sons [and daughters] of Noah by descent) comes from the Talmud. As other commentators have pointed out, the idea of the Noahide Laws given to all humanity (that is, all the descendants of Noah) is from the Talmud and consequently extra-biblical. Further, according to Judaism, a Gentile does not have to follow the Mosaic Law; nevertheless, all Gentiles have an obligation to follow the Noahide Laws.

The 7 Noahide Laws are that 

1. Idolatry is forbidden, 

2. Blasphemy is forbidden, 

3. Murder is forbidden, 

4. Theft is forbidden, 

5. Sexual immorality is forbidden, 

6. Eating the flesh of living animals is forbidden, and 

7. Justice laws must be established.

During the administration of the first President George Bush in 1991, the United States Congress passed the Education Day Bill and recognized the Noahide Laws, saying: “Whereas Congress recognizes the historical tradition of ethical values and principles which are the basis of civilized society and upon which our great Nation was founded; Whereas these ethical values and principles have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization, when they were known as the Seven Noahide Laws.”

Since the Noahide Laws are not found in the Bible, the question is asked: Are they the same as biblical teaching? They do seem to follow Old Testament principles contained in the Law. But there are complications. The Talmud, which is “the Link Between Scripture and Jewish Practice,” does call for capital punishment of Gentiles who violate the Noahide Laws, and this has prompted concerns as to whether or not Christians (who recognize Jesus Christ as God) are guilty of violating the first Noahide law and should therefore be put to death.

The Noahide laws are basic and provide a framework for civilized living. But they are not the foundation for a person's salvation. There are good works when individuals strive to make the world a better place, are employed in a good and worthy profession, give to charity, volunteer for worthy causes, raise a family with good values, and offer help and wise counsel, among other things. But works do not save.

Indeed, a society adhering to these laws would be a better place to live, but of no comfort to those who haven’t believed in the finished work of Christ. Some Messianic believers have warned that inevitably there will be a return to the full Law. We need to go no further than the Epistle to the Galatians to see the warning Paul gave under the prompting of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 3, Paul warned, 

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Gal:3:24-26 [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
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