Theology in the Raw Did Jesus Disagree with the Law of Moses? Dr. Paul Sloan
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May 7, 2026 
Paul Sloan, Chair of Theology and expert on Early Christianity, discusses Jesus and the Law of Moses. He outlines major scholarly approaches to Jesus and Torah. He examines purity rules, table fellowship, Sabbath controversies, Jesus’ relation to the temple, and how Jesus’ death is framed with covenantal and sacrificial language.
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Jesus Didn't Ditch Demanding Torah Ethics
- The common 'Jesus opposed legalism' reading fails because Jesus issues demanding moral commands (e.g., Matthew 5–7) and affirms lawkeeping alongside faith in him.
- Sloan argues Pharisees weren't simply legalistic earners of salvation and the Gospel doesn't present lawkeeping and faith as mutually exclusive.
Ritual Impurity Is Not Moral Judgment
- Ritual purity in Judaism is not inherently moral: anyone could become ritually impure and purification rites simply restore status (wash and wait until sundown).
- Therefore conflicts about purity aren't evidence Jesus rejected purity laws; he sometimes affirms or reinterprets them within halakhic debate.
Mark 7 Is About Purity Logic Not Food Laws
- Mark 7's line often translated 'thus he declared all foods clean' is part of Jesus' speech, and refers to purity logic, not abrogating dietary law.
- Jesus argues foods pass through to the stomach and are eliminated; because feces are ritually pure, ingestion doesn't ritually defile—so the stomach 'cleanses' food.
