ceremonial law
Religious ritual rules
Ceremonial law refers to religious regulations governing rituals, worship practices, and sacred observances—distinguished from moral law (ethical commands) and civil law (social governance).
The term appears most often in Christian theology discussing Old Testament requirements: sacrifices, dietary restrictions, festival observances, and purity rituals.
Many Christians hold that ceremonial laws were fulfilled or superseded by Christ, while moral laws remain binding: The prohibition against murder is moral law, not ceremonial law.
- LeviticusHebrew scripture of rituals
- tabernaclePortable sacred dwelling
- scapegoatUnfairly blamed person
- altarSacred ritual table
- high priestChief temple officiant
incense · mikveh · burnt offering · sin offering · ritual purity · clean and unclean · Passover · unleavened bread · Yom Kippur · peace offering · Day of Atonement · consecration · ablution · ordination · laying on of hands · libation · sacrifice · Torah
ceremonial lawmoral law
Code of right conduct
civil law · natural law · Ten Commandments · case law · criminal statutes