If, on the other hand, by justification we understand the execution of justice, thus all the precepts of the Law justified man, but in various ways.  Because the ceremonial precepts taken as a whole contained something just in itself, in so far as they aimed at offering worship to God; whereas taken individually they contained that which is just, not in itself, but by being a determination of the Divine law.  Hence it is said of these precepts that they did not justify man save through the devotion and obedience of those who complied with them.  On the other hand the moral and judicial precepts, either in general or also in particular, contained that which is just in itself:  but the moral precepts contained that which is just in itself according to that “general justice” which is “every virtue” according to Ethic. v, 1:  whereas the judicial precepts belonged to “special justice,” which is about contracts connected with the human mode of life, between one man and another.

Reply Obj. 1:  The Apostle takes justification for the execution of justice.

Reply Obj. 2:  The man who fulfilled the precepts of the Law is said to live in them, because he did not incur the penalty of death, which the Law inflicted on its transgressors:  in this sense the Apostle quotes this passage (Gal. 3:12).

Reply Obj. 3:  The precepts of human law justify man by acquired justice:  it is not about this that we are inquiring now, but only about that justice which is before God. ________________________

QUESTION 101

OF THE CEREMONIAL PRECEPTS IN THEMSELVES
(In Four Articles)

We must now consider the ceremonial precepts:  and first we must consider them in themselves; secondly, their cause; thirdly, their duration.  Under the first head there are four points of inquiry: 

(1) The nature of the ceremonial precepts;

(2) Whether they are figurative?

(3) Whether there should have been many of them?

(4) Of their various kinds.
________________________

FIRST ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 101, Art. 1]

Whether the Nature of the Ceremonial Precepts Consists in Their
Pertaining to the Worship of God?

Objection 1:  It would seem that the nature of the ceremonial precepts does not consist in their pertaining to the worship of God.  Because, in the Old Law, the Jews were given certain precepts about abstinence from food (Lev. 11); and about refraining from certain kinds of clothes, e.g. (Lev. 19:19):  “Thou shalt not wear a garment that is woven of two sorts”; and again (Num. 15:38):  “To make to themselves fringes in the corners of their garments.”  But these are not moral precepts; since they do not remain in the New Law.  Nor are they judicial precepts; since they do not pertain to the pronouncing of judgment between man and man.  Therefore they are ceremonial precepts.  Yet they seem in no way to pertain to the worship of God.  Therefore the nature of the ceremonial precepts does not consist in their pertaining to Divine worship.