Reply Obj. 3:  Those ceremonies which were prescribed in the cleansing of a leper, were not ordained for the purpose of taking away the defilement of leprosy.  This is clear from the fact that these ceremonies were not applied to a man until he was already healed:  hence it is written (Lev. 14:3, 4) that the priest, “going out of the camp, when he shall find that the leprosy is cleansed, shall command him that is to be purified to offer,” etc.; whence it is evident that the priest was appointed the judge of leprosy, not before, but after cleansing.  But these ceremonies were employed for the purpose of taking away the uncleanness of irregularity.  They do say, however, that if a priest were to err in his judgment, the leper would be cleansed miraculously by the power of God, but not in virtue of the sacrifice.  Thus also it was by miracle that the thigh of the adulterous woman rotted, when she had drunk the water “on which” the priest had “heaped curses,” as stated in Num. 5:19-27. ________________________

THIRD ARTICLE [I-II, Q. 103, Art. 3]

Whether the Ceremonies of the Old Law Ceased at the Coming of Christ?

Objection 1:  It would seem that the ceremonies of the Old Law did not cease at the coming of Christ.  For it is written (Bar. 4:1):  “This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that is for ever.”  But the legal ceremonies were part of the Law.  Therefore the legal ceremonies were to last for ever.

Obj. 2:  Further, the offering made by a leper after being cleansed was a ceremony of the Law.  But the Gospel commands the leper, who has been cleansed, to make this offering (Matt. 8:4).  Therefore the ceremonies of the Old Law did not cease at Christ’s coming.

Obj. 3:  Further, as long as the cause remains, the effect remains.  But the ceremonies of the Old Law had certain reasonable causes, inasmuch as they were ordained to the worship of God, besides the fact that they were intended to be figures of Christ.  Therefore the ceremonies of the Old Law should not have ceased.

Obj. 4:  Further, circumcision was instituted as a sign of Abraham’s faith:  the observance of the sabbath, to recall the blessing of creation:  and other solemnities, in memory of other Divine favors, as stated above (Q. 102, A. 4, ad 10; A. 5, ad 1).  But Abraham’s faith is ever to be imitated even by us:  and the blessing of creation and other Divine favors should never be forgotten.  Therefore at least circumcision and the other legal solemnities should not have ceased.

On the contrary, The Apostle says (Col. 2:16, 17):  “Let no man . . . judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come”:  and (Heb. 8:13):  “In saying a new (testament), he hath made the former old:  and that which decayeth and groweth old, is near its end.”