What did the Law become by the time of Christ?
By the time of Christ, the Law had become watered down and degenerated into a religion of 613 rules and regulations, including stipulations like Sabbath-day walking limits. It lacked saving power, though a few bonafide believers such as Zacharias, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary remained.
Les explains that Paul referred to Judaism because that is what the Law had become. It started pure at Mount Sinai with the giving of the Law, the priesthood of Israel, and sacrificial worship, but over 1500 years it was watered down and degenerated. By Christ's day it was 613 rules and regulations, including stipulations about Sabbath-day walking. It had become a religion with no saving power, though a few bonafide believers remained, such as Zacharias, Elizabeth, Joseph, and Mary. Les notes they were religious, keeping feast days and practicing sacrifice, and Josephus claimed one million animals were sacrificed yearly at the time of Christ.