What happened to the Law between Mount Sinai and the time of Christ?
Between Mount Sinai and Christ, the Law was watered down and degenerated over 1500 years. What began pure at Sinai became 613 rules and regulations and a religion, with no saving power in Judaism by Christ's day, though a few true believers remained.
Les explains that the Law given on Mount Sinai, along with Israel's priesthood and sacrificial worship, was originally pure. But as Israel progressed through 1500 years, it became watered down and degenerated. By Christ's day, the Law had become 613 rules and regulations—including Sabbath stipulations—and was now a religion. Les notes there was no saving power in the Judaism of Christ's day, though a few bonafide believers, such as Zacharias and Elizabeth and Joseph and Mary, remained. Many were religious, keeping feast days and practicing sacrifice; Josephus claimed one million animals were sacrificed yearly.