The commandments of God’s law to Israel were “holy [being from God] and righteous [being perfect in justice] and good [being beneficial in every respect for those observing them].”​—Ro 7:12; compare Eph 5:9.

The Law was righteous. This is not to say that the Law given through Moses did not contain God’s standard of righteousness. It did. The apostle argues: “Wherefore, on its part, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.” (Ro 7:12; De 4:8) It served God’s purpose in making transgressions manifest and being a tutor to lead the Jews of honest heart to Christ, as well as having a shadow of the good things to come. (Ga 3:19, 24; Heb 10:1) But it could not bring real, complete righteousness to those under it. All of them were sinners; they could not keep the Law perfectly; and their high priest was unable to remove their sins by his sacrifices and services.