Torah in the "New Testament" - 2

What is His Word - Torah?

The Torah is the first 5 scrolls (books) of the TANAKH, or Old Testament.  "TANAKH" is an acronym consisting of; Torah, and Nevi'im, and Ketuvim (Instructions, Prophets, Writings).  The actual word, Torah, in Hebrew, means "instructions", not Law, as most Bible translations would state.  Our western mindset on language has us seeing Torah as a harsh set of rules to be obeyed or denied.  In Hebrew culture, however, Torah is seen as a set of instructions in making day to day decisions about our relationship with God and with each other.  Torah is also known as "Logos" and "Nomos" in the Greek, as well as "Dabar" (word) in the Hebrew.  We all commonly refer to the Bible as the "Word of God".  Okay, so the Torah is His Word, His instructions, His commandments.

 So, Who is Yeshua?

We now know that Yeshua is the embodiment of the Torah and is literally the walking, living, breathing Torah, Word, Logos, Nomos, and Dabar.

At this point a Church person may say, "Yes!  That's right!  Jesus lived the Torah perfectly so we don't have to!"  Yes, I've actually had folks tell me that.  But, the Church person's remark must be validated by the Word, not man, so let's keep going.

Let's make an additional point.  Is Yeshua different from Yehovah or are they one and the same?  Well, my goodness, even Church doctrine acknowledges that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One and this agrees with Deut. 6:4, also known as the Shema, which states God is One.  The New Testament says this as well, John 10.

At this point one of my favorite topics comes into play; logic.  In my opinion, Yehovah is very logical and even mathematical and so is his Word - the Bible.  So, if  Yehovah the Father teaches a thing, then Yeshua the Son must be in complete agreement.  Does this make sense?  Did God make a mistake and provided the Son to fix things?  Someone saying that the Son came along to repair what the Father messed up is nonsensical, in other words.  No, we humans messed up and the Father sent His Son to redeem and fix us!

So, hopefully I've driven home the point that the Bible's teachings are to be believed because it's literally God's Word and that an "Old Testament" belief and doctrine has not been superseded by the Son's teaching via the New Testament.  To believe so would be us creating a New God in our own image - with our human understanding - and not the understanding of His Word.  If one does not believe the Bible's words at all, then you would be what we call a non-believer.

Therefore:

-The Word is His instructions in Torah, sometimes called commandments.
-The New Covenant is the Old Covenant placed on the heart, under a Melchizedek Priesthood.
-Sin is defined as breaking (transgressing) Torah.
-Righteousness is living by the instructions of Torah.
-Yeshua is Yehovah's Word and the two cannot contradict each other. To do so is saying that Yeshua is working against the Father.

Btw, if Yeshua's teachings contradict Torah then he cannot be the Messiah!



So, on this basis, let's look at the New Testament as it concerns Torah!  (ESV, generally)

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch. 1

Matt 1:1-17 The Genealogy

These verses trace Yeshua's bloodline all the way back to Abraham.  Much has been written about this - too much to cover here, but what is necessary to point out is that Yeshua is a Jew.  He is called the Lion of Judah.  He is not a Greco-Roman-Western figure.  He is middle-eastern.  He is our Jewish Messiah, our one and only Rabbi - because no man deserves to be called "great one".  Rabbi, a title which has the root "Rabi", meaning "Master" in English, which in Hebrew is "Rav", meaning "great one" should never be applied to humans.  Moreh is the Hebrew word for "teacher".  So, in Judaism a Rabbi is a moreh who teaches Torah and the Talmud, as expressed by Pharisee doctrine.  Yeshua said, do not refer to men in this way. (See Matt. 23)

Matt 1:18-25 The Birth of Yeshua - Joseph's Dream

Joseph (Yosef) was bethrothed to Mary (Meriam) and when he realized she was pregnant he decided to divorce her quietly (annul the betrothal), because in those days an unwed pregnant girl was put to death.  But Yosef has a dream in which an Angel (Messenger) of Yehovah told him to marry her, saying she is a virgin who will bear a son, and who will be referred to as, "Emmanuel", meaning, "God is with us.", and his name shall be "Yeshua" (Salvation).

You understand don't you, how Yeshua cannot have a separate doctrine (teaching) than the Father?  It's the same Covenant, better and renewed, now under an eternal Priesthood.

Next ... Matt. Ch. 5,  Torah in the Sermon on the Mount ...

The Observer

Torah in the New Testament - 1

Introduction

The modern Christian (Roman) Church would have us believe that Yehovah's perfect instructions on how to live our life have been done away with.  They would say people under the "New Covenant" do not need or can't even live by Torah, even if they tried.  They would say we cannot earn our Salvation by following God's "law" and it's even a sin to try, thereby denying Christ's great sacrifice by attempting to follow His (the Father's) instructions.  They would say that God the Father tried Torah with the "Jews" and they failed Him, so a better way had to be introduced and presented to the Gentiles.

These are just a few of the remarks I've heard over the years concerning this subject.  Yes, I realize all Christians don't say these things and this study is not about condemning individuals in the Church.  Instead, this study is about what the institution of the Church teaches vs what the Bible teaches, vis-a'-vis, Torah in the New Testament.

So, I would begin to answer these "churchy" ideas with a simple question; "Do you follow man or God?".

This is not a trite question.  The question is important because our final judge on these matters will be Yeshua (Jesus) Himself and His Word, and not a human denomination or doctrine.  But we must determine what is His "Word", what is the "New Covenant", what is Sin, and just who Jesus is!  We will answer these questions and more while studying this issue.

Right now let's look at a few verses on His "perfect law" since it has been mentioned (ESV used, generally):

Psa_19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
[in the Hebrew this literally states that Torah is true and without error, having Yehovah Himself as The witness to this fact]

Pro 4:2  For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. (KJV used)
[I've used the KJV here because it has the most direct translation from the Hebrew. It emphasizes the fact that man-made doctrine is not required because Yehovah has already given us good doctrine and that doctrine is Torah!  It truly makes all the various Christian "denominations of abominations", with their differing doctrinal ideas, superfluous.]

Heb_7:19  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
[This is one of the most misunderstood verses in Hebrews.  Roman Christians have told me they have a better hope than Torah!  But, what is it that was not made perfect here?  Just a cursory reading of the chapter tells us it was the human Aaronic Priests that were, in fact, sinners like the rest of us and not perfect, so the better hope is through Yeshua, who is a Priest forever, in the Order of Melchizedek!  It isn't saying the Law is not perfect. It is saying we have a better, improved Covenant because of Yeshua.  Btw, it is the same Covenant but without the weakness of human priests.  The Covenant described in the New Testament has been "renewed and improved".  It was prophesied in the Old Testament. (See Jeremiah 31:31-40)  Please notice, Jeremiah speaks of Torah being written on our hearts so we may follow it willingly!  (See James 1)  Also, please understand, the word "new", in Hebrew, can be translated as "renewed".  When one looks at the Whole Word this becomes clear.]

Heb_7:28  For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
[... related to verse 19, shown above.]

Heb_10:1  For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
[How often have you heard a Roman Christian say; "the Law is just a shadow of good things to come ..."?  Look closely at the verse.  It doesn't say the Law is a shadow, but "has", that is, it contains a shadow of good things to come.  That shadow was the continually offered animal sacrifices which did not make one perfect, which pointed to the One and Only sacrifice given just once for all of us; Yeshua!  This is the entire point of Hebrews Ch. 10!  Contextually speaking, the word "shadow" here is more appropriately called, "foreshadowing".]

Jas_1:25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
[Why would James (actually Ya'a'kov) say we must do Torah to be blessed?  He says it because this is where our blessings come from! (Read all of Deuteronomy!)

Before continuing to the book of Matthew to start our digging into the N.T., lets state a definition or two which will become important to our study.  What does it mean to be "Righteous", to have "Righteousness"?  I'm using the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

Righteous

1. acting in accord with divine law : free from guilt or sin.

2. a: morally right or justifiable; a righteous decision.
    b: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality; righteous indignation.

3. slang: genuine, excellent.

righteously - adverb
righteousness - noun

And, how is sin defined by the Bible?

1 John 3:4: Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)
1 John 3:4 : Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)

Btw, the word, "lawlessness" in the Greek is; "anomia", meaning, being WITHOUT TORAH!

Interesting isn't it?  To be Righteous one must be practicing Torah, to be Sinful one must be without Torah!

... stay tuned for more!

The Observer