What did Yeshua think of the Torah? We will look at verses in three key chapters of the Gospels seeing that Yeshua taught that the Torah was to be carried and taught wherever the disciples went. It was the document teaching the redeemed how to walk in righteousness. Matthew 5 / Matthew 28 / Luke 24 Our purpose is to show that: Yeshua came to properly interpret Torah not replace it. Yeshua instructed His disciples to teach Torah to their students Yeshua set the interpretative principle when He said the Torah is all about Himself. Two important points: Yeshua is the model for every believer both outwardly and inwardly living His life in us and through us. There are believers who say the Torah was done away with when Yeshua died for us. Another perspective: Torah means instruction. All of God s previous instructions were considered null and void when Yeshua died. Context: Who is Messiah talking to Matthew 5:1,2 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Topic: The Torah Matthew 5:16-19 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Yeshua taught Torah and commended those who taught Torah! Matthew 18:1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Matthew 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Mt 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. servant.do and teach what God desires for living as children in 1 P a g e
Who is the greatest: The ones who live under authority and doesn t think they are above the Law. The ones who do and teach what God desires for living as children in His Kingdom. Matthew 13:31,32 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. Deuteronomy 22:6,7 If by chance you see a place which a bird has made for itself in a tree or on the earth, with young ones or eggs, and the mother bird seated on the young ones or on the eggs, do not take the mother bird with the young: See that you let the mother bird go, but the young ones you may take; so it will be well for you and your life will be long. To destroy means to misinterpret and to fulfill means to give the proper interpretation or its fullest meaning. So He was telling His disciples He came to give the proper interpretation not to tell us the torah is rendered inoperative. Constitution 2Samuel 23:15,16 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: Main Points: Yeshua came to interpret torah properly Yeshua declared the torah would endure Yeshua rebuked those who forsook the teaching of Torah Yeshua commended those who taught Torah Yeshua identified those who are part of His kingdom Yeshua provided examples for proper Torah interpretation Yeshua established His authority to teach Torah 2 P a g e
Matthew 5:20-28 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 7:28,29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. It was the habit of most Torah teachers to cite one or more sources to back up the validity of their interpretation of a verse. They would typically quote another rabbi: Rabbi Judah says in the name of Rabbi Eleazer. John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. It was the source of His teachings, namely the Almighty God that gave Him His authority. He introduced no new commandments but only properly demonstrated and gave the full meaning to the ones already given. He stayed under the Father s authority. Some Pharisees were trying to live out their own version of God s righteousness. 1Corintians 3:12-15 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 3 P a g e
2Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. Psalms 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Romans 10:1-4 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end(goal) of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Continuity of scripture: They were already the people of God Leviticus 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine. How did they become holy then? 1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Did God somehow improve on His holiness? Any difference now? Would Yeshua ever contradict His own Words? Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Yeshua s final instructions: The Great Commission Matthew 28:19,20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Deuteronomy 6:6,7 And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: And you shalt teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you liest down, and when you risest up. Luke 24:44,45 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 4 P a g e
Tanakh - 3fold division of Scriptures The key to understanding the Hebrew Scriptures is to see them as an object lesson teaching us about the person/work of Messiah. Messiah brought full meaning to the Torah as the Living example of its intended meaning. The Torah is far more than a grand list of Laws that are impossible to keep. It s an instructional document teaching about God and His ways. It s a legal covenant between God and Israel It s the National Constitution of Israel A Sacred Marriage covenant QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: What do the words to abolish or fulfill mean from a Hebrew perspective? How does Yeshua encourage Torah teaching? What does Yeshua instruct His followers to use in their disciple making classes? What is the important hermenuetical principle taught by Yeshua? 5 P a g e