Torah Keeping in the New Covenant

The Torah is often misconstrued as a legalistic law given to us by a grumpy God as some sort of temporary appeasement until his son would get out of bed and come downstairs to fix things. And, yes, YHWH allowed the Levitical Temple system to temporarily stand in for the blood of Yahusha. However, YHWH never meant for his instructions to be written off later. Rather they are a permanent guide from a loving Father to teach us how we can live in a way that is best for us and most honoring to him.

Reading through the Old Testament it is easy to see that the core of the stories are centered around keeping YHWH's Torah - also know as instructions or commandments. The first books of the Bible are about those who were obedient to YHWH's spoken instructions and then about receiving the Torah in writing. Judges is a cycle of things going well when the Israelites kept the word, and disaster happening when the people were disobedient by not keeping the feast days or intermarrying with those not serving YHWH. Kings is about the rulers who didn't keep the Torah, and the few who did. Ezra is a celebration of the Torah. King David wrote Psalms about the Torah being more valuable than millions in gold. King Josiah tore his clothes when a Torah scroll was found in the Temple, fore he realized YHWH was angry they weren't keeping it. Nehemiah is a return of the walls of Jerusalem and the set apart times of YHWH. Daniel is the story of a man who refused to break Scripture's dietary commands by eating unclean animals. There are prophecies of the destruction that comes on nations who are disobedient to Torah, and the hope of a greater day when YHWH's instructions are honored. The Proverbs admonish us to keep the Torah. The whole thing is about that. Surprising as it may be, YHWH's Word is about keeping YHWH's word.

So we can see the significance of YHWH's instructions take in 2/3 of the canon of Scripture. But what about the rest of it? Once you read of the beauty and the value of YHWH's word it is hard to swallow the idea of 'he got rid of that and now we don't have to keep the Torah anymore' that the traditions of Christianity push. A closer look at the New Covenant reveals that the Messiah and his followers kept and honored the Torah.

Torah Keeping in the New Testament

"I did not come to abolish the Torah." -Matthew 5:17

This statement alone should send us into prayer and reevaluation of the what we have been taught. The Messiah said so himself that he wasn't getting rid of YHWH's instructions.

"I will put my Torah in their minds, and write it on their hearts." - Hebrews 8:10

The book of Hebrews was written some thirty years after the Messiah's death and YHWH still desired the hearts and minds of his people to be filled with his instructions.

"Let everyone who names the name of Messiah depart from Torah-breaking." -2 Timothy 2:19
Faith in the Messiah does not let us off the hook to act however we please. Paul is telling us that if we are going to claim to be believers in Messiah we had better start honoring his word.

"I have never eaten food that was unclean." - Acts 10:14

This statement from Peter is a big clue. He made this statement years after the ascension of Yahusha. That whole time he never considered it okay to violate the dietary instructions. Why? Because the Messiah never taught that.

"The doers of the Torah are being made righteous." -Romans 2:13

This tells us that Torah observance is a sign that YHWH is working in that person to make them righteous. In the same way, if you want to be made righteous you should start keeping the commandments.

"By going after the error of the Torahless, you fall." - 2 Peter 3:17

Peter not only taught that disregarding the Torah was an error but one that is damaging and destructive!

"What good is it if someone has faith but has no actions to prove it?" -James 2:14
Much of the writings of the Messiah's half-brother and leader of the Israaelite congregation are devoted to reminding us that simply having faith is not enough. Faith alone is a starting point, but then we are called to take steps of obedience. James questioned the supposed faith of those who weren't willing to prove it by putting the Torah instructions into practice.

"Lot was tormented with the filthy conduct of those without Torah." -2 Peter 2:7

One of Yahusha's most trusted disciples and leaders of The Way said this. The conduct of those without Torah is tormenting to the righteous. Believers should be saddened when someone disobeys the Word.

"Sin is the transgression of Torah." -1 John 3:4

Decades after the Messiah, sin was still defined by violating the commandments of YHWH. This is no different today. More on how the New Testament defines sin here.

"All the Scriptures are given by YHWH and are profitable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting of faults, and training in righteousness." - 2 Timothy 3:16

There was no "New Testament" when Paul wrote this. He is talking about the whole of the Old Testament, including YHWH's instructions. He still viewed them as the measures for what sin is, knowing truth, and righteous living.

"Acting contrary to the Torah insults Elohim himself." -Romans 2:23

YHWH is insulted when we are unwilling to keep his commandments.

"Keeping the Torah of YHWH is everything." -1 Corinthians 7:19

Yes, the instructions of YHWH like Sabbath guarding, clean eating, and the feast days. Paul tells us these should be of the utmost importance to us.

"Be doers of the Torah, and not hearers only deceiving yourselves." -James 1:22

A person believes lies when they decide it's important to study Scripture but that they are not required to implement it in their lives. While they may be deceived by this, YHWH is not.