In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in commandment to them... (Devarim / Deuteronomy 1:3; ESV)
In the New Covenant scriptures we read:
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17; ESV)
When Paul wrote the words, "all Scripture", he was referring to the Tenach, which is the Hebrew name for the Old Covenant Scriptures. Tenach is an acronym for Torah (the five books of Moses), Nevi'im (the Prophets), and K'tuvim (the Writings). While this reference, by extension, applies to the New Covenant Scriptures, he most likely only had the Tenach in mind, since the New Covenant Scriptures were only at their very early stages of development.
So according to Paul, the Tenach is not only inspired by God, but it is profitable for followers of Yeshua in the ways he lists. The Old Covenant Scriptures are not to be treated like a religious shrine that marks extraordinary events and to which we visit only to trigger memories and evoke feelings. The Tenach is truly profitable for God's people today. And note that he doesn't say some Scripture, but "all Scripture". The whole Tenach is profitable, not just parts of it.
Of course this doesn't mean that every verse is relevant to every single person in every situation. Verses that apply exclusively to women only don't apply to men. God's directives to kill Canaanites don't apply today even if you happen to meet one. Any part of the Bible must be understood not only in its immediate context, but also within the context of the rest of the Bible. The descriptions and regulations of the various sacrifices, for example, are meaningful in many ways, even though the sacrificial system is no longer in force. Directives to kings were specific to the ancient Israelite monarchy, yet there are aspects that are instructive to leaders in general.
There are certain references in the New Covenant writings that sound very negative on the Old Covenant Books of Moses. But those passages are more concerned with relating to the Torah as a system, than with its specifics. Adherence to Torah was never intended as the basis upon which people are made right with God, This is only accomplished through faith in the Messiah. This was also true for those who lived before Yeshua's coming in that their faith was in anticipation of God's provision of salvation through him.
Confusion exists because there is more than one way that Torah can be understood. Torah in a general sense means God's teaching or direction. For the people of Israel this became associated with the covenant given at Mt Sinai through Moses and the five books associated with him. So during the era between Moses and the coming of Yeshua, Torah was synonymous with the Sinai covenant. But in fact they are not one and the same thing. When the New Covenant was promised through Jeremiah, we read that while the people of Israel broke the Sinai covenant, God would put his Torah in their hearts. The New Covenant is not an internalized Sinai Covenant. It includes an internalized Torah, meaning that God's direction for life would not be something that exists externally on stone tablets. Instead, God's direction would spring forth from a new inner nature due to the forgiveness of sins (See Jeremiah 31:31-33).
Since for followers of Yeshua the Torah has become an inner reality, there remains the question as to what are the Torah's specifics for us today. There is no sense anywhere in the Bible that faith automatically and unconsciously results in godly living. It is through the study of the entire Scriptures and reliance on God's Spirit that we learn how God wants us to live today. As we do that we will see, as I have already mentioned, that certain directives don't apply or don't apply directly in the messianic age. On the other hand, there are many directives that are eternal, including don't murder or steal, and stipulations about building safety (Devarim / Deuteronomy 22:8) or fair business practices (Devarim / Deuteronomy 25:15). How to determine what applies to today and how it applies is not always straightforward, but it is a blessing to delve into God's written Word to discover his ways, especially when our hearts delight to do God's will.
Of course, much of both the Old and New Covenant Scriptures are not directives. They also include history, songs, and prophesy, etc. Most if not all of this is relevant to us today in that they help us to get to know God better. So we can be confident that these words from Tehillim (Psalms) are as true today as they were when they were first written:
So according to Paul, the Tenach is not only inspired by God, but it is profitable for followers of Yeshua in the ways he lists. The Old Covenant Scriptures are not to be treated like a religious shrine that marks extraordinary events and to which we visit only to trigger memories and evoke feelings. The Tenach is truly profitable for God's people today. And note that he doesn't say some Scripture, but "all Scripture". The whole Tenach is profitable, not just parts of it.
Of course this doesn't mean that every verse is relevant to every single person in every situation. Verses that apply exclusively to women only don't apply to men. God's directives to kill Canaanites don't apply today even if you happen to meet one. Any part of the Bible must be understood not only in its immediate context, but also within the context of the rest of the Bible. The descriptions and regulations of the various sacrifices, for example, are meaningful in many ways, even though the sacrificial system is no longer in force. Directives to kings were specific to the ancient Israelite monarchy, yet there are aspects that are instructive to leaders in general.
There are certain references in the New Covenant writings that sound very negative on the Old Covenant Books of Moses. But those passages are more concerned with relating to the Torah as a system, than with its specifics. Adherence to Torah was never intended as the basis upon which people are made right with God, This is only accomplished through faith in the Messiah. This was also true for those who lived before Yeshua's coming in that their faith was in anticipation of God's provision of salvation through him.
Confusion exists because there is more than one way that Torah can be understood. Torah in a general sense means God's teaching or direction. For the people of Israel this became associated with the covenant given at Mt Sinai through Moses and the five books associated with him. So during the era between Moses and the coming of Yeshua, Torah was synonymous with the Sinai covenant. But in fact they are not one and the same thing. When the New Covenant was promised through Jeremiah, we read that while the people of Israel broke the Sinai covenant, God would put his Torah in their hearts. The New Covenant is not an internalized Sinai Covenant. It includes an internalized Torah, meaning that God's direction for life would not be something that exists externally on stone tablets. Instead, God's direction would spring forth from a new inner nature due to the forgiveness of sins (See Jeremiah 31:31-33).
Since for followers of Yeshua the Torah has become an inner reality, there remains the question as to what are the Torah's specifics for us today. There is no sense anywhere in the Bible that faith automatically and unconsciously results in godly living. It is through the study of the entire Scriptures and reliance on God's Spirit that we learn how God wants us to live today. As we do that we will see, as I have already mentioned, that certain directives don't apply or don't apply directly in the messianic age. On the other hand, there are many directives that are eternal, including don't murder or steal, and stipulations about building safety (Devarim / Deuteronomy 22:8) or fair business practices (Devarim / Deuteronomy 25:15). How to determine what applies to today and how it applies is not always straightforward, but it is a blessing to delve into God's written Word to discover his ways, especially when our hearts delight to do God's will.
Of course, much of both the Old and New Covenant Scriptures are not directives. They also include history, songs, and prophesy, etc. Most if not all of this is relevant to us today in that they help us to get to know God better. So we can be confident that these words from Tehillim (Psalms) are as true today as they were when they were first written:
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Tehillim / Psalms 119:105; ESV)
1 comment:
Grace and Peace!
I will preface this by saying that I almost always enjoy your writings. This time, however, I have two issues for discussion.
While I am grateful that you acknowledge that the word testament does not belong, the way in which you substituted 'covenant' does not seem entirely appropriate. The Tenach is not a body of writings solely concerned with the Sinai covenant; it contains much more, including the reasons, and terms for several other covenants.
I believe this was a solid and sincere effort to attempt to inform the many 'Christian' readers you have, and for that effort I applaud you, but it may be best to "go all the way" while you have their attention.
I could expound further, but I will assume you are most likely quite knowledgeable in this area.
The other point I'd like to address is that, while you acknowledge that one of the terms in the new/or renewed covenant is that HaShem Himself writes the Torah on our hearts, you seem apprehensive about it. It feels as though you may have a great deal of 'Christian' influence in your past that persuades you in your thinking to the point where you believe it to be 'some other, new Torah' not The Torah that He writes on our hearts.
I is, of course, possible that I may be misunderstanding you, or it may simply be the way it is written, but that is what I feel was projected. I pray that is not what you meant.
God has not changed His mind regarding right and wrong. Torah has not changed. Certainly much of it dealt, as you said, with particular people in particular situations, but unless "the heavens and the earth have vanished" it still stands as His guidebook for us. It is still wrong to "leave your waste" for example "inside the camp." It is not, “loving your neighbor,” as that would not want to step in it. It is not, “loving G-d,” as He does not want to see it. Disobedience to this 'minor commandment' has brought much devastation to the world throughout history. This sort of uncleanness precedes/accompanies plague and disease.
Some say that sacrifice is no longer needed. This perspective does not fit the context of scripture; oddly enough it actually fits the most common rabbinic view of our day.
We all need a blood sacrifice today, just as all people in all generations have in the past, and will have in the future. Since there is no Temple how can we fulfill this requirement? We can't - but thank the Eternal, He has fulfilled this for us! That is the difference, and that is the point. Yeshua is our sin sacrifice; He has taken our sins away.
It would be interesting to see exactly which parts of Torah 'believers' would like to dismiss, since sin is 'lawlessness.' The writer of Hebrews acknowledged the Messianic Writings as Torah. This is a completely non-typical, non-traditional understanding for us today. It implies that they are part of the Torah; they are added to Torah. One might say the "fill it full." This is very different than their replacing it with some vague, new, undefined Law.
His writing the Torah on our hearts, of course, means that it is He who gives us a 'passion' to follow His Torah (His ways), because we understand that they enable us to love Him, and love our neighbor properly. This is as opposed to David who on his own needed to cultivate this passion, as he stated "I have hidden thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee." David had to do this himself, and he did. This is why he was a man after God's own heart. Torah reflects God's will (His heart's desire) for us. He wants His children to love each other, and His word, and His Spirit, both teach us how to do that.
I could go on, but I am confident you already know these things. I suppose I am just voicing concerns that I hope are unwarranted.
Please do not take this in a negative way, but as edification and encouragement. You have a wonderful ministry.
Shalom,
Yochanon
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