By Rev. Dr. Rick Chesher
There is much debate today about the Law or Torah of the Bible. Some would tell us that when Yashua came, the Law was done away with and we are no longer responsible for living out the law or instructions in our lives today. Some would have us believe when Yashua talked to us about being obedient just as He was he is talking about something other than the Law. If you ask them what we are to be obedient too, they would say Love, and that is true.
Yashua did say in response to a question asked of Him by an expert in the Law, the greatest commandment is to, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your mind”, Matt. 22:37. But where did Yashua (Jesus) get that idea? How about Dt. 6:5? This verse is taken from the Shema which is the foundational principle for the Ten Commandments, and Israel was told to constantly repeat this to their children, themselves and their neighbors.
Yashua (Jesus) also said the second was like the first in that we are to, “:Love our neighbor as yourself.” This comes from Lev. 19:18 which tells us not to take revenge on our own but to love our neighbor as ourselves, and chapter 19 is known as the holiness Laws.
In fact, Yashua (Jesus) Himself said He had not come to destroy the law or the Prophets, speaking of the Old Testament portion of the Bible, but instead He came to fulfill, we can find that in Matt. 5:17-20. The fact is in this portion of Scripture Yashua goes on to tell the people that anyone whoever breaks the law and teaches others to break the law will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. And He goes on to say that anyone who keeps the law and teaches others to do the same will be called the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
In that same passage He says that not the smallest letter or stroke will be removed until all heaven and earth passes away. We can look around us and see that heaven and earth are still here, which ought to tells us that the law or Torah is still in place and we are to still follow these things. If this is true and you believe that Yahweh’s Word is inerrant, and for us today, then we must take these passages into serious consideration. The foundation of His law is love, and that is true, but what that means is love ought to drive us into being obedient to His commands, just as Yashua was obedient to His Father’s commands. I hope this column will cause you to consider what Scripture really says about His Law.