The Purpose of the Torah

[Shimshon]

The Purpose of the Torah, the Law of the Land.

Does keeping the Torah bring righteousness and eternal life?

If keeping the Torah did not bring righteousness or life then what was it’s purpose?

First, The commands the LORD gave Moses to teach the children of Israel related to the land they were crossing over the Jordan to possess. Deut 6, the purpose was ‘so that‘ Israel would fear the LORD and have long life, ‘increasing greatly in the land’. That was the promise the LORD made with Israel through Abraham regarding the land.

The commands the LORD commanded that day were to be on the hearts. BUT how was it to be ministered? Through the indwelling of the Spirit of God as it is today? Or by teaching each person to ‘know the LORD’ through things that patterned his true righteousness?

Today we all know the LORD from the least to the greatest through the Spirit of God that he has gifted us. The Spirit teaches us all wisdom, reminds us of all his words, and unites us as one with Messiah Yeshua. We have no need to teach others ‘know the LORD’ because the Law of the Spirit produces a life in union with Messiah Yeshua. He dwells within us. Emmanuel.

However, conversely, under the covenant ministered through Moses every man was to teach another to ‘know the LORD’ through obeying the words given on the mountain. Hence we then had instruction to;

Deuteronomy 6:7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

To teach them to others, display them on our bodies, and write them on the property in the land.

And when was this to be done?

Deut 6
10 When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

Yet, today in the kingdom of God we are all taught by the Lord who has gifted us who believed in him the Spirit of the Living God. We are in union with Messiah through the Spirit that lives within us. This was not the purpose of the Laws given through Moses.

This is what is stated;

Deut 6
18 Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the LORD said.

There is that ‘so that’ again. So that you will be your righteousness? or that it would go well with us in the land promised to Abraham? All these commands deal with living the land. The nation of Israel, and her redemption out of Egypt (bondage) to the land promised Abraham.

Deut 6
20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD our God has commanded you?”

21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the LORD sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors.

24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”

And now the context has been properly made. What is the purpose of all these stipulations, decrees and laws the LORD commanded? What is the purpose of the Law? To prosper in the land promised to Abraham.

Israel was sold as slaves into Egypt but the LORD brought them out with signs and wonders to dwell in the land promised to Abraham. If Israel wanted this blessing to remain they would have to obey all the Law as given. Teaching every man to know the LORD through teaching the commands. These things related only to the land. Because the curse for not following the commands was to be rejected by the LORD ‘by removing them from the land’. A direct correlation with the Law and the Land.

Under the covenant ministered through Moses every man was to teach another to ‘know the LORD’ through obeying the words given on the mountain. Hence we then had instruction to teach them to others. It was a command of the covenant. Teach the commands of the Lord to all who you engage in life. Put the commands in you, teach them to others, place them on your body, write them on your property. All part of the covenant made with Israel through Moses when God brought them into the land promised to Abraham.

Yet, today in the kingdom of God we are all taught by the Lord who has gifted us who believed in him the Spirit of the Living God. We are in union with Messiah through the Spirit that lives within us. Having no need for any man to teach us 'know the LORD'. Because we all know him, from the least to the greatest.

No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. Hebrews 8:11

 

[Shimshon]

However, let’s focus more on ‘that will be our righteousness‘. Our righteousness comes only if we are careful to obey all the law as commanded to Moses for Israel? This is what the Spirit through Yeshua taught the disciples? Or did God state ‘the righteous will live by faith‘?

Yes, we know faith without works is dead, not faith at all. Yet, we also know that our works do not produce our righteousness, but faith produces works of righteousness, and those works are not our own but of the One who lives and dwells within us. This is where Paul’s writings make so much sense. It takes faith to become obedient to the commandments. I’d say if they are faithful to obey all this law before the LORD as commanded it will be their righteousness. Because only faith produces obedience that leads to righteousness.

Yet, concerning ‘what‘ is our righteousness?

Jeremiah 23
3 “I myself will gather what remains of my flock from all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their homes, and they will be fruitful and increase their numbers. 4 I will appoint shepherds over them who will shepherd them; then they will no longer be afraid or disgraced; and none will be missing,” says ADONAI.

5 “The days are coming,” says ADONAI when I will raise a righteous Branch for David. He will reign as king and succeed, he will do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Y’hudah will be saved, Isra’el will live in safety, and the name given to him will be ADONAI Tzidkenu [ADONAI our righteousness].

7 “Therefore,” says ADONAI, “the day will come when people no longer swear, ‘As ADONAI lives, who brought the people of Isra’el out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but, ‘As ADONAI lives, who brought the descendants of the house of Isra’el up from the land to the north’ and from all the countries where I drove them. Then they will live in their own land.

Our righteousness is found in Yeshua, who dwells within us. Something only shadowed and patterned through the Law, but now a reality to those in union with Messiah through the Law of the Spirit. Administered under a new covenant, not like the one made with our fathers who came out of Egypt.

 

[Shimshon]

The book of Hebrews explains this all to well.

The high priest stood before the sanctuary and was to enter into the presence of God’s Spirit through the sacrifice of animals using their blood. The people would come to the priest to present their offerings to God for the forgiveness of their sins (not discussing other offerings here, the most important and pertinent is the sin offering). By faith the people offer to the priest, by faith the priest offers to God. The actual ritual of sacrificing the animal and pouring the blood does nothing to add to life. It can not bring righteousness to the one who works the command. ONLY through faith will the offering be acceptable. ONLY through faith will they receive any blessing from God. Faithful obedience. Obedience to the faith.

It took faith to operate the laws given Moses!

Just as it takes faith to operate the law of the Spirit given through Yeshua. The righteous will live by faith. Obedience through faith produces righteousness. The gospel describes an Obedience that comes through faith…. and reveals a righteousness from God “that is by faith from first to last” Observant to faith in the righteousness of Yeshua. Who he is and what he has done, for us. Grace reigns through the righteousness of Messiah, for all who are obedient in faith.

Today Yeshua is our high priest whom all authority in heaven and earth has been given. He sits before the heavenly sanctuary at the right hand of God. Waiting for his enemies to run their course. Today Yeshua sits in the chambers of our soul (our hearts) because of the once and for all sacrifice of his life with his blood. We have union with him through the Spirit and are thus united with Messiah and God. We have been placed in our heavenly home, and wait for God to complete his work of redemption, as our righteousness is being perfected. Lived out through acts of the Spirit within us. Being sealed until the day of our redemption. None of this was possible through the Law, it only pointed to this blessed gift from God. And is now fulfilled in those who follow the law of the Spirit. Because the LORD our righteousness has produced in his children a life in union with Messiah Yeshua through the Spirit. There is no more condemnation, no law against us who live according to the commands of Yeshua.

Does keeping the Torah bring righteousness and eternal life? Or, does obedience that comes through faith reveal the righteousness from God as by faith from first to last. Do any of his children need to be taught by others to know the LORD? Or, does the Holy Spirit dwell within us teaching us through our intimate relationship by the ministry of the Spirit. Who's authority are you placing yourself under, Yeshua, or Moses? Or, don't you know all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Yeshua? Who ministers in your heart? (think capital one)

 

[expos4ever]

Theologian NT Wright offers a compelling interpretation for why the Torah was given: to harden Israel as part of the grand plan of redemption that reached its climax at the cross. I am willing to explain further if anyone is interested.