Transforming the Law to Love
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Covenants Presentation Pt 9
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Torah Is Transformed, Center Calibrated and Internalized To Love
Transforming the Law to Love
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yahushua Messiah (Joh 1:17 KJV)
We’ve been working diligently to get through this agenda and you can see we are moving toward the bottom part. In this session we will be going through parts 4 and 5 of this area that I’ve labeled “The Way”.
Agenda:
Background and summary of Israel’s History
Sinai and Moab Covenants
First Born and First Fruits Design Preceded the Levitical System
Old Contract Disposition
Levitical Law was an add on
Broken by Israel
The New Contract
A More Perfect Way Prophesied
A Better Hope is Declared
Higher Benchmarks – Revolutionary Attributes
Perfected and Fulfilled by Yahushua
A More Excellent Way
1. Yahushua fulfilled every OT scripture predicting His coming
2. The law and prophets point to Yahushua
3. 1st covenant contract is abolished
4. Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love
5. New contract internalizes YHWH’s law in a believer’s heart and mind
6. New contract is comprised of 2 great commandments
7. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets
8. Obedience to Torah is fulfilled and satisfied through love
9. Love leads to obedience
Actually the scriptures have labeled it “The Way”. It’s a more excellent way. Apollos was asked by Pricilla and Aquila to understand the “More Excellent Way” in Acts. We’ve studied that scripture previously, and it actually formed the basis for calling this a More Excellent Way. Pricilla and Aquila told Apollos there was a more excellent way, and I’m broadcasting that truth today. There is a more excellent way and the Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love. The New Contract also internalizes YHWH’s law in a Believer’s heart and mind. We are going to look at the details of these two separate points.
Purpose and Scope
Examine the covenants at Sinai, Moab and the Upper Room
Determine if Yahushua modified, magnified, or abolished the law I hope we are starting to see that. You will see that clearly as we go into the further verses of the Sermon on the Mount. We will see that he modified some of the previous law, he magnified some of it and he abolished some of it. That may be a surprise to some but that’s what we will see.
Discover what laws Yahushua fulfilled. We will see what laws he fulfilled and the ones he has been modifying or abolishing. We will see that in the scriptures On the Sermon on the Mount.
Explore the terms of the new contract established by Yahushua. We will also look at the terms of the new contract, touch on that subject.
Detail the characteristic and attributes of the way
Substantiate what law/laws are applicable today. Some think not, some think they all are. We will look at this in more detail.
Review – The Way
3. The 1st Covenant Contract is Abolished
It’s the third step of the nine step program on page 1.
We’ve spent a lot of time on showing that the first covenant contract is abolished. There are a lot of people that don’t like that terminology. They don’t like to hear that the contract was abolished but it was. That’s what the scriptures say. It’s an important part of the foundation to understand the fullness of this session on the covenants. Understand that the first covenant contract, the one established at Moab, it’s important to understand that was abolished. We see that most clearly in Paul’s writings. Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 3 has a section of scripture that I want to review because of its significance.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away G2673=to be entirely idle, useless, destroy, put away, make void: For if the ministration of condemnation (sentencing adversely) be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. (The first administration was glorious but by comparison it doesn’t hold a candle to the new administration under Yahushua Messiah) For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away G2673=to be entirely idle, useless, destroy, put away, make void was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: (Paul is using plain speech) And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished G2673=to be entirely idle, useless, destroy, put away, make void: But their minds G3540=perception were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which (vail added) is done away G2673=to be entirely idle, useless, destroy, put away, make void in Messiah. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. (Is the veil on your heart? If you continue to abide by this old covenant, the vail is on your heart is what this is saying) Nevertheless when it (their heart) shall turn to YHWH, the vail shall be taken away. Now YHWH is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of YHWH is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face (no vail) beholding as in a glass the glory of YHWH, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of YHWH (2Co 3:7-18 KJV)
In the previous session when we highlighted this, the word katargeo was the Greek word used four times in this one section of scripture. I showed you a number of other locations in the new contract in the New Testament where this same word katargeo was used and its meaning and content. Also the context on how it is used in all cases means to be done away, no longer useful, no longer valid.
This scripture is one that is very important to get your arms around and to understand properly. Don’t try to have some work-around that Paul is trying to say something else, because he isn’t. He is saying what is said here, he even goes on to say I’m going to speak to you clearly about this.
Also in the last session we detailed and surveyed Hebrews 9 through Hebrews 10 verse 20, a 48 verse section. We looked at, and were able to see the comparisons that Hebrews was making to the old contract/covenant were comparisons that had to have been made in the covenant at Moab. There were 3 covenants; it’s one of the foundational items in the study. Go back to part 2 if that’s a new idea to you. There are 3 covenants in the 40 years the Children of Israel wandered in the desert, being led by Moses. The first one was at Mt. Sinai; the second one was later at Mt. Sinai and the third which combined the second, some 40 years later.
Hebrews is talking about the second and third covenants at Moab in all cases. We’ve looked into the detail about the Temple and the priesthood, and how that couldn’t have been talking about the early version at Sinai because the Temple and the priesthood and the sacrificial system were not established yet. The conclusion of the section of 48 verses in Hebrews that we did in Part 8, the conclusion was that the old covenant pointed to Moab, Versions 2 and 3.
The Old Covenant sacrificial system is inferior to Yahushua.
The Old Covenant system was a prototype, a shadow, a looking forward, only a representation, it was a parable. Remember a parabola that is used as a description of it.
The old covenant Moab system is obsolete that’s what the upper room contract is all about.
Yahushua supersedes the old Moab Covenant It was the original covenant that was made at Moab before the Children of Israel went into the Promised Land.
We are not justified by the Law of Moses we are justified by grace through faith.
Justification only comes through Yahushua
Version 1 at Sinai is not the old covenant It could not have been the what we call today the Old Testament or the old covenant, the old law. That Version 1 at Sinai was never abolished; it was not used by the Israelites. Moses broke the tablets of stone and YHWH went on to establish a different covenant because they wouldn’t keep the first one.
Version 1 at Sinai is the basis of the Eternal Law the short set of verses between Exodus 20 and Exodus 24 shows us what YHWH’s original eternal basis of law was. My position on this is that is what we have today and that’s the foundation that we base any kind of law on. We don’t base it on the covenant at Moab; we base it on the first Covenant at Sinai that the Israelites didn’t keep. They built the golden calf and they broke that covenant right out of the gate.
This Session:
The Way
4. Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love. We are going into the details of how that is.
5. New Contract internalizes YHWH’s law in a believer’s heart and mind what does it mean to internalize YHWH’s law in a believers heart and mind. We will go into that and I think by the time we conclude you will see what this means.
Let’s start with item #4. We have the 9 point roadmap and that’s where we are in those nine points. The Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love.
If you remember that Yahushua said we have to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. This will take us back to Session 5 when we went into the detail of the Sermon on the Mount. We started in Matthew chapter 5 and we got about 2/3rds the way through Matthew chapter 5 to this verse in Matthew 5:17, 18, 19, and 20. We spent a lot of time on that because it’s a misunderstood verse by many different people. It is also though, the verse that forms the foundation for the belief system for three major groups, one being Christianity today. The Christian churches and groups mostly teach that the law has been fulfilled by Yahushua so you don’t need to do it. They think that it means this.
A second group is on the other side of the extreme which is that Yahushua didn’t come to destroy any of the law; he came to amplify it and to live it so that it’s an example that we can do that too. We go from one extreme from no law, to the other of all 613 laws are important.
The third group that this presentation is based on is the way. Probably the middle ground isn’t the right terminology but the way certainly is a law abiding way, but it is also a law abiding way through love.
What Yahushua said in Matthew is
Think not that I am come to destroy G2647=to loosen down, disintegrate, demolish the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy G2647=to loosen down, disintegrate, demolish, but to fulfil G4137=make replete, level up a hollow, fill-up, perfect, be complete, fully preach.
So we now understand what he’s talking about is, he’s not talking about the law at all. Even when I read this the law or the prophets, you might have heard he didn’t come to destroy the law. But he says or the prophets. We have detailed the meaning of this phrase, the law or the prophets or the law and the prophets in all cases that we looked at showed that it’s the prophetic word that predicts the arrival of a Messiah. That’s what he’s talking about. Yahushua said he didn’t come to destroy any of the prophecies concerning him; he’s not talking about the law at all in terms of the commandments. He’s talking about the prediction of the coming or the arriving of the Messiah.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass G3928=go away, perish, neglect, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass G3928=go away, perish, neglect from the law (or prophets), till all be fulfilled G1096=cause to be, come to pass, be done. (Mat 5:17-18 KJV)
All of those specifications of the coming of the Messiah, he’s going to fulfill. That was his whole purpose, and he satisfied it, and he had no other agenda. That was his purpose in coming. He fulfilled every detail and we went into 50 of those details, there were over 300 specifications that are outlined in the Old Contract in the prophets and in the law and we found 50 of them.
We also looked at, and I was able to show you and hopefully prove to you that when we hear this terminology “the law” it’s pointing to the Messiah. Oftentimes the word prophets is not there just as it is in verse 18, shall in no wise from the law is what it says here. One jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law; He’s talking about the law or the prophets.
In terms of getting our feet on the ground to move forward, the law and the prophets, that terminology has equal authority. The law doesn’t have precedent in meaning, just talking about the law, when this term “law and prophets” those terms are of equal authority.
Law and prophets insinuated – Points to Yahushua
Equal Authority of Law and Prophets
An example is the scripture in John says:
The people answered him (Yahushua), we have heard out of the law that Messiah abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man? (Joh 12:34KJV)
Where in the law does it say that the Messiah abides forever? Here are 4 separate scriptures that don’t come from the law; they come from the writings and the prophets.
YHWH hath sworn, and will not repent; Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (Psa 110:4 KJV)
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of YHWH of hosts will perform this.
(Isa 9:7KJV)
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Dan7:14 KJV)
And I will make her that halted H6760=to limp a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation; and YHWH shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever. (Mic 4:7 KJV)
We find reference to the terminology used as it comes out of the law, but we find the evidence that it comes out of the writings and the prophets. Yes, sometimes it comes out of the law also. This term that’s used, just the law, isn’t talking about the commandments or the 613 rules and regulations of the Torah. It’s talking about the reference to the Messiah. Another prediction out of the law is made by Moses.
YHWH thy Eloah will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken…. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. (Deu 18:15-18 KJV)
So yes, we see it in the Torah but we also see it in the writings and the prophets. A scripture in Luke 24:27 is on the road to Emmaus and it says:
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luk 24:27 KJV)
When Yahushua was talking and giving this presentation on the Sermon on the Mount he was talking about fulfilling the law and the prophets that predicted his coming. He’s not talking about the law, or keeping the law here.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass G3928=go away, perish, neglect, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass G3928=go away, perish, neglect from the law (or prophets), till all be fulfilled G1096=cause to be, come to pass, be done. (Mat 5:17-18 KJV)
(Continuing on) Whosoever therefore shall break G3089=destroy, dissolve, loose, melt 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 G4160=make, agree, appoint, continue and teach them, the same shall be called great G3187=larger in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall (far) exceed G4052=be in excess, super abound, be more abundant + G4119=more in quantity, greater the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:19-20 KJV)
That’s where we left off in Part 5, and then we went on to look at how the law, the old covenant was abolished. We have spent the last couple of sessions generally on that subject. Now we are coming back to where we left off in Part 5. We are going to look at what’s required to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. That is point number 4 of The Way.
The Pharisees had a real legalistic interpretation of the Torah and their life example was certainly inadequate. What Yahushua is saying is that we must not only surpass, we must far surpass. We are looking at the letter of the law which is what the Pharisees were living by vs. the spirit of the law which is what we are to live by. The main point is that the Pharisees in the time of Yahushua missed the point of the Messiah altogether.
Hopefully we have not missed the point of the Messiah. Messiah is the centerpiece, everything points to the Messiah.
The Way
4. Torah is Transformed and Center Calibrated to Love, yes there is still law we don’t have to have a list of laws that we are concerned about keeping we operate out of an attitude of love. When we operate out of an attitude of love we are naturally going to keep that which is pleasing to YHWH concerning His Commandments.
Exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees
Corrupted Priesthood The first point I want to make is that the priesthood was corrupted. The corruption goes back to after King David, Solomon and the split of the kingdoms into the North and South. The corruption really started then because of idol worship. Let’s look at a couple of scriptures to get our feet on the ground.
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. (Zep 3:4 KJV)
Even during the time of Zephaniah who was a prophet to the Southern Kingdom at the end of the Southern Kingdom during the time that Nebuchadnezzar was pushing at the gates of Jerusalem and finally taking it down.
A wonderful H8047=astonishment and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? (Jer 5:30-31 KJV)
What are you going to do about that? This sounds to me like today, we have false prophets, priests and leaders that bear means by their rule, and the people love to have it that way. They don’t challenge it, and they don’t say that the scriptures don’t agree with their preaching, or doctrine. And so what are we going to do in the end thereof?
We read a couple more of these scriptures with one being in Ezekiel chapter 22. Ezekiel is approximately contemporary with Jeremiah and Ezekiel is in captivity in Babylon when he wrote this.
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and the profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. (Eze 22:26 KJV)
Going on in Malachi, now Malachi is a few hundred years later, so the corruption started early and continued on through Malachi. It continued through the time of Nehemiah and went through the scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees and the time of Yahushua in the first century C.E. Guess what? It has continued on until this day.
But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith YHWH of hosts. (Mal 2:8 KJV)
Now let’s take a jump to the timeline to see where Jeremiah and all these fit. We started with Zephaniah and Jeremiah. They weren’t contemporary; Zephaniah lived a little before and was a predecessor from Jeremiah’s tenure as a prophet. Zephaniah was in the time of Josiah around 650 to 625 BCE. Josiah was a reformer, by the way so there was an attempt to reform the Southern Kingdom, but Zephaniah’s purpose was to say that this would be short lived. Zephaniah was talking about the corrupt priesthood even at this time. The Southern Kingdom had already fallen.
Jeremiah came right after Zephaniah and was the prophet that went through all of the sieges of Jerusalem which ended in its captivity in 587 BCE by Nebuchadnezzar. That was the same time that Daniel was taken captive in that group of sieges.
Then we jump several hundred years later to the time of Malachi around 400 BCE. This was in the time of Nehemiah. The Temple had been reconstructed at that point, the priesthood had been reestablished but they still were corrupt. They started out well, but the corruption entered into the priesthood in Malachi’s time and that’s what he’s talking about in his scripture.
There’s no shortage of the priesthood being corrupted throughout the historical period going way back to the time of the Northern and Southern tribes and the split. The overtaking of the Northern Tribes and put into captivity by Shalmaneser in 722, then the overcoming and taking the Southern Tribes by Nebuchadnezzar in 587.
The Temple authorities, not only in the first century during the time of Yahushua experienced what I would call cognitive dissonance but they continued to have that today now this word cognitive dissonance is an interesting one, it means having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs and attitudes especially relating to behavioral decisions and attitude changes. When I stumbled on this I thought it was an apt description of not only the Temple authorities and the administration historically but what’s evolved today. People have cognitive dissonances which are inconsistent thoughts on the truth that’s being expounded in the scriptures.
The prophecies in all case pointing to the Messiah and Yahushua magnified the law, but he magnified it in a way that centers and is focused on love. The pattern that is established was set up in the Sermon on the Mount, that’s where we are, in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. I would call this, if you wanted to label it, the manifesto of The Way. Read Matthew 5, 6, and 7 and they show you the behavior pattern that we should have as believers of Yahushua Messiah and how to follow the way. That’s what it shows us.
4. Exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees
Continuing in Matthew 5, we’ve gotten through that first part of don’t think that I’ve come to destroy the law or the prophets, so you have to get over that. He’s not talking about destroying any of the Torah; he’s talking about destroying the prophecies and the writings of his coming.
Immediately after he says you have to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. This whole next section of scripture on the Sermon on the Mount is about exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. You know they were there listening. Of course there was a big audience there as it says there is a multitude of people were there at the Sermon on the Mount. There had to be some scribes and Pharisees there listening, probably under their breath making fun of what Yahushua was saying. He goes into six different categories of the Torah and he says:
1 of 6 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, (in other words he’s talking about when it was said back there during the time of Moses) Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (Mat 5:21 KJV)
Now he’s going on to say in contrast:
But I say unto you, (This word “but” is an interesting word here because he’s saying ”however” I’m saying unto you) That whosever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca G4469=empty one, worthless shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool G3474=stupid, blockhead, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Mat 5:22 KJV)
This scripture of old time that Yahushua is talking about are the Commandments. The Commandments were given in two places; they were given in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy chapter 5. This would include both versions of one and three of those covenants that were established back in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, Numbers, and Leviticus. The benchmark for the commandment that says you shall not kill has been upgraded. Not only shall you not kill, but you shall do some other things also, or you shall not do some other things. You have to have love in your heart that is the fundamentals of what’s being said. And he goes on to say:
2 of 6 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery. (Mat 5:27 KJV)
He’s talking about another one of the Ten Commandments and in contrast he says:
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mat 5:28 KJV)
The physical act is important, but the spiritual act of your heart is what is most important here and it’s been extended. Again this is Versions 1 and 3 of the Ten Commandments that were given at Sinai and at Moab. Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5, so the commandment about adultery has been upgraded, it’s a new benchmark. It’s a higher mark of keeping, not a lower mark, it’s not been abandoned, and it’s a higher mark.
3 of 6 It hath been said, (by them of old) Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: (Mat 5:31 KJV)
We find that in Deuteronomy chapter 24. Deuteronomy 24 was the Moab Version 3 of the covenant.
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (Mat 5:32 KJV)
I would say this is new. He changed the law that was in Deuteronomy about putting away your wife. You used to be able to do that but you can’t anymore. Here’s a new additional law that he’s put in place. Remember when we started I said some laws are abolished, some are higher benchmark and some are new. Here’s an example of one that’s new.
4 of 6 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto YHWH thine oaths: (Mat 5:33)
The New Contract:
But I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is YHWH’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King…But let your communication be, yea, yea; Nay, nay. (Mat 5:34-37)
This statute regarding oaths is what this is talking about was in what we know now are in Versions 2 and 3 of the covenants. Version 2 was during the later point in Sinai and Version 3 being at Moab. Those two were combined so we’ll call it the Moab covenant. Also we find this reference in Leviticus 19 and Numbers 30. This is a new statute, a new command; this isn’t even a revision of the old. You don’t say you are swearing anymore at all, or take a vow in any way shape or form according to what this is saying here. All you say is let your yes be yes and your no be no. In other words people that say that they swear by this that and the other that what I’m telling you is the truth, well; they don’t need to do that. All they need to do is say is the truth of what the circumstance is and my yes will be yes and my no is no. There’s no swearing or vowing to be needed. That’s what he’s saying. Let your communication speak for itself and let your words of your mouth be of truth. It should come from your heart.
5 of 6 Ye have heard that it hath been said, and eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
(Mat 5:38 KJV)
This is an interesting one because we find it in all three of the covenants that we have detailed in this presentation.
In Contrast to the New Contract
But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also….and whosoever compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Mat 5:39-41 KJV)
He’s doing away with this eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth principal that you find in Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, and Deuteronomy 19:21. Those scriptures all occur in each of the 3 Versions of the covenants, and they fundamentally say the same thing. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, that’s abolished. That is abandoned and we no longer do that. There is a new commandment that you resist not evil and if somebody wants to hit you on the right cheek turn the other also. If somebody wants you to go with them one mile, go with him two so he’s given us a new guideline, a new benchmark.
6 of 6 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. (Mat 5:43 KJV)
The New Covenant says:
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.
(Mat 5:44 KJV)
This was the Moab covenant, Versions 2 and 3, in Leviticus 19:18, and Deuteronomy 23:6. Yes, it said to love your neighbor but your neighbor meant your fellow Israelite that lived next to you, and those participating Gentiles that wanted to live at peace. This is a new commandment here. You don’t necessarily find a direct scripture that says to hate your enemy. You don’t find that in the Old Contract, but what you do find is scriptures like Ps 139:22 that David was talking about hating his enemies because they were taking advantage of him. This is a pretty addition in Matthew 5:44.
Yahushua goes through these 6 examples of changes or additions or modifications that he made to some areas of the law.
The Way
4. Torah is Transformed and Center Calibrated to Love
Exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees
613 Torah Statutes
The question I would have for those of you that might be Torah keepers is what would you do with the rest of the 613 Torah statutes? The question is, what would Yahushua say? Let’s take a look at that. You could pick any one of the 613 statutes and we will use some samples so you can think about this. The question you follow this pattern that Yahushua has set, we will use this phrase and fill in the blank:
You have heard it has been said of them of old time you shall:
Not gossip about others – Leviticus 19:16
what would Yahushua say? But I say unto you: What would he say? Some of these I think he would say, yes, don’t gossip. But if you love your neighbor as yourself, why would you do that anyway?
What about not making an idol – Leviticus 19:4
it’s in a whole bunch of places of course. What would Yahushua say about that?
What about circumcising all males after birth – Leviticus 12:3
The counsel in Jerusalem in Acts 15 said that wasn’t necessary. Would Yahushua agree with that? Is that His will? I think so but there are some that try to work around that.
Not listening to a false prophet – Deuteronomy 13:4
What would Yahushua say about all that?
How about wearing phylacteries on your head – Deuteronomy 6:8 ,
those little boxes on your head, on your headbands. What would Yahushua say? Is that something we should be doing today?
Tithe the yield of your seed – Deuteronomy 14:22
It doesn’t say tithing the yield of your factory job, or your office job. It says tithe the yield of your seed. What would Yahushua say about that today?
How about being purified with the blood of the Red Heifer – Numbers 19:9
That’s something in the Moab covenant. Would that be something Yahushua would say yes do today or would he modify it, or would he say he’s the one that purifying you.
Have no prejudice with 2 wives – Deuteronomy 21:15
you should treat them equally. Well, what would Yahushua say about that?
How about accepting bribes – Exodus 23:8
what would Yahushua say about that?
What about making tzitzies on your garments – Numbers 15:38
we are going to come to that scripture and will detail a little bit more about that, but what would Yahushua say?
Pay wages daily – Deuteronomy 24:15
that’s a statute that says you should pay your servant before the sun goes down. Do we or should we do that today?
Have honest scales and weights and measures – Leviticus 19:36
Sanctify the first born – Exodus 13:1-2
that system we went through in a previous session, the importance of the firstborn. The firstborn was the original system, not the Levitical system and what would Yahushua say about all of that today?
You could take any one of the 613 Torah statutes and apply in this list and ask yourself, would Yahushua say that it would be something you should be doing today? Or do you just ignore the guidelines that he gave you. He gave us guidelines on how to interpret and how to look at the law based on the Sermon on the Mount. That’s what we are going through. What would Yahushua say about all of this? He would say something like he did here: What is important about the law? The lawyer asked.
Thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets. (Mat 22:37-40 KJV)
Hang all of these underneath that and let the final arbiter be these two statements about loving YHWH and loving your neighbor. When you love your neighbor as yourself, you’re not taking advantage of dishonest payment and dishonest scales, wages, and stealing or lying, taking his wife in adultery or something like that. When you have this bound in your heart these thoughts don’t come to you, you just love your neighbor and all the rest of this follows. It’s common sense. This is common sense empowered by YHWH’s Spirit. Hopefully this set of questions could be a question for you if you are thinking what you should be doing. It gets back to the friend of my wife that when she was asked by my wife, what part of the Old Covenant is applicable today. She said all of it except sacrifice and stoning. Is that true? I don’t think so, I think there is a lot more to be said about this but hopefully this will give you food for thought.
The Way
4. Torah is Transformed and Center Calibrated to Love
Exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees How do we exceed it. We have to go above and beyond. Then as we continue on, on the Sermon on the Mount, Now we are in chapter 6. He goes on to give us some common sense guidelines on how to behave.
Giving Alms – new
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.
(Mat 6:3 KJV)
In other words, be private about giving. You don’t make a demonstration and a show out of it. What did the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the scribes do in the time that Yahushua was on this earth. They made a big show out of all of that. Yahushua is saying to do it in private. Keep in mind there are some of these scribes and Pharisees sitting in the audience during this presentation that Yahushua is giving on how to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees so this is probably hitting them in their heart.
Praying – New
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name….(Mat 6:9-13 KJV)
This is the manner on which we pray, it’s not intended to be a recital of a repetitive nature but it’s intended to be a reminder list of the items to pray about. Certainly you can pray about other things but here is how you pray. This is new, you don’t find the model prayer anywhere in the Old Contract. In fact my wife and I were talking about this in preparation for this particular session, and we wondered, did they pray? Did the average person, the average Israelite when they were in the Promised Land, or when Moses was leading them, and Joshua when he was leading them into the Promised Land, was this a praying people? I think maybe Moses the mediator was probably the one that prayed and was looking to YHWH. But was the average person being a part of Israel a praying people? Are we a praying person? Yes, we should be praying. When we pray here is our model if you think you don’t have anything to say, go look up Matthew 6: 9-13, it should give you something to pray about.
Fasting – New
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: (Mat 6:16 KJV)
Don’t display how uncomfortable you are because you are fasting. Don’t show any of that.
Your Treasures– New
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt
(Mat 6:19 KJV)
This is talking about what is important to you. What treasures do you have? Is it your house, your car, your boat, your job? How about your hobby? What about your spiritual well-being, the scriptures, is that where your treasure is? This is a new command or a new way of doing and operating as a believer in Yahushua Messiah. Lay up your treasures in heaven.
Singleness/purpose – New
The light of the body is the eye: If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (Mat 6:22KJV)
We should be of singleness of purpose and singleness of our own mind. This is something that he said is new, you don’t see this anywhere in the Old Contract. He also said:
Living by Faith – New
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. (Mat 6:25 KJV)
We should be living by faith, we don’t need to be concerned about that, living by faith is not being concerned about the consequences. We live by faith, we ask YHWH to guide our life. The consequences are up to Him; He blesses us and shows us the way. When you ask for guidance and help he’s not going to send you a lie, he’s going to send you the truth, so ask for that. Take no thought, live by faith and don’t be concerned about the consequences of living by faith.
Righteousness – New
But seek ye first the kingdom of YHWH, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Mat 6:33 KJV)
Surrender – New
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil therof. (Mat 6:34 KJV)
Surrender and put your life in YHWH’s hand. Let Yahushua lead the way, these are all new and revolutionary ideas and thoughts. Can you imagine sitting in this big open field at the Sermon on the Mount, someplace up in the Northern Galilee area, I don’t think it’s known exactly where this took place. But sitting there in this group of maybe hundreds or thousands, I don’t know but it was a pretty sizable group of people, and hearing the Messiah in physical form telling you and teaching you these new principals. This is revolutionary by comparison to what the scribes and Pharisees had been taught and what the scribes and the Pharisees had been preaching and how they had been behaving.
Judgement – New
Judge not, that ye be not judged (Mat 7:1 KJV)
This is another new area.
And why beholdest thou the more that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? (Mat 7:3KJV)
This idea of condemnation, don’t worry about the tares in your neighbors field. I’ve said this before, my wife and I can easily look out across the field where we live and see the weeds in our neighbor’s yard, we have plenty of weeds in our own yard so we need to take care of the weeds in our own yard and not worry about our brothers weeds. This is a new and revolutionary way of looking at things. Be concerned about yourself; don’t be concerned about your neighbor.
Discernment– New
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine. (Mat 7:6 KJV)
Here is an area of discernment. Perhaps a new topic he’s bringing up. Have discernment, develop you character to be righteous, to be reasonable, and to discern the truth.
Trust YHWH – New
Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: (Mat 7:7 KJV)
Trust YHWH, live by faith. These are all new areas he’s talking about.
Reinterpretation of old contract law I would almost think it’s even beyond interpretation but these first six examples that I gave you come from the four books of Moses. They come from what we call the Torah. By the way, there is nothing in there from Genesis that I could see. They come from Exodus, Deuteronomy, Numbers, and Leviticus. In John we find an interesting scripture along this line:
And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for (after, on top of) grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yahushua Messiah.
(Joh 1:16-17 KJV)
So the law was given by Moses, but what did we just read? We read of grace and truth, and we’re going to find a lot more about this word grace. This word grace is an important element.
Bottom-line = love
Now the end G5056=conclusion, point aimed at of the commandment is charity G26=agape love (the point aimed at is charity. And that word charity is agape love. It’s Greek, in Strongs is G26.) out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned G505=sincere, without hypocrisy: From which some having swerved G795=miss the mark, deviate from the truth have turned aside unto vain jangling G3150=random talk, babble; Desiring to be teachers G3547=expounder of the law, a Rabbi of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm G3545=legitimately (declare earnestly). But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully G3545=legitimately;
(1Ti 1:5-8 KJV)
Yes we do, in no way am I advocating that the law has been abandoned. The law is good here is the key statement: If a man use it lawfully that means legitimately, that’s what the word lawfully means in the Greek. Use it legitimately not as the centerpiece of your belief system. The centerpiece of your belief system is Yahushua Messiah, it is not the law. The law shows us where our sin can be, but the law is not our centerpiece. We have to use it with discernment, with common sense. We have to use it with a higher benchmark that Yahushua established on the Sermon on the Mount. That higher benchmark is two commandments that we will get into in the next session in detail.
Therefore G3767=accordingly, certainly all things G3956=the whole whatsoever ye would G2309=choose, prefer, wish that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in therat: Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Mat 7:12-14)
Are we the few? Few there be that find it, not the many. When I compare this scripture in the Message Bible, I really want to include this because the Message is succinct, it’s to the point, it is modern in its vernacular. Sometimes it’s not correct in my opinion but in this particular case I think the Message really hits the mark.
Here is a simple, rule of thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up YHWH’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get. Don’t look for shortcuts to YHWH. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to YHWH! – is vigorous and requires total attention. (Mat 7:12-14 MSG)
It’s just a very apt translation of this same scripture.
4. Exceeding the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees with 31 measures of Love
Exceeding the Righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees is what we have focused on, and I’m trying to show you that the Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love. That’s what Yahushua was doing at the Sermon on the Mount. He was showing a new and a better way. He was modifying the leading adding, changing the parameters of what we think of as is of the law.
When I started thinking about this I thought that obviously what he talks a lot about is that love is what is important. Love is what supersedes the law. It encompasses the law, and so where are the scriptures about love? I thought of 1 Corinthians 13 which actually will come at the end of this session, but I discovered in the book of John, particularly 1 John, I found thirty one measures of love. It’s amazing that this word for love which is agape is found so many times in the book of John. Actually, I think it’s found thirty three times in 1 John, and twenty seven times in 1John chapter 4. There are four more times that I will show you in the gospel or the epistle of John that fundamentally says the same thing. Read through this and see there are twenty seven occurrences of agape love in this section of scripture.
We are of YHWH: he that knoweth YHWH heareth us; he that is not of YHWH heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of YHWH: and every one that loveth is born of YHWH, and knoweth YHWH. He that loveth not knoweth not YHWH: for YHWH is love, in this was manifested the love of YHWH toward us, because that YHWH sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved YHWH, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (for the covering) for our sins. Beloved, if YHWH so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen YHWH at any time. If we love one another, YHWH dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected G5048=to complete, consummate in character, fulfil in us. Hereby we know we that dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Yahushua is the Son of YHWH, YHWH dwelleth in him, and he in YHWH. And we have known and believed the love that YHWH hath to us. YHWH is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in YHWH and YHWH in him. Herein is our love made perfect G5048=to complete, consummate in character, fulfil, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect G5046=complete in mental and moral character love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect G5048=to complete, consummate in character, fulfil in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If a man say, I love YHWH and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he that seen, how can he love YHWH whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth YHWH love his brother also. (1Jn 4:6-21 KJV)
I see a period there, I see a lot of periods in this section of John. This is amazing to me to see the agape love used as the foundation and the baseline of our relationship. We know that it is the case, we probably could say that love is what is important to us, and yet we get focused on the importance of an old covenant Torah series of commands and commandments, that when you keep them you are automatically showing love. All of this is adding together very simply to me that two commandments, loving YHWH above all other things and loving your neighbor as yourself. That’s what John is talking about. Loving your brother is an important one.
Loving your brother is also found in John’s description to love to one another in his epistle. So there were twenty seven occurrences of love in this first section of scripture that 1John chapter 4 says, now there are four more references to love in John 13.
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (Joh 13:34-35 KJV)
It’s perplexing in today’s group of assemblies; this scripture doesn’t seem to mean anything. I’m going to speak plainly, why don’t we show better love? Why don’t we show love at all to one another? The foundation is sure, it’s Yahushua Messiah, when we accept Yahushua as the one that covers our sins, that was resurrected that has the keys to eternal life, that bond is the bond that we have in love to one another. What is interesting about this is in John, in all cases, this word love in all occurrences is G25-26=agape or agapao and is a noun or verb. If you look up the amount of scripture that John wrote, he wrote about 12% of the New Testament. That doesn’t include Revelation because Revelation is another 8% or so, but Revelation was the word of YHWH that John scribed in vision. The actual scriptures that John wrote in the epistle of John and in John 1, 2, and 3 are about 12% of the entire New Testament content. However, John uses the number of times that love occurs 37% of the time by comparison to all the others. Well over a third of the usage of agape love, John uses is less than 12% of the content.
If you want to find out how to operate, read John. John tells you all about love, that’s probably not a surprise to most people, but it was a surprise to me to run across the number of occurrences of love and its importance. Love is number one to YHWH and love is number one to our brothers, so let’s behave that way. Love one another, it shows those that are not believers of YHWH who we are. That’s what this scripture says. Men know who you are because of the love you show to one another. Unfortunately, not too many of our neighbors know who we are from this guideline. They don’t see that we show our love to one another and we should. So here it is.
The 31 measures of love that we have just looked at would be the keys to exceeding the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees.
5. New Contract internalizes YHWH’s Law in a Believers Heart and Mind
Written in Your Heart
We will take a look at a new series called the New Contract internalizes YHWH’s law. Now that we know that the Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love, we need to understand that it’s important for us to internalize YHWH’s law into our hearts and minds. Let’s first take a look at how it’s written in your heart. We will see in Hebrews 8, and then in Hebrews 10 how it was written in your mind, but written in your heart is what we will highlight here.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith YHWH. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Eloah, and they shall be to me a people (Heb 8:7-10 KJV – quoted from Jer 31:31-34)
We have previously touched on this scripture but I’m going to highlight how this is important to write YHWH’s laws in your hearts. What does it mean, writing YHWH’s laws into your hearts?
Now when we compare the Old Contract to this in Deuteronomy chapter 6, Moses said:
Hear H8085=shawmah=to hear intelligently, O Israel: YHWH our Eloah is one YHWH: And thou salt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might, (This was the original instruction, it was YHWH’s intent that this is what would be. This is what Yahushua brought forward in his time in the first century. Originally these same principals were there. Moses said we should have our hearts and our soul focus on YHWH) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart (but weren’t: And thou shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts H4201=mezuzah=door posts of thine house, and on thy gates. (Deu 6:4-9 KJV)
What happened? Yes, they wrote them on their hand and in the doorposts of their house on their mezuzah, but they didn’t write them in their heart as they were told to. How do we know this? Because it says so in Deuteronomy 29, just a couple of months later in Moab where all this is taking place.
And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that YHWH did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh…..The great temptations trials which thine eyes have seen, the signs and those great miracles: Yet YHWH hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. (Deu 29:2-4 KJV)
I think that means unto this day includes this lack of vision and this lack of hearing. It doesn’t mean that things changed this day in Deuteronomy 29, he is say that until this day you still don’t have a heart to perceive and you still don’t have eyes to see and ears to hear, even though that’s what I wanted you to have in the beginning. That’s what Moses was telling them in Deuteronomy chapter 6. He wanted them to do that but they didn’t. The end result was that thy followed the physical side of this, they put the law on their hands and on their door posts, they made mezuzahs, they made physical reminders of the law. That was the best they could do because they weren’t really in their hearts and minds.
5. New Contract internalizes YHWH’s Law in a Believers Heart and Mind
Written in Your Heart in the Greek, Heart=G2588=thoughts or feelings, the mind let’s look at some scriptures to help us grasp what this is talking about.
Mat 5:8 – Blessed are the pure G2513==clean, clear in heart: for they shall see YHWH.
Mat 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Mat 12:34 – For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
I’ve said that many times, all you have to do is listen to somebody and you can tell what’s important to them pretty quickly because out of their heart their mouth speaks.
Rom 6:17 – But YHWH be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
That form of doctrine should be a part of your heart, that form of doctrine of loving YHWH above all other things and loving your neighbor as yourself.
Heb 13:9 – Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace G4585=the divine influence upon the heart, and it’s reflection in the life; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
It is established with grace. This word grace is what establishes it. It’s the divine influence upon your heart and its reflection in your life. Most of us don’t think of grace that way, but that’s the definition. That’s what Strongs says this word means. The divine influence upon your heart, and YHWH’s Spirit upon your heart and His reflection in your life. Debating in this case probably meat sacrificed to idols. How important is that? Not very.
1Pe 1:22 – Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently intently.
1Pe 3:4 – But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of YHWH of great price.
I don’t see anywhere in here talking about keeping 613 commands in the Torah. This is a much higher level of perspective that he’s talking about.
1Jn 3:21-24 – Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward YHWH. (You have a conscience, if your conscience doesn’t condemn you, then you have confidence toward YHWH) And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, (Yes the 10 Commandments, or the 2 Commandments. They are fundamentally the same.) and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Yahushua Messiah, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth is commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he that given us.
Do these things and he will give you His Spirit, and He will abide in you. What are the things? Love YHWH and love your neighbor, love your brother.
Written in your mind we talked about it being written in your heart; let’s talk about the other half of this equation. We see in Hebrews 10, it’s a similar scripture and a similar quote from Jeremiah 31 but with a little different emphasis.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Spirit also is a witness to us; for after that He (YHWH) had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith YHWH, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more (Jer31:33-34) . Now where remission G859=pardon, forgiveness, liberty of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Yahushua, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, (We’ve got to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. It’s the new and living way) through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. (Heb 10:14-20 KJV)
His flesh was given for us and that veil is no longer standing. The veil in the Temple and the veil of Moses is no longer standing. The sacrifice of Yahushua Messiah and His gift of salvation to us has been provided. Romans 12:2 really applies in this session.
And be not conformed G859=fashioned like, to the same pattern to this world: but be ye transformed G3339=metamorpho=change, transfigure by the renewing G342=renovate of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of YHWH. (Rom 12:2 KJV)
Metamorphose is the process that changes the caterpillar into a butterfly. That which is seen in the beginning has disappeared and has taken on a whole new framework and a whole new character and a whole new shape. We are to be transformed, take on a whole new character and shape by the renewing or renovation of our mind. This renovation means to tear out the old and put in the new. Take away that old man. We are renewing our mind and empowering it with the Spirit of YHWH.
How did it used to be? We used to have a carnal mind, and in contrast the carnal mind is enmity against YHWH.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against YHWH: for it is not subject to the law of YHWH, neither indeed can be. (Rom 8:7 KJV)
It’s not subject to loving your neighbor, it’s not subject to loving your brother, it’s not subject to loving YHWH above all other things like keeping the 10 Commandments and keeping YHWH’s eternal law. The carnal mind isn’t capable of that. You have to renew your mind through the blood and sacrifice and burial of Yahushua Messiah and be baptized so you will receive his Spirit. So don’t be conformed.
The Old Contract gives us the ramification of this. In Numbers chapter 15, this would be Version 3 of the Moab contract.
Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes H6734=tsetse=tassel in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe H6734=same of the boarders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe H6734=same that ye may look upon it, and remember (with your mind) all the commandments of YHWH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes (Num 15:38-39 KJV)
That which is enmity, in other words, seek after the truth, seek after YHWH, and renew your mind. This was intended as a physical reminder, and by the way, there are only 4 occurrences of this word. Fringe, commonly called Tsetse and it’s the Hebrew word H6734. Three of those occurrences occur in this one scripture in Numbers 15. The fourth occurrence comes in Ezekiel 8:3 and it is referencing hair. Not fringes of your garments or tassels. This one scripture in Numbers 15:38 has been the controversy of a lot of Believers that think this is a necessity. The Old Contract used this as a reminder of the law with these blue fringes. 613 little ribbons that come out of the tsetse were the reminder of the law, but the new way, the new contract is written in your mind. The fringes or the tsetse of your mind and your heart, and that’s what YHWH wants us to do. To have love for Him above all other things, we don’t need a physical reminder; we need to have this internalized. We need to have it part of our being.
To give you a better understanding of it and a few scriptures that talk about the mind, there are actually seven Greek words that are translated to the English word mind. I’ve just chosen a couple of the ones that are used more commonly.
Mind=G1271=deep thought, understanding
Mind-G3563=the intellect, understanding you can see that there is a cross-over. One is about deep thought and the other about the intellect. For purposes of this session, they will be together.
Mat 22:37 – Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Your deep thought)
Eph 1:18-19 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what (are) the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe.
1Pe 1:13 – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Yahushua Messiah.
1Jn 5:20 – And we know that the Son of YHWH is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Yahushua Messiah. This is the true Eloah, and eternal life.
So your deep thought and understanding and your intellect is what’s important in putting all this together.
Luk 24:45 – Then opened he their (intellect) understanding, that they might understand G4920=comprehend the scriptures.
It’s only through YHWH and Yahushua that the scriptures are opened up for your understanding. You can’t do it on your own, no amount of study can you do this. It’s only through YHWH’s Spirit that he opens up the mysteries of the scriptures to you, and the mystery of the Son, the Son of man, Yahushua Messiah.
1Co 1:10 – Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Master Yahushua Messiah, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same (intellect) mind and in the same judgement.
Why don’t we have that today? There are hundreds of different variations of what the right recipe is and if you don’t follow someone’s exact recipe then you are not a part of their group. There’s not love between the brothers and sisters. There’s not love. We want to be perfectly joined together and we want to have the same intellect and the same judgment. Cast away the bias and the conditioning that you have from your past. Go prove those things; my purpose is to get you to go look into these scriptures to see whether they are saying what I say they say. I hope this will encourage you to go take a look.
Eph 4:23-24 – And be renewed in the spirit of your mind (in your intellect); and that ye put on the new man, which after YHWH is created in righteousness and true holiness.
This new man is way different than the old man. The new man physically has the same visage and the same appearance, so you don’t know by looking at me if I’m a new man or the old man. YHWH knows if you’re a new man, He knows your heart.
One thing that I can help you with is, I can give you a prescription of how to heal your heart and mind and how to have the right heart and mind. When we internalize YHWH’s laws there is a way that this happens. This happens through His grace.
And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace G5485 and truth. (Joh 1:14 KJV)
We are going to see this word grace throughout here. Some people don’t like the word grace because it is the Greek name for charis. Charis goes back to an idol so therefore you can’t use the word grace because it is charis and it’s referencing an idol. I would argue that is not correct. The word grace is the word that’s used and Yahushua used it, Paul used it, I think that’s weak and lame and it’s not exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees to come up with an idea like that.
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace G5485 in his kindness toward us through Messiah Yahushua. For by grace G5485 are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of YHWH: Not of words, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yahushua unto good works, which YHWH hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:7-10 KJV)
For YHWH hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of YHWH; who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace G5485 which was given us in Messiah Yahushua before the world began (2Ti 1:7-9 KJV)
For the grace G5485 of YHWH that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,(this is a must that we have this. It’s a must that we have the grace of YHWH, it brings salvation) teaching us that, denying unrighteousness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and piously, in this present world. (Tit 2:11-12 KJV)
Grace is the enabler. Now when YHWH provides this grace through the blood of accepting Yahushua Messiah, there are two commandments. Yes, there are many more underneath this but the two encompass all. The two represent the total, the fullness.
5. New Contract internalizes YHWH’s Law in a Believers Heart and Mind
There are Two Great Commands
According to the Cambridge Dictionary it means to accept an idea, attitude, or belief so that it becomes part of your character. We want to internalize, enter means to be a part of. Internalizing YHWH’s laws means that you believe they are important and they become part of your character. It’s like if you are driving your car you don’t have to have the rule book to drive your car. You know you’ve internalized the rule book of driving your car and you know what to do, how to behave and how to drive carefully. You know to be respectful of other drivers. You don’t have to have a list sitting on your dash for every situation that comes up. You don’t have to have a list of what to do. You’ve internalized how to drive your car.
You’ve internalized how to work at your job and get along with others. You’ve internalized how to get along with your family. These are a part of your consciousness. Your belief system is involved in it. What is your mind set? I’ve talked about your previous conditioning and biases that you’ve learned. Some things you’ve learned correctly I’m sure. Your parents taught you some proper principles in life and they have served you well.
Some of your previous pastors and elders have taught you well, some of them have not though. Some of them have been deceitful and perhaps not intentionally but they haven’t checked out, or really understood the New Covenant and what it’s all about and the Old Covenant, and what it’s all about, and the fact that it’s been abolished. Your pastors and elders need to tell you the truth, so your belief system is sometimes based on the hearsay from others. But it is your mindset, and your mindset needs to be based on truth.
Your consciousness, and instinct, animals have instinct on what to do and how to behave. They know when to run, they know when to hide, they know when to jump and this spiritual instinct we should have also. It comes from YHWH’s Spirit indwelling in us, and us internalizing YHWH’s law in our hearts and our minds.
We all have our own prejudices; some prejudices certainly are correct and are based on truth. Some prejudices that we have frankly are not based on truth. You have to discard those. You have to abandon those false prejudices that you thought were true and aren’t. Go prove it.
And thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thy heart G2588=kardia=thoughts, feelings, and with all thy soul G5590=psuche=breath (same as H5315=nephesh=breathing creature), and with all thy mind G1271=deep thought, by implication its exercise, understanding, (that means you need to be using it) and with all thy strength G2479=forcefulness, might, power: This is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mar 12:30-31 KJV – quoted from Deu 6:5)
Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto YHWH. And the peace of YHWH, which passeth G5242=to hold oneself above, excels all understanding, shall keep G5432-be watcher in advance, mount guard as a sentinel your hearts and minds through Messiah Yahushua. (Php 4:6-7 KJV)
Here is a recipe. The peace of YHWH and His Spirit indwelling in you will keep your hearts and minds on the right path through Yahushua Messiah. What a blessing to see these things in the scriptures.
Tinkling Cymbal or Love
We internalize YHWH’s laws in our hearts and minds but are you a tinkling cymbal or are you of love?
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1Co 13:1-3 KJV)
We’ve read this scripture many times, it’s a familiar one. 1Corinthians 13 is totally thought of as the love chapter and there abides these three, faith, hope, and charity. The one that counts is charity and love. Hopefully we are not a tinkling cymbal. There’s nothing wrong with understanding prophecy and mysteries of YHWH and having knowledge and studying. Yes we should have faith, we should have great faith that we could move mountains, but if we don’t have love, none of that is of any value.
Just recently I came across this scripture in Revelation two and three are the seven assemblies that are given their report card by Yahushua Messiah and John wrote down for us to see what the report card was. You can go through the list of the seven assemblies starting with Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and ends with Laodicea. The one that we focus a lot on is the Laodicean attitude and of course everyone is of Philadelphia attitude which means brotherly love. I would argue that there is not a lot of brotherly love. There aren’t very many that actually operate out of brotherly love. This scripture is talking about the group in Thyatira.
All the churches G1577=calling out, assemblies shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins G3510=inner most mind and hearts: and I will give unto everyone of you according to your works. (Rev 2:23 KJV)
What is important about this is that YHWH, or Yahushua is the one that searches the reins. This word reins in the King James is actually transcribed mind in most other versions. It’s interesting that it’s the reins. The reins when you are riding a horse, or working with animals, are those straps and collars that steer the animal. The reins of our minds, what is steering your mind and your hearts? Yahushua says he knows what that is. The churches shall know that I am he which searches. YHWH searches the reins of your mind and your hearts. And I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
You can’t be duplicitous; you can’t be on the fence. You have to have your heart and your mind in the right place. You can’t be a believer three days a week and then be back in the world for the other four days of the week. When you go to your job you can’t be operating out of a different set of values than when you are operating in front of what you think of as the brothers and sisters that you might see on the weekend. YHWH’s law has to be a part of, it has to be integrated in, it’s internalized in your heart and mind and Yahushua knows because he searches the reins of your heart and he gives everyone according to his works.
What is internalized in your heart?
Is it the law? You think the law is dead? or
Do you think the veil of Moses is what is important to you? or
Do you think it’s the two great commands?
What do you have internalized in your heart? Does it go along with the scriptures we have read here? That there are two great commandments and that everything else falls underneath that? You have to decide. Yahushua already knows because he searches the reins of your mind and heart. He knows where you stand and he knows where I stand. You decide.