Transforming the Law to Love
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Covenants Presentation Pt 10
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On two great commands hang the law & prophets, law fulfilled by 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)
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
We are in the final content section of this agenda. It’s amazing how the time has flown by. We are at the end and will finish the content this time and these items 6, 7, 8, and 9 of a More Excellent Way. Next time we will summarize everything that we’ve talked about and draw the conclusions from it.
It’s interesting that these last four items are in the order that they are. When I put this session together going back to last year I was working on the agenda. When this came together these items seemed to make sense to be placed in the order that they are. But in preparation for this session the significance of the order that these items are in has really has jumped out. 6, 7, 8, and 9 you are going to see, all have to do relate to love which is the most important attribute we can have.
We will be looking at these four items and going into the detail and looking at the scriptures.
Purpose and Scope
Examine the covenants at Sinai, Moab and the Upper Room
Determine if Yahushua modified, magnified, or abolished the law
Discover what laws Yahushua fulfilled
Explore the terms of the new contract established by Yahushua
Detail the characteristic and attributes of the way a more excellent way that Pricilla and Aquila presented to Apollos. We will end with that scripture.
Substantiate what law/laws are applicable today that Yahushua set in motion and has fulfilled and shown us the path to. We will look at that in more detail.
Last Session Review – The Way
Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love
New contract internalizes YHWH’s law in a believer’s heart and mind
These are important steps in the nine steps that we’ve gone through. I want to make sure we have the right foundation. In session 9
Torah is transformed and center calibrated to love
Exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees We went into this is Matthew chapter 5. verses 19 and 20. Then he went on to describe how to exceed. One of the first things he did in the Sermon on the Mount was to go into six different areas from the old contract. The first one he talked about was you shall not kill.
Origin and disposition – Sinai and Moab Version 2 and 3 – Murder – Exodus 20:13 is upgraded benchmark
Old Contract: from 5 Books of Moses:
1 of 6 – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement: (Mat 5:21)
New Contract from Yahushua:
But I say unto you, that whosoever 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)
We looked at this in greater detail than what we will look into today, but the point of it is this is one of the Ten Commandments and it’s actually been upgraded. There is an additional set of requirements. It’s a higher benchmark, a higher level of application in the new contact that Yahushua was teaching at the Sermon on the Mount.
Sinai and Moab Version 1 and 3 Adultery Exodus 20:14 Upgraded benchmark
2 of 6 – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: (Mat 5:27KJV)
New Contract:
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)
So again, the commandment stands not to commit adultery but a much higher level of performance is required on our part and that’s not to even look. Not to even lust.
Moab Version 3 Divorce Deuteronomy 24:1 New
3 of 6 – It hath been said, whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: (Mat 5:31 KJV)
New Contract from Yahushua
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)
This isn’t upgraded this is a new requirement that Yahushua established for us in the New Contract.
The fourth item had to do with oaths and swearing upon the heaven and the earth. There is actually more commentary that went behind what was going on. It seems as though the Temple authorities, the Pharisees, Sadducees and the scribes had this tendency to swear by the heaven and the earth and by Jerusalem. In the Sermon on the Mount which some of the Temple authorities were there listening to, he was telling them that they could not swear by heaven and earth or by the Temple. Those are all part of YHWH’s creation as well.
Moab Version 2and 3 Oaths Leviticus 19:12, Numbers 30:2 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 5:33KJV)
New Contract from Yahushua
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 communications be yea, yea, Nay, nay. (Mat 5:34-37)
Let come out of your mouth that what you are going to do. You don’t have to swear by anything. In fact he says not to swear at all. This is a new requirement that Yahushua has added to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
Sinai and Moab Version 1, 2, 3 Reciprocity Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21
5 of 6 Ye have heard that it hath been said, an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: (Mat 5:38 KJV)
This has been taken out of the law, Yahushua said
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 shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. (Mat 5:39-40 KJV)
Reciprocity is no longer applicable, we don’t look to get even as it was in the old contract.
Moab Version 2 and 3 Love your neighbor Leviticus 19:18, Deuteronomy 23:6, Psalm 139:22 New
6 of 6 – Ye have heard that it hath been said; Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy. (Mat 5:43 KJV)
But Yahushua said
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)
These are all new additions to the righteousness YHWH established for us. They are a new set of benchmarks.
From there we went into Matthew 6 and 7 and then went into the other details of the teachings that he had. We saw, and should have seen easily that the transformation of what has been thought of as the Torah is a new center calibrated way of love. That’s how you exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Not by the letter of the law, but by the spirit.
Reinterpretation of the old contract law and an adjustment, magnification and in some cases abolishment of some of the old contract law. These first six examples came from the four books of Moses, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
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)
John sets the foundation right in the beginning of his writing that Yahushua came to stack grace upon grace. He shows us here that the law was given by Moses. But grace and truth comes by the Messiah.
The Bottom line = love and we see the evidence of that in the last session.
Now the end G5056=conclusion, point aimed at of the commandment is charity G26= agape love 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 truth have turned aside unto vain jangling G3150=random talk, babble; desiring to be teachers G3547=expounder of the law, a Rabbi understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm G1226=confirm thoroughly , asseverate (declare earnestly). But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully G3545=legitimately. (1Ti 1:5-8 KJV)
The conclusion of this particular is most important, but we know that the law is good. Yes it is, in no way am I saying that YHWH’s law is not good, it is good. But you have to use it lawfully. You have to use it with discernment. You have to use it with love in your heart. The law is important, but when your life is centered around, and focused on the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law, you might want to reconsider if that is the right priority.
Therefore G3767=accordingly, certainly all things G3956=the whole whatsoever ye would G2309=chose, 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 thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(Mat 7:12-14 KJV)
Compare Message Bible, a modern version of this
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. (Prosperity gospels, a good for all just send all your offerings and tithes into me and then everything will be fine) 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)
Thousands at a time fall for this false teaching. I think we are going to see that it’s going to require maybe more than your total attention. It requires all of your mind and all your soul. Of interest is this law and prophets. This terminology of the law and prophets doesn’t mean the Law of Moses; it means the law of Moses and the prophets as they were testifying that there would be a Messiah to come.
The New Contract Internalizes YHWH’s Law in a Believers Heart and Mind
Written in your heart
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 – quoted from Jer 31:31-34 KJV)
We are going to see the component that this is about the mind, but this particular section of Hebrews I’ve chosen to focus on the law as written in your hearts. This is what we went into last time in some detail.
Cf. Old Contract
Hear H8085=Shawmah=to hear intelligently, O Israel: YHWH our Eloah is one YHWH: and thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart (but weren’t): And thou shalt 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 thy house, and on thy gates. (Deu 6:4-9 KJV)
The reference to this is from:
old contract= law written on your hand and door posts H4201= mezuzah) The physical instructions were what the Israelites heard from Moses and that is what they did. The old contract had the law written on their hand and on their doorposts
New Contract = law is written in your hearts in this case we see that this is a quote from Deuteronomy chapter 6 the Shawmah. We also saw, and I showed you the proof that in fact they didn’t listen to this command that Moses gave them. Today it shall be in your heart but it wasn’t.
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 ears to hear unto this day. (Deu 29:2-4)
YHWH didn’t allow it to be in their hearts, they weren’t ready for that. That original command that Moses was making to the people, a directive to the people in Deuteronomy 6, two or three months later, this shows us it didn’t happen. But it did with Yahushua Messiah and his sacrifice for us. Now with the new contract, the law is written on your heart.
The other part of this is that now it’s written in your mind. It turns out two chapters later in Hebrews chapter 10 a similar quote is made in a little different context.
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 (Jer 31:33-34). 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, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; (Heb 10:14-20 KJV)
Another scripture that goes along with this idea of having the law in your hearts and mind is in Romans.
And be not conformed G4964=fashioned like, to the same pattern to this world; but be ye transformed G3339=metamorpho=change, transfigure (like the butterfly) 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)
YHWH’s law written in your heart and mind is a whole different order than having it written on your doorpost or in the case of Numbers 15.
Cf. Old 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 borders 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)
This was a physical reminder, something they carried around with them and some people think it’s important to do today. The Old Contract used this type of a reminder to remember the law. Remember them with blue fringes, but the New Contract is written in your heart, it’s not written on the fringes of your garments with tsetse’s it’s written in your mind and in your heart.
We looked at this word internalize also, what does that mean? I showed you that it included the idea to accept and idea, attitude, or belief so that it becomes part of your character (Cambridge Dictionary). When you internalize something it becomes you. It’s your belief system, your mind set; it’s how you perceive the world around you. You are consciousness, your instincts are to follow and honor that way of life and it becomes your prejudice, how you answer to people and operate in your life.
We also talked about the importance of Love.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as a 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. (1Co13:1-3 KJV)
The importance of love is paramount, it is number one. We looked at the area of Revelation in chapter 2 where it talks about all the assemblies and churches.
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 every one of you according to your works. (Rev 2:23 KJV)
The reins are like the driving straps, or like a steering wheel. Your mind and your heart are your steering wheel. YHWH’s way of life and the more excellent way needs and has to be internalized in your heart and mind. We are going to look at:
6. New contract is comprised of 2 commands
7. On two commands hang all the law and prophets
8. Obedience to Torah is fulfilled by love
9. Love leads to obedience
6. New contract is comprised of 2 commands
1. Yahushua fulfilled every OT scripture
2. The law and prophets point to Yahushua
3. 1st covenant contract is abolished
4. Torah is transformed and calibrated to love
5. New contract internalizes YHWH’s law
6. New contract is comprised of 2 commands
7. On 2 commands hang all the law and prophets
8. Obedience to Torah is fulfilled by love
9. Love leads to obedience
There are several places we see this and one of them is in Mark.
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them (Sadducees) well, asked him, which is the first commandment of all? And Yahushua answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; YHWH our Eloah is one YHWH: And thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: 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. And te scribe said unto him, Well Master, thou hast said the truth: For there is one Eloah; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding , and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Yahushua saw that he answered discreetly G3562=prudently he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of YHWH (in front of you). And no man after that durst ask him any question. (Mar 12:28-34 KJV)
This same account is in parallel or harmony in Matthew 22:35. We are going to come back to that because something else was added to the Matthew account that is significant.
The scribe was a Mosaic legal expert, and we get that from looking at the parallel account.
Then one of them, which was a lawyer G3544=pertaining to law, an expert in Mosaic law , asked him a question, tempting G3985=test, scrutinize, entice him, and saying Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (Mat 22:35-36 KJV)
Although the accounts are parallel, Mark leaves this part out of the tempting that the lawyer was putting in front of Yahushua. We will come to that. The accounts in all likelihood are parallel, most commentaries will agree with that. He was quoting from Shema:
Hear H8085=hear, O Israel: YHWH our Eloah, is one YHWH (YHWH is one): (It’s translated that way because of the Hebrew construction, probably the better English we would understand is YHWH is one.) And thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thine heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart (Deu 5:4-6 KJV)
That section of Yahushua’s quote comes from Leviticus. Part of Yahushua’s response comes from Deuteronomy and the other from Leviticus.
Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am YHWH. (Lev 19:17-18 KJV)
These verses show us the New Covenant is comprised of these two great commandments. Remember it was Yahushua that just said this. These are what the greatest commandments are and sum up all of the other commandments.
Second witness, different account is found in Luke. This account would not be parallel and you will see why. The first account we looked at, Yahushua gave the answer of what was most important. In this account we are going to see that the lawyer gives the account of what is most important.
And behold, a certain lawyer G3544=pertaining to law, an expert in Mosaic law stood up, and tempted G1598=to test thoroughly him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Notice the difference, the first example that I gave you the question was, what is the most important commandment? Now this lawyer is asking about what he needs to do to obtain eternal life) He (Yahushua) said unto him, what is written in the law? How readest thou? And he (the lawyer) answering said, Thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And He (Yahushua) said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do and thou shalt live. Luk10:25-28 KJV)
The lawyer is going to come back with a legal question now, but before I get into that I want to mention that there is controversy about this scripture of who was actually repeating the law, the lawyer or Yahushua. I think the context of it is clear to me that Yahushua, when he asked this question in the last sentence, You have answered right, so the fact that he answered right must mean that the lawyer is the one that gave the answer. And go do this, go do what you just answered and you shall live. I think the controversy is not very well founded but it is there.
The lawyer had a case of the yeah-buts. When Yahushua said all you have to do is go do this the lawyer had a case of the yabut and the well I’s, well I have an excuse, or yeah but I have another question, so in this case it’s another question. The lawyer knew the recital of the commandments well. But, he didn’t appear to know about the works of it, the fact that you have to do something, not just read it. The lawyer was focused on the letter of the law but Yahushua is focused on the spirit of the law.
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Yahushua, and who is my neighbor? (There must be an out here, and Yahushua probably knew the character of this lawyer and maybe he was even one of these examples Yahushua is giving in this parable that follows. Maybe this lawyer had conducted himself like the parable is relating.) And Yahushua answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment….leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side(he didn’t want to become unclean)…likewise a Levite….But a certain Samaritan, (the Samaritans were considered half Jews) as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him (Luk 10:29-33 KJV)
This lawyer would have thought of this Samaritan, this guy is an anathema. But Yahushua said that the Samaritan is the one that helped him. Perhaps a bit of history, the Samaritans developed during the downfall of the Northern Kingdom when Shalmaneser overtook the Northern Kingdom in 722 BCE. He took them all into captivity, the Assyrians Sargon and Sennecherib had this practice of moving the captives into one country into another. Most of the early exiles from the Northern Kingdom were taken away but some were left and other peoples from other wars and timing of the Syrian Empire were brought in so they were mixed. Some were gentiles. There were some of the ten tribes left and thy intermarried and that’s where the Samaritans came from. They were half Jews or half Israelites, is what the perspective is from the Temple authorities in Jerusalem at this time. Yahushua is telling them that the Samaritan helped the guy, and that’s what you have to do too.
The lawyer that was asking about this all of sudden realizes there are more things to do than just repeating these words. There is a letter of the law, and there is the spirit of the law. That makes me think of a scripture in Titus, because the lawyer is like this and some people are like this today. They want to have the yeah-buts and the well I’s and have foolish questions. Questions about genealogies and want to contend about the law instead of saying that they love their neighbor as themselves, they want to find out, to make a legal case out of just who is my neighbor? Some of my neighbors I may not want to do this with, and they have strivings and battle about controversies about the law.
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies and contentions, and strivings G3163=battle, controversy about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Tit 3:9 KJV)
Was going on in the day with Titus, the same things that go on today with some of the legalistic groups that are around saying that you have to do this that or the other? Some groups say it’s necessary to be circumcised, and keep the laws of Moses. Those are lies, they are false teachers. We should be after having YHWH’s Spirit leading us from the heart, mind and soul.
Walking the talk is what the two great commandments are about. The last message Yahushua gave just before his crucifixion in 30 CE on Mount Olivet prophecy, and that period of time a couple of days before the Passover in 30 CE, Yahushua talked about what’s important. In fact, as I read this, these are the last words he spoke on the Kingdom of YHWH, and the last instructions he gave. Matthew 25 consists of 3 parables, the first one being the ten virgins. There were 5 that ran out of oil, and the 5 that didn’t. The next parable is about the parable of the talents and to use your talents wisely. This parable is about your good works and walking your talk.
And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Master, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Mat 25:32-40 KJV)
The importance of loving one another and especially loving our brothers and sisters, “You have done it unto me”. Walking the talk is important. These two great commandments are commandments that require your love and attention, not just the repeating of them, loving your neighbor as yourself and loving YHWH above all other things, but these are action commands. They require your action and your work and diligence.
Pure religion and undefiled before YHWH and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
(Jas 1:27 KJV)
This doesn’t say to your local assembly only, and to those who believe exactly like you do. Neither of these scriptures have a boundary on believers only, they have the boundary of loving others as yourself, which includes all.
Now, a few months ago my wife and I ran across an interesting organization and as I was putting this presentation together I thought where are some examples of people, or groups of people that are in fact walking the talk? Walking the talk as far as they understand it? You have to think about that. Where are people walking the talk that you know of? Are they going out and helping others? Are they visiting the sick and the infirmed and helping the widows in their elderly ages and so forth? Are they visiting people in prison? I have to ask myself those same questions.
We ran across an organization earlier this year that I think is walking the talk, and this group is called Mercy Ships. Its founder and president is a guy named Don Stevens. What has caught my attention about this group is his mantra. His mantra is “Following the model of Jesus”. Now some will right out of the chute here say well, he doesn’t understand YHWH or Yahushua’s sacred name. No he doesn’t but look what he is doing with his organization. Let’s see if this matches up to the scriptures we just read.
Our Mission:
Mercy Ships, a global charity, has operated a fleet of hospital ships in developing nations since 1978. Mercy Ships follows the 2000 year old model of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor.
Our Vision,
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time.
Our Values
Desiring to follow the model of Jesus, we seek to
Love God
Love and serve others
Be people of integrity
Be people of excellence in all we say and do
Now when I read all of that, I see the reflection of the scriptures we have been reading. I’m sure there are other organizations and charities that you could come up with that do some of these kinds of things. You/I have to ask, what am I/you doing? What is your organization? What is your church or assembly doing that matches up to the admonitions of YHWH/Yahushua’s teachings?
7. On These Two Commandments Hang All the Law and the Prophets
The Law and the Prophets are Dependent on 2 Great Commandments
Trick question
These two great commandments hang above all the law and the prophets. I said we were going to come back to Matthew chapter 22 because Matthew 22 was parallel with the first group of scriptures we read in Mark. In Matthew it says
Then one of the, which was a lawyer G3544=pertaining to law, an expert in Mosaic law, asked him a question, tempting G3985=test, scrutinize, entice him, and saying Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (Mat 22:35-36 KJV)
The account in Mark we read had this as a background, that this lawyer was tempting him and saying what is the great commandment it the law? You have to ask yourself, what was he doing? I guess lawyers haven’t changed, his thoughts were to ask a tempting question and see what the answer is going to be. The only answer was given by Yahushua, to love YHWH above all other things, and love your neighbor as yourself, these are the great commandments.
Lawyers anticipated response:
Law of circumcision or
Law of Sabbath or
Law of sacrifices etc.
Expecting to alienate the people by controversy or
Marginalize the not so great commandment
What the lawyer was hoping to do was drive a wedge between different groups and say well, this guy thinks that the Sabbaths are what’s most important, and these people over here they don’t, or circumcision is most important and we all know that the law of Moses is based on circumcision here.
I’m thinking that this lawyer had a divide and conquer approach to this tempting, or trying to entice Yahushua to give the wrong response. We sort of have that In the world today in Washington in the world of politics. We see the news media ask questions to the Presidential Staff and it seems like there isn’t ever a right answer. The best answer is never a right answer. Somebody always finds fault with it. That’s a whole different subject.
The lawyer was expecting a possibility of a way to marginalize Yahushua, to put him down and think “Well, I can show you now that what you said that the law of circumcision or Sabbaths or whatever you come up with is not so great, it’s not so great there’s something greater than that.” That was probably the argument that he was thinking in his mind.
Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thy heart G2588=thoughts, feelings and with all they soul G5590=breath, spirit, vitality, and with all thy mind G1271=deep thought, 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 hang G2910=to hang all the law and the prophets. (Mat 22:37-40)
Thoughts, feelings, your breath, your spirit, and your deep thoughts, now that’s pretty encompassing and it’s internalizing all of these areas of your person.
We’ve read these a few times now, but what we haven’t really read is the statement that Yahushua made, On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. This is another scripture something like Matthew 5:17 that says, think not that I’m come to destroy the law, and that’s as far as people think. But is says, and the prophets. This is the same thing, on these two commands hang all the law and the prophets. Now, what do the prophets have to do with the law? I would argue that they don’t have much to do with the law. This statement, again we went over this in detail in Parts 6 and 7, the law and the prophets are always pointers to Yahushua Messiah. The law of Moses had prophecies that pointed to Yahushua, and the prophets of course did. That is what this is all about.
In the Holman translation, this same scripture is translated:
All the Law and the Prophets depend on (dictionary=be controlled or determined by) these two commands. (Mat 22:40 HCSB)
Now there is a dependency and Yahushua is that dependency, I would argue. The dependency of Yahushua is what hangs under the two great commandments, the law and the prophets is the reference to Yahushua. Yahushua’s response was of Messianic substance, not of rabbinic legal form as the lawyer was thinking. This is somewhat a trick question.
Yahushua also gives a trick answer because we know that he quoted Deuteronomy 6, but I think there is more to the Deuteronomy 6 quote than meets the eye so let’s take a look at that:
Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which YHWH your Eloah commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: That thou mightest fear YHWH thy Eloah, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy left; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as YHWH Eloah of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. Hear O Israel: YHWH our Eloah is one YHWH (YHWH is one): And thou shalt love YHWH thy Eloah with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart (Deu 6:1-6 KJV)
This lawyer is trying to trick Yahushua and Yahushua gives this response and on the surface we know where it is, and we know where it came from. A little deeper digging we see that it only occurs in 17 verses.
17 verses after the second reading of Decalogue
1. I am YHWH thy Eloah, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other Elohim before me.
2. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth; Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy Eloah am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Eloah in vain: for YHWH will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Does not mean cursing, or swearing, I would say that’s pretty low on the hit-list of what this is about. Taking his name in vain is not honoring him. Calling out and using his name and saying that you are a part of his family but not acting that part and showing the love for your neighbor as yourself and love for YHWH above all other things. All of these things, all of the commandments are summed up into those two great commandments.)
4. Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it, as YHWH thy Eloah hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labor, and do all ty work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YHWH thy Eloah: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that YHWH thy Eloah brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore YHWH thy Eloah commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.
I’ve mentioned this previously but I want to show it to you here now as we are looking at the Ten Commandments and their significance and importance that this is the second list. This is the second set of stones, the first set that was written at Sinai, in the first week or so that they were at Sinai, had a different reference for the Sabbath day. It said the same thing up to this point, but instead of remember that you were in the land of Egypt, the first set of stones said;
For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
(Exo 20:11 KJV)
We see the first set of stones had to do with the creation, the second set which we have as a foundation for YHWH’s commandments today, was a reference back to being a servant in Egypt, and how YHWH brought us out. He brought the Israelites out which is a type of bringing us out.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother, as YHWH thy Eloah hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged and that it may go well with thee, in the land which YHWH thy Eloah giveth thee. (Here is a commandment of promise; you get to live a long life)
6. Thou shalt not kill
7. Neither shalt thou commit adultery.
8. Neither shalt thou steal.
9. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor’s wife; neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s house, his field, or his manservant or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or anything that is thy neighbors. (Deu 5:6-21 KJV)
These are the Ten Commandments and 17 verses later is where we find this section that talks about putting these commandments and legislation in your heart and mind.
The legal lawyer in Mat 22:35-36 that was talking to Yahushua would have known all of these scriptures and known the importance of what was being said.
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am YHWH. (Lev 19:18 KJV)
Yahshua is repeating to love your neighbor as yourself; the attorney knows that’s in Leviticus 19. He knows that it is a section of scripture from the second set of stones. We will take a look at where this particular statement You shall love your neighbor as yourself comes from.
When we look at Leviticus 19 it’s almost like a potpourri, a miscellaneous group of a whole bunch of things together. Read through this, it’s pretty interesting.
And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am YHWH your Eloah. (Here is something about your harvest, leave some behind for the poor is what it’s saying) Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another, and ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy Eloah: I am YHWH, And ye shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. (If somebody comes to work for you, you pay them that day) Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy Eloah: I am YHWH. Thou shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: It’s the idea of social justice, we can pay for justice, and we don’t honor that) but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people (don’t gossip): neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am YHWH. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor (go directly to him), and not suffer sin upon him. (Lev 19:9-17 KJV)
Continuing
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, (Look at all these various and sundry items of legislation and now interjected is) but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am YHWH. (This is put in here for a later time I think because they had to have all these details of how to love your neighbor, they couldn’t have it written in their heart and mind, but we do now, but that’s where this comes from it is embedded in a whole long series of legislation.) Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woolen come upon thee.
(Lev 19:18-19 KJV)
I think it’s fascinating to see this is embedded around such different legislation and Yahushua picked it out. It was put there in the time of Moses in 1400 BCE and was put there for 30CE so Yahushua could bring it out and it was put there for us today.
These summary statements given have some real meat in them and the lawyer would have known them, and known them well.
On these Two Commandments Hang all the Law and the Prophets
Why the law and prophets? Why is the term law and prophets used? On the two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Yahushua inaugurates the Kingdom of YHWH when he came.
Luk 16:16 – The law and the prophets were until John: Since that time the kingdom of YHWH is preached, and every man presseth G071=force, crowd into, suffer violence into it.
The law and the prophets, they all pointed towards Yahushua. Since that time the kingdom of YHWH is preached and every man presses into it. Now there is quite a controversy on what “every man presses into it” means. I’m not positive myself, but I lean toward the idea that every man pressing into it has to do with the Pharisees and Sadducees rejecting the Messiah. They were trying to have all these work arounds in order to have the kingdom of YHWH come when in fact the Messiah was right in front of them. They allowed by violence that the kingdom of YHWH is preached. Every man is trying to crowd his way into it and I don’t think this is a positive statement but a negative one. Every man meaning the legal authorities, and the Temple authorities in these days were trying to crowd into it with violence. Instead of having love in their hearts and minds and honoring the two great commandments they went about it a whole different way.
The law and prophets introduce Yahushua. We’ve gone through some of these scriptures before but there are a few new ones here.
Luk 24:44 – And he said unto them, these are the words which I spake unto you, while was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me.
In no way does this have anything to do with keeping the Law of Moses. This has everything to do with the prediction and the prophetic future that the Torah had in it regarding the references to the future of the Messiah and in the prophets, and Psalms.
Act 24:14 – But this I (Paul) confess unto thee, that after the way (the road) which they call heresy, (Are you listening to this and thinking I’m speaking heresy? Better read this on a little closer) so worship the Eloah of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets (concerning Yahushua).
What is the insinuation? Concerning Yahushua.
Act 28:23 – And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him (Paul) into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of YHWH, persuading them concerning Yahushua, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
That’s what I’m doing here. I’m talking to you out of the law and out of the prophets and out of the Psalms concerning Yahushua Messiah. That’s what all the references are all about. That is the foundation under the two great commandments, the law and the Prophets.
There is a new standard of discipleship and it’s an amazing one line scripture.
Rom 3:21 – But now the righteousness of YHWH without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets.
Do you hear that? It says: without the law is manifested – being witnessed by the law and the prophets. This terminology “law and prophets” is code word for Yahushua the Messiah. I think in all cases, certainly in most. I hope you have ears to hear.
8. Obedience to Torah is Fulfilled and Satisfied Through Love
Completed and satisfied through love.
Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled G4137=make replete, level up a hollow, fill-up, perfect, be complete, fully preach (verb) the law. For this, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended G346=to sum up, gather together in one in this saying, namely, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling G4138=repletion, completion, what is put in to fill up (noun) of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep G5258+hypnos=figuratively spiritual torpor (inactivity/lethargy) for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Rom 13:8-11 KJV)
The last five are summed up; they are gathered together into one statement, summarized in other words. The one statement love your neighbor as yourself. Love works no ill in his neighbor therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. That’s all you need to do or know. Any of your actions, if they are harmful to my neighbor, then it’s breaking this commandment. But if you are action is not harmful to your neighbor and you are showing love, then you are fulfilling this commandment. Also an interesting word for sleep is Hypnos. Have you been hypnotized by the false teaching of some groups and organizations? Are you in a spiritual torpor? Are you inactive and full of lethargy? Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The two words fulfilled are used and one of them is much like the verb form and the other like a noun. They are somewhat interchangeable, certainly they are in English, but they have a little connotation in the Greek. “He that loves” another has completed or filled up, or fully preached the law, that is what that word fulfilled means. The other one “love is” the active fulfilling of the law so it assumes it’s a noun of completion, or repletion, it’s what is put in to fill up. When we compare this back to Matthew 5:17 we see the similarities.
G4137 comparison
Think not that I’ve come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil G4137=make replete, level up a hollow, fill-up, perfect, be complete, fully preach (verb) (Mat 5:17 KJV)
When we compare Matthew 5:17 with Romans 13:8 we see that love fulfills the law as Yahushua fulfills the law and the prophets. Our actions fulfill the law to our neighbor as Yahushua fulfilled all of the requirements, all of the statutes and prophecies of his coming.
We also see some comparisons to the second fulfill in Romans 15 and Galatians 4.
G4138 comparison
And I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness G4138=repletion, completion, what is put in to fill up (noun) of the blessing of the gospel of Messiah. (Rom 15:29 KJV)
But when the fullness G4138=repletion, completion, what is put in to fill up (noun) of the time was come, YHWH sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law (Gal 4:4 KJV)
Which is his body, the fullness G4138=repletion, completion, what is put in to fill up (noun) of him that G4137=make replete, level up a hollow, fill-up, perfect, be complete, fully preach (verb) all in all. (Eph 3:19 KJV)
And to know the love of Messiah, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be G4137=make replete, level up a hollow, fill-up, perfect, be complete, fully preach (verb) with all the G4138=repletion, completion, what is put in to fill up (noun) of YHWH. (Eph 3:19 KJV)
When you see this word filled or fullness, or fulfilled, depending on the context, there could be a slight difference of the use in the Greek. It’s important to keep that in mind. The fulfilling that Yahushua did was to fulfill the law and the prophets regarding his coming. The fulfilling that we do is to perfect or complete our love to one another.
Obedience to the Torah is fulfilled and satisfied through our love. In Galatians 5 we find a scripture that is useful in this context.
For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law (Torah) is fulfilled G4137=make replete, level up a hollow, fill-up, perfect, be complete, fully preach (verb) in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. (Gal 5:13-14 KJV)
The law is perfected. Statement number 8 says obedience to Torah is fulfilled and satisfied through love. This scripture says the law is fulfilled and perfected in one word. For in this you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Notice that G5055 is a slightly different version of the word fulfill, it means to complete. There is similarities, but still slightly different.
If ye fulfil G5055=to end, complete, conclude, perform the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well (Jas 2:8 KJV)
James is saying the royal law, that which is above all, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. That’s what we should be doing. Again, obedience to the Torah is satisfied through love. You don’t have to know much more than to love your neighbor as yourself, and love YHWH above all other things. The problem is the application of those words, and the doing and the works associated with those words. The responsibility that we all have when we say those words and it goes beyond just the words coming out of your mouth. It follows directly to actions, your thoughts, and your deeds.
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. (This all started because of YHWH’s love towards us. Because he sent his only begotten Son, it says in 1 John 3:16. ) Herein is love, not that we loved YHWH, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation G2434=atonement, expiator (make amends or reparation) 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=complete, accomplish, consecrate, fulfill in us. (1Jn 4:7-12 KJV)
If we love YHWH, he dwells in us. His love is perfected, completed, accomplished, it’s fulfilled in us. There is no amount of Torah keeping of 613 statutes and legislation that does this. It’s perfected and completed in love. The YHWH dwells in us.
9. Love Leads to Obedience Remember when we started I said this last group of 4 items is surrounded and encompassed by love, or charity. Obedience doesn’t lead to obedience.
There are a number of scriptures we are going to go into on this to make sure it’s clear.
Joh 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I think that means love me and then keep my commandments. It’s an order of things. You tend to do things at the same time, but it’s your love that makes you want to keep his commandments.
Joh 14:21 – He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
When you love YHWH and Yahushua, you keep his commandments.
Joh 14:23 – Yahushua answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
This is a classic if – then, if a man love me, then he will keep my words. Notice these are all in 1John. John’s the master of this subject. It’s amazing to see what he’s written about.
1Jn 2:3-6 – And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of YHWH perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1Jn 2:8-10 – Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light, we hateth G3404=to detest, especially to persecute his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth G3306=dwells in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
Love is what starts all of this; it’s the initiation, the starting point.
1Jn 5:2-3 – By this we know that we love the children of YHWH, when we love YHWH, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of YHWH, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
There is a symbiosis here of love and honoring his commandments, but your love is what initiates it. Looking into Romans:
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
(Rom 13:10 KJV)
Remember? The law is fulfilled by love, there is another scripture that applies. That’s why these last four subjects are all intertwined, because of how love is interacting with the law and your neighbor.
Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Messiah forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of YHWH rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col 3:13-15 KJV)
That sounds pretty important to me, above all put on love. That is the bond of perfectness. I want to be perfected, I want to shed this old man and replace it with YHWH’s Spirit. I want YHWH to dwell in me. Let your Spirit O Father, dwell in us all. I sure am grateful. I’m grateful that YHWH has called me and my wife out and that we are part of the people on the narrow path. Yes, we make mistakes and yes, we fumble the ball from time to time but we are growing and learning. Our zeal is for YHWH, for Yahushua and loving him above all other things, and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Messiah forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of YHWH rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col 3:13-15 KJV)
Now the end G5056=goal, point aimed at as a limit, conclusion of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (Can that be misunderstood? The point you aim at, the conclusion, the goal of the commandment. I would suggest the commandment has to do with the two great commandments, but it certainly would be applicable to all.) From which (referencing charity out of a pure heart. etc.) some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.(1Ti 1:5-7 KJV)
Even back in the days of Timothy there were false teachers that were teaching the opposite of this that love is not the answer, that obedience is the answer. Love is the answer, love leads to obedience, and obedience does not lead to love.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yahushua Messiah
(Joh 1:17 KJV)
That jumps off the page to me; I hope it does for you. Grace and truth came by Messiah, not by the law of Moses. There isn’t a third leg on the stool. Grace and truth came by the Messiah.
As I’ve thought about this, I think there are some statements that could be made in this section.
A person that’s motivated by love does not need legislation to behave in a loving way. In other words, I don’t need a list, if I’m motivated by love, if that’s what’s in my heart and mind, I don’t need a list of definition, or any legislation of rules to apply that. I will do it because I want to.
A person motivated by law uses legislation to define love though. You have all these rules and regulations that the law requires, and that’s what a person that is motivated by that needs, a list.
The law of Moses does not define love. It does not. Show me where it does. We see in Deuteronomy and Leviticus those are summary statements. Those summary statements were put there for us to see when Yahushua came in 30 CE. That’s as far as it got. They didn’t know what that meant until Yahushua came.
The law of Moses is rooted in love, but love does not define the law of Moses. The comparison doesn’t match.
Just as the law of Moses does not define love, so love does not define the law of Moses
Love transcends the law of Moses What did we read in Romans 13? Love works no evil, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. It’s transcending the law of Moses.
All law exists because YHWH loves me. He loved us first, he gave his only begotten Son. We now have the opportunity to show our love back to him.
Love in our hearts and minds are not dependent on our obedience to any law. I want to be clear here, this isn’t heresy or apostasy that I’m all for anomia, or lawlessness. I know that Matthew 24 says that because iniquity will abound in the last days, the love of many will wax cold. This word iniquity means lawlessness or anomia. I do not have anomia. We honor YHWH’s commandments, and his Holy days, His way of life and we honor “The Way”, the way that leads to salvation.
So are the Ten Commandments still in effect? Let’s read some scriptures that show us that they are.
Joh 15:10 – If you keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
What is Yahushua talking about? He’s talking about the Ten Commandments.
1Co 7:19 – Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of YHWH.
Jas 1:25 – But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth G3887=to stay near, remain therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
1Jo 3:22-24 – And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, (That is an amazing promise. Whatever we ask we receive because we keep his commandments. I would suggest it’s the Ten Commandments) and so 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 his commandments dwelleth in Him (YHWH) and He (YHWH) in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.
YHWH gives us his Spirit.
Rev 12:17 – And the dragon was wroth with the woman, (The ecclesia, the called out ones) and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, (What do they do that he doesn’t like?) which keep the commandments of YHWH, and have the testimony of Yahushua Messiah.
Rev 14:12 – Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of YHWH, and the faith of Yahushua.
Rev 22:14 – Blessed are they that do his commandments (last chapter of the book, this is the end) that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
That is my goal and also the goal of my wife. I hope it’s your goal but you’ll have to decide. Are they still in effect?
Do You Live Like you Love YHWH?
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I lived you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide G3306=to stay, continue, be present in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide G3306=same in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (Joh 15:8-14 KJV)
Your love is what is important, but your obedience to the commandments is what follows.
We see the importance and the significance of love in this teaching in John 15. This is just before he was crucified on Passover in 30 CE.
And now I beseech the, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, that, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. (2Jn 1:5-6 KJV)
It’s a controversy who the lady is, or what this lady is. Some think the lady is referring to the church or the assemblies that John was writing to. Some think that it might even have been mother Mary. It’s interesting that he mentions this lady, and that we should love one another and this is love, that we walk after his commandments. Nothing new here, love your neighbor as yourself, and love YHWH above all other things.
What Commandments?
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Yahushua said unto him, 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 hang all the law and the prophets. (Mat 22:35-40 KJV)
I know we read this before but here it is again. All the law and the prophets are the pointers to Yahushua Messiah. He is the foundation under which these two great commandments fall.
What commandments do different groups keep? I want to take a summary view of this. If you recall going back to Sessions 5 and 6 when we looked at the Sermon on the Mount and particularly Matthew 5:17, I said that depending upon how different groups interpret Matthew 5:17, whether Yahushua was talking about fulfilling the law, “think not that I’ve come to destroy the law and the prophets, I’m not come to destroy but to fulfill.” That series of scriptures depends on how an organization interprets that. It determines which law groups they keep. Fundamentally there are three major groups, and yes I know there are dozens and hundreds for that matter of variations underneath.
Largely mainstream Christianity accepts the New Covenant that was established in the Upper Room by Yahushua as the covenant and those two great commandments are the foundation. Fundamentally they don’t accept the Ten Commandments particularly the 4th commandment with the Sabbath. People may say yes, I don’t commit adultery, I honor my mother and father, and I love YHWH above all other things and so forth. When it comes to the Sabbath, generally people in Christianity say well yeah, that’s been changed. When you ask when it was changed and how, nobody has a good answer. But it was changed by Constantine at the Council of Nicea in 325/326 CE. They accept the two great commandments, and understand that Versions 2 and 3 of the covenants that we know are there, those were abolished. That is clear in Christianity. There is something called the Pre-Sinai commandment list and I’ve included at least some of what that encompasses.
Before Sinai there was law in effect. The Pre Sinai legal system, we don’t see by chapter and verse that you should honor a certain set of commandments, rules, regulations and legislation, what we see is by example. We see there was a Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread established in Egypt. That was in Exodus 12 and was prior to Mt Sinai by a couple of months. We also know that murder wasn’t acceptable from the situation with Cain and Abel in Genesis chapter 4. We also know that adultery wasn’t acceptable because of Abimelech’s potential adultery with Sarah when Abraham and Sarah came to visit. That’s in Genesis chapter 20. We also know that the 7th day Sabbath was established at creation. We see that in Genesis 2:3. We also know that the Sabbath was upheld in Exodus 16 prior to the arrival, probably 3 or 4 weeks at Sinai. I would add all these up to the Eternal Law, that which was created and established at creation. We know that Abraham kept law and statutes because the scriptures tell us so but where is the reference to that? The answer is – there isn’t- the first references we see are really at Mt Sinai, two different versions of the covenants at Mt Sinai and a third at Moab. The law got written down and added to and modified and embellished, particularly the Moab covenant. Christianity doesn’t accept much of that except for the Upper Room, the two great commandments.
Torah Keepers on the other hand accept most all of it. Someone that is Torah compliant person that strives to live by the Torah understands that there was law before Mt. Sinai, and also keep parts and pieces. This becomes a problem because what parts and pieces they keep determine their belief system. Some groups keep some of the 613 commandments and some keep other parts. It’s back to which ones are done away with? It’s sacrifices and stoning. People come up with those kinds of explanations.
The next question is who decides? The Torah keepers part of this is most all of it’s accepted and the downside of it is, it forces the New Covenant that was established in the Upper Room has to be labeled and a renewed covenant. It cannot be a new covenant and a revolutionary covenant as it really was with the acceptance of the law of Moses as foundational and something that’s to be kept. I think as we’ve seen particularly the covenant that was established with the law of Moses. That has been abolished, done away with, what’s left is the Sinai covenant that were the two tablets of stone broken by Moses. The Torah keepers have a more universal acceptance of it overall.
The Believers of The Way understand there was law before Mt Sinai and that Version 1 of of the covenant is still what is left in place fundamentally. Yes, you have to say the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth is in there, and we know from the reciprocity addition that Yahushua made that eye for eye tooth for tooth is no longer applicable and that is just one example. Now we are operating out of a foundation of love in our hearts and mind.
These are the three major differences that we started with. Now that we have a better foundation this all should make better sense.
A More Excellent Way early on in Session 2 or 3 I started talking about a more excellent way. We’ve gone through a lot of material. One of the scriptures that I brought up early was this more excellent way and it became the title of the section and the nine points of the way. Let’s read this scripture that talks about a more excellent way and see if it makes more sense now
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Remember Alexandria was the school of learning it had the largest library until the second century CE. Alexandria was the center of learning and this Jewish man Apollos had the best education and credentials available as a doctor of the law. It doesn’t say that he was a doctor of the law but he was probably of that caliber. He understood the Old Covenant inside and out, but he only knew the baptism of John which was a baptism of repentance. He didn’t know about Yahushua.
This man was instructed in the way of YHWH; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of YHWH, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way G3598=road, made, means of YHWH more perfectly G197=exactly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Yahushua was Messiah. (Act 18:24-28 KJV)
Priscilla and Aquila were Jews from Rome which after taking Apollos aside, Apollos understood The Way. He found out there was a more excellent way through Yahushua Messiah. Priscilla and Aquila whispered in his ear the more excellent way. I’m whispering in your ear, there is a more excellent way, find it.
We see in 1Corinthians Paul is talking about gifts.
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent G5236=supereminence, beyond measure way. (1Co 12:31 KJV)
That’s what the word excellence means. The Greek for excellent is in Strongs Concordance is G5236 = Supereminence, beyond measure a more excellent way.
One More Thought: The recipe for Guaranteed Success
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of YHWH, and of Messiah our Master. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and righteousness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this,
Here is the recipe: giving all diligence:
Add to your faith virtue (valor, courage in face of danger, excellence)
Add to your virtue (excellence) knowledge (gnosis- knowing, science)
it means knowledge of the scripture. It has to do with scientific proof. I’ve given you what I would think to be scientific proof from the scriptures that they are saying what I show you they say in terms of following the way and that love is what’s most important. You have to go work though. You don’t get knowledge without working or trying, searching and reading, studying and praying. Seek YHWH above all other things. Once you start that, you will never end understanding. Look how big the universe is, we will never end our knowledge.
And to knowledge temperance (self-control)
And to temperance patience (cheerful endurance, consistency)
Patience has to do with being constant. Don’t be down one day and up another, don’t be happy one day and sad the next. Add a consistency to your lifestyle. Praise YHWH in all things. Give glory and thanks in all things and be patient.
And to patience righteousness (Piety, holiness)
And to righteousness brotherly kindness (love of the brethren)
Notice where this is, this doesn’t come up front; this comes later in the list. This is a building block of how we can grow and overcome.
And to brotherly kindness charity (love, affection, benevolence)
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Master Yahushua Messiah. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: For if you do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Master and Savior Yahushua Messiah. (2Pe 1:2-11 KJV)
No Other Prerequisites I see a bunch of periods, and they are building blocks, do this and then do this. If you do these things, you shall never fall.
Do your Own Homework.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy G3585=Jewish sophistry and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Messiah.
(Col 2:8 KJV)
This word philosophy means Jewish sophistry. This is learning for hire the philosophy of the day.
For we have not followed cunningly devised G4679=sofidzo=to render wise with all deliberate deception, continue plausible error=sophist fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Master Yahushua Messiah, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty (2Pet 1:16 KJV)
Sophism (Merriam Webster) – and argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially such an argument used to deceive.
All scripture is given by inspiration of HWH, and is profitable G1650=admonish, conviction for correction, G188=straightening up again for instruction G3809=education, disciplinary correction in righteousness T1343=equity of character or act, justification. (2Ti 3:16 KJV)
And this I (Paul) pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement; that ye may approve G1381=test, discern, examine things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Messiah. (Php 1:8-10 KJV)
Don’t believe me or anybody else. Do your own homework. Hopefully I have given you words for thought and an opportunity to go search the scriptures.
Qualify = be entitled to a particular benefit or privilege by fulfilling a necessary condition
Transcribed from video
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