The Torah - Law and Grace

In most non-Jewish translations of the Jewish Scriptures, the word "Torah" is translated "law."  The word Torah means instruction. David stated, "Your Torah have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you."

The words "law" and "grace" have different meanings among religious Jews and Christians. Most Christians think of the Torah, or law, as a collection of regulations and rules. However, Torah has a deeper meaning - It is the revealed will of G~d.  It is instruction from G~d.¹

Careful study of the Bible reveals that principles found in the Ten Mitzvot (Commandments) existed before G~d gave them to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:3-17) , and those same principles still exist today. The two primary principles of the commandments are love for G~d and love for others. The first four commandments tell us "Who to worship," "What not to worship," "How to worship," and "When to worship." The last six commandments tell us how to lovingly relate to one another. Only when we understand and accept G~d’s grace can we begin to display genuine love for G~d and people.

G~d’s Grace Is Based on Torah

Some Christians insist that G~d’s law did not exist prior to Moses and does not apply now. However, the Bible teaches that "sin is violation of Torah" (1 John 3:4) and "where there is no law, there is also no violation." (Romans 4:15)  If the principles of Torah do not exist today, how can mankind ever be held accountable for sin? If there was no law to expose sin prior to Moses, how was it that G~d acknowledged "the people on earth were very wicked" (Genesis 6:5) and judged the world with a flood?  How was it that Joseph recognized adultery as a "sin against G~d?" (Genesis 39:9)

The Brit Chadashah (New Covenant) says that "all have sinned and come short of earning G~d’s praise." (Romans 3:23) If there is no law, then there is no transgression, no sin, and no need for a Savior. Grace is G~d’s forgiveness of our sin. It is not our repentance that causes G~d’s forgiveness; rather it is his forgiveness that causes our repentance. To be forgiven means to forgive and accept one another.³

G~d’s Judgment Is Based on Torah

Solomon wrote, "Here is the conclusion, now that you have heard everything;  fear G~d, and keep his mitzvot; this is what being human is all about.  For G~d will bring to judgement everything we do, including every secret, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)  The Brit Chadashah sums up the purpose of G~d’s "royal law" this way, "Keep speaking and acting like people who will be judged by a Torah which gives freedom." (James 2:8-12)

Just as judicial courts judge by established law, so G~d will pass final judgment using the principles of his law (James 4:12). G~d will judge our hearts (Romans 2). Those accepting G~d’s grace, though guilty, will be free in him.

Paul’s Comments on Torah and Grace

Paul, who was Jewish, gives a balanced perspective on Torah and grace throughout his writings. "For you have been delivered by grace through trusting, and even this is not your accomplishment but G~d’s gift. You were not delivered by your own actions; therefore no one should boast. For we are of G~d’s making, created in union with the Messiah Yeshua for a life of good actions already prepared by G~d for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

"For it is not merely the hearers of Torah whom G~d considers righteous; rather, it is the doers of what Torah says who will be made righteous in G~d’s sight." (Romans 2:13)

"For in His sight no one alive will be considered righteous on the ground of legalistic observance of Torah commands, because what Torah really does is show people how sinful they are."   (Romans 3:20)

"Does it follow that we abolish Torah by this trusting?  Heaven forbid!  On the contrary, we confirm Torah." (Romans 3:31)

"For sin will not have authority over you; because you are not under legalism but under grace.   Therefore, what conclusion should we reach?  'Let's go on sinning, because we are not under legalism but under grace?'  Heaven forbid!" (Romans 6:14,15)

"Therefore, what are we to say?  That the Torah is sinful?  Heaven forbid!  Rather, the function of the Torah was that without it, I would not have known what sin is." (Romans 7:7)

"So the Torah is holy; that is, the commandment is holy, just and good." (Romans 7:12)

Paul is not teaching disobedience to G~d’s law. Rather he tries to convey an understanding that mere obedience does not save anyone. Salvation does not come through legalistic rules and practices (Galatians 5:4; Colossians 2:22), but through G~d’s grace. Yet Paul admonishes, "Being circumcised means nothing, and being uncircumcised means nothing; what does mean something is keeping G~d's commandments." (1 Corinthians 7:19)

Paul regards the law as holy, just and good, and never taught its abolishment. The law expresses the will of G~d and the law of Yeshua (Jesus), which is a law of love, completes the Torah^.4

Observance of the law cannot save anyone. However, Paul also knew people would not be saved if they blatantly transgressed it.⁵   When we do transgress G~d’s law, we can ask for forgiveness and cleansing from sin. Ezekiel 36:25-27 promises us cleansing from impurity, a new heart of love, and the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) to instruct us in righteousness.

What did Yeshua Teach?

"Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not abolish but to complete. Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah—not until everything that must happen has happened.  So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven." 

Yeshua in Matthew 5:17-19

Yeshua said he came to fulfill the law, not abolish it, and that it would endure until heaven and earth pass away.  The word "fulfill" is a Jewish idiom, meaning to fill up to the brim and make complete—not eliminate.  Are Yeshua's teachings replaced or undermined by the teachings of Sha'ul?  Is Sha'ul the final authority on Torah, or is Yeshua? 

In the new covenant, G~d promises to write his law in the minds and hearts of his people (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-10).  Yeshua renews the promised covenant.  He doesn't create a new Torah or abolish the existing.  Rather, Yeshua makes it complete. 

"The Jewish rejection of Messiah was triggered by the Christian rejection of the Law." ⁸

The emerging attitudes in the non-Jewish Church made it impossible for the Jews to accept the messianic claims of Yeshua. The non-Jews presented Yeshua on terms reflecting their own misunderstanding of the law; conditions unsupported by Yeshua himself.⁶  But the principles of G~d’s instruction do not change because G~d does not (Malachi 3:6).

Because of anti-Jewish sentiment expressed within Christianity, many Jews have come to view the Messiah and the New Testament as being irrelevant.⁷  However, negative sentiments do not justify ignoring the truth of the matter.  Have you searched for the truths found in the Bible, rather than the teaching of men - whether ministers or rabbis?  G~d says, "If with all your heart you truly seek me, you will surely find Me."  Yeshua said, "Seek and you will find."

The Ten Commandments - As Changed by Man

Sadly, the "10 commandments" written above, by non-Jews, are substantially lacking in content from those given by G~d to Israel at Sinai.  These "commandments" are not even numbered correctly or correlated properly to the original ten commandments.  Is it any wonder that many today do not properly understand and apply G~d's commandments in their lives?    

Jeremiah 31:30-33