How often and how closely do you study the words of Moses? Is it a major part of your habits of faith? Statistically speaking, odds are, if you are a Christian, you spend most (if not all) of your time in the “New Testament.” To go back into the older writings is too often considered of less importance and depending on your denominational bent, entirely taboo.
That’s not how the Apostles understood it though. Despite our misunderstandings and misapplication of the Apostolic Writings, one of God’s commandments is that you will study Torah. The 11th positive commandment as enumerated by Maimonides outlines this teaching as follows:
P11 – To study Torah and to teach it [to others], as Deuteronomy 6:7 states: “And you shall teach them to your children.[1]” (parallel verses: Deut 11:19, Deut 31:12, Num 15:38)
The Apostles had an evident assumption that you would study the words of Moses. In fact, this notion was built into the Acts 15 Council rulings. Immediately after they give the minimum standards required to facilitate fellowship between Jews and Gentiles, they follow it with this:
Acts 15:21 (TLV)
21 For Moses from ancient generations has had in every city those who proclaim him, since he is read in all the synagogues every Sabbath.
There was a passion and love for the words of Moses, and there still is. For modern believers who partake in diligent study of the first five books of Scripture, one of the greatest excitements lies in uncovering a new gem in the layered meanings of instruction. There is freedom in the words of the Torah. David calls it “liberty” in Psalm 119:45.
Our Master upheld the Torah’s authority, too. He taught the precepts, He adjudicated Torah, He created parables around it, and repeatedly said He wasn’t here to dimmish its authority in any way. Yeshua even went so far as to forbid the thought (Mat 5:17) that He was here to abolish the words of Moses. Even more, Yeshua hung your belief in Him on a belief in the Torah.
John 5:46 (TLV)
46 For if you were believing Moses, you would believe Me—because he wrote about Me.
In Jewish thought, obedience to the Torah is absolute. To literally live out one of God’s instructions is called a “good work” or a “good deed.” When Yeshua said during the Sermon on the Mount to shine your light by doing good works (Mat 5:16), He was referencing the literal application of the Torah. In fact, go reread the entire Sermon. That was Yeshua teaching and expounding on Moses. He was raising the ethical understanding and teaching to live it out literally but to also include an internal observance known only to you and God.
You are to study these words and know them. You are to uphold, endorse, and advocate for them and pass them on to the next generation. Paul agrees as he specifically says to raise up our children in the instruction of the Lord – the Torah.
Ephesians 6:4 (TLV)
4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man is begging that someone would go and instruct his family to ensure they don’t end up in the fiery place as he did and he is told that even if someone rises from the dead if they don’t listen to Moses, neither would they listen to the one raised from the dead.
Luke 16:29–31 (TLV)
29 “But Abraham says, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets. Let them listen to them.’ 30 “But he said, ‘No, Father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead!’ ”
The study of Torah is important. It’s critical to the life of a Believer in Jesus. Our Master says so Himself in the Gospels. P11 isn’t just some random ruling of an ancient scroll that no longer applies to us. Its message is permanent and will continue on into the Kingdom at the return of Yeshua.
Hopefully, you’re beginning to see how deeply engrained the Torah is within the Apostolic Writings, and this is only the 11th positive command. It is the foundation of all the writings. Everything that comes after them from Joshua to Revelation expounds on the first five books. We should, of course, be studying the whole of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation, but as per the Acts 15 ruling, Moses should make a weekly appearance in our studies. Without Torah, you cannot understand the rest of what is said. We can’t do the good works Jesus called us to do if we don’t know how God defines and teaches those good works. We can’t pass the teachings on to the next generation if we disregard them and only study the last third of our Bibles.
Revelation 2:4–5 (ESV)
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
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