Introduction
Many people misunderstand Yahusha’s (Jesus’) teaching when He summarized the Torah into two great commandments: love for Yah and love for neighbor. Some assume this negates the rest of the Law, but in reality, all of Yah’s laws explain how to fulfill these two commandments. This study guide will explore:
- What Yahusha said about the Law
- How each Torah commandment fits under these two laws
- Why obedience to Torah is still relevant today
- Common objections to keeping Torah and why they are wrong
- Whoever breaks the least of the commandments and teaches others to do so
1. Yahusha’s Words on the Greatest Commandments
Matthew 22:36-40 (KJV): “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 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 neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Key Points:
Yahusha did not say these two commandments replace the rest of the Law. Instead, He said all of the Torah and Prophets “hang” on these two commandments—meaning they serve as the foundation for every other command. To fully love Yah and love our neighbor, we must understand and keep the Torah’s instructions.
2. How the Torah Teaches Us to Fulfill the Two Great Commandments
A. Commandments That Show Us How to Love Yah
(Deuteronomy 6:5 – “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”)
| Torah Commandment | How It Shows Love for Yah |
| No other gods (Exodus 20:3) | Devotion to Yah alone |
| No graven images (Exodus 20:4-6) | Worshiping Yah in truth, not idolatry |
| Not taking Yah’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7) | Respecting His name and authority |
| Keeping the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) | Honoring Yah’s appointed rest day |
| Observing Yah’s Feasts (Leviticus 23:1-44) | Celebrating the appointed times Yah established |
| Keeping dietary laws (Leviticus 11) | Respecting Yah’s instructions for purity |
Without these laws, how would we know how to properly love Yah?
B. Commandments That Show Us How to Love Our Neighbor
(Leviticus 19:18 – “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”)
| Torah Commandment | How It Shows Love for Others |
| Do not steal (Exodus 20:15) | Respects others’ property |
| Do not bear false witness (Exodus 20:16) | Encourages honesty and trust |
| Do not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14) | Protects marriages and families |
| Do not murder (Exodus 20:13) | Upholds the value of life |
| Help the poor and needy (Deuteronomy 15:7-8) | Shows compassion and kindness |
| Do not oppress the stranger (Exodus 22:21) | Encourages justice and fairness |
Without these laws, how would we know how to properly love our neighbor?
3. Why the Torah Is Still Relevant Today
Yahusha Never Abolished the Torah
- Matthew 5:17-19 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
- He then warns: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.”
The Apostles Taught Torah Obedience
- Romans 3:31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
- 1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
Prophecy Shows Torah Will Be Kept in the Future
- Isaiah 2:2-3 – “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD… for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
- Zechariah 14:16 – Nations will be required to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the Kingdom.
The Torah remains Yah’s standard for righteousness and will be kept in the coming Kingdom.
4. Common Objections to Keeping Torah and Why They Are Wrong
Objection 1: “We Are Under Grace, Not the Law”
Romans 6:15 – “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”
Truth: Grace does not give us permission to break the Torah; rather, it empowers us to obey out of love.
Objection 2: “The Law Was Only for the Jews”
Exodus 12:49 – “One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.”
Truth: Gentiles who join themselves to Yah must follow His instructions just like Israel.
Objection 3: “Paul Taught That the Law Was Done Away With”
Romans 3:31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
Truth: Paul upheld the Torah but taught that we are justified by faith, not by the works of the Law.
Objection 4: “Yahusha Fulfilled the Law, So We Don’t Have to”
Matthew 5:17-19 – Yahusha said not one jot or tittle of the Torah would pass away until heaven and earth pass.
Truth: Fulfill does not mean abolish; it means to fully obey and teach others to do the same.
Objection 5: “Keeping the Law Is Legalism”
1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
Truth: Obedience is an act of love, not legalism.
Rejecting the Torah is based on misinterpretations of Scripture. Yah’s laws remain valid and necessary for true obedience.
5. Whoever Breaks the Least of the Commandments and Teaches Others
- Matthew 5:19 – “Whosoever therefore shall break 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 and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
- This verse makes it clear that breaking even the smallest of Yah’s commandments and teaching others to do so is a serious offense.
- Those who uphold and teach the commandments will be honored in Yah’s Kingdom.
Conclusion
- Yahusha summarized the Torah into two commandments, but He did not abolish the rest.
- Every Torah law teaches us how to love Yah and love our neighbor.
- Yah’s laws remain in effect and will continue into the future Kingdom.
Final Thought: Love is not just a feeling—it is an action. The Torah gives us the blueprint for how to love Yah and love our neighbor in a way that pleases Him. We should never reject or ignore Yah’s instructions but strive to obey them out of love and reverence.
Reflection Questions for Study
- How does keeping the Sabbath demonstrate love for Yah?
- Why does Yah require honesty and fairness in dealing with others?
- How can we explain to others that the Torah still applies today?
0 Comments