Yes, the Bible clearly teaches that the Torah (Law) was given specifically to Israel. However, the question of whether it applies only to Israel or extends to others is more nuanced. Let’s examine:
Was the Torah Given Only to Israel?
Are Gentiles Excluded from the Torah?
Does the New Testament Extend the Torah to Others?
1. The Torah Was Given to Israel Only
A. Yah Gave the Law to Israel Alone
- Psalm 147:19-20 – “He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.”
The Torah was given to Israel, not to any other nation. - Deuteronomy 4:7-8 – “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?” Israel alone was chosen to receive the laws and commandments of Yah.
- Deuteronomy 5:1-3 – “Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day… The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.” The covenant (Torah) was not made with anyone except Israel.
The Torah was given exclusively to Israel as their national covenant with Yah.
2. Are Gentiles Excluded from the Torah?
A. Foreigners Living Among Israel Had to Follow the Law
- Exodus 12:49 – “One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.” Gentiles living among Israel were required to keep the Torah.
- Leviticus 24:22 – “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.” Yah did not make separate laws for Israelites and non-Israelites within their community.
The Torah was originally given to Israel, but Gentiles living among them were required to keep it.
B. The Prophets Foretold That Gentiles Would Follow the Torah
- Isaiah 56:6-7 – “Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD… Even them will I bring to my holy mountain.” Non-Israelites (strangers) who join themselves to Yah are accepted if they keep His commandments.
- Zechariah 14:16 – “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.” In the future, Gentile nations will be required to keep Yah’s appointed feasts (part of Torah).
The Torah was given to Israel, but Yah planned for others to follow it in the future.
3. Does the New Testament Extend the Torah to Others?
A. Yahusha Taught That Torah Remains for All Who Follow Him
- Matthew 5:17-19 – “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets… Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.” The Torah remains valid as long as heaven and earth exist.
- Matthew 28:19-20 – “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations… Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Yahusha commanded His disciples to teach “all nations” to obey His commands.
Yahusha reaffirmed the Torah and commanded His followers to teach it to all nations.
B. Paul Taught That Gentile Believers Are Grafted into Israel
- Romans 11:17 – “And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them… boast not against the branches.” Gentiles who follow Yahusha are grafted into Israel and should follow Israel’s ways.
- Ephesians 2:11-13 – “Ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise… but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Gentiles in Yahusha become part of the commonwealth of Israel and heirs of the covenant.
Gentiles are no longer “outsiders” but are joined into Israel, meaning they should follow Yah’s laws.
Final Verdict: Was the Torah Given Only to Israel, and Is It Only for Israel?
Yes, the Torah was originally given only to Israel. (Deuteronomy 4:7-8, Psalm 147:19-20) Yes, Israel alone was chosen to receive it. (Deuteronomy 5:1-3) But Gentiles who lived among Israel were required to follow it. (Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 24:22) The prophets foretold a time when Gentiles would follow the Torah. (Isaiah 56:6-7, Zechariah 14:16) Yahusha commanded that His followers keep the Torah and teach it to all nations. (Matthew 5:17-19, Matthew 28:19-20) Gentile believers are grafted into Israel and inherit its covenant. (Romans 11:17, Ephesians 2:11-13)
The Torah was given to Israel first, but those who join themselves to Yah are expected to keep it as well.
Why Do People Misunderstand That the Two Great Commandments Do Not Abolish the Rest of the Law?
This is a critical question because many believe that when Yahusha (Jesus) summarized the Law into two commandments, He was abolishing or replacing the rest of the Torah. However, He was not negating the Torah—He was explaining its foundation. Let’s examine:
What Yahusha Actually Said About the Law How All Laws of Yah Teach Us to Fulfill the Two Great Commandments Why People Misunderstand This Truth
1. What Did Yahusha Actually Say About the Law?
The passage in question is:
- 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.”
A. Yahusha Was Summarizing, Not Replacing
- The Torah already stated these commandments:
- 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.”
- Love your neighbor → Leviticus 19:18 – “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”
- Yahusha was not introducing something new—He was summarizing the entire Torah into its core principles.
“On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” means the entire Torah is based on love for Yah and love for others. It does not cancel or replace the rest of the Law.
2. How All of Yah’s Laws Show Us How to Fulfill These Two Commandments
Many people fail to realize that the detailed laws of the Torah explain exactly how to love Yah and love our neighbor.
A. Commandments That Show Us How to Love Yah
- No other gods (Exodus 20:3) → Shows we must put Yah first.
- No graven images (Exodus 20:4-6) → Shows we must worship Yah properly.
- Not taking Yah’s name in vain (Exodus 20:7) → Shows respect for His name.
- Keeping the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) → Shows love through obedience.
If we remove the Torah, how would we know how to love Yah properly?
B. Commandments That Show Us How to Love Our Neighbor
- Do not steal (Exodus 20:15) → Shows respect for others’ property.
- Do not lie (Exodus 20:16) → Shows honesty in relationships.
- Do not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14) → Shows faithfulness in marriage.
- Do not murder (Exodus 20:13) → Shows respect for life.
If we remove the Torah, how would we know how to love our neighbor?
C. Yahusha’s Teaching Aligns With Torah, Not Against It
- John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
- 1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
Love is shown by obedience to Yah’s laws, not by ignoring them.
3. Why Do People Misunderstand This Truth?
A. Christianity Has Been Taught That the Law Is “Done Away With”
- Many churches teach that Yahusha abolished the Law, even though He said the opposite.
- 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.”
People confuse “fulfill” with “abolish,” even though Yahusha meant to fully obey and uphold the Law.
B. People Do Not Read the Old Testament
- Many only read the New Testament, so they assume “love” is just a feeling, instead of realizing that the Torah explains how to love.
- Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Without the Torah, people lack knowledge of what true obedience looks like.
C. Misinterpretation of Paul’s Writings
- 2 Peter 3:16 warns that Paul’s writings are “hard to be understood” and that many twist them to their own destruction.
- Paul never said the Law was abolished—he only said that we are not justified by it, but by faith in Yahusha (Romans 3:31).
Paul upheld the Torah, but many twist his words to teach lawlessness.
Final Verdict: The Two Great Commandments Do Not Abolish the Torah
Yahusha summarized the Torah—He did not replace it. All the laws of Yah teach us how to fulfill these two commandments. The New Testament reinforces the need to obey Yah’s laws out of love. Christianity has misunderstood Yahusha’s words due to false teachings, lack of Torah study, and misinterpretation of Paul.
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