Revised April 25, 2025
In the past, there have been discussions and arguments about the Old Testament’s relevance to the believer today. These opinions have ranged from one extreme, that the Old Testament law is irrelevant to us today, to the other extreme, that since it is God’s word, it cannot be ignored, and compliance is still required. In the book of Matthew, Yeshua talked in various places about the Old Testament and the law. To help us investigate this controversy, let us look at the words of Yeshua, as recorded in Matthew Chapters 5 and 22.
Before starting that discussion, let us examine the Hebrew word “Torah,” used in these texts. The word “Torah” refers to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. “Torah” is also used to refer to the individual laws contained in the Old Testament. In English, the word “Torah” is generally translated as “law or commandments,” but other acceptable words would include “teaching,” “direction,” or “instruction.” I believe these other acceptable translations better communicate the original intent.
Why did God have so many instructions and then communicate them in such detail? Was it because he wanted to make life complicated, limit our fun, make us feel negative about ourselves, and punish us?
No. He wanted to reveal to us in precise detail;
- who He is and how we are to relate to Him,
- how we are to relate to our fellow human beings,
- what is good and what is evil,
- who we are,
- our sinfulness, and,
- our need for righteousness.
In Romans 10, verses 3 and 4, Paul tells us that the goal of the Torah is to bring us to Yeshua as a means of righteousness.
3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Messiah is the goal of the Torah as a means to righteousness for everyone who keeps trusting.
Yeshua’s death fulfilled this goal and declared righteous all who trust in His works on the cross and in his resurrection.
We must realize that righteousness is and has always been based on faith and trust, not works. God revealed this in Genesis 15:6 in speaking about Abraham 400 years before the Law was given. He said;
6 Then he [Abraham] believed in ADONAI and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Righteousness came from Abraham’s belief, not his works. ADONAI declared Abraham righteous 400 years before the Law had been given. As with Abraham, our righteousness comes from our belief and trust in Messiah Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross.
Paul attests to this in his letter to the Galatians, Verse 2,
16 Yet we know that a person is set right not by deeds based on Torah, but rather through putting trust in Messiah Yeshua. So even we have put our trust in Messiah Yeshua, in order that we might be set right based on trust in Messiah and not by deeds based on Torah—because no human will be justified by deeds based on Torah.
If justification comes from trust and not from keeping the Torah, then what is the reason for the Torah to those of us who have already been declared righteous by believing in Jesus’ work? He addresses the Torah in Matthew 5.
17 Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Let’s look at each verse in detail. We will begin by starting with verse 17:
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
Yeshua states that He was not abolishing the Torah or the Prophets, but would fulfill them. That fulfillment came through His death, which is the penalty for those of us who break the law.
Yeshua’s sacrifice not only atoned for our sins but also gave us His righteousness, healing our relationship with God.
Contrary to the thoughts of many believers, the sacrificial system continued after Yeshua’s death and continues today to be the payment for our sins. If the sacrificial system had been abolished, His death could no longer be a valid payment today. We would again be responsible. Since it has not been abolished, His selfless act on the cross continues to pay the price. We, with firm faith in His works, are no longer obligated to pay the penalty for breaking the law.
He now tells us in verse eighteen the conditions that have to be met before the law will pass away.
18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass.
Has heaven and earth passed away? They have not, and therefore, the Torah remains. It remains because, even as believers, we still need its instruction and teaching, as we do not know how to live this inherited righteous life. When you became a believer, did you automatically begin living a pure and righteous life? I know that I did not, and sometimes still do not. I need God’s instructions on how to live. The Torah is the instructions for me on how to live this life. Thus, it needs to remain. Now, since it remains, it can still be violated. The good news is that Yeshua’s death fulfilled the penalty for all our continued violations.
In a modern-day example of this principle, there is a law that maintains you must not exceed a certain speed when driving your car in a school zone. If you are driving and exceed that certain speed, you have violated the law and must pay a penalty. You are set free if you go to court and pay the penalty. Later, if you are again caught speeding, you are again guilty of breaking the law, and the penalty must be paid again. The law has not been abolished just because you continue to pay the penalty each time..
It is the same way with the Torah. Today when we sin, we are guilty. In the believers’ case, Yeshua’s death 2000 years ago guarantees ongoing payment for the sin. The law remains and can be broken, but the penalty portion has been paid again through His grace. We are no longer under the penalty of the law. The instructions of the law, since they have not passed away, are still valid. We need instructions to know how to live.
Even though the penalty of death has been paid, we know that there are outcomes of our sin in this present age. These may be of a legal, physical, or social nature. Sin has its consequences on our lives. Jesus addresses the effects of sin in the kingdom of heaven in verse 19.
19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Yeshua tells us that, depending on our actions toward the commandments, we will be called great or least in the Kingdom of Heaven. Our actions concerning the commandments will have a future effect on us. It does not, however, make a difference on our salvation. He still calls both the great and the least into the Kingdom of Heaven. Neither group is left out.
He continues His teaching in verses 21-22 and 27-28.
21“You have heard it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be subject to judgment.
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that everyone who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
He not only upholds the validity of the law but also gives additional definite instructions on how we should treat our brothers.
He takes another opportunity to expound on the commandments during a confrontation with the Pharisees recorded in Matthew 22:34-40.
34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that Yeshua had silenced the Sadducees, gathered together in one place. 35 And testing Him, one of them, a lawyer, asked, 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
He identifies the two commandments. They are both from the Old Testament. He identifies that the first and greatest commandment is from Deuteronomy Chapter 6, verses 4 and 5, and concerns how we are to relate to God.
4Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5Love Adonai your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
We are to love God with all our being.
The second commandment is found in Leviticus 19:18 and concerns how we are to relate to others.
18 You are not to take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am Adonai.
We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. He continues in verse forty.
40 The entire Torah and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
He summarizes the two most important commandments:
- We are to love and honor God, and
- We are to love and honor others.
The commandments are not about blindly keeping a list of “do’s and don’ts.” You can mechanically keep doing things or not, but without a heart change, there is no expression of love. Commandments deal with our hearts. How do we express our love to God and to others? God has given us instructions in His Torah of how we are to live out this love. An example of these actions is shown in Leviticus 19:11:
“You are not to steal, you are not to lie, you are not to deceive one another.”
Or in Exodus 20:3 or in 20:8:
“You are not to steal, you are not to lie, you are not to deceive one another.”
“Remember the Shabbat, to keep it holy.”
The commandments are specific examples of how we can express our love towards God and others. But then again, without the right heart, we can still complete the dos and don’ts. We might not lie, steal, or have other Gods, but love is not true if it is not expressed with a right heart.
It is now up to you to determine for yourself whether the law has a valid purpose and, therefore, remains relevant in your life as a believer. I need to restate that we are still under the sacrificial system and the breaking of the commandments requires death. Since we continue to sin, we deserve death. However, His death on the cross 2000 years ago remains to provide the sacrifice for us. Salvation is based on His work and our belief and trust in that work. Because of this, we no longer are under the fear and terror of the law as He has paid our penalty. Let us now celebrate the commandments with freedom from the death penalty. The commandments are examples of specific instructions or directions that allow us to show our love to the Lord and others.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke 6:35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of Elyon, for He is kind to the ungrateful and evil ones.