What is the Torah?
While most would say that the Torah is the first 5 books of the bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) this is not entirely accurate, or should I say complete. Yahweh's Torah is vastly more than what that definition can encompass.
The word Torah literally means, 'precept or statute' and is from the root word "yarah" meaning,
'to flow as water; that is, to rain; to point out; or to shoot'
The idea is that the Torah of our Creator is our guide and direction. Our Father uses it to point out who we are and where we're at in our walk with Him (or apart from Him).
Paul wrote to Timothy that the Torah is good if one uses it properly (1 Timothy 1:8). The Torah is a tutor, or school master of sorts, to lead a person to Messiah. It points out what sin is and Who can free us from its grasp.
"But what about once we're in Messiah? Do we still need the Torah?"
When we are abiding in our Savior we are saved, but that doesn't make us perfect. We are always prone to attacks from our flesh, the world, and the devil and seemingly have the choice to leave our Master who bought us with His own blood. This constant battle that we are engaged in is exactly why we need the Torah, written on our hearts, in our lives moment by moment.
The Torah of Yahweh continues to point us to our Savior, guide us in those things that please Him,
and shed light on our path as we walk with Him.
Obeying the Torah of Yah is part of the New Covenant. It is by His grace, or favour, in the Spirit, that we are enabled, nay empowered to walk according to His Torah (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 3:31; Ephesians 2:8-10; Hebrews 8; 1 John 2:3-6).
A Delight
"Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your Torah is my delight."
- Psalm 119:77
Many believe that king David wrote Psalm 119. David was a man after Yahweh's own heart according to Yah Himself (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Clearly David had the Spirit within him and loved Yahweh with all his heart, mind, and strength. Though he stumbled greatly and fell at times David always resolved to follow Yahweh according to His statutes and judgments, by the Spirit working in and through him.
Paul agreed with David when he wrote,
"For I delight in the law (Torah) of Yahweh according to the inward man."
- Romans 7:22
What is the "inward man" that Paul spoke of? The very center of who a person is, often referred to as "the heart".
Again David wrote,
"I delight to do Your will O my Elohim,
and Your Torah is within my heart."
- Psalm 40:8
It is the heart of a person where it is said that Yahweh writes His Torah (Jeremiah 31:33).
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the book. It goes through the Hebrew alphabet and is all about the love and appreciation for the Torah of Yahweh. Regardless of who wrote this psalm, they clearly understood the beauty of Yahweh's loving instructions for His people. I encourage you to read it and selah (contemplate it).
For Your Torah is my delight."
- Psalm 119:77
Many believe that king David wrote Psalm 119. David was a man after Yahweh's own heart according to Yah Himself (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22). Clearly David had the Spirit within him and loved Yahweh with all his heart, mind, and strength. Though he stumbled greatly and fell at times David always resolved to follow Yahweh according to His statutes and judgments, by the Spirit working in and through him.
Paul agreed with David when he wrote,
"For I delight in the law (Torah) of Yahweh according to the inward man."
- Romans 7:22
What is the "inward man" that Paul spoke of? The very center of who a person is, often referred to as "the heart".
Again David wrote,
"I delight to do Your will O my Elohim,
and Your Torah is within my heart."
- Psalm 40:8
It is the heart of a person where it is said that Yahweh writes His Torah (Jeremiah 31:33).
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in the book. It goes through the Hebrew alphabet and is all about the love and appreciation for the Torah of Yahweh. Regardless of who wrote this psalm, they clearly understood the beauty of Yahweh's loving instructions for His people. I encourage you to read it and selah (contemplate it).
Bondage or Freedom?
Isn't the Law bondage? Didn't Paul say that it was?
No he did not. Not the Law of Yahweh, anyway. As we just read, he said he delighted in it.
In fact, the Torah/Law is freedom, not bondage.
"I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their
slaves. I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright."
- Leviticus 26:13
In speaking to the children of Israel, Yahweh reminds them that He delivered them from slavery. They served other gods which they did not know but now the great I AM was revealing Himself to them so that they might worship the One True Elohim.
Just previous to that statement Yahweh spoke these words,
"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."
- Leviticus 26:3-4
Obedience to the commandments of Yahweh brings blessing/abundant life (Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 28) and not bondage.
Paul reiterates this in his letter to the believers in Rome.
"What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of Elohim,
you have fruit to kodesh ["holiness"; literally: being set apart or 'sacredness'] and the end: everlasting life."
- Romans 6:22-23
(If the use of the word "kodesh" threw you off then please read that passage again)
When a person cries out to Messiah for Him to save them they are admitting that
they are a slave to sin and can find freedom only in Him.
Yahshua is the One who saves and sets free (John 8:36). He said in verse 32 that the truth would set people free.
The truth is the Word of Yahweh, which includes His Torah (John 17:17; Psalm 119:142, 160).
Seeing as how Yahshua is the Living Word and the Truth (John 1:1; 14:6; Psalm 2; Mark 9:7) then it is an acceptable saying that it is the Word which/Who sets us free. It is also applicable to say that Yahshua is the Living Torah. He walked perfectly in the Torah proving Himself to be the Living Word and the Way, the Truth, and the Life, as well as the Light of the world. These are all terms that are used to describe the Torah and are also used in describing Messiah.
So since Yahshua Messiah said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, what did He mean?
Looking back at the verse in Leviticus 26, and other passages where Yahweh had, or promised to, free His people we see the idea of Him breaking the yoke of bondage.
No he did not. Not the Law of Yahweh, anyway. As we just read, he said he delighted in it.
In fact, the Torah/Law is freedom, not bondage.
"I am Yahweh your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their
slaves. I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright."
- Leviticus 26:13
In speaking to the children of Israel, Yahweh reminds them that He delivered them from slavery. They served other gods which they did not know but now the great I AM was revealing Himself to them so that they might worship the One True Elohim.
Just previous to that statement Yahweh spoke these words,
"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit."
- Leviticus 26:3-4
Obedience to the commandments of Yahweh brings blessing/abundant life (Leviticus 18:5; Deuteronomy 28) and not bondage.
Paul reiterates this in his letter to the believers in Rome.
"What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of Elohim,
you have fruit to kodesh ["holiness"; literally: being set apart or 'sacredness'] and the end: everlasting life."
- Romans 6:22-23
(If the use of the word "kodesh" threw you off then please read that passage again)
When a person cries out to Messiah for Him to save them they are admitting that
they are a slave to sin and can find freedom only in Him.
Yahshua is the One who saves and sets free (John 8:36). He said in verse 32 that the truth would set people free.
The truth is the Word of Yahweh, which includes His Torah (John 17:17; Psalm 119:142, 160).
Seeing as how Yahshua is the Living Word and the Truth (John 1:1; 14:6; Psalm 2; Mark 9:7) then it is an acceptable saying that it is the Word which/Who sets us free. It is also applicable to say that Yahshua is the Living Torah. He walked perfectly in the Torah proving Himself to be the Living Word and the Way, the Truth, and the Life, as well as the Light of the world. These are all terms that are used to describe the Torah and are also used in describing Messiah.
So since Yahshua Messiah said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, what did He mean?
Looking back at the verse in Leviticus 26, and other passages where Yahweh had, or promised to, free His people we see the idea of Him breaking the yoke of bondage.
The Yoke of Torah
Consider the yoke on an animal such as an ox. The yoke is used to guide that animal by the person who is its master/owner. If that person is harsh or cruel, working the ox too hard, then that yoke would be a great burden to the animal. However, if the owner is gentle and kind, using the yoke to rightfully guide the animal in doing the work set before it, then the yoke is light and easy.
We are the ox and we have a yoke. The yoke is either the law of man or the Law of Yahweh. If it's the law of man, which adds to and/or takes away from the Word of Yah, then that yoke is burdensome and true bondage. How can I say that? Because Elohim is true but every man is a liar (Romans 3:4) and the earthly nature of man is hostile toward Yahweh and cannot be submitted to His Torah (Romans 8:7). These two principles of our existence prove that anything that is not of Yahweh is false. It is anti-Torah (lawlessness). If we add to His Word or take away from it by setting up our own doctrine, commandment, statute, etc... that opposes His we are setting ourselves up for failure, and ultimately, true bondage.
"He [Messiah] said to them, 'All too well
you reject the commandment of Elohim
that you may keep your tradition.'"
- Mark 7:9
However, if a person is under the yoke of Messiah, then he or she is allowing Him to guide them in the work that He has prepared for them to walk in by the Spirit of Truth. That is what obeying the Torah of Elohim looks like. That is what the apostle Paul was speaking of in Ephesians 2:8-10.
Again, listen to what the Messiah is saying,
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Matthew 11:29-30
"For this is the love for Yahweh, that we guard His Commands,
and His Commands are not heavy,"
- 1 John 5:3
We are the ox and we have a yoke. The yoke is either the law of man or the Law of Yahweh. If it's the law of man, which adds to and/or takes away from the Word of Yah, then that yoke is burdensome and true bondage. How can I say that? Because Elohim is true but every man is a liar (Romans 3:4) and the earthly nature of man is hostile toward Yahweh and cannot be submitted to His Torah (Romans 8:7). These two principles of our existence prove that anything that is not of Yahweh is false. It is anti-Torah (lawlessness). If we add to His Word or take away from it by setting up our own doctrine, commandment, statute, etc... that opposes His we are setting ourselves up for failure, and ultimately, true bondage.
"He [Messiah] said to them, 'All too well
you reject the commandment of Elohim
that you may keep your tradition.'"
- Mark 7:9
However, if a person is under the yoke of Messiah, then he or she is allowing Him to guide them in the work that He has prepared for them to walk in by the Spirit of Truth. That is what obeying the Torah of Elohim looks like. That is what the apostle Paul was speaking of in Ephesians 2:8-10.
Again, listen to what the Messiah is saying,
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
- Matthew 11:29-30
"For this is the love for Yahweh, that we guard His Commands,
and His Commands are not heavy,"
- 1 John 5:3
A Solid Foundation
"Therefore whoever hears these words of Mine, and does them,
shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,..."
- Matthew 7:25
Messiah spoke this after many examples and exhortations to those listening.
A few things He mentioned were:
He did not come to destroy the Torah but to fulfill (fully preach) it - Matt. 5:17
Torah would not cease to be until heaven and earth pass away - Matt. 5:18
Whoever teaches men to break the Commandments will be called least in His kingdom - Matt. 5:19
Treat others as you would want to be treated for that is the Torah and Prophets - Matt. 7:12
He will say to those who come to Him, calling Him Master but do not keep His
Torah, that He never knew them - Matt. 7:21-23
There are those who say that Messiah came speaking new commandments that supersede the Torah. They say He changed a lot of things about the "old law" because "now we are under grace". Did Messiah actually change or even end the Torah?
He Himself said these words:
"Yahshua said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work."
- John 4:34
"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you - Moses, in whom you trust.
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
But if you do not believe his [Moses] writings, how will you believe My words?"
- John 5:45-47
"My doctrine [teaching] is not Mine, but His [the Father's] who sent Me."
- John 7:16
"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command,
what I should say and what I should speak.
And I know that His command is everlasting life.
therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."
- John 12:49-50
Yahshua did not come speaking anything new, but the Commandments that were from the beginning (1 John 2:3-11). He came speaking and teaching the Torah. In Deuteronomy we read that Yahweh told the people that He would raise up a Prophet like Moses to speak His words (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). If Messiah came speaking anything in contradiction to what was given then He would not have been the true Messiah (Deuteronomy 13) and ultimately neither would He be the Word of Elohim (John 1:1).
Since Yahshua did not come teaching against the Torah, but rather upholding it (because He is the Living Word of Elohim), it stands to reason that the Torah is the foundation on which our faith is built. Not a bunch of mind-numbing regulations like most people think, but the very ways of our Creator for His people!
Why would Yahshua speak these words to the devil in the wilderness?:
"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of Elohim."
- Matthew 4:4 {Deuteronomy 8:3}
He spoke these because we often validate truth by our own words rather than HIS. It is by the words of our Creator and Savior that we live! It is our faith in our Shepherd that enables us to trust Him and walk as He walked (1 John 2:6).
"But how can the law be of faith? Aren't we denying Christ and His sacrifice if we keep the Torah?"
The apostle Paul said this,
"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."
- Romans 3:31
The Torah (law) is all about Messiah, even today! It continually points to Him and His work in us and through us and for us!
Heaven and earth have not passed away yet, therefore neither has the Torah of Yahweh. Nor has our response to it passed away. We have a choice between pleasing Him or walking in disobedience.
Consider this from the book of Proverbs:
"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear Yahweh and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."
- Proverbs 3:5-8
And this psalm:
"Oh come, let us sing to Yahweh!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation."
- Psalm 95:1
He is our Rock. Messiah is our foundation that our faith is established on, and remember...He is the Living Torah/Word!
"Therefore whoever hears these words of Mine, and does them,
shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,..."
- Matthew 7:25
shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,..."
- Matthew 7:25
Messiah spoke this after many examples and exhortations to those listening.
A few things He mentioned were:
He did not come to destroy the Torah but to fulfill (fully preach) it - Matt. 5:17
Torah would not cease to be until heaven and earth pass away - Matt. 5:18
Whoever teaches men to break the Commandments will be called least in His kingdom - Matt. 5:19
Treat others as you would want to be treated for that is the Torah and Prophets - Matt. 7:12
He will say to those who come to Him, calling Him Master but do not keep His
Torah, that He never knew them - Matt. 7:21-23
There are those who say that Messiah came speaking new commandments that supersede the Torah. They say He changed a lot of things about the "old law" because "now we are under grace". Did Messiah actually change or even end the Torah?
He Himself said these words:
"Yahshua said to them, 'My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work."
- John 4:34
"Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you - Moses, in whom you trust.
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.
But if you do not believe his [Moses] writings, how will you believe My words?"
- John 5:45-47
"My doctrine [teaching] is not Mine, but His [the Father's] who sent Me."
- John 7:16
"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command,
what I should say and what I should speak.
And I know that His command is everlasting life.
therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak."
- John 12:49-50
Yahshua did not come speaking anything new, but the Commandments that were from the beginning (1 John 2:3-11). He came speaking and teaching the Torah. In Deuteronomy we read that Yahweh told the people that He would raise up a Prophet like Moses to speak His words (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). If Messiah came speaking anything in contradiction to what was given then He would not have been the true Messiah (Deuteronomy 13) and ultimately neither would He be the Word of Elohim (John 1:1).
Since Yahshua did not come teaching against the Torah, but rather upholding it (because He is the Living Word of Elohim), it stands to reason that the Torah is the foundation on which our faith is built. Not a bunch of mind-numbing regulations like most people think, but the very ways of our Creator for His people!
Why would Yahshua speak these words to the devil in the wilderness?:
"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of Elohim."
- Matthew 4:4 {Deuteronomy 8:3}
He spoke these because we often validate truth by our own words rather than HIS. It is by the words of our Creator and Savior that we live! It is our faith in our Shepherd that enables us to trust Him and walk as He walked (1 John 2:6).
"But how can the law be of faith? Aren't we denying Christ and His sacrifice if we keep the Torah?"
The apostle Paul said this,
"Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law."
- Romans 3:31
The Torah (law) is all about Messiah, even today! It continually points to Him and His work in us and through us and for us!
Heaven and earth have not passed away yet, therefore neither has the Torah of Yahweh. Nor has our response to it passed away. We have a choice between pleasing Him or walking in disobedience.
Consider this from the book of Proverbs:
"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear Yahweh and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."
- Proverbs 3:5-8
And this psalm:
"Oh come, let us sing to Yahweh!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation."
- Psalm 95:1
He is our Rock. Messiah is our foundation that our faith is established on, and remember...He is the Living Torah/Word!
"Therefore whoever hears these words of Mine, and does them,
shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock,..."
- Matthew 7:25
As Water
Consider again the meaning of the root word for Torah,
which is 'yarah': "to flow as water".
Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews went to Yahshua one night. He said to Yahshua that many knew He was sent from Elohim as a prophet and teacher. Messiah answered Him with several statements including this one:
"Unless one is born of water and the Spirit
he cannot enter the kingdom of Elohim."
- John 3:5
Interesting that He spoke of water in relation to being born again from above.
A few other verses to consider:
"Behold, Elohim is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For YAH, Yahweh, is my strength and song;
He also is my salvation.
Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." [emphasis mine]
- Isaiah 12:2-3
"For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn for themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water." [emphasis mine]
- Jeremiah 2:13
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing
in Him would receive; for the Kadosh [set apart or pure] Spirit was not yet given,
because Yahshua was not yet esteemed." [emphasis mine]
- John 7:38-39
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb." [emphasis mine]
- Revelation 22:1
The living water referenced through the Scriptures is life from the Creator. The Spirit is life (Job 33:4; Romans 8:2,10; Galatians 6:8; Revelation 11:11) and is the One who enables us to walk in His Commandments (Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:2-11).
His Torah, even His entire Word is life to those who are His!
"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and Your Torah is truth."
- Psalm 119:142
"The entirety of Your Word is truth,
and every one of Your righteous
judgments endures forever."
- Psalm 119:160
Are we saved by keeping the Torah? In the essence of "working our way to heaven", no.
Keeping and guarding the Commandments of Yahweh, Yahshua, and the Set Apart Spirit are not what saves us,
but rather, keeping them (acknowledging they are HIS ways and following them) is proof that we are saved.
Throughout His Torah He says "obey My voice". The word often used for 'obey' is 'shama' which means, 'to hear, to do, to proclaim'.
To hear His commands, to do them, and to proclaim them to others is exactly what Messiah spoke to those who follow Him. To "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;" - Matthew 28:19-20
Thoughtfully consider these Scriptures:
"Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek Your statutes."
- Psalm 119:155
"By this we know that we love the children of Elohim,
when we love Elohim and keep His Commandments.
For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His Commandments.
And His Commandments are not burdensome."
- 1 John 5:2-3
Keep in mind that John already established that these commandments were nothing new, but were the Torah that they heard from the beginning. The only thing new about it was the application, in that it is now by the Spirit that we are enabled to keep His Torah by grace through faith in the "New" Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 2:8-10) so that we walk not according to the ways of this world but according to the ways of the Creator.
There are those, even today, that keep the Torah but do not believe that Yahshua is the Messiah who died and rose again to take away their sin. Are they saved? No! No one is saved by attempting to keep the Torah, working their way to Him, so-to-speak, but not having Yahshua Messiah!
We must come to Yahshua for salvation, then He, by the Spirit, causes us to walk in His Commandments for our good
(Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 12:1-2).
We cannot walk contrary to the ways of Elohim and have the Set Apart Spirit within us.
The very basis for the ministry of the Spirit is the Word of Yahweh.
His word is truth (John 17:17).
He is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).
We are to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
"O wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank Elohim-through Yahshua Messiah our Master!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the Torah of Elohim,
but with the flesh the law of sin."
- Romans 7:24-25
which is 'yarah': "to flow as water".
Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews went to Yahshua one night. He said to Yahshua that many knew He was sent from Elohim as a prophet and teacher. Messiah answered Him with several statements including this one:
"Unless one is born of water and the Spirit
he cannot enter the kingdom of Elohim."
- John 3:5
Interesting that He spoke of water in relation to being born again from above.
A few other verses to consider:
"Behold, Elohim is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For YAH, Yahweh, is my strength and song;
He also is my salvation.
Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." [emphasis mine]
- Isaiah 12:2-3
"For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn for themselves cisterns - broken cisterns that can hold no water." [emphasis mine]
- Jeremiah 2:13
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing
in Him would receive; for the Kadosh [set apart or pure] Spirit was not yet given,
because Yahshua was not yet esteemed." [emphasis mine]
- John 7:38-39
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,
proceeding from the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb." [emphasis mine]
- Revelation 22:1
The living water referenced through the Scriptures is life from the Creator. The Spirit is life (Job 33:4; Romans 8:2,10; Galatians 6:8; Revelation 11:11) and is the One who enables us to walk in His Commandments (Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:2-11).
His Torah, even His entire Word is life to those who are His!
"Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and Your Torah is truth."
- Psalm 119:142
"The entirety of Your Word is truth,
and every one of Your righteous
judgments endures forever."
- Psalm 119:160
Are we saved by keeping the Torah? In the essence of "working our way to heaven", no.
Keeping and guarding the Commandments of Yahweh, Yahshua, and the Set Apart Spirit are not what saves us,
but rather, keeping them (acknowledging they are HIS ways and following them) is proof that we are saved.
Throughout His Torah He says "obey My voice". The word often used for 'obey' is 'shama' which means, 'to hear, to do, to proclaim'.
To hear His commands, to do them, and to proclaim them to others is exactly what Messiah spoke to those who follow Him. To "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;" - Matthew 28:19-20
Thoughtfully consider these Scriptures:
"Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek Your statutes."
- Psalm 119:155
"By this we know that we love the children of Elohim,
when we love Elohim and keep His Commandments.
For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His Commandments.
And His Commandments are not burdensome."
- 1 John 5:2-3
Keep in mind that John already established that these commandments were nothing new, but were the Torah that they heard from the beginning. The only thing new about it was the application, in that it is now by the Spirit that we are enabled to keep His Torah by grace through faith in the "New" Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 3:10-14; Ephesians 2:8-10) so that we walk not according to the ways of this world but according to the ways of the Creator.
There are those, even today, that keep the Torah but do not believe that Yahshua is the Messiah who died and rose again to take away their sin. Are they saved? No! No one is saved by attempting to keep the Torah, working their way to Him, so-to-speak, but not having Yahshua Messiah!
We must come to Yahshua for salvation, then He, by the Spirit, causes us to walk in His Commandments for our good
(Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 12:1-2).
We cannot walk contrary to the ways of Elohim and have the Set Apart Spirit within us.
The very basis for the ministry of the Spirit is the Word of Yahweh.
His word is truth (John 17:17).
He is the Spirit of truth (John 14:17).
We are to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).
"O wretched man that I am!
Who will deliver me from this body of death?
I thank Elohim-through Yahshua Messiah our Master!
So then, with the mind I myself serve the Torah of Elohim,
but with the flesh the law of sin."
- Romans 7:24-25
Selah
I encourage you to selah (to pause; reflect; meditate; contemplate) concerning the Way of Yahweh - His Torah and why He would give us commandments, statutes, judgments, ordinances, and laws to live by. Is it to bind us under a heavy burden or is it to point us to His Son and live a life of abundant joy, peace, victory, strength, and love as we "walk as He walked"?
Suggested Reading:
Psalm 19
Psalm 119
Suggested Reading:
Psalm 19
Psalm 119