Messiah and Torah

The Hebrew word Messiah means ‘the anointed one’. For many, the Hebrew word for Messiah is often translated as the Greek word Christ which has the same meaning.

Many associate the word Christ with Jesus of Nazareth. Since Jesus of Nazareth fulfulled at least 47 of the Messianic prophecies within the Old Testament, then we could say ‘Jesus the Messiah’. Or, to be more accurate and use His Hebrew name, we would say ‘Yahushua the Messiah‘.

“The books of the Old Testament contain many passages about the Messiah – prophecies about Messiah that Jesus Christ fulfilled. For instance, the crucifixion of Jesus was foretold in Psalm 22:16-18 approximately 1,000 years before Christ was born, long before this method of execution was even practiced.

Some Bible scholars suggest there are more than 300 Old Testament prophetic Scriptures completed in the life of Jesus Christ. Circumstances such as His birthplace, lineage, and method of execution were beyond Christ’s control and could not have been accidentally or deliberately fulfilled.

Many Old Testament verses about Israel’s Messiah were fulfilled in the New Testament life of Jesus Christ. Collectively they form the leading proof of Christ’s deity.” — Mary Fairchild [1]

(For a list of the 47 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, see Link below.)

There are many details in the Bible about Messiah. There are references to Messiah in nearly every book within the Bible. The Bible’s recorded prophecies and the many historical records clearly reveal that this man, Jesus Christ (Yahushua Messiah), fulfilled the Messianic prophecies! It is therefore evident that this man is different from all other men! He is different and unique also because He repeatedly declared that He Was Sent to the earth by His heavenly Father, declaring Himself to be the Son of God!

The person of Jesus Christ is such a uniquely towering figure in the history of mankind that we are compelled to look at Him, examine Him, search the Scriptures, and discern His message.

When we seek out His Words and analyze His ministry, we see that His first and foremost message is that He loves us! Out of His abundant, extravagant LOVE for us, He took upon Himself the punishment due to us. He Gave His life on our behalf! Jesus (Yahushua) gave everything He had FOR US! This was His mission, His purpose for coming — to give His life for us, to redeem us from eternal misery.

Moved With Compassion

In the Gospels, we find this phrase five times: “He [Jesus] was moved with compassion….” (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 18:27; Mark 1:41; 6:34)

As we saw in Father Has Revealed His Heart, when Jesus (Yahushua) was moved with compassion, He revealed God’s heart. As the Son of God, Jesus displayed the characteristics of His Father! Therefore we can trust God’s fatherly heart and His personal, immense love for us.

Jesus (the Messiah) revealed God’s love and mercy and compassion for multitudes! He demonstrated compassion continually to those who sought Him. We are eternally grateful for Messiah’s great love for us!

But in order to truly know the importance of who Messiah is, we need to consider His question: Jesus asked, “Whom do you say that I am??” (Mark 8:29).

To answer His question, let’s look at 5 Scriptures that tell us the uniqueness of this man:

Jesus (Yahushua) said, … That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honours not the Son, honours not the Father who has sent Him. (John 5:23)

Jesus (Yahushua) said, Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham existed, I AM. (John 8:58)

Jesus (Yahushua) answered,… “I and My Father are one.… the Father Is In Me, and I In Him.” (John 10:30, 38b)

Jesus (Yahushua) said, … he that has seen Me has seen the Father … Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? the Words that I speak unto you, I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwells in Me, He does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me …. (John 14:9-11)

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God, who created ALL things BY Jesus Christ (Yahushua Messiah). (Ephesians 3:9; see also Colossians 1:6)

Did you notice what He said?? No ordinary man would say that He is ONE with the God of the whole earth, the Creator of ALL things, the ONE who inhabits Eternity (Isaiah 57:15). No ordinary man would say that when you see Him, you have seen the Most High God, the ONE who is exalted far above ALL gods (Psalms 97:9). No ordinary man would say that before the prophet Abraham existed, He already existed!

If an ‘ordinary’ man said such things, we would consider him a lunatic! But Messiah Yahushua [Christ Jesus] said all these things and we are not repulsed. Instead, we are drawn to Him. Upon examining only a few of the things that Jesus (Yahushua) said, it is evident that indeed – He is truly ONE with the Creator God, Maker of ALL things!!

My Words Shall Not Pass Away

As we saw in Messiah: The Word Made Flesh, Messiah is referred to as “the WORD of God” and “the Word of LIFE.” Jesus Christ is the WORD of the LORD who was “made flesh and dwelt among us”, as the Scriptures teach:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the WORD was God…. And the Word Was Made Flesh, and dwelt among us… (John 1:1,14a)

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld, and what our hands touched, we declare to you is the Word of LIFE; (1John 1:1)

The All-Mighty, Most High God revealed a most mysterious thing — the WORD of God became a Human Being — became the man, Christ Jesus! God Himself, the LORD God of the Bible, (Yahuwah Elohim), Manifested Himself In The Flesh, through this man, Christ Jesus (Messiah Yahushua)! (1Timothy3:16)!

The pre-incarnate ‘WORD of God‘ [who is Messiah] Is The ONE who spoke the Ten Commandments to Moses and wrote them on tablets with His own finger. He is The ONE who spoke to all the prophets throughout the Old Testament, appearing as “the WORD of the LORD.” And it is “the WORD of the LORD” that “endures forever“:

Forever, O LORD (Yahuwah), Your Word is settled in heaven. Your Word is true from the beginning: every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (Psalms 119:89, 160)

The grass withers, the flower fades: but the Word of our God shall stand forever. (Isaiah 40:8)

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible (seed), by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever…. The Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you. (1Peter 1:23,25)

For the Word of God is living and powerful… (Hebrews 4:12a)

This is why Yahushua Messiah [Jesus Christ] could say, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35; see also Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33).

Keep My Commandments and Live

Since Messiah is The ONE who is “The WORD Made Flesh”, then it is logical to conclude that He is the pre-incarnate WORD of the LORD who said throughout the ‘Old Testament’:

“Keep My commandments and do them!”
“Keep My Commandments and live!“
(see Genesis 26:5; Exodus 16:28; 20:6; Leviticus 22:31; 26:3; Numbers 15:40; Deuteronomy 5:10, 29; 11:8-15; Proverbs 3:1; 4:4; 7:1-2)

Jesus Christ is The One who said, “…If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments” (John 14:15). At the time Jesus (Yahushua) spoke these Words recorded in the Gospel of John, there was NO ‘New’ Testament writings in existence!

The only writings the people of God had at that time were the ‘Old’ Testament writings! Any elementary Hebrew student at that time would have understood that “Keep the Commandments” referred to keeping the existing commandments, teachings, and instructions in the Scriptures. These Scriptures, known as the TaNaKh, are also known as the ‘Old’ Testament writings (collectively known as “Torah“).

The TaNaKh is an acronym consisting of the first Hebrew letters of the names of the three subdivisions of the Hebrew Bible:

Torah (“Teachings”);
Nevi’im (“Prophets”);
Ketuvim (“Writings”).

He Never Violated Torah

In Deuteronomy 13:1-5, it says that if a prophet arises in our midst, who speaks any words that would contradict Torah, or speaks words that advocate anything other than following Torah, we should not hearken to that prophet, and that prophet is to be put to death.

If Jesus had advocated anything other than following Torah, He would have broken the command in Deuteronomy 13:1-5. He would then have transgressed or disobeyed Torah! [Let us recall that Scripture defines Transgression of Torah (the Law) as ‘SIN’ (1John 3:4)].

If Jesus had promoted any disobedience to Torah, He would have been disqualified from being the true Messiah! He would not have been the perfect, sinless sacrifice required for our redemption and forgiveness.

But, we know that Jesus did NO sin (Hebrews 4:14-15). He never violated Torah! We also know Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, without blemish (Exodus 12:5; 1Peter 1:18-19). And, because of the precious, sin-LESS Blood of His sacrifice, we have forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:13-14).

From this we can confirm that Jesus Christ advocated Obedience to Torah — Obedience to the ‘Old’ Testament Commandments.

So when Messiah tells us: “If You Love Me, Keep My Commandments” (John 14:15) — He is telling us that if we know His identity, and if we love Him, then we will Keep His Commandments, including those He gave to Moses (Matthew 12:50).

The Commandments we keep, and those we do not keep, demonstrate who we believe Messiah Yahushua (Christ Jesus) actually is! The WORD of the LORD and Messiah are One and the Same. If you separate them, then you are refusing the testimony of Scriptures. God forbid! (1John 2:4)

Restoring The Truth Of God’s Word

As I have written in several other related articles (the list is below), the LORD God (Yahuwah Elohim) is restoring the Truth and the relevancy of His Word to His children! Father God is restoring the great importance of learning and following the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments from the Torah – the Hebrew Roots of our faith!

If we are already part of God’s family, then learning to walk according to God’s ‘House Rules’ (the Torah) is part of our expected maturing process.

We must begin to love and honour (what I call) our Heavenly Father’s ‘House Rules’ just as His Son did! This is the current restoration of God’s Truth — to observe His instructions regarding His Sabbath days, to follow His guidelines for our diet, and to live according to His established Biblical calendar of events. This is the pathway to knowing more fully God’s abundant blessings! This is the pathway to demonstrating our love for God and for His Son.

These, and other ‘House Rules’ for the LORD’s family, are found throughout the honourable Torah (Isaiah 42:21)! It is His ‘House Rules’ that He wants to put into our hearts and write upon our minds, as part of His New and Everlasting Covenant:

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the LORD, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them. (Hebrews 10:16; see also Jeremiah 31:31-33)

Our redemption in Messiah does not mean we can ignore God’s eternal instructions and guidelines! Our redemption in Messiah means the Holy Spirit lives within us now to ENABLE us to be obedient to God’s eternal instructions and guidelines!

If we love Messiah, if we truly desire to show our love for our Heavenly Father and His Son, then we will be tenderhearted to receive the Word of God, as it is written – willing to walk in it, being enabled by His Grace! Our love for God is perfected when we Keep His Commandments (1John 2:3-6). It is not hard to do, for the LORD (Yahuwah) has given us His Grace – His divine power and enablement to walk according to His Truth (2Peter 1:2-3).

Demonstrating Our Love

A Born-Again Believer in Messiah Yahushua (Christ Jesus) is a DO-er of God’s WORD. Being a DO-er of God’s Word includes learning and following His Words from the beginning.

The importance of obeying the LORD’s (Yahuwah’s) commandments ‘from the beginning’ is an on-going, significant part of God’s plans, purposes, and protection for His children. And, Messiah’s teachings within the New Testament confirm Father’s plans for His children – the plans that are grounded in the Hebrew Roots of our Faith! (See Video Below)

Knowing what the LORD God’s loving plans are for His family begins in the Torah. The ‘Old’ Testament instructions are foundational for understanding the Scriptures. Let us therefore adjust our lifestyle wherever necessary to be more in harmony with God’s guidelines for His family. This is the pathway to having an unshakeable conviction that the Heavenly Father seeks only one thing: our good, our well-being, and what is eternally best for us!!

We demonstrate our love for Yahuwah (the LORD) and for His Son Yahushua (Jesus) the Messiah, by Keeping His Commandments (John 14:15). Our obedience is the evidence of our love for Messiah!

We simply cannot separate Messiah (Christ) from the Torah!

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Link to the List of the 47 prophecies fulfilled by Jesus:
Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus

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[1] Mary Fairchild – Christian writer, editor, minister, and author of hundreds of articles on Christianity and the Bible. She was general editor on several Christian books for Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. In 1991, Mary received a General Biblical Studies Degree from an Interdenominational Christian Training Center in Central Florida. She holds a Missions Degree from Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School, graduating in 1991.

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