Why Study the Torah?

I have 7 bold assertions I’d like to make regarding the question above. Hopefully they will stimulate interest in the importance of understanding the Torah and in the purpose and utility of this SubStack.

Bold Assertion #1

The primary goal of every single word of the Torah (the first five books of Moses) is to reveal to us the person/work of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) and the Kingdom of God.  Therefore, we should study the Torah so that we can properly understand the person/work of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God . . .

For Christ is the goal of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.(Romans 10:4)

27And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself . . . 44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.  (Luke 24:27, 44-45)

For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me.  (John 5:46)

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  (John 5:39)

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)

Bold Assertion #2

None of the Apostles preached a “New Testament” gospel.  They preached THE GOSPEL, which has its roots in the Torah. Here, Paul tells us that the Gospel was promised in the Torah. 

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures… (Romans 1:1-2)

Furthermore, Hebrews 4 tells us that the gospel was preached to the children of Israel in the wilderness!  The context shows us that the gospel preached in the wilderness was the same Gospel the readers of Hebrews had heard.

1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Hebrews 4:1-2)

In the book of Acts, James states that the non-Jewish believers were suppose to learn the Torah as they attended synagogue on the Shabbat.

19Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. 21For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath."(Acts 15:19-21)

Bold Assertion #3

Paul never used “New Testament” Scriptures to persuade anyone about Yeshua’s identity as the Messiah.  He only used the Scriptures available to him, The Tanakh (Old Testament).

So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. (Acts 28:23)

10 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.12Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men. (Acts 17:10-12)

Bold Assertion #4

Paul established and maintained congregations using the Torah as his source for the proper foundation.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone . . . (Ephesians 2:19-20)

Bold Assertion #5

The apostles counted the testimony of the Torah as evidence that confirmed their eyewitness testimony to the Messiahship of Yeshua!

16We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."[1] 18We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:16-21)

Bold Assertion #6

The prophets of the Tanakh have more to say about our future than the writers of the New Covenant Scriptures.

19Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22For Moses truly said to the fathers, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.' 24Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. (Acts 3:19-24)

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. (I Corinthians 10:1-11)

Bold Assertion #7

As a believer in the one and only true God of Israel and in the work of His Messiah Yeshua, you should reject any doctrine that cannot clearly be supported by the Tanakh.  You should only believe doctrines that can be fully substantiated by the Tanakh. Lastly, the Torah alone should be the foundation you build upon. THE WRITERS OF THE NEW COVENANT SCRIPTURES  ALWAYS POINTED THEIR READERS TO THE TORAH AS THE SOURCE OF THEIR TEACHING.

15and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:15-16)

Shalom,

Tony Robinson