The first five verses of Deuteronomy are all about what the New Testament calls true or pure religion.
Where exactly in the New Testament is that phrase to be found?
It was echoed by James, the brother of Yeshua in the Epistle named after him.
“Pure religion and undefiled before
God and the Father is this,
To visit the fatherless and widows
in their affliction,
and to keep himself unspotted
from the world.”
-James 1:27
James tells us pure religion is best expressed by taking care of those folks who are the most vulnerable in society: the orphans and widows.
He then adds that the practice of true religion also means to guard oneself from the uncleanliness of the world.
Pure religion is NOT about mechanical obedience to God’s Laws and instructions.
Rather it is the SPIRIT AND ATTITUDE one has when carrying out God’s Law and instructions.
What HASHEM seeks from His worshippers is love and trust when obeying Him.
I’m sure many of you have heard the common saying that we shouldn’t separate the letter of the Law from the Spirit of the Law.
Well, that’s the point I’m trying to make here.
When one seeks to be justified through mechanical obedience minus a heart of love and mercy, justice can be lost.
Because with that type of attitude, we’re always seeking how we can get away with the bare minimum of doing what God requires.
Whereas if one is operating from a spirit of love, mercy, gratitude and abundance, then our actions usually end up exceeding the requirements of the Law because we’re operating at a higher level.
I want you to understand that these first 5 verses of Deuteronomy 22 are centered on the attitude of the worshipper, not just mechanical obedience.
Notice here we don’t find the typical “IF you do this, THEN this will happen” formula characteristic of the criminal laws in Torah OR…
…“Offer up this sacrifice for your atonement and then you’ll have peace with God” type of formula.
Instead our primary motivator is to be based on what Yeshua said is the foundation of all the Torah commands:
“‘You are to love Adonai your God
with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength.’
This is the greatest and most important mitzvah.
And a second is similar to it,
‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’
All of the Torah and the Prophets are
dependent on these two mitzvot.”
-Matthew 22:37-40
Yeshua nailed it!
In one stroke, his response captured the heart and spirit in which God’s commands are to be carried out.
He wasn’t saying that God’s commands had been done away with or the ridiculous notion that one only has to obey the two commands of “Love God with all one’s heart” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
He was just pointing out that those two commands encapsulate the humble attitude one is to have when one is putting God’s commands into practice.
Here’s the thing.
The injunction to “Love Your Neighbor” is NOT a rule or regulation per say.
Why can I say that?
Because in the Torah, you’re not going to find a direct consequence for violating this instruction.
Rather it is a call to all worshippers of HASHEM to have a holy mindset!
It is also a reminder of what the goal of the Law is…
…which is HOLINESS.
And how is God’s holiness best expressed on earth?
By loving your neighbor as yourself.
There is a Jewish form of Bible exegesis called PaRDeS, which is an acronym for:
P’shat- the literal or plain language understanding;
Remes- the spiritual understanding;
Drash- a comparative story with a spiritual moral, such as a parable;
Sud- a deep, mystical understanding.
The Pharisees taught only
the P’shat, whereas Yeshua taught the Remes through the use of Drashim (plural for Drash), which is why he said (in Matt. 5) “You have heard it said that…., but I tell you …”, which was his confirmation of the instructions in the Torah, with the added spiritual understanding of that instruction. This is why people said no one ever spoke as he did or taught as he did, teaching and speaking with authority.
Awesome Steve! Thanks for sharing. Hope all is well!