We Studied the Law in the Bible (Here’s What We Found)

Summary

This video script explores the purpose and fulfillment of the 613 commands found in the Torah, part of the first five books of the Bible. It narrates the story of God's covenant with Israel, the laws as the terms of that agreement, and the recurring pattern of Israel's rebellion. The script highlights how Jesus, as the Messiah, fulfilled the law by embodying love for God and others, even to enemies, and promised the Holy Spirit to transform hearts for genuine obedience. The video is part of a series by the BibleProject, aiming to trace biblical themes and provide resources for understanding the Scriptures.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Torah contains not just the 10 Commandments but a total of 613 commands given to ancient Israel, forming the basis of the Jewish law.
• 📖 The term 'Torah' is often translated as 'the law' in English, but it is fundamentally a narrative about God's creation of a people who can love Him and others fully.
• 🕊 Jesus viewed His teachings as fulfilling the story of the Torah, emphasizing that the essence of the law is love for God and others.
• 🔄 The pattern in the Torah is one of giving laws followed by stories of Israel's disobedience, highlighting the cycle of rebellion despite the laws.
• 💔 The heart of the issue, as expressed by Moses, is that the people's hearts are hard, and they need transformation to truly follow God's law.
• 📜 The Prophets in the Jewish tradition reflect on the story of Israel, with some like Ezekiel and Jeremiah prophesying about the need for a transformation of the heart to obey God's law.
• 🌟 Isaiah prophesied a future leader, the Messiah, who would lead the people in obedience to the law, which is seen as part of the fulfillment of the Torah's story.
• ❤️ Jesus summarized the Torah's demands with the 'great command' to love God and love others, showing that love is more demanding than we think.
• 🕊 Jesus fulfilled the law by living a life of love, including towards His enemies, and demonstrating what God is truly like through compassion and mercy.
• 🔄 After His resurrection, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to transform the hearts of His followers, enabling them to love God and their neighbors as the law intended.
• 📚 The BibleProject creates videos to trace biblical themes and explore the design and message of each book of the Bible, aiming to make these resources freely accessible.

Q & A

What are the 10 commandments and why are they significant?

The 10 commandments are a set of moral principles found in the Bible, often regarded as good advice. They include directives such as not murdering, not stealing, and honoring one's parents. They are significant as they form the basis of moral law in Judaism and Christianity.

How many commandments are there in total in the Torah?

There are a total of 613 commandments in the Torah, which are given to ancient Israel and are found in the first five books of the Bible.

What is the purpose of the laws in the Torah according to the script?

The purpose of the laws in the Torah is to establish an agreement, or covenant, between God and Israel, acting as a constitution that sets Israel apart from other nations and demonstrates what God is like through social justice and morality.

How does the script describe the relationship between the laws and the story of the Torah?

The script describes the laws as an integral part of the story of the Torah, which is fundamentally about God creating a people capable of fully loving God and others. The laws are the terms of the covenant with Israel and are interwoven with narratives of Israel's obedience and disobedience.

What pattern is observed in the giving of laws and the stories of Israel's rebellion as described in the script?

The pattern observed is that Moses gives laws to Israel, followed by stories of Israel breaking those laws, indicating a cycle of rebellion despite the divine guidance.

What does Moses say about the hearts of Israel in his final speech according to the script?

In his final speech, Moses tells Israel that their hearts are hard and that they are incapable of following God's laws. He suggests that they will need transformed hearts to truly follow God's law.

What is the significance of the prophets' books in the Jewish tradition as mentioned in the script?

The prophets' books reflect on the story of Israel and the Torah, providing commentary and prophecies about the need for a transformation of the heart to obey God's law, and the coming of a future leader or messiah who will lead the people in obedience.

How does Jesus view his role in relation to the law and the prophets according to the script?

Jesus sees himself as continuing the story of the law and the prophets. He agrees with their teachings about the human heart's default opposition to God's law and claims to solve this problem by fulfilling the law through love.

What does Jesus mean by 'fulfilling the law' as per the script?

Jesus means that he embodies and actualizes the spirit of the law, particularly through the great command to love God and others. He shows that love is more demanding than realized and extends even to enemies, fulfilling the moral ideal of the law.

How does the script describe the transformation that Jesus brings to the story of the law and the prophets?

The script describes Jesus as the fulfillment of the story, where he, as Israel's Messiah, fully loves God and others, demonstrating God's nature through compassion, mercy, and ultimate sacrifice. His resurrection allows him to send God's Spirit to transform the hearts of his followers to love as he did.

What is the mission of the BibleProject as mentioned in the script?

The mission of the BibleProject is to create videos and resources that trace biblical themes and provide insights into the design and overall message of each book of the Bible, aiming to make these resources freely accessible to all through the support of their community.