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.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Torah's Commandments and Their Purpose

The first paragraph discusses the 10 commandments commonly known from the Bible and expands on the fact that there are actually 613 commandments given to ancient Israel, as recorded in the Torah. The Torah is often misunderstood as merely a collection of laws, but it is fundamentally a narrative about God's creation of a people capable of loving Him and others. Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of this narrative, emphasizing that the essence of the Torah is about love and transformation, not just obedience to laws.

05:01

🌟 Jesus' Fulfillment of the Law and the Promise of a New Heart

The second paragraph delves into the continuation of the Torah's story, highlighting the cycle of Israel receiving laws and then breaking them, illustrating the human inability to fully adhere to God's commands without a change of heart. It discusses the prophetic books that reflect on this cycle and foretell a future leader, the Messiah, who would bring about this transformation. Jesus identifies with this role, emphasizing love as the fulfillment of the law. He demonstrates the depth of love required by God, which extends even to enemies, and promises the Holy Spirit to transform the hearts of his followers to live in accordance with this love.

Keywords

💡Torah

The term 'Torah' is a Hebrew word that is often translated into English as 'the law', but it encompasses more than just laws. In the video, it is described as a fundamental story about God creating a people who can fully love God and others. The Torah includes the first five books of the Bible and is the foundation for understanding God's relationship with Israel and the development of laws that were meant to guide them.

💡613 Commands

The '613 Commands' refer to the total number of commandments given to ancient Israel as recorded in the Torah. These commands are part of the covenant God made with the Israelites, serving as the terms of the agreement and functioning like a constitution for them. The script uses this number to highlight the extensiveness of God's instructions and to set the stage for the discussion on the role and fulfillment of these laws.

💡Covenant

A 'covenant' in the script represents the agreement God made with Israel at Mount Sinai. It includes the laws given by Moses and symbolizes the commitment between God and His people. The concept of the covenant is central to understanding the relationship dynamics between God and Israel, as well as the significance of the laws within the Torah.

💡Rituals and Customs

The script mentions 'rituals and customs' as part of the laws given to Israel, which served to set them apart from other nations. These practices were cultural and religious traditions that distinguished the Israelites and were part of their identity as God's chosen people, illustrating how the laws were not only moral but also cultural.

💡Social Justice

'Social Justice' is a concept within the script that relates to laws addressing the fair and just treatment of individuals within society. These laws were meant to reflect God's character and show other nations what God is like through the way Israel treated its own people, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct in the community.

💡Rebellion

The term 'rebellion' in the script is used to describe Israel's repeated failure to follow God's laws, despite the clear stipulations of the covenant. This pattern of receiving laws and then breaking them is a significant theme in the video, illustrating the human struggle with obedience and the need for a deeper transformation.

💡Hard Hearts

'Hard Hearts' is a phrase used in the script to describe the spiritual condition of the Israelites, indicating their inability to truly follow God's law from the heart. It is a metaphor for the human tendency to resist God's will, which is a central issue that the laws of the Torah were meant to address but ultimately could not solve on their own.

💡Prophets

The 'Prophets' in the script refers to the books in the Jewish tradition that follow the Torah, which include reflections on the story of Israel and prophecies about the future. These books continue the narrative, providing commentary and predictions that are tied to the overarching theme of God's plan for Israel and the world.

💡Messiah

The 'Messiah' in the script is a promised future leader of Israel, as mentioned in the book of Isaiah. The Messiah is central to the fulfillment of the story of the law and the prophets, as he is expected to lead the people in perfect obedience to God's law, something the Israelites could not achieve on their own.

💡Fulfillment

'Fulfillment' in the context of the script refers to the completion or realization of the promises and expectations set forth in the Torah and the Prophets. Jesus is said to have fulfilled the law by embodying the love of God and others to the fullest extent, thus bringing the story of the Torah to its intended conclusion.

💡Love

The concept of 'Love' in the script is highlighted as the great command to love God and others, which Jesus said could fulfill all of the laws of the Torah. The script explores the depth and demanding nature of this love, showing that true love requires more than just avoiding harm but also actively treating others with respect and kindness, even to one's enemies.

Highlights

The 10 Commandments are well-known but are part of a larger set of 613 commands given to ancient Israel found in the Torah.

The Torah, often translated as 'the law', is fundamentally a story about God creating a people who can fully love Him and others.

Jesus taught that He was bringing the story of the Torah to its fulfillment.

The Torah's narrative begins with God creating humanity who rebel, and choosing Abraham to bless all nations through his family.

God rescues Israel from slavery in Egypt and makes a covenant with them at Mount Sinai, establishing laws as the terms of the agreement.

Laws in the Torah include rituals, customs, social justice, and morality, setting Israel apart and showing other nations God's nature.

The 613 commands are a selection from the original constitution, strategically placed within the narrative to show a pattern of Israel's rebellion.

Moses' final speech acknowledges Israel's inability to follow God's laws due to their hard hearts.

The Prophets reflect on Israel's failure and the need for a transformation of hearts to truly obey God's law.

Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah foretell the coming of a Messiah who will lead in obedience and transform hearts.

Jesus saw Himself as the continuation of the story, agreeing with the law and prophets on the human heart's default opposition to God's law.

Jesus claimed to fulfill the law by teaching the great command to love God and others, which is more demanding than realized.

Jesus demonstrated that even seemingly simple commands require a heart transformation to truly fulfill God's moral ideal.

As Israel's Messiah, Jesus fully loved God and others, showing the nations what God is like through compassion, mercy, and love for enemies.

After His resurrection, Jesus promised the gift of God's Spirit to transform hearts, enabling followers to fulfill the law's purpose of love.

The video is part of a series tracing biblical themes and exploring the design and message of every book of the Bible, made possible by community support.

The Bible Project is committed to keeping their educational videos free, relying on viewer support for production.

Transcripts

- [Jon] You're most likely familiar

with the 10 commandments in the Bible;

stuff we generally take as good advice.

Don't murder, don't steal,

honor your parents, the list goes on.

- [Tim] And those are just the first 10.

There are actually a total of 613 commands,

all given to ancient Israel,

found in the first five books of the Bible,

which in Hebrew are called the Torah.

- [Jon] Now the word "Torah" is usually translated

in English as "the law"

because it has all of these laws in it.

As you read through them, you wonder

am I supposed to obey some of these, all of these?

I mean, what's the purpose of the law?

- [Tim] Well, that translation is kind of confusing

because while the Torah has laws in it,

the book itself is fundamentally a story

about how God is creating new kinds of people

who are fully able to love God and love others.

And when Jesus taught about the Torah,

he said that he was bringing that story to its fulfillment.

- [Jon] So walk me through the story

and how it's fulfilled.

- [Tim] So the story begins

with God creating humanity who rebels,

and God chooses Abraham

to bless all of the nations through his family

who end up in slavery down in Egypt, and so God rescues them.

Then at Mount Sinai God makes a covenant with Israel,

like an agreement, and all of the laws that Moses gives

to Israel are the terms of that agreement.

They're like a constitution.

And so some of the laws they're about rituals and customs

that set Israel apart from the nations.

Other laws are about social justice or morality,

and by following these Israel would show

the other nations what God is like.

- [Jon] Okay, so the rest of the Torah

is just the complete list of laws that Moses gives Israel?

- [Tim] No, the rest of the Torah

just continues the story,

and the 613 commands are only a selection

from that original constitution,

and even these have been broken up

and placed at strategic points within the story.

Now pay attention because you'll see a really clear pattern.

Moses gives the first laws to Israel.

- [Jon] Yeah, don't worship other gods,

don't make idols.

- [Tim] And then right after that

there's a story of Israel breaking those very laws.

- [Jon] Yeah, they worshiped the golden calf.

- [Tim] And so Moses gives some more laws,

and then you get more stories of rebellion.

Some more laws, rebellion again.

Some more laws, more rebellion,

and you start to see the point.

- [Jon] Right, no matter how many laws

they're just gonna continue to rebel.

- [Tim] So at the conclusion of the Torah's story,

Moses gives this final speech to Israel

as they prepare to go into their new home and he tells them,

"You guys, I know that you're not going

to follow all of God's laws.

You've proven to me that you're incapable."

And Moses says the problem is that their hearts are hard

and that they're going to need new, transformed hearts

if they're ever going to truly follow God's law.

And he was right, I mean, the story goes on

to recount Israel's total failure.

- [Jon] They go into the land, they break all the laws.

- [Tim] Right, now the next section of books

in the Jewish tradition are the 15 books of the prophets

and they reflect back on the story.

For example, Ezekiel, he said that if Israel

was ever going to obey the law

God's Spirit would have to transform

their hard hearts into soft hearts.

And Jeremiah said that's when obedience to God's command

wouldn't feel like a duty

but they would be written deep in their hearts.

And Isaiah, he promised a future leader, Israel's messiah,

who will lead all of the people in obedience to the law.

Now in Jewish tradition, all of these books together

are called the Prophets, even the historical books,

because they're continuing the story

told from the perspective of the prophets.

- [Jon] Okay, so we have the law and the prophets,

and they're telling one connected story

about God's desire to bless the whole world

through a people, Israel,

who it turns out needs a new heart.

- [Tim] Yes, and Jesus saw himself

as continuing that story.

So he agreed with the law and the prophets

when he taught that it's out of the human heart

that come the most ugly parts of human nature.

It's like the default setting of our hearts

is opposed to God's law.

But Jesus also said that he came to solve that problem,

and in his words, to fulfill the law.

- [Jon] So what does he mean there, to fulfill the law?

- [Tim] Well, first he said that the demand

of all of the laws in the Torah could be fulfilled

by what he called the great command,

that we are to love God and to love others.

- [Jon] So that seems pretty easy.

I mean, we all want to love.

- [Tim] Well, we think we want to love,

but Jesus showed how love

is far more demanding than we realize.

So he quotes the law "do not murder," and he says

yes, not killing someone is a very loving thing to do.

But then he also says that when you treat someone

with disrespect, or when you nurse resentment against them,

you're also violating God's moral ideal

because you're not treating that person with love.

And so Jesus said true love ought to extend

even to our own enemies.

So even though this command seems very simple,

Jesus showed how our hearts are not currently equipped

to fulfill even this basic command of God to love others.

- [Jon] And that's kind of a downer.

- [Tim] But where Israel failed,

Jesus brought this story to its fulfillment.

As Israel's Messiah he fully loved God and others,

and he showed all of the nations what God is truly like.

He did this through his acts of compassion and mercy

and ultimately by loving his enemies, even unto death.

And after his resurrection, he told his followers

that he would send God's Spirit to transform their hearts

so that they could follow him

and fulfill the purpose of the law

to love God and to love their neighbor.

So this fulfills the story of the law and the prophets,

or in the words of the apostle Paul,

"The one who loves fulfills the law."

- [Tim] This video was made possible by over 1,300 people

who chipped in, and most of those

are monthly givers to the BibleProject.

Thank you guys so much.

- [Jon] We make a lot of videos like this one

that trace a biblical theme

from the beginning to the end of Scripture.

- [Tim] We're also making videos about every book of the Bible,

helping you learn about its design and overall message.

- [Jon] We're committed to keeping these videos free,

and we're able to do that because of your support.

- [Tim] If you wanna see more videos or other resources

we have, go to jointhebibleproject.com.