The Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and it is the foundation of Judaism. Yeshua was a Jewish rabbi, and he taught his followers that he had come to fulfill the Torah, not to abolish it. Here are some ways in which Yeshua’s teachings are consistent with the Torah:
- Yeshua taught to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).
- Yeshua taught to love our neighbors as themselves (Leviticus 19:18).
- Yeshua taught to pray for our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
- Yeshua taught to forgive others (Matthew 6:12).
- Yeshua taught to give to the poor (Luke 11:41).
- Yeshua taught to be merciful (Matthew 5:7).
- Yeshua taught to be pure in heart (Matthew 5:8).
- Yeshua taught to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).
These are just a few examples of how Yeshua’s teachings are consistent with the Torah. Yeshua taught his followers to live a life of love, obedience, and service to God and others. This is the same life that the Torah calls us to live. In addition to the specific teachings that Yeshua gave, his overall message was also consistent with the Torah. He taught that God is love and that we are called to love one another. He taught that we should live a life of peace and justice. And he taught that we should forgive those who have wronged us. All of these teachings are consistent with the Torah, which is the foundation of Judaism. Yeshua came to fulfill the Torah, not to abolish it. And his teachings are a beautiful example of how to live a life that is pleasing to God.
It is important to also note that Yeshua did not always agree with the way that the Torah was being interpreted and applied by the Jewish religious leaders of his time. (i.e. The Sabbath observance) He often criticized them for their hypocrisy and their lack of love and compassion. However, Yeshua never rejected the Torah itself. He affirmed it as the word of God and the foundation of Jewish law.
