Why was the Torah given?

[veggirl]

I think I have a good Idea why the was given, but when trying to explain this to my son, I am not so good.

Can anyone, explain why?
I also want to know when was the given how many years ago?

Thanks Bri'gette

[Mark]

Very simply put, the has been given to demonstrate our need for the Messiah. When we are free to determine for ourselves what is right and wrong, we justify our own actions and condemn others. places all of us on equal standing before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Romans 3:20-23 KJV)

Unfortunately, this is carried to an extreme measure in the anti-nomain Church: that once we have Messiah, we hav no longer any need of . Yet, this is exactly the heresy that Paul adamantly combated in Romans:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(Romans 6:1-4 KJV)

Paul goes on to describe as the vehicle through which we learn to walk in righteousness:

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
(1 Timothy 1:8-11 KJV)

Most people stop reading this passage when they get to menstealers. However, see how Paul concludes, that "it" () is to reveal "any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." is for the establishment of "sound doctrine".

Finally, we understand that , as the definition of sin (darkness), is the guide for establishing within us a spirit of fellowship and unity between each other and toward God.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(1 John 1:5-10 KJV)

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
(1 John 2:1-6 KJV)

It is by the that we acknowledge our need for a Savior to gain access to Adonai. It is in the that we learn to walk in obedience to Him. It is through the that we live in unity and fellowship with each other as in Him.

[Mark]

There are two different opinions as to when the was given. The most common is that it was given to Moses first at Sinai around 1446 BC. Add 1445 to 2009, carry the one, that makes the Law about 3454 years old.

However, when you look a little closer, Adonai spoke the Law and how Abraham would obey it and teach his children (Genesis 26:5). Few specific commands had been given by this point, and zero ordinances, yet, fromt he beginning (at least with Cain and Abel), they knew that they were to offer sacrifices, specifically recorded is offering "Firstfruits" (Genesis 4:4-5). This understanding suggests that the existed from the beginning of creation, at least 5769 years ago.

[veggirl]

Thank you Mark,

You have covered a lot of stuff..

Bri'gette

[Tyler]

Another thing that I love about the is that it shows us Who Hashem is - His character.

For example, when He says, "Thou shalt not murder," He's not just randomly picking a rule. He commands us to not murder because it is a direct violation of His very nature. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and He has created us in His image. Or when He says, "Thou shalt not bear false witness," it is because He is truth, He cannot lie - for us to lie is to oppose His very nature, and the divine image that we bear.

His is not merely a random set of do's and don'ts. It reveals Who God is - His very essence and nature.

[yeshuafreak]

mark referenced every verse that i was going to, so i find no need to explain it again, lol.

However, when you look a little closer, Adonai spoke the Law and how Abraham would obey it and teach his children (Genesis 26:5). Few specific commands had been given by this point, and zero ordinances, yet, fromt he beginning (at least with Cain and Abel), they knew that they were to offer sacrifices, specifically recorded is offering "Firstfruits" (Genesis 4:4-5). This understanding suggests that the existed from the beginning of creation, at least 5769 years ago.

how is this when Paul said that the law came into the picture after (430 years after) the avrahamic covenant?

the dates for when was given are from 1500-1300 BCE (at least, thats what i was told)
liberals prefer the latter date, conservatives the earlier one.

shalom- john

[Mark]

The book of Galatians isn't really that long of a letter; and yet, more than any, single phrases are pulled out to stand alone as though they held no reference or context.

And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
(Galatians 3:17 KJV)

Note that the word Paul uses is not "started" but rather "confirmed". He is not saying that did not exist until Moses, rather, with Moses, the was "ratified" in the specific relationship to Israel as the descendants of Abraham. The peculiar covenant with Israel lifts them up as the people to follow (peculiar people/Holy Priesthood). Such a relationship does not dismiss that God's commands apply to the rest of the world- and have for all eternity. Why else would do you suppose that Adonai would send a Hebrew prophet to Ninevah, the capitol of Babylon in order to tell them to change their lifestyle?

If we do a timeline from Adam to Abraham, we find that there is always living one who "walked with God." This, I believe, was the source of until the time of Moses.

Argument is made within Tamudic literature that since some of the Patriarchal fathers did things absolutely contrary to (such as marrying one's sister), that was not yet established for them. After careful reading, you find that these same Rabbinical authors will go through the most arduous symantics to demonstrate the Patriarchs as absolutely righteous. We don't believe that the Bible needs to do so: that these men were sinners such as we are, saved only by the grace of God.

For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(Romans 4:13-17 KJV)