The Whole Duty of ALL Man

By Carmela LazarusUncategorized

Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. Yahweh blessed him with wisdom, understanding and knowledge because he walked in the statues of Yahweh like David his father and asked for wisdom instead of riches (1 Kings 3:10-14). Solomon sums up our existence in one verse:

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastics 12:13-14

Not too hard, right? Fear God and keep His commandments. Moses also tells us the same thing:

And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13

We were created to be obedient – to humble ourselves and honor Yahweh with our hearts and actions. The word Torah means “instructions” and includes ALL of the laws, commands and statutes that Yahweh gave to His chosen people from Genesis to Deuteronomy. Torah is His way of life for us. From birth to death, Yahweh’s Torah teaches His people how to live a Holy life. The Torah covers things like community, medicine, diet, health, clothing, housing, safety, morality, ceremonies, Holy days, worship and relationships between family and neighbors. The Torah is the living Word that guides, leads and directs the lives of His people. According to Proverbs 6:23, the Torah is a lamp and a light – correction and discipline from it are the way of life. Yahweh’s Torah gives us life and transform us into the image of our creator.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Take to heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may command them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this Law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life. Deuteronomy 32:46-47

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life. Proverbs 6:23

The purpose of this life is to prepare our hearts and minds for our forever citizenship in the Kingdom of God. In every kingdom, there are obligations to citizenship. Our obligation as citizens of His Kingdom is to bring honor and glory to the Father through our obedience and submission to Him. The Torah is and will be the perfect law of the Father’s kingdom. It teaches us how to love and honor our King, as well as love and respect other citizens that are in the Kingdom with us.

Because we believe that the entire Bible is applicable to us today – for teaching and correction – we believe that we should be obeying the entire Bible. The whole book was written as an example for us – what to do and what not to do. The purpose of studying the Scriptures is to find Yahweh’s truth and understanding – not to find comfort and reassurance that what we think we know is correct. We should not be looking for a way to back up and justify the truth as we think we understand it – but be looking for what Yahweh says is Truth. Even if it flies in the face of what we think we know.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16

Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 1 Corinthians 10:5-6, 11

In the above verse, Paul mentions “all Scripture.” What did Paul mean by “all Scripture?” The only “Scripture” that the disciples and Paul had at the time they lived and taught was… the Old Testament. The New Testament letters weren’t written until after 50-66 AD – after Yeshua went to be with His Father – and not canonized into the Bible until the 300’s, long after Paul and the disciples were gone. Yeshua, the disciples and Paul all quoted and taught from the Old Testament. If you don’t know the Old Testament, you will miss the message of the New Testament and will most likely misinterpret it.

But we only need to follow the Ten Commandments, right? Many believers have been taught that only the Ten Commandments apply to us and the rest are just the Law of Moses for Israel. But as you can see from the following verses, the Torah is not just the “Law of Moses” – it is the LAW OF GOD and it is for all mankind! Moses was just the person Yahweh chose to write the Torah down for the people to remember. All of the commands, statues, rules and laws from Genesis to Deuteronomy, however, are straight from the mouth of Yahweh to Moses for those who wanted to be His people and receive His blessings. The Ten Commandments are the overview, and the rest of the laws and statutes explain the Ten in detail – how to love God and how to love our neighbor.

Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” But you (Moses), stand here by Me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess. You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess. Deuteronomy 5: 32-33

And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I (Yahweh) am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. Deuteronomy 4:1

Make them known to your children and your children’s children—how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’ Deuteronomy 4:10

Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time. Deuteronomy 4:40

For the LORD is our Judge; the LORD is our Lawgiver; the LORD is our King; He will save us. Isaiah 33:22

The LORD was pleased, for His righteousness’ sake, to magnify His law and make it glorious. Isaiah 42:21

Who gave up Jacob to the looter, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned, in whose ways they would not walk, and whose law they would not obey? Isaiah 42:24

Oh that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18

Additional verses TO STUDY: Deuteronomy 5:31, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 6:17, Deuteronomy 8:11, Deuteronomy 26:16, Leviticus 19:30; Jeremiah 7:23

God’s laws are eternal. They were in effect at Creation – before they were given on Mount Sinai – when God blessed the 7th day and made it Holy. It was at Creation that He set the 7th day apart for rest. Noah knew the food laws when he took clean and unclean animals into the ark. Abraham was chosen to receive the promised blessing because he obeyed Yahweh and kept His charge, commandments, statues and laws (Genesis 26:4-5). Yahweh taught Israel about the Sabbath when He gave them the manna and told them to gather double on the 6th day because the 7th day was the Sabbath. That was before He gave them His commands at Mt. Sinai.

Neither His chosen people nor His laws have changed throughout the entire Bible because Yahweh never changes! Israel will always be His people and His laws will always be relevant.

For I the LORD do not change; Malachi 3:6

God is not man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Numbers 23:19

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before Him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

Additional verses TO STUDY: Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:5-6, Hebrew 13:8

When Yahweh called His people out of Egypt, He made a covenant (legal agreement) with them at Mount Sinai. The covenant was this: if they obeyed His laws, then He would take them as His chosen people. The Torah was the terms of the covenant. It outlines:

  • Our duties to Yahweh
  • The sovereignty of Yahweh
  • The unity, spirituality and uniqueness of Yahweh
  • The special times to meet with Yahweh
  • How to honor those who are in authority over us
  • Our duties toward other people and their property
  • The sanctity of human life
  • Our duties toward property, marriage and speaking the truth

Yahweh chose ONE group of people as his chosen possession – Abraham’s seed, Israel – because of Abraham’s righteousness. Yahweh still only has one group of chosen people, and it doesn’t have anything to do with nationality, race, color or gender. There is nothing today that identifies us as a native-born Israelite. The Word goes out to everybody. It doesn’t matter if you were born Israel or not. What matters is that you CHOOSE to be part of Israel. It has to do with whether you are in covenant or out of covenant. If you are in covenant with Him and keeping the terms of His contract, then you are part of Israel. If you are out of covenant with Him, you are a gentile.

Peter says in Acts 5:31 that God exalted Yeshua as Savior for Israel. If we do not want to be part of Israel (part of the covenant), then the Bible is not for us. The entire Bible was written for the Israelite people – all twelve tribes. It was written by Israelites, for Israelites. Yeshua (Hebrew name for Jesus) was an Israelite Jew from the tribe of Judah. John the Baptist was a priest from the house of Levi. Paul was a scholar of the Torah from the tribe of Benjamin. The disciples were also Israelites from various tribes. Matthew, James, John, Philip, Andrew, and Peter were from Galilee, a town settled by tribes from Zebulon, Naphtali, Issachar and Asher. Nathanael (Bartholomew) was an Israelite.

Yeshua himself said that He only came for the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” and sent His disciples first to Israel. Peter and James write their letters to the Israelite exiles in the Dispersion. Hebrews was written to the Israelite tribes. Not to mention the fact that the 144,000 sealed as servants of God in Revelation 7 are from the twelve tribes of Israel and the gates of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 are named for the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel.

God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him. Acts 5:31-32

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24

These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 10:5

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up His servant (Yeshua), sent Him to you (Israel) first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” Acts 3:25-26

But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, My friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are My servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off.” Isaiah 41:8-9

Yahweh calls His covenant people “Israel” over 2,200 times in the Old Testament and over 70 times in the New Testament. Not once does He call His covenant people “Christians.” The original followers of Messiah in the New Testament were called Nazarene’s or The Way (Acts 24:5, 14, 22). The nickname “Christian” was given to followers of Christ by locals in Antioch, Greece long after His Ascension.

Thankfully, Yahweh allows foreigners/gentiles born outside of the nationality of Israel to become part of Israel – but they have to obey the same covenant instructions.

There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you. Exodus 12:49

You shall have the same rule for the sojourner and for the native, for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 24:22

For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the LORD. One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you. Numbers 15:15-16

But you shall keep My statutes and My rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. Leviticus 18:26

And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to Him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast My covenant – these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:5-6

Additional verses TO STUDY: Leviticus 19:34, Numbers 9:14, Romans 10:12-13, Ephesians 2:19, Colossians 3:11

Romans 11 explains how gentiles (those outside of the covenant) are grafted in to the olive tree of Israel. It explains how Israel was given over to disobedience so that the fullness of the gentiles could come in – so the gentiles could also receive mercy for their disobedience and salvation through Yeshua. Once you accept Yeshua as your Messiah, you are no longer a gentile. You are grafted in and made part of the commonwealth of Israel (Abraham’s offspring) and part of the covenant of promise! Then we become sheep of His flock and He will be our Shepherd.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:11-13

I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. John 10:14-16

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Galatians 3:28-29

Since the Torah of Yahweh is to last forever, that means that it still applies today for us as part of Israel – Abraham’s offspring. Even though it’s plainly in your Bible, the truth of the Scriptures has been suppressed by man for the last 1,600 years. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not the truth anymore. People lived this way of truth for thousands of years before it was perverted by the Romans. Just as King Josiah in 2 Kings 23 found the Torah, repented of his ways and turned Israel back to Yahweh’s laws, truth seekers all over the world are having their eyes opened to the truth of Yahweh’s Torah every day. In Psalms 119:160 David says “the sum of Your Word is Truth and every one of Your righteous rules lasts forever.”

The sum of your Word is Truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever. Psalms 119:160

You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep His charge, His statutes, His rules, and His commandments always. Deuteronomy 11:1

Be careful to obey all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 12:28

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:8

All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the Word of the LORD remains forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25

Additional verses TO STUDY: Exodus 12:14, Exodus 12:17, Exodus 12:24, Exodus 31:16-17, Leviticus 16:31, Leviticus 23:21, 31

Scripture instructs us to not add to OR take away from the Words of Yahweh. If you believe the laws of the Torah are done away with, you are taking away from the Word of Yahweh. You are ripping out the Old Testament words of Yahweh and claiming His perfect and Holy ways aren’t valid for your life today. You are doing away with His covenant terms, making His covenant null and void in your life.

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2

Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it. Deuteronomy 12:32

Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar. Proverbs 30:6

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before Him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

In our walk, we are to imitate Yeshua Messiah – the Word made flesh. Messiah was perfect. He lived and walked out the Torah instructions perfectly. The Torah is the Word of God and is the Will of God for all men. John 1 says that Yeshua is the Word and the Word became flesh. He is the Word in flesh. The same Word that was in Him, was the same Word that He outwardly practiced and preached. The Word that is in Him is supposed to be the same Word that is in us. In imitating Him, we should also outwardly practice obeying the Word as He did.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14

Sin is defined by the Scriptures as lawlessness (1 John 3:4). In order for there to be lawlessness, there has to be a law. What law? The Father’s. of course! Just because you don’t like obeying certain Torah commands, doesn’t mean they are not sin. If we choose just certain ones to obey because it’s convenient or it benefits us, then we are being double-minded. What does the Bible say about the double-minded?

I hate the double–minded, but I love your law. Psalms 119:113

He is a double–minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:8

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double–minded. James 4:8

Yeshua himself tells us in Matthew and Luke that He did not do away with the law. He came to redeem us from lawlessness and purify us.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (live them out to the fullest). For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19

“But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.” Luke 16:17

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:14

If you believe or have been taught that your Messiah did away with the law or broke the law, then your Messiah is the antichrist. The antichrist is the man of lawlessness, not Yeshua. Yeshua Messiah was sinless, perfect and spotless. He came to be an example to us as one without sin (lawlessness). If we are to imitate Him, why would it make sense that we are not to keep the laws of God?

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed – the son of destruction who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 2 Thessalonians 2:9

Obeying the Torah of God does three things: it blesses us, it keeps us safe, and it transforms us into the image of our Messiah. Why wouldn’t you want to live like that? We are to imitate Messiah and have His character – to do life that way that He did it and He did it perfectly. Yeshua tells us in Matthew 5:48 that we are to “be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect.” We can obviously never be perfect like Yeshua and our Father, but we can have a heart and a desire to be and make our best effort. Do you desire to be like Yeshua and be part of God’s chosen people?

I hope that I have given you enough information to search out the truth for yourself. Trust the entire Word of God and that it was given to us as an example of how to live our lives pleasing to Him and be partakers of the covenant promises. Trust that all Scripture is for us today and trust that when Yahweh says forever – He means forever.

Shalom!

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