The General Epistles were also written by Jews. James (Ya'acov or Jacob in the original), and Jude
(Y'hudah) were both half brothers of none other than Y‘shua himself. Peter and John were two of the ̳chief
apostles‘. John also was the one who recorded the visions he saw in the Apokalypsis or Book of Revelation,
the final prophetic unveiling.
It was YHWH's choice to use the children of Israel (all Hebrews) to communicate the Scriptures to the world.
WAS IT DIFFICULT TO LIVE UNDER THE TORAH (LAW) DURING THE TIME OF THE OLD
TESTAMENT?
The ̳written‘ Torah consists of the 5 books of Moses and the ̳oral‘ Torah consists of additional instructions
passed down from generation to generation orally. The Written Torah is viewed as YHWH's expressed will,
and the Oral Torah viewed as the detailed instructions of how to fulfil that expressed will. After the
destruction of the Second Temple, Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi (Judah the Prince) began to collect, sift, arrange,
classify and edit the great body of Oral Torah into a basic compendium of authoritative Torah Law called the
Mishnah.
Over succeeding generations, as rabbis continued their study of the Oral Torah, a tradition of commentary
and explanation began to grow. This expanding mass of material became an object of study in its own right
and was called the Gemara in Aramaic – meaning, study. Both the Mishnah and Gemara were combined into
a single document and called the Talmud – meaning, 'to study' in Hebrew. The Talmud is divided into 6
divisions, in which there are various tractates on different topical areas. Today, there are only 37 of the
original sixty tractates of the Babylonian Talmud (Bavli) and 39 of the original sixty-three tractates of the
Jerusalem Talmud (Yerushalmi).
Now, there are 613 commandments in the Written Torah (revelation or instruction from YHWH). These 613
commandments list what is required, permitted, and forbidden by YHWH—and range from activity of the lay
person in everyday life to the strict procedures followed by the High Priest. The 613 commandments are
codified and divided into the 248 positive and 365 negative Laws.
Yes, it was indeed very difficult to live a righteous life under the Torah as guidance: ―He that despised
Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:‖ (Heb 10:28). We can thank YHWH for grace
through His Son Y‘shua HaMashiach who gives us salvation today and not through the Torah. The only way
to receive salvation today is through Y‘shua, the door to eternal life. Now what about the Torah?
The New Covenant affirms that the Torah is good: ―Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy,
and just, and good‖ (Rom 7:12). The Law of Moses is a series of instructions given to help Israel live holy
lives, and within the core of the Mosaic Law are the sacrifices. It is evident that YHWH knew Israel would not
be able to keep the Law; i.e., the sacrificial system that declares YHWH's grace and his willingness to forgive
the sins of his people. The Grace is the salvation; but the Law is for protection, direction and correction,
and both are vital. If you study the Law closely, you will find that we all would have been killed by two or
three witnesses, as it is virtually impossible to comply fully with the Law.
It is interesting to note that the year is divided into 54 sections for the reading of the Torah. Each section is
called a Parshah. The Parashot are in the progressive order that they are read through the year. The first
Parshah, Bereshit (Genesis) is read following Shimini Atzeret "the assembly of the eighth (day)‖ just after the
festival of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) in the fall season (winter in Israel). This listing of the 613
commandments below do not follow the order of the Parshah as thought by categorising them together will
give the reader a better understanding of the Torah. (Please note P stands for Positive Law and N for
negative Law).
THE 248 POSITIVE MITZVOT (COMMANDMENTS)
YHWH
P 1 N 1 Exod 20:2 To believe in YHWH.
P 2 N 1 Deut 6:4 To acknowledge the Unity of YHWH.
P 3 Deut 6:5 To love YHWH.
P 4 N 1 Deut 6:13 To fear YHWH.
P 5 N 1 Exod 23:25 To serve YHWH (Deut 11:13; 13:5).
P 6 N 1 Deut 10:20 To cleave to YHWH (holdfast, pursue closely).
P 7 Deut 10:20 On taking an oath by YHWH's Name.
P 8 N 1 Deut 28:9 On walking in YHWH's ways.
P 9 Lev 22:32 On Sanctifying YHWH's Name.