My Torah

My Torah 

The LORD God Calls the Torah His Own 

tō-w-rā-ṯî : My Torah

"My Torah" and the Teachings of Jesus Christ: The Fulfillment of Resurrection and Life

1. The Grammatical Change of "My Torah" and Its Spiritual Significance:

n Hebrew, the word "Torah" (תּוֹרָה) is a feminine noun, ending with the letter "Hey" (ה). However, when it is transformed into "My Torah," the "Hey" is removed, and "Tav" (תּ) and "Yod" (ִי) are added. While this is a grammatical change indicating possession, it also carries deep spiritual significance.

The Hebrew letter "Hey" (הֵא) can be directly translated as "she is" or "she" in English. This word is a colloquial form used in Hebrew, equivalent to "הִיא" (Hi, meaning "she is"). For example, "הֵא" can be used in a sentence like "הֵא תלמידה" (Hey Talmida), meaning "She is a student." As an alphabet letter, "Hey" (הֵא) typically represents the name of the Hebrew letter itself, but when used as a word, it translates to "she is."

The Removal of "Hey": The letter "Hey" often symbolizes imperfection and human frailty. Its removal signifies the elimination of human weakness and the fulfillment of God's perfect plan. The pictograph of "Hey" resembles a worshipper with raised arms, looking up to heaven. The absence of "Hey" in "My Torah" represents the union between the Lord God and the believer. When the Torah is inscribed on the heart, in the New Covenant, and becomes one with the believer, it signifies becoming the bride that pleases the Lord God. This is the only way to avoid falling into the corruption of the harlot. According to the teachings of the New Testament, this means welcoming the incarnate Yeshua (Salvation) as the beloved bridegroom in one's life.

(John 14:21) "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

• The Hebrew letter "Tav" (תָּו) is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and its meaning is associated with a "mark" or "sign." "Tav" is also believed to represent a cross-like mark in ancient Hebrew, which has evolved into its symbolic meaning. Depending on the context, "Tav" often signifies an end, completion, or the fulfillment of a process.

• The word "תָּו" can, depending on the context, refer to a specific 'mark' or 'sign,' but it is most commonly recognized as the name of the Hebrew letter itself.

• The Addition of "Tav": As the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet, "Tav" frequently symbolizes the cross in ancient contexts. This alludes to the completion of the Torah through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ.

Ezekiel 9:4

"Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."

In this context, the "mark" is traditionally understood to be the Hebrew letter "תָּו" (Tav). This marking is a sign of protection for those who mourn the abominations committed in Jerusalem.

• The Hebrew letter "Yod" (י) is the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and its meaning is associated with "hand" or "the movement of the hand."

Despite its small size, "Yod" plays a crucial role in Hebrew. It is used as part of the name of God, specifically the first letter in "YHWH" (Yahweh).

"Yod" literally means "hand," which can symbolize action, strength, and creation. Its small and simple form represents the beginning of creation, suggesting that great things can emerge from small beginnings. Thus, "Yod" symbolizes creative action or divine power related to the hand.

• Addition of "Yod": "Yod" signifies possession and symbolizes a personal relationship with God. It represents internalizing God's word through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and forming a deep communion with God.

2. Connection to Matthew 22:29-30:

In Matthew 22:29-30, Jesus explains the state of resurrection, where we are transformed from our earthly existence to a glorified state.

• Matthew 22:29-30:
  Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven."

This passage reveals that in the resurrection, we are no longer bound by earthly limitations or relationships but are transformed into glorified beings, like the angels. This is directly connected to the spiritual truth symbolized by the transformation of "My Torah." Through Jesus' teachings and His work on the cross, the Torah is fulfilled, and we are clothed with the glory of resurrection. The change in "My Torah" thus symbolizes the process of our transformation into new beings through resurrection.

3. The Teachings of Jesus Christ and the Glory of Resurrection:

The teachings of Jesus Christ, who is the incarnate Torah, lead us to a glorious resurrection. Through His teachings, we receive the hope of eternal life and resurrection. The resurrection is not merely the revival of the body but a life of eternal fellowship with God, where we walk with the Lord and worship Him forever.

• John 6:53-54:
  Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day."

Jesus promises that those who partake in His flesh and blood will have eternal life and be raised on the last day. This foreshadows the glorious resurrection accomplished through "My Torah," where those whose names are written in the Book of Life will experience this future.

4. Connection to the "Book of Life":

The concept of the "Book of Life" mentioned in Revelation is closely related to the Sefer HaChaim (סֵפֶר הַחַיִּים) in the Hebrew Bible and the Biblos Tēs Zōēs (Βίβλος τῆς Ζωῆς) in the Greek New Testament. The Book of Life contains the names of those who are saved and plays a crucial role in God's final judgment. Only those whose names are written in this book are promised eternal life.

• Revelation 20:12:
  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

• Revelation 20:15:
  Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

These verses clearly show that those whose names are recorded in the Book of Life will enter God's kingdom, while those who are not will face judgment. The Book of Life is a significant symbol of eternal life guaranteed for the saved.

The physical Bible, made of paper and ink, is not holy in itself. However, the words contained within are the living Word of God, working through the Holy Spirit to bring life to believers. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:6, "The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life," emphasizing that the power of the Holy Spirit at work within God's Word brings life to people.

• 2 Corinthians 3:6:
  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Becoming the true bride of Christ means not just understanding the words on the page, but experiencing the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit through those words. This aligns with the idea that those whose names are written in the Book of Life become the "Living Bible" themselves, embodying the life and spirit of God.

5. Conclusion:

The grammatical transformation of "My Torah" symbolizes the completion of God's redemptive plan through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 22:29-30, Jesus explains the state of resurrection, giving us the hope of being glorified in Him. This resurrection signifies a life no longer bound by earthly limitations but one of eternal communion with God, walking with the Lord, and worshiping Him forever.

All of this is accomplished through the teachings of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Torah, and experienced by those whose names are written in the Book of Life—the ultimate glory that awaits them. "My Torah" is not just a possessive expression; it is a profound symbol of God’s redemptive history and the glory of resurrection.

hab-bə-rîṯ  : The Covenant

🔖 A key point: The Torah of the LORD God was, is, and will be fulfilled eternally and gloriously. 

The Purpose of the Torah 

Why the LORD God Gave the Torah to His People 

Fulfillment of the Torah 

The Process by Which the Torah is Fulfilled 

Matthew 12:

3 Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? BSB

Hebrews 10:1

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. KJV

John 6:51

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh. BSB

🔖 A key point: Fulfillment signifies completion. The old law must be transformed into the eternal law, not to be abolished, but to be made even better. This heaven and earth will be replaced with new ones. Believers in Christ will die and be resurrected as eternal and glorious beings. However, at the Second Coming of Christ, those who are raptured will not experience death.

Matthew 5: 

27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. KJV

Hebrews 6: 

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age— 6 and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame. BSB

Following Torah 

Meditating, Internalizing, and Practicing the Torah 

Romans 8:

13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. BSB

Galatians 5:

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another. BSB

1 Corinthians 6:

9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. BSB

🔖 A key point: The Torah was, is, and will be fulfilled eternally and gloriously.

The Destination of the Torah 

The Coming of the Eternal and Holy City, New Jerusalem  

Luke 22:

15 And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before My suffering. 16 For I tell you that I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” BSB

Exodus 12:14

And this day will be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD, as a permanent statute for the generations to come.  BSB

Exodus 31:16

The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. BSB

Revelation 22:

10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near. 11 Let the unrighteous continue to be unrighteous, and the vile continue to be vile; let the righteous continue to practice righteousness, and the holy continue to be holy.”

12 “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. BSB

Fighting Into the Torah 

Life as the Current Spiritual Battlefield to Enter the Torah 

Malachi 2

6 True Torah was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek Torah from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.

8 And you withdraw from the way in Torah has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts. 9 “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, and ones-lifting faces {(you show favoritism(partiality)} in Torah."

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 

Zechariah 9:17 How lovely they will be, and how beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the young women (bethulah).

Matthew 25

1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten young women (παρθένος parthenos: It could be virgin but virginity is not the key. Repentance is the key. And the key is incarnated Torah, Messiah Yeshua) who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. 4 But the wise ones took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 

Analysis of the Terms "Betorah" and "Betulah" in a Theological Context

The Hebrew word "Betulah" (בְּתוּלָה) refers to a young woman of marriageable age, often symbolizing virginity. Another term, "Betorah" (בְּתוֹרָה), means "in the Torah," which refers to the sacred teachings and laws in the Hebrew Bible. Analyzing these words through their pictographic meanings provides deeper theological insights.

Pictographic Analysis:

• Betorah (Betorah): This word comprises the letters Bet (ב), Tav (ת), Vav (ו), Resh (ר), and Hey (ה). The letter "Resh" can signify "chief" or "firstborn," indicating primacy or leadership within the context of the Torah.

• Betulah (Betulah): This word consists of the letters Bet (ב), Tav (ת), Vav (ו), Lamed (ל), and Hey (ה). The letter "Lamed" represents a shepherd or teaching, suggesting guidance and instruction.

The inclusion of "Resh" (ר) in "Betorah" suggests a focus on the primary teachings or the foundational role of the Torah. The letter "Resh," depicted as a human head, symbolizes leadership, and the "chief" or "firstborn" status, aligning with the concept of Jesus Christ as the preeminent figure in Christology. The Hebrew word for salvation, "Yeshuah", also connects with this idea, as it means "salvation" and is the name of Jesus in Hebrew. Thus, "Resh" in "Betorah" can be seen as representing Jesus Christ, the "chief" or "firstborn" who brings salvation.

Conversely, in "Betulah," the letter "Lamed" signifies teaching or guidance, highlighting the role of divine shepherd and His instruction.

Furthermore, in the context of creation, humanity, made in God's image, is God's most significant and fundamental focus in creation. Therefore, the letter 'Resh' in "Betorah," depicted as a human head, symbolizes humanity as the 'chief' or 'firstborn' among all creatures, signifying that the universe was created for humankind. It also represents the importance of Jesus Christ, who offers salvation to all people, highlighting the essential need for salvation, without which humanity would face eternal punishment. 

Theological Implications:

• Meditation on the Torah: Psalm 1 speaks of the blessings of meditating on the Torah day and night. This blessing is the fulfillment of the New Covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 31, and it is realized only in Jesus Christ.

• Purpose of the Torah: The main purpose of God giving the Torah to His people is to provide a path to salvation. This divine guidance is aimed at bringing His people into a state of eternal life. The Hebrew word for salvation, "Yeshuah," directly links to Jesus Christ, highlighting that the Torah ultimately points to Him. The letter "Resh," symbolizing the firstborn or chief, represents Jesus Christ as the preeminent figure and the only way of salvation.

• The Parable of the Ten Virgins: In Matthew 25, the Parable of the Ten Virgins highlights the importance of being prepared for the return of Christ, the bridegroom. In this context, the virgins represent believers, and their readiness symbolizes spiritual preparedness. The connection between 'Betulah' (young woman) and 'Betorah' (in the Torah) suggests that true preparation involves deep engagement with God's Word. Just as the virgins needed to be ready to meet the bridegroom, believers must be spiritually prepared through continuous meditation on the Torah in its entirety and fulfillment.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin (almah: It appears 7 times in the Hebrew Bible. "A young and beautiful virgin and she could be a maiden" often refers to a young and attractive woman, who may sometimes serve or take on a caretaking role for someone.) shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Luke 1 

26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

(Ezekiel 22:26)

• כֹּהֲנֶיהָ (kohaneha) - Her priests

• חָמְסוּ (chamasu) - have acted unjustly

• תּוֹרָתִי (torati) - My Torah

• וַיְחַלְּלוּ (vayehalelu) - and have profaned

• קָדָשַׁי (kadoshai) - My holy things

• בֵּין (bein) - between

• קֹדֶשׁ (kodesh) - holy

• לְחוֹל (lechol) - and unholy

• לֹא (lo) - not

• הִבְדִּילוּ (hivdilu) - distinguished

• וּבֵין (uvein) - and between

• הַטָּמֵא (hatamei) - the unclean

• לַטָּהוֹר (latahor) - the clean

• לֹא (lo) - not

• הוֹדִיעוּ (hodiyu) - made known

• וּמִשַּׁבְּתוֹתַי (umishabtothai) - and from My Sabbaths

• הֶעְלִימוּ (he'elimu) - they have hidden

• עֵינֵיהֶם (einehem) - their eyes

• וָאֶחַלֵּל (va'ehalel) - and I am profaned

• בְּתוֹכָם (betocham) - among them

(Zephaniah 3:4)

• נְבִיאֶיהָ (nevi'eha) - Her prophets

• פֹחֲזִים (pochazim) - are insolent

• אַנְשֵׁי (anshei) - treacherous

• בֹגְדוֹת (bogdot) - people

• כֹּהֲנֶיהָ (kohaneha) - Her priests

• חִלְּלוּ (chillelu) - have profaned

• קֹדֶשׁ (kodesh) - the sanctuary

• חָמְסוּ (chamasu) - have acted unjustly

• תּוֹרָה (torah) - Torah