Now we are going to look at some of the teachings of Torah, which means teachings, to find out how to live the will of God. These are not just random things that came off the top of God’s head, but they are all leading to a revelation of Messiah.

1. Judgements Exodus 21: 1 – 24: 18

  1. Jesus declared justice to be the first exercise of the Torah Matthew 23: 23 (Don’t ignore the more important (weighty) aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith.)
  2. Righteousness is the fulfillment of legal and moral obligations.
    1. In a judicial sense it declares us “Not Guilty”
  3. Justice is the fair administration of authority rightly deciding between contestants by rightly rewarding and rightly punishing.
    1. God desires righteousness and justice Psalm 33: 5 (God loves whatever is just and good)
    2. He desires them more than the sacrifice that they are based on. Proverbs 21: 3 (The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices)
  4. EXAMPLES:
    1. This is not something new.  God knew Abraham would teach his children righteousness and justice Genesis 18: 19
    2. He gave Israel kings to dispense justice and righteousness. 2 Samuel 8: 15
    3. When the kings did this they were blessed.  When they forgot, God sent prophets to them to rebuke and correct them.
    4. Queen Sheba noticed the blessing on Solomon and spoke over him.  Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore He make you king to do justice and righteousness.
    5. When Messiah returns he will administer righteousness and justice on the earth Jeremiah 33: 15 (In those days and at the right time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.  He will do what is just and right throughout the land.
    6. So by executing these things, we are bringing forth the Kingdom of God.
      1. Cannot hide from the weighty matters like Saul did. (1 Samuel 10: 20 – 23)

2. Slavery

  1. Buying a Hebrew slave.
    1. The bible is not endorsing slavery
    2. The Israelites belonged to God so it was forbidden to own them
    3. They were called to release them after seven years.
    4. This is a foreshadowing of our own release from those things that bring us into bondage.
  2. If a slave does not want to go out free 21: 5
    1. He shall serve him forever which symbolizes our devotion to Christ
    2. He can have his ear pierced to show his devotion to his master all the days of his life.
    3. This is called a bond slave.
    4. Paul called himself a bond slave in Romans 1: 1
    5. Administrating Justice starts with being a bond slave to Jesus

3. God’s justice system 21: 24, 25

  1. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Psalm 97: 2
  2. Wording here is measure opposite measure or an ancient pair of balances.
    1. Try to teach kindness by teaching our children to be kind.  Honesty by being honest.
    2. Scale is always against us and never in our favor.
    3. Jesus paid the price of our sin.
  3. God cannot forgive sinners without payment because it would go against his system of justice.
    1. A ransom can be paid Exodus 21: 30
    2. Death is liable to stoning, but Torah allows him to pay a ransom for his life. Ransom is close to the word atonement.

4. Thief in the house.   22: 2, 3

  1. Thief coming at night.
    1. Jesus parable of the coming of the Lord as a thief Matthew 24: 43, 44
      1. Peter remembered this in 2 Peter 3: 10
      2. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief in the night. Revelation 3: 3
      3. Behold I am coming like a thief blessed is the one who stays awake. Revelation 16: 15
  2. Thief can also come during the day.
    1. If the second coming is in the night, then the first coming is in the day.
    2. Jesus and John spent three years proclaiming that the light had come and they need to work while it is day.  John 9: 4, 5
    3. Killing a thief at night there is no guilt, but killing him during the day there is guilt upon them
    4. Luke 11: 50, 51 (As a result, this generation will be held responsible for the murder of all God’s prophets from the creation of the world—from the murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary.  yes, it will certainly be charged against this generation.)

5. Angel going before you to guard you 23: 20

  1. God promised to send an angel ahead of Israel to lead them into the land.
  2. Also promised in Malachi 3: 1 as angel and messenger are substituted.
  3. Mark recognized this when he opens his gospel 1: 2, 3
  4. Exodus and Malachi both start with the same wording “Behold I am going to send”
  5. A term for God is the Angel of the LORD Zechariah 12: 8
  6. God’s name is on him Vs 21
  7. This angel will teach them while he leads them. 23: 21
  8. This angel will conquer the enemies of the land 23, 24
    1. Messiah will break the nations with an iron rod. Psalm 2: 9
    2. He will strike the earth with his rod of his mouth and with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. Isaiah 11: 4
  9. He will bless you vs 25, 26
    1. When Messiah was here, we stood on the edge of this utopia and experienced tokens of the kingdom of God.

6. Blood seals the covenant. 24: 8

  1. The first covenant is sealed with blood Hebrews 9: 18
  2. Just as the old covenant was instituted with blood the Messiah instituted the new covenant with blood from better sacrifices than these Hebrews 9: 23.

7. Covenant Meal 24: 9 – 11

  1. The covenant rituals were concluded with a meal on Mount Sinai
  2. Abraham and Isaac made covenants with Abimelich the Philistine king and they sealed their respective covenants with shared meals.
  3. Meal after a wedding to symbolize the new relationship that has started.
  4. They may have eaten the peace offerings offered in Vs 5 Which also include bread and wine (Numbers15: 1 – 14)