Understanding the 613 laws of the Torah

[Nehemiah6]

Because Christians are not under the Old Covenant (the Law of Moses) they rarely pay close attention to the actual laws given in the Torah. On the other hand Jews (primarily Orthodox) pay close attention to these laws.

A Jewish rabbi called Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon), also known as Ramban, lived in the 12th century in Spain, cataloged all the laws in the Torah, and came up with 613 laws. This number is generally accepted.

These laws have been grouped in different ways by different sources. However they can be broadly grouped as shown below, also showing the number of laws within each group.

1. LOVE AND REVERENCE FOR GOD* (14)
2. OBEDIENCE TO GOD* (16)
3. LAWS AGAINST IDOLATRY* (31)
4. LAWS AGAINST OCCULTISM* (12)
5. LOVE FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR* (21)
6. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAWS* (117)
7. MARRIAGE AND SEXUAL RELATIONS* (54)
8. DRESS AND GROOMING (8)
9. DIETARY LAWS (33)
10. THE NAZIRITE VOW (10)
11. LAWS OF CONSECRATION (7)
12. LAWS OF TITHING (30)
13. AGRICULTURAL LAWS (32)
14. COMMANDMENTS FOR HOLY DAYS (32)
15. COMMANDMENTS FOR PRIESTS (173)
16. COMMANDMENTS FOR KINGS (5)
17. COMMANDMENTS FOR WARFARE (18)

What should be of deep interest to Christians is that at least one-third of these laws can be placed under the Law of Christ (which is based on the two greatest commandments). Those laws will be found within the first seven groups of laws (marked with an asterisk).

Love and reverence for God and love for your neighbor are fundamental principles of Bible Christianity. Idolatry and Occultism are forbidden to Christians. Almost all the marriage and sexual relation laws are applicable to Christians. And within the civil and criminal laws, the fundamental principles of justice, fair dealing, and fair trials are all Christian principles. Even some of the principles for appropriate dress and grooming are applicable to Christians. So, Christians have a duty to study the Torah, since all Scripture is profitable for the man of God to be complete (2 Tim 3:16,17).

At the same time, we know that Christ fulfilled all the requirements of the sacrificial system in Himself, therefore the Levitical priesthood was abolished, and all sacrifices came to an end. Tithing was replaced by Christian liberality, and holy days, new moons, and sabbaths are now shadows, since the reality is Christ.

 

[JaumeJ]

The easiest approach to understanding the 611-13 laws is made eazy-peazy by our Lord, Jesus.

The laws He has fulfilled are all those laws no man can...…..Laws of Israel as a Theocracy, Levitical Laws, Sacrificial dLaws, Clean Laws, and all else only Jesus has completed.

As for the rest, it is quite simple to recognize a law if it is forming Love...……….It does not take a Harvard graduate to understand these basic teachings.

Also, another quick understanding is what Jesus tld the hypocrites. Apply the law with faith, justice, and mercy and you cannot go wrong.

No man is saved by works of the law but no man is saved without works, for faith without works is zilch.

 

[TM19782017]

Does anyone else believe that all these organized religions and different languages stemmed from the town of Babel?

Meaning, at an earlier date, we had a society where the sole language was Love?......Not English, Hindu, Arab, Russian,etc.?

I look at the major differences in the major religions and the things that matter, we are all the same but, the minor differences, we seem worlds away.

How a verbal language comes/came to be is the most puzzling thing I have never understood....THINK what would have to occur for a new language to come to be?
SOMEONE who have to stand up and assume the role of leader. Then he would have to go to every person in the land and declare what word means what....Try and create a fluent language in 2018 and see if it ever took grand scale recognition.....Impossible!

 

[JaumeJ]

I believe according to the Word.

According to the Word the Tower was being built in order to rise to the Throne of God..

Until that time the world had ONE language..

God, noting the foolheartiness and arrogance of man, destroyed the tower and at the same time "confused the languges, that is divided the one language into many.

It is my own suspicion that this is also when the lands were separated, but that is just my thinking…...continental drift, nope, the Hand of God, amen.

 

[Hevosmies]

Great post brother Nehemiah. What church do you attend if any?

Good work.

Take heed people!

 

[LPT]

Does anyone else believe that all these organized religions and different languages stemmed from the town of Babel?

Meaning, at an earlier date, we had a society where the sole language was Love?......Not English, Hindu, Arab, Russian,etc.?

I look at the major differences in the major religions and the things that matter, we are all the same but, the minor differences, we seem worlds away.

How a verbal language comes/came to be is the most puzzling thing I have never understood....THINK what would have to occur for a new language to come to be?
SOMEONE who have to stand up and assume the role of leader. Then he would have to go to every person in the land and declare what word means what....Try and create a fluent language in 2018 and see if it ever took grand scale recognition.....Impossible!

That's a interesting view, as far as language goes the advancement in technology and other things probably had a role its change, take computers phones etc. lol.