INTRODUCTION

The introduction of the Mosaic Law represented a revolutionary shift in the social, moral, and spiritual landscape of ancient Israel and indeed the world.

Prior to the giving of the Law, the people lived in a largely tribal and often arbitrary system of governance that lacked a cohesive moral framework. The Mosaic Law, revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, established a comprehensive code that governed not just religious practices but also civil and social behaviour, setting Israel apart as a nation chosen by God.

One of the most groundbreaking aspects of the Mosaic Law was its emphasis on justice, equality, and community responsibility. Unlike the laws of surrounding nations, which often favored the powerful and wealthy, the Mosaic Law mandated protections for the marginalized, including widows, orphans, and foreigners (Exodus 22:22-24). This radical focus on social justice and ethical treatment of others laid the groundwork for a society that valued human dignity and communal welfare.

Moreover, the Law introduced a clear and structured approach to worship and morality, defining right and wrong in a way that transcended cultural and individual interpretations. It established rituals, sacrifices, and holy days that brought the community together, fostering a shared identity centered around obedience to God. This was revolutionary in an age where personal and tribal gods often dictated moral ambiguity.

The Law also gave governing principles for our relationship with God, clearly outlining what was expected of the people and what they could expect in return. This framework established a covenantal relationship, where obedience brought blessings, while disobedience resulted in consequences (Deuteronomy 28). Such clarity in the relationship between the divine and humanity fostered a deeper understanding of God’s nature and expectations, guiding the Israelites toward a life of holiness and devotion.

Furthermore, the Mosaic Law promoted personal responsibility, emphasizing individual accountability for one’s actions (Deuteronomy 24:16). This encouraged a moral consciousness that went beyond mere compliance, urging individuals to align their actions with God’s will and fostering a deeper relationship between the people and their Creator.

In essence, the Mosaic Law was not merely a set of rules but a transformative covenant that reshaped the identity of the Israelites. It provided them with a distinct moral compass, created a framework for societal justice, and established a profound understanding of God’s holiness and human accountability, making it one of the most revolutionary legal systems in history.

The Divine Call to Torah Study: Internal Freedom Over External Control

The intention of Torah (Instructions), with its mitzvot (commandments), is to guide us toward true freedom and moral strength through the internalization of God’s word, rather than reliance on external control.

However, under the Old Covenant, the focus was on external measures—laws, rituals, and sacrifices—to manage internal corruption and restrain sinful (abhorrent) behaviour. These regulations served as a temporary way to curb humanity’s tendencies toward wrongdoing, creating a structure that could maintain order and guide behaviour.

Yet, these external controls did not address the root of the issue; they merely suppressed it. The deeper problem—the corruption of the heart—remained unresolved, as these laws could not transform the inner person or truly cleanse the conscience.

This approach highlighted the need for a new covenant, one that could effect real, internal change, transforming the heart and mind rather than simply managing actions. It’s like getting a brand new operating system installed.

God’s government operates as an internal, heart-centred rule, transforming individuals from the inside out. This divine order isn’t about enforcing a strict set of rules or outward regulations; rather, it’s about a deep, personal transformation that begins within and gradually shapes outward actions, thoughts, and attitudes.

In contrast, religious institutions and societal systems often rely on external laws, mandates, and rules to impose structure and order. These external controls seek to modify behaviour through visible conformity, often without addressing the inner heart or motivations of individuals. Civil laws and religious codes can guide actions, but they lack the power to truly change a person’s core nature.

God’s approach is fundamentally different: He writes His laws on our hearts, creating a shift that leads to genuine, willing obedience, not because of fear or obligation but out of love and alignment with His will. This internal government, when fully embraced, naturally flows into outward actions that reflect God’s character, demonstrating how His kingdom grows through internal transformation rather than external enforcement.

Within the Torah, there are explicit mitzvot commanding each person to study, understand, and even write their own copy of the Torah, emphasizing the importance of this internalized wisdom as the foundation of personal and national identity. This is profoundly countercultural in a world where government and systems of power often, let’s say, do not encourage critical thinking. Unfortunately this is also true in many church circles.

The mitzvah (command) of Torah study is rooted in Deuteronomy 6:7, which says,

“You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise.”

It’s a call to keep God’s law ever-present, guarding against personal ignorance and governmental manipulation, by ensuring each person knows and understands God’s teachings directly. Additionally, Deuteronomy 31:19 commands,

“Write down this song for yourselves.”

This is taken as a mitzvah to write one’s own copy of the Torah. Rashi taught that this ensures the Torah is not turned against us due to ignorance, for if we know God’s word intimately, no one can distort it.

The reality that the church today is drifting away from foundational truths and embracing falsehoods stems directly from a lack of knowledge of God’s Word, which carries significant consequences. As Hosea 4:6 cautions,

“My people are destroyed because of their ignorance.”

The command to study and write Torah is a profound assertion of autonomy, ensuring that each person has direct access to the divine law.

“And as for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But just as His true and genuine anointing teaches you about all things, so remain in Him as you have been taught.” ( 1 John 2:27)

True Christianity bypasses the need for any intermediary, save for Christ, giving each individual the wisdom to discern truth and justice for themselves. True religion teaches personal response-ability and direct dependency on God, not man.

In essence, this mitzvah empowers us to govern our own lives with divine wisdom, cultivating moral strength from within rather than depending on imposed systems or external laws.

By the time of Jesus’ arrival, a troubling transformation had taken place. The teachers of the law had distorted the true intent of God’s commandments, manipulating them to secure their own positions as self-appointed intermediaries between the people and the Divine. Instead of guiding individuals directly to God, they had established themselves as gatekeepers, using their authority to control access to spiritual truth.

This perversion of purpose became a significant source of their power, allowing them to profit not only materially but also in terms of influence and prestige within society. Jesus’ message challenged this established order. He embodied a radical shift that threatened their carefully constructed identity and the faux legitimacy of their self-proclaimed roles.

It was this very challenge that spurred them to conspire against Him, culminating in their decision to execute Him. To them, Jesus represented an existential threat—not just to their positions of authority, but also to the entire framework they had built around their false religious practices. His teachings illuminated the stark contrast between genuine faith and the hollow rituals they had perpetuated, exposing their failure to lead the people into a deeper relationship with God. In essence, His presence was a direct challenge to the foundation upon which they had built their lives, and they felt compelled to eliminate that threat to preserve their status and power.

The arrival of the Magi, the wise men from the East, serves as another striking illustration of the contrasting responses to Jesus during His early days. While these visitors recognized the significance of the star that heralded the birth of the Messiah, the religious leaders of Jerusalem remained indifferent, revealing their deeper concern for appearances and power rather than the promise of salvation that had come into the world.

When the Magi sought guidance, they journeyed to Jerusalem with one singular purpose: to honour the new-born king and pay homage to the fulfilment of ancient prophecies. Their quest was driven by a genuine recognition of the significance of this child, as they came to worship Him, acknowledging His royal status and divine purpose. However, upon hearing their inquiry, the teachers of the law and King Herod did not respond with joy or excitement; instead, they were troubled.

This reaction underscores a profound truth about the religious leaders of the time. Rather than welcoming the long-awaited Messiah with open arms, their salvation, they saw Him as a threat to their carefully curated image and authority. The Magi’s visit posed a challenge to the status quo, revealing the insecurities and fears that lay beneath the surface of the religious establishment. For the leaders, the arrival of Jesus was not a cause for celebration but a potential disruption to their power and influence.

Their fixation on maintaining their positions meant that they prioritized their own self-interests over the arrival of the Saviour. Instead of rejoicing at the fulfilment of prophecy, they were more concerned about how the presence of Jesus would affect their standing in society. This obsession with appearances blinded them to the miraculous reality of the Messiah’s coming, leaving them unable to recognize the very hope they had long awaited.

In stark contrast, the Magi, who were outsiders in the eyes of the Jewish leaders, demonstrated true humility and reverence. Their journey signifies the heart of worship, focused not on self-preservation but on acknowledging and honouring the divine. Their actions challenge us to reflect on our own responses to Christ: Are we more concerned with how we appear in our faith, looking for acceptance within a particular circle of piers or willing to embrace the radical truth of who He is? Of what the Bible is really saying? Even, and especially when, what is being taught as orthodoxy contradicts the Scriptures?

The Magi’s journey illustrates that true worship comes from recognizing Jesus as the Saviour, while the religious leaders’ failure to do so serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing image or even so-called theological “knowledge” over substance in our relationship with God.

In the Gospels, we see a profound moment when Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His time for their adherence to man-made traditions that had overshadowed the true intent of the Torah.

He pointed out that they had allowed their interpretations and traditions—often understood as a reference to the oral laws that would eventually form part of the Talmud—to replace the divine commandments given by God. In Mark 7:6-9, Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying,

“This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”

Additionally, in John 5:39-40, Jesus confronts their misguided understanding:

“You study the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

This highlights a critical distinction: while the Torah was meant to guide and lead the people toward righteousness and a deeper relationship with God, the teachers had become enmeshed in their own traditions, leading to a hollow form of worship that lacked sincerity and truth. Their focus on external rituals and rules diverted attention from the heart of the law, which calls for justice, mercy, and humility.

Instead of teaching dependency on God, they taught dependency on themselves.

By confronting the teachers, Jesus sought to restore the original purpose of the Torah—to foster genuine connection with God rather than ritualistic compliance to human traditions. His teachings remind us that while traditions can serve a purpose, they must never eclipse the core message of God’s Word, which is to love Him and our neighbours wholeheartedly. Through His rebuke, Jesus calls us to examine our own practices and ensure that they align with the heart of God’s law, prioritizing truth over tradition.

The Failure of External Government: Lessons from the Old Covenant

Wilhelm von Humboldt insightfully critiqued the effects of external government which not only includes theological legalism but also church creeds:

“Governmental regulations all carry coercion to some degree, and even where they don’t, they habituate man to expect teaching, guidance, and help outside himself, instead of formulating his own.”

Humboldt recognized the subtle but profound weakness created when individuals rely on external authorities to shape their actions and moral compass. Fundamentally they open themselves to manipulation since power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Consequently, even raising questions about the doctrines of the Church can be perceived as an act of heresy or apostasy, regardless of whether those questions are backed by scriptural evidence. This creates a challenging environment where sincere inquiry may be stifled, as individuals may fear that exploring or challenging established beliefs could lead to accusations of undermining the faith. When theological right and wrong fall into the hands of ever fewer individuals, it can lead to an insular understanding of doctrine, where only a select few dictate the boundaries of belief. Such an atmosphere can discourage open dialogue and critical thinking, ultimately hindering a deeper understanding of the faith and its teachings. When questioning is met with suspicion rather than engagement, the opportunity for growth and a more robust interpretation of Scripture may be lost. Could this be why the Church has been stunted and atrophied, struggling to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world?

This is a lesson deeply embedded in the history of Israel under the Old Covenant. God’s original intent was not to establish external rules for rules’ sake, but to guide His people toward internal transformation, where His law would be “written on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). Yet, under the Old Covenant, external adherence to the law often replaced genuine internal devotion, leading to cycles of rebellion, repentance, and renewal.

“Setting aside the fact that coercion and guidance can never succeed in producing virtue,” Humboldt continues, “they manifestly tend to weaken power; and what are tranquil order and outward morality without true moral strength and virtue [power]?”

The Torah was given not to serve as a mere set of rules but to cultivate moral strength and autonomy, transforming the hearts of those who studied it. In a sense we are not called to serve Torah, Torah has been created to serve us.

As Paul would later explain, the law alone could not save; it required a transformation of the spirit, which could only be realized through internal transformation rather than external compulsion.

Freedom Versus Coercion: The Path to True Virtue

The mitzvot to study and write the Torah are exercises in spiritual and moral freedom, shaping a society based on internal strength and voluntary obedience to God.

Humboldt contrasts freedom with coercion, observing that,

“Freedom exalts power; and, as is always the collateral effect of increasing strength, tends to induce a spirit of liberality. Coercion stifles power and engenders all selfish desires, and all the mean artifices of weakness.”

Here, he points to the paradox of coercive systems: while they may curb outward misdeeds, they breed internal weakness, dependence, and selfishness. Freedom, through transformation, on the other hand, allows individuals to choose the good voluntarily becasue they have been made good, strengthening their character and capacity for virtue.

The Torah itself acknowledges the potential for both freedom and failure.

In the lives of the Israelites, immorality often had “beneficial consequences,” for “it is only through extremes that men can arrive at the middle path of wisdom and virtue.” The journey of the Israelites teaches us that virtue is often born through the struggle with vice; the true beauty of moral action emerges when it arises freely rather than through compulsion.

As Humboldt notes,

“Coercion may prevent many transgressions; but it robs even actions which are legal of a portion of their beauty. Freedom may lead to many transgressions, but it lends even to vices a less ignoble form.”

Freedom to choose aligns with God’s gift of Torah (instruction) as a way to cultivate genuine virtue—virtue that emerges from the heart and not from fear or mere adherence to an external code.

The Etymology of Government and the Mitzvah of Self-Governance

The Latin word gubernare—from which “government” derives—literally means “to steer.” Combined with mentes, meaning “mind,” government is, at its core, about steering the mind, shaping the thoughts, values, and actions of a people.

Torah, however, calls us to a different kind of steering, one that centres not on external control but on self-governance under God’s wisdom. The command to study and write the Torah for oneself is a divine way of saying,

“Steer your own mind in accordance with God’s truth.”

OR as Paul puts in Romans 12:2,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Through this divine guidance, each person becomes a steward of their own mind, empowered to shape their values, actions, and beliefs without needing to be compelled by external powers. It is a call to true freedom—freedom that is anchored in God’s wisdom and leads to harmony, justice, and righteousness from within.

However, such a transformation is only achievable through an internal spiritual change, as articulated in 2 Corinthians 5:17, which states,

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

This verse underscores the profound nature of spiritual rebirth, emphasizing that true change begins within. It highlights that entering into a relationship with Christ not only alters our external circumstances but also transforms our very identity and purpose.

This internal shift is essential for embracing the fullness of God’s promises and living out the teachings of Scripture authentically. Without this foundational change, any efforts to question or redefine doctrinal beliefs may be superficial, lacking the depth and sincerity that come from a genuine relationship with God. Thus, the call to be renewed in Christ is not just an invitation to adjust our beliefs, but a profound invitation to undergo a holistic transformation of heart and mind.

Conclusion: The Divine Freedom of Torah

The Torah’s commandments to study, meditate, and write God’s word are more than acts of devotion; they are acts of liberation. They free us from reliance on human authorities and remind us that the highest form of governance is one that is written not on tablets of stone but on our hearts. As Deuteronomy 30:14 says,

“The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, so you may obey it.”

In a world increasingly shaped by narratives, ideologies, and myths that steer the collective consciousness, the Torah offers us an unchanging foundation—a divine narrative that we are called not only to read but to embody. Through God’s commandments, we are invited to participate in a sacred covenant that places wisdom within, granting us the strength, resilience, and freedom to live in harmony with His will, unshaken by the shifting sands of external systems.