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I love the Book of Proverbs because of its time-tested truths and laws. For more articles from Proverbs, check out the Mic Drop Moments in Proverbs Page.

One of the most critical lessons for Christians is to be proper stewards of their money. Money is your ability to influence the world around you, and there is a shortage of good Christian influence. Much of this is due to how we are currently managing our finances. 
The Bible has so much to say about how God’s people handle their money. The Book of Proverbs is a great place to start and not only gives us direction on money specifically but also on work, greed, giving, provision, and other money-related topics.  There are too many to cover in this post, but here are a few of my favorites.

Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest.

Prov 6:6-8

You couldn’t have grown up in my house without knowing this one.  It was a favorite of my Great-Grandfather, and all of those under his care knew it like the back of their hands and passed it on as well.  If you watch a community of ants, it won’t take long to realize just how busy they all are!  They instinctively know to store food for when it will be scarce.  As beings with the very Word of our Creator God to guide us, we should know – even better than the ants do – that we need to save some of our income for the future.  You never know when a crisis will strike in this life or when financial changes will occur that are out of your control.  It’s wise to be prepared!

“Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
 “For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

Prov 8:10-11

The “speaker” in this verse is wisdom itself.  It’s just one of many places in Proverbs where wisdom is personified to get the point across.  It’s not saying that silver, gold, and jewels are wrong; it’s just that, given the choice, wisdom is the better option.  You can have all the worldly treasure you want, but without wisdom, it’s empty and fleeting.

He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it,
But he who hates being a guarantor is secure.

Prov. 11:15

Proverbs 17:18 says pretty much the same thing.  Being a “guarantor” can also be translated as “puts up security” or “puts up surety.”  In our culture, this can occur when we co-sign for a loan or even lend money to someone.  The verse says that we shouldn’t stand behind the promise of another person to pay us or another entity back.  If the bank won’t loan them money, it’s because they probably don’t have the means to pay it back.  We can gift money if help is needed, but guaranteeing that money will be paid back when it’s someone else’s responsibility isn’t our place and may cause us suffering.   

He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.

Prov. 11:28

We should ensure our financial success to the best of our ability, using wisely the resources we’ve been gifted with.  It’s when we put our trust in that financial success that we fail spiritually.  God wants all our attention and doesn’t want what He’s blessed us with to detract from that.  Trust in Him and be humbly grateful for the riches He’s blessed you with.

There is one who pretends to be rich but has nothing;
Another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth.

Prov. 13:7

We have a saying that explains what’s going on here – “Keeping up with the Jones’s.”  We become great pretenders, with the ability to borrow money through loans and credit cards, allowing us to appear to have wealth that we do not.  So many Americans live drowning in debt just because they childishly “pretend to be rich.”  On the other hand, I know millionaires who live like they have much less, driving used cars, shopping at thrift stores, and using coupons.  The outer appearance doesn’t always accurately portray someone’s financial situation.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

Prov. 13:22

The Bible gives advice on how to handle our own money and how to set our children on the right path financially.  Starting your life in debt from student loans, credit card debt, or auto loans is like starting a game with a negative number of points.  “A good man” will use wisdom to put himself and his children in good financial shape.  A parent must always have the best for his or her children on their mind.  Planning for their financial success also includes teaching them about finances so that even if they get an inheritance from their parents, they use and invest it wisely rather than squander it.  

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Prov. 15:16

I’m pretty sure we would all say that having God is better than having money, but living that way is easier said than done.  People are easily distracted, and comforts often win when they compete with our time with or service to God.  We can all think of at least a few celebrities with great treasures but who also have turmoil in their lives that none of us would want!  But what if we could have both?  What if we could fear God and have great treasure and not let the treasure distract us from what’s most important?  That would surely take a large amount of maturity and discipline to achieve.

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Prov. 19:14

This Proverb is the bible version of “there are some things money can’t buy.”  In this case, it’s a good wife.  In our country, you aren’t supposed to buy a wife, but even if you could, how could you ensure you get a prudent one?  So, wives, the takeaway is that rich, poor, or in between, our husbands can be blessed or cursed by us.  Be a blessing to him, even if he sometimes doesn’t deserve it.  Click here for more advice for wives from the book of Proverbs.  

The rich and the poor have a common bond,
The Lord is the maker of them all.

Prov. 22:2

This is the crux of all of God’s Word, right?  He doesn’t define us by our financial status or other ways we define each other but looks straight into our hearts.  He wants our adoration and our obedience, and He ultimately wants to see us all spend eternity with Him (John 3:17).  This should also cause us to check how we examine, define, and judge other people.  We should continually work to have the ability to see people (including ourselves) through God’s eyes!   

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.

Prov. 22:7

I cringe a bit when I read this, and I bet you do, too.  No one wants to admit that this is the way it is, but the rich really do have more power, especially over those who owe them money.  So, the lesson in this one is twofold – not to spend money we don’t have lest we become slaves and to handle our money responsibly so that we’re not poor and powerless.  

Wait, slaves?  In our culture?  Absolutely!  If you’re not personally carrying around massive debt, I’m sure you know someone who is.  And I bet they aren’t living the life of a free person.  Living in fear of repossession, being hounded by collections companies, or being sued by those to whom you owe money causes mental, emotional, and marital anguish.  We must use our God-given resources wisely because we’ve been given the Gospel with a directive to go and make disciples, and that will be hindered if we’re struggling ourselves.  

He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

Prov. 28:27

When we’re blessed with more than enough, it should be natural for us to want to bless others.  I know it’s sometimes difficult to part with money we could use to better our own lives, but numerous places in the Bible tell us to responsibly and sacrificially give out of what we’ve been given.  

Many people want to give but cannot due to their poor financial health.  If this is you, I understand the helplessness you feel when you read about giving in the Bible.  However, just the fact that the Bible mentions giving so much should prompt us to strive to become healthy enough financially to fulfill what God wants from us.  That said, I know many circumstances put people in difficult financial situations.  Please communicate regularly with God about His wishes for your life and money, and see the end of this post for professional financial help if you need it.  

Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

Prov. 30:7-9

This Proverb is one of my favorites because it proves God knows me so well!  I would love to ask God to make me the wealthiest woman in the world (so humble, I know!), but He and I both know it takes so much humility and wisdom not to ignore God when we’re prosperous.  Even now, when things are going well in my life, I tend to attribute that to myself rather than to God, who has indeed given me any success I have.  Until I have the change in heart necessary to realize who’s really handing out the blessings around here, this Proverb is my prayer.

Some of these Proverbs are a bit of a slap in the face, aren’t they?  But even if we’ve been unbiblical about our finances in the past, that doesn’t mean we have to be that way forever.  Today’s the day to stop digging and find a way out of the hole you’ve put yourself in.  You can’t do what God has called you to do as well as you could if you were free financially.  You can’t give what you don’t have in the first place.  

Let today be the day you start handling your money how God wants you to.  If you don’t already give to your church, that’s a great place to start.  If you have been blessed with plenty, find a legitimate charity and give there.  If you’re a slave to lenders, there’s hope for you, too!  My husband and I have taken and taught Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University and find it a direct and effective way to get out of debt and build wealth, even if you’re in way over your head.  Here’s the link to his site.  You can find a local FPU class, take one online, or use his other valuable resources to get financially fit.

Every student of the Bible has their favorite Bible version. And with so many versions, there’s much room for opinion on which version is best. But which one really is the best? A more accurate version? One that’s easiest to read?

Here’s my honest answer. The best versions of the Bible are in the original languages. The most effective way to study the Bible is to put in the time to learn Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, and Koine Greek well enough to derive the true meaning from the original texts within the context of the ancient culture. Any Bible version that’s not an original text is an interpretation. Since Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek don’t directly translate into English (or other languages), all translations require the translator to interpret the original text and give their personal version of what they think it’s saying as a translation. This individual interpretation is why Bible translations – even those of the same language (all English, for example) – can be vastly different.  

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think everyone should wait until they have put years of study in to learn the original languages before they study the Bible. I’m grateful we live in a time where we have Bible translations in many different languages and technology that gives us access to the original culture and languages. But there are over 100 English translations out there! How can we know which one is the best?

I don’t think there’s a “best” English version. There’s room for varying opinions as to which version you prefer. I even have different versions I use for various applications. Below is a summary of the common (Protestant) English Bible translations and my thoughts on each.

Literal vs. Paraphrase

Before we get to the versions, I must explain the difference between a literal translation and a paraphrased one. While this may seem obvious – the literal is a word-for-word translation, and paraphrasing (also called dynamic translation) captures the general idea of the text – it’s more like a range between the two. 

No translation can be exactly word-for-word literal because it wouldn’t make any sense. First, the words would be out of order, but the meaning would be lost even if you rearranged them. We would lose meaning because there are some words in the original texts that we don’t have a precisely accurate word for in English. 

To make these translations easier to read and understand, translators must paraphrase to some degree. They extract the meaning as far as they comprehend it from the original text, then convey the concept in the best way they can in English (or another language). 

Here are my summaries on the most common versions.

NIV (New International Version)

In the 1950s, Howard Long, who studied the KJV version, found that those around him didn’t connect well with the Bible. He had a desire for a Bible he could share with others that was in modern English. His idea gained support, and the NIV was eventually published. Many translators and Bible scholars from different backgrounds worked on the project to bring what is a very well-known version to us today.

Example verses: 

Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:3 (NIV)

I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. Proverbs 4:2 (NIV)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (NIV)

Literal/Paraphrase: in between, a little to the paraphrase side.

Pros: Easy to read, many different forms available

Cons: Some disagree with the interpretation of sections that are paraphrased.

KJV (King James Version) 

(including NKJV)

The Church of England commissioned this version. It was funded by King James and was printed by the king’s printer. King James himself ensured that this translation aligned with the doctrine and structure of the Church of England. The original KJV was published in 1611, and the NKJV, a more modern and readable version of the KJV, was published in 1982.

Example verses: 

And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:3 (KJV)

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. Proverbs 4:2 (KJV)

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17 (KJV)

Literal/Paraphrase: On the literal side.

Pros: More literal than many translations.

Cons: Heavily influenced by church doctrine.

NASB (New American Standard Bible)

NASB is my personal favorite to use for Bible study. Since it’s a more literal translation than others, I find it leans less toward furthering a particular church doctrine and is more informational instead. 

The NASB was developed to fill the need of having a more literal translation that was still accessible through modern English. Its translators used the same Hebrew and Greek texts used in developing similar translations but also used the Dead Sea Scrolls. The NASB translators come from various Protestant backgrounds. 

Example verses: 

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:3 (NASB)

For I give you sound teaching; Do not abandon my instruction. Proverbs 4:2 (NASB)

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17 (NASB)

Literal/Paraphrase: Far on the literal side.

Pros: Considered the most literal common English translation.

Cons: Wording can be awkward at times.

CSB (Christian Standard Bible)

(including HCSB)

The CSB is a revision of the HCSB (Holman Christian Standard Bible). The translators of both translations used what they call “optimal equivalence” in the translation process. This phrase means they aimed to be true to the original Biblical texts while creating an easily readable format. The CSB has the reputation of being well-balanced between a literal translation and smoothly readable text. Holman Bible Publishers says they incorporated advances in Biblical scholarship in their most current translation.

Example verses: 

God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation. Genesis 2:3 (CSB)

for I am giving you good instruction. Don’t abandon my teaching. Proverbs 4:2 (CSB)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:17 (CSB)

Literal/Paraphrase: Near the middle, a bit to the literal side.

Pros: Considered a good balance between literal and readable.

Cons: Translator interpretation reflected in the part of the translation that’s not literal.

ESV (English Standard Version)

(Including RSV)

The ESV is a revised version of the RSV (Revised Standard Version), published in 1952. And the RSV is a revised version of the ASV (American Standard Version) published in 1901. Like other translations, the ESV translators attempt to create a Bible that’s pleasant to read while retaining the text’s original meaning. The ESV uses doctrinal terms, such as justification, sanctification, propitiation, etc.  

Example verses: 

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Genesis 2:3 (ESV)

for I give you good precepts; Do not forsake my teaching. Proverbs 4:2 (ESV)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:17 (ESV)

Literal/Paraphrase: Near the middle, but on the literal side.

Pros: Very easy to read. Accessible even for younger Bible students.

Cons: Translation leans toward traditional Christian doctrine where interpretation is necessary.

The Message

Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message, was bothered that the Bible had become distant and irrelevant to those who had heard it for years. He wanted a new and fresh way for Bible students to connect with the message of the Bible. When creating The Message with a team of translators, Peterson heavily used idioms to make the Bible’s content as easy to read as a novel. 

Example verses: 

On the seventh day

he rested from all his work.

God blessed the seventh day.

He made it a Holy Day

Because on that day he rested from his work,

all the creating God had done. Genesis 2:3 (MSG)

…for I am giving you good precepts. Do not forsake my teaching. Proverbs 4:2 (MSG)

God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. John 3:17 (MSG)

Literal/Paraphrase: Most paraphrased of the typical English versions.

Pros: It reads like a book.

Cons: Heavily dependent on the opinions of the translator.

CJB (Complete Jewish Bible)

This version, published by David Stern in 1998, aims to restore the “Jewishness” of the Bible. Since the Bible was written primarily by Jews and the culture of Jesus, as well as almost all of the Bible’s main characters, is Jewish, preserving this culture in the text helps keep it true to its origin. Original names of people and places are preserved, as well as the names of Bible books. Many Hebrew words that aren’t clearly translated into English are preserved in their Hebrew form not to lose their intended meaning.

Example verses: 

God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce. Genesis 2:3 (CJB)

for I am giving you good advice; so don’t abandon my teaching. Proverbs 4:2 (CJB)

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but rather so that through him, the world might be saved. John 3:17 (CJB)

Literal/Paraphrase: Paraphrase

Pros: Restores the original culture and names.

Cons: Not available in as many forms as some other Bible translations.

TLV (Tree of Life Version)

The TLV is by far my favorite English Bible translation. I use it for reading, and Bible study with my family. If they provided a version with a Hebrew/English Old Testament and a Greek/English New Testament, I would never have a reason to use another Bible! 

 It not only aims to preserve the culture in which the Bible was written, and the events occurred, it also retains the Hebrew where meaning may be lost in translation. Like the CJB, the TLV keeps the Hebrew names for people and places. It replaces the name of God with “Adonai” out of reverence.

Example verses: 

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He ceased from all His work that God created for the purpose of preparing. Genesis 2:3 (TLV)

For I give you sound learning – do not forsake my instruction. Proverbs 4:2 (TLV)

God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. John 3:17 (TLV)

Literal/Paraphrase: On the more literal side, but added interpretation for clarification.

Pros: Restores the original culture and names.

Cons: Not available in as many forms as some other Bible translations.

ISR (The Scriptures)

Another of my favorites, The Scriptures Bible translators seek to reveal the original meaning in the Bible, losing as little of the original meaning as possible during the translation process. It helps to be familiar with the Biblical Hebrew language when reading The Scriptures, as many authentic names and words for Hebrew concepts have been preserved. It also preserves the name of God in its original Hebrew form (יהוה) out of reverence.

Example verses: 

And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made. Genesis 2:3 (ISR)

For I gave you good instruction: Do not forsake my Torah. Proverbs 4:2 (ISR)

For Elohim did not send His Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17 (ISR)

Literal/Paraphrase: The most literal translation I know of.

Pros: Stays true to the original texts.

Cons: It may be less friendly to those familiar with more traditional Bibles or unfamiliar with Biblical Hebrew.

The Best Bible Version

I have discussed many commonly used Bible versions and briefly summarized their features. Every Bible student has their favorite version for their reasons, which is terrific! We’re so blessed to live in a time when we have access to God’s words and the privilege to choose which available forms are our favorite! I only covered a tiny selection of the available versions here. I could have discussed even more!

But the best and most reliable versions that lose the least meaning as we read are those in the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. I encourage you not only to find and heavily use your favorite version of the Bible but also to seek the meaning in the original language. Electronic resources such as Blue Letter Bible and Bible Hub are not only free; they’re available in convenient app forms to download on your phone and take with you wherever you go! These two resources will allow you to dig deeper as you study and apply the authentic meaning of the Bible to your studies. 

And if you want to dig in even more, I encourage you to start on a journey to learn Biblical Hebrew and even Koine Greek! It will take hard work and dedication, but it will be a blessing! Want to start today? Learn the Hebrew alphabet! 

Do you know what the New Covenant is?

As often as we talk about the New Covenant as Believers, we should have a concise answer to this question. But if you search for the answer on the internet, you’ll come up with varying results that sometimes even conflict! 

The concept of the New Covenant is pivotal to our faith, so we need to understand it. We need to search for the answer in the source of ultimate truth, the one that never conflicts and is always correct – the Bible.

A covenant

A covenant is an agreement, a promise, between two parties. The difference between a covenant and other agreements is that a covenant is binding. It’s a serious agreement to enter into, and the consequences for breaking it are devastating. 

Paul reveals that it was understood that covenants, even those between humans, were permanent (Gal. 3:15). We even have a permanent covenant in our culture today—marriage. It’s understood that marriage is (ideally, anyway) a permanent covenant that should never be broken.  

What is the Old Covenant?

To begin a discussion on the New Covenant, we must first clearly understand what the Old Covenant is. 

What we call the Old Covenant is the set of laws God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai. These laws were written on stone tablets, and the Hebrew people agreed to follow them (Exodus 24). God said there would be blessings if the people upheld their side of this covenant and curses if they didn’t (Deut. 11:26). God’s side of the covenant was the blessing, and the people’s side was to obey the laws. 

What was wrong with the Old Covenant?

Why did the Old Covenant need to be replaced? Did God make a faulty covenant? What was wrong with it?

We know there was nothing wrong with the Old Covenant because God made it. The Bible tells us that the covenant, the Laws God gave His people, were flawless (Ps. 19:7) and that they never change (Ps. 19:9, 89:34). So, why did a New Covenant need to be made?

Jeremiah 3 tells a heartbreaking story of God’s people breaking the covenant. They agreed to it in Exodus but didn’t keep their end of the bargain, and they broke the promise, the covenant God made with them. Notice that God didn’t make changes to the covenant. It was the other side – the people – that made the change. They didn’t keep it. 

For a covenant to stay in place, both parties need to keep their side of it. Think about marriage, for example. If the husband stays fully committed, but the wife decides she’s instead going to see other people, the whole covenant has fallen apart. One spouse’s commitment isn’t enough to keep a marriage covenant together. 

A total commitment from both parties is necessary for a covenant to stay in place, and it’s the same with the Old Covenant. God remained fully committed to the covenant terms, but the people did not (Jeremiah 31:34), so the covenant became faulty.

The New Covenant

In His grace, our God decided to solve this tragedy by making a new covenant. Isn’t it incredible that we have a patient and loving God providing a second chance to His people, even though they break their promises? What incredibly blessed people we are!

The New Covenant is described in Jeremiah 31.

“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Jeremiah 31:34, (NASB)

In the verse above, God explains that the New Covenant is when He will write His Law on Israel’s hearts. That’s the definition of the New Covenant—the Law written on our hearts. He also says that He will forgive them for breaking the first covenant.

Notice God did not say He would change the Law or do away with it. All He changed was the location of the same Law He had given in the Old Covenant. He expected Israel (see what Gentile Believers have to do with Israel here) to obey the Old Covenant laws, but this time, these laws would be part of them! 

This lack of abolishing the Law is confirmed in Ezekiel 11 when God explains that we will be given a new heart so that we will walk in His statutes and keep His ordinances and do them (Eze. 11:19-21). Again, the New Covenant includes us keeping the laws of the Old Covenant. 

Jesus as the New Covenant

Often, when people explain the New Covenant, they say that it’s Jesus’s death for our sins. Because of his sacrifice, we now live under grace and are no longer under the Law. 

This explanation is partially correct. Here’s what Jesus has to do with the New Covenant. 

1. It is his blood on which the New Covenant is based. 
2. He’s the guarantor (representation, mediator) of our side of the New Covenant.

A covenant based on blood

The New Covenant is based on Jesus’s blood, but did you know that the Old Covenant was also legitimized by blood? 

So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Exodus 24:8, (NASB)

When a New Covenant was to be made, blood was also needed. Jesus provided this necessary blood. Because of his sacrifice, we enter into the New Covenant. We accept the gift of God’s Spirit, and with that, we accept the Law written on our hearts. 

Notice again that there was no change to the Law between these two covenants. Now that Jesus’s blood was spilled, the New Covenant could go into effect; as Jesus says in Acts 1:4-8, the Spirit would come after he left Earth. Along with the Spirit would come the Law, now written on our hearts instead of stone tablets. 

Jesus as our representation

The New Covenant is made between God and us, but Jesus shows up to represent Believers in this covenant. Although we may break God’s Law, Jesus never did. We would have destroyed the New Covenant as well, even after the Law was written on our hearts, but we’re represented by Jesus in the New Covenant instead of ourselves. Because of his representation, we’re technically keeping our side of the New Covenant. 

Does this mean we abandon God’s commands? If Jesus covers us and keeps our side of the covenant for us, why should we concern ourselves with God’s Laws? 

When we recognize what Jesus has done for us, it should encourage us to follow him. We have been given an incredible gift, and we would be like spoiled rotten children if we were to accept the gift of forgiveness and then turn our backs on what Jesus and God instruct us to do with our lives!   

Once we realize the mercy we’ve been given in forgiveness for not keeping God’s Law, we need to change our lives to follow Jesus and align our lives with the way God instructed us to live. Jesus taught us that we’re to obey God’s commands. Here are some of his quotes.

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt. 5:17-19, (NASB)

And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Matt. 19:16-17, (NASB)

“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 

John 14:21, (NASB)

If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

John 15:10, (NASB)

So, what is the New Covenant? It’s the Law, now written on our hearts. To help us keep our side of this covenant, we have Jesus, whose blood seals it. We are blessed to have a God who loves us enough to give us a second chance and make communion with Him accessible even to us mortals! Hallelujah!  

Many of Jesus’s most well-known words have even more meaning than we think! He often quoted the Old Testament in his teachings, bringing its laws and lessons to the forefront of the Christian faith.  

The Torah

The term Torah can refer to a few different things.  While it’s commonly used as a reference to the first five books of the bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy), it can also mean the first 24 books (Genesis through Chronicles), and it can also include the Oral Torah (or Rabbinical Law).  Here, I’m just including some of the times Jesus quoted the first five books of the Old Testament, although there are many more times he quotes or refers to both the Torah and the rest of the Old Testament.

There’s a popular thought in the church right now that The Old Testament has become irrelevant.  Its proponents argue that, because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and the resultant New Covenant, the Old Testament and its archaic commands and stories no longer influence our faith.  I couldn’t disagree more with this way of thinking!  God’s Word makes clear in both the New and the Old Testaments that the Old Testament is indeed quite relevant to our Christian walk when it says the following:

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.  (Psalm 1:1-2)

Jesus and the Torah

But more importantly, our Savior Jesus himself saw the importance of the Torah.  He told us specifically that he didn’t come to abolish the Law (Matt. 5:17) and that it’s easier for heaven and earth to pass away than even one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail (Luke 16:17).  

He not only directly told us of the value of God’s Laws, He quoted the Torah, where we find these Laws, a LOT.  Most of his well-known quotes are either direct quotes from the Old Testament or are references to verses throughout it.  He knew that much of his audience was of Jewish heritage, like himself, and that they knew the scriptures very, very well.  As Gentile Christians, we are sometimes confused by his Old Testament references, but his Jewish audience would have understood completely what he was referencing and why – even though some of them disagreed and thought him blasphemous.

But Jesus didn’t just include references from the Old Testament in his teachings for the audience present at the time; he included them for us, too! He knew that his words would be recorded and read for millennia, and he said exactly what he knew all of us would need to hear. This happened more times than I’m able to list here, but below are just a few of the times Jesus refers to the Torah to make his point.

The greatest commandment

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:36-40 and Mark 12:28-31)

Judaism traditionally has 613 laws, and in this situation, Jesus’ Jewish audience tested him to see if he knew the correct answer to their question. Of course, he did, and he quoted what’s known as the Shema from the book of Deuteronomy.

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  (Deut. 6:4-5)

He also adds the second most important commandment from Leviticus.

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. (Lev. 19:18)

During the Sermon on the Mount

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus takes some well-known parts of the Torah and extends obedience to them even further.  He encourages his audience to not only do the minimum to obey these commands but to really take the commands to heart and not even come close to disobeying them.

In reference to the command not to murder in Exodus 20:13, Jesus says:

 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  (Matt. 5:21-22)

Yikes!  That’s convicting to pretty much all of us.  But he goes on from there to cover more of the commandments given in Exodus.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell. (Matt. 5:27-30)

Then, he refers to a command in Deuteronomy (24:1) that deals with fair divorce and provisions for women when a man leaves her.  He extends the divorce requirement from mere obedience to a heart matter when he points out that a man can’t leave his wife just on a whim or because he’s lost interest in her.

“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matt 5:31-22)

When Tempted

During the 40 days that Satan was tempting Jesus, Jesus rebuked Satan when he twisted God’s words to try to trip Jesus up and cause him to sin.  His responses remind himself, Satan, and us what God really said and where Jesus’s allegiance lies.  

And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'” (Matt. 4:3-4 and Luke 4:3-4)

Here, Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 8:3, which says, “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.”

Then Jesus uses words from the Torah to again refute Satan.

Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command His angels concerning You’;

and

‘On their hands they will bear You up,

So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.'”

Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” (Matt. 4:5-7 and Luke 4:9-12)

 Jesus’s response points to Deuteronomy 6:16, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.”

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'” (Matt. 4:8-10 and Luke 4:5-8)

During this last test, Jesus once again takes a command from the Torah and holds it up against Satan’s temptation. This one comes from Deuteronomy 6, also. This time, it’s from verse 13. It says, “You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.”

The Torah and the entire Old Testament are relevant to our faith, and Jesus often used them to teach his followers and even refute Satan! We should take all of God’s Word to heart and, as 2 Timothy says, use it to be adequate and equipped for every good work.

If you’re interested in learning more about Jesus’s ministry, you’ll enjoy Lois Tverberg’s book Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus. 

As Believers, we’re familiar with numerous Bible studies on many subjects, but this one is unique because it’s over 2500 years old! It’s collectively called the parashōt and is believed to originate from the time of Ezra (see below). The word parsha (plural parashōt) means “portion,” and this year-long study focuses on specific “portions” of the Bible with meaningful themes. As Christians, we’re familiar with numerous Bible studies on many subjects, but this one is unique because it’s over 2500 years old! It’s collectively called the parashōt and is believed to originate from the time of Ezra (see below). The word parsha (plural parashōt) means “portion,” and this year-long study focuses on specific “portions” of the Bible with meaningful themes.

Click here to go straight to this year’s free printable Parsha and Holiday Reading Schedule!

It’s sometimes difficult to read through the Bible and extract the themes that connect the whole book and tell the story of the God of the Bible and His people. But this is precisely what the parashōt helps us to see. Many Christians participate in the weekly parsha readings that are read in Jewish synagogues and studied by Jewish people worldwide. One section of the Torah is studied weekly on a yearly cycle, paired with portions from the books of the prophets and, in Messianic Jewish communities, from the New Testament as well.

An Annual Torah Reading Cycle

Synagogues participate in this system of weekly readings from the Torah. For example, this year, on the Sabbath dated January 19 by our Gregorian calendar, the reading is called Shemōt and consists of Exodus 1:1-6:1.   

Aside from minor differences in reading schedules, orthodox Jews, Messianic Jews, and many Hebrew Roots Christians study the same section of scripture each week. The parashōt is read in synagogues on The Sabbath (Shabbat) and Holy Days and studied throughout the week prior.   

The Nitty Gritty

Although the word Torah sometimes includes rabbinical writings, when I discuss the Torah here, I’m referring to the Bible’s first five books, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers. According to the Hebrew calendar, the parashōt are these five books divided into 54 sections or portions (about 2 to 6 chapters each) to be read weekly. There are also readings for Holy Days and other significant days on the same calendar.

The schedule of readings, repeated each year, is believed to have been for thousands of years! The day of the year the reading cycle begins and ends is called Simchat Torah, meaning “joy of the Torah” or “rejoice in the Torah.”  

On Simchat Torah, the Torah (also called “the Law” and “God’s Word”) being given by God to His people is also celebrated. Psalm 1:2 and 119:97 show us that the Torah is something we should love, delight in, and see as a blessing! The creator of the universe gave His Word to His people to lead us, guide us, and ultimately show us who He is and lead us to faith in Him! What a reason to celebrate!

Each Portion Tells a Story

Each reading is given a name, using the first significant word of the reading in Hebrew. The name can tell the reader a bit of what the reading will be about and serves to distinguish one parsha from another.

For example, this past week’s reading, Shemōt (Ex. 1:1-6:1), is named because Exodus 1:1 starts with a list of names, and Shemot means “names” in Hebrew.

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one with his household    

EX. 1:1 (NASB), EMPHASIS MINE

While it starts with the names of those accompanying Jacob to Egypt, this Torah portion covers the entire story of Moses’s birth, youth, and the slavery, including the eventual increase in the labor of the Hebrew people. The overall theme is the setup of God’s plan for delivering Israel from slavery.

The Haftarah

The portions from the Torah are the primary parashōt readings, and with each parsha, there is an accompanying reading from books of prophecy in the Old Testament with similar themes. In reference to the selection above, Shemōt, the haftarah reading is Isaiah 27:6-28:13 and 29:22-29:23.

The haftarah goes along with the Torah portion for that week because its message (specifically Isaiah 27:12) is the deliverance of Israel, the same message found in the Torah portion, where we see God’s plan for delivering them from slavery materializing.

History

According to Jewish tradition, this schedule of Torah readings was developed by Ezra when he reintroduced Torah reading to Israel in the book of Nehemiah. It was then that the people turned back to reading the Torah and observing the Holy Days. The parashōt was a way to keep the Israelites from straying again when he reinstated the Temple practices.

Although we can’t be sure this was when this reading schedule started, we know it started long ago. The Aleppo Codex, a 294-page parchment biblical manuscript over 1,000 years old, contains Masoretic notes (commentary and pronunciation additions by rabbis) that specify the parashōt divisions. The Codex is now in a museum in Israel, but Maimonides, a well-respected Torah scholar, based his parashōt divisions on the ones in the Codex as far back as the Middle Ages.  

Parashōt for Christians

The weekly parsha is read in the synagogue on the Sabbath and Holy Days and studied throughout the week. The portion read on the upcoming Sabbath is usually studied throughout the week. Everyone’s on the same page when it’s read in the synagogue since they’ve been reading and studying it all week prior.

Messianic Jewish congregations often add a reading from the New Testament (Brit Chadashah in Hebrew) to the readings from the Torah and haftarah. I find this quite interesting as the reading from the New Testament covers the same theme as that in the Torah and haftarah portions. This Bible study method reveals one of the most extraordinary things about the book. Instead of two separate books, the Old and New Testaments have the same themes – they’re just two parts of the same fantastic story!

Interested in Studying the Bible Through the Parashōt?

Here’s my free printable Parsha and Holiday Reading Schedule for this year. It includes New Testament readings with themes relevant to each Torah and haftarah reading. John Parsons, the author of the Hebrew for Christians website, has a study using the parsha readings to aid Christians interested in the Jewish roots of their faith called A Year Through the Torah: A Week-By-Week Journey for Christians. This book is an excellent way to study the Bible!