This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
While better known as a Jewish custom, some Christians and Jewish believers in Jesus (Messianic Jews) also embrace Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. What value is there in having a Bar Mitzvah? And why would a believer in Jesus as the Messiah want one?
What is a Bar Mitzvah anyway?
Let’s start with the words “Bar Mitzvah”. “Bar” is the Aramaic word for “son,” and “mitzvah” is the Hebrew word for “commandment.” So a “Bar Mitzvah” is a “son of the commandment.”
The term “Bar Mitzvah” can describe either the celebration (as in, “We’re going to attend a Bar Mitzvah”) or the person who has gone through the training and ceremony (as in, “He is now a bar mitzvah”).
Girls can also go through the Bar Mitzvah process. In that case, she would be called a Bat Mitzvah (pronounced “baht,” meaning daughter), and her ceremony would be called a Bat Mitzvah.
Whether boy or girl, at age 12 or 13, a Bar Mitzvah is held after he or she has completed training in the Jewish faith. This ceremony signifies that he or she is no longer a child but is on the way to adulthood. It’s the milestone that shows moral responsibility, and the responsibility of one’s faith transfers from the parent to the child.
In preparation for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, a child will train for years, starting around age 9, with more concentrated training in the last year (their 11th or 12th year) before their Bar Mitzvah ceremony. This education, similar to Catechism or Confirmation, equips them to be part of their spiritual community.
A special service is held at their synagogue once their training is complete, near or on their birthday. The child leads the service and reads from the Torah scroll in Hebrew during this service. He or she also says the Shema and the blessings for the Torah reading.
The Torah portion read is often their “birth Torah.” This portion of Scripture was read on the Shabbat of the week they were born. They also talk (like a mini-sermon) about the portion and how it’s meaningful to them.
A party often follows the Bar Mitzvah service, with gifts for the new bar mitzvah and dancing (usually Israeli Folk dancing).
Where did this custom come from?
Although Biblical principles are woven throughout the Bar Mitzvah, it’s not directly mentioned in the Bible. The earliest mention of this ceremony is in the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, written as early as the 4th century. These are Jewish rabbinical writings meant to guide the daily activities of Jewish community members.
While Bar Mitzvahs have been held for centuries, ceremonies like the ones we see today date back to the Middle Ages. The Bat Mitzvah is a pretty recent development, appearing only in the 20th century.
Bar Mitzvah in the Bible
Although the Bar Mitzvah ceremony isn’t in the Bible, many believe Jesus’s Bar Mitzvah process is mentioned. In Luke 2:41-52, Luke notes that Jesus was 12 when he was left behind and found at the Temple, talking with the rabbis there. He was also in Jerusalem for Passover, a Biblical requirement for men. At 12, he may have been preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, which includes discussing Scripture with rabbis and learning to keep the laws concerning the festivals.
Many suggest that his age of 12 and his trip to Jerusalem for Passover indicate that he was in the process of preparing for his Bar Mitzvah or was there for the event itself.
Why have a Bar Mitzvah if I’m not Jewish?
As Christians, we’re grafted in to the promises God gave to the people of Israel. Both the roots of our Biblical faith and our Messiah are Jewish. As we live out our faith, we try to continually grow and be more like Jesus. Practicing our faith as he practiced his will give us a better understanding of him and our Bibles.
The other reason for having a Bar Mitzvah is to provide a solid spiritual foundation for those growing up with faith in the Bible and Jesus as their savior. It also serves as a milestone for children heading into adulthood, giving them an official crossover from childhood to adulthood.
Also, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs aren’t just for 12—and 13-year-olds! Those are just the minimum ages. Adults can have one, too!
The guidelines for candidates for Bar and Bat Mitzvah differ between congregations. If you want one for your son or daughter (or yourself!). Contact the rabbi or pastor of your Messianic or other congregation to inquire about their Bar Mitzvah procedures.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah candidates (or B’nei Mitzvot) should learn the following basics (ideally starting around nine years old):
The Hebrew Language – Candidates should have a solid understanding of Biblical Hebrew. B’nei should be able to read from the Torah and read and say the Torah reading blessings in Hebrew.
A Bar Mitzvah is a milestone in a young person’s life and can provide them with a firm spiritual foundation for life. It’s a meaningful ceremony and a clear point at which someone takes responsibility for their spiritual life and becomes a functioning member of their faith community. It’s also a time when one can declare his or her faith in the God of the Bible and Messiah, Jesus.
Wondering why this site is changing? Here’s the answer.
In summary, I intend to reflect more clearly what I believe and practice to help my audience find the Biblically solid resources they need to grow in their faith.
Believers arrive at the Hebrew Roots Movement because they are honestly seeking what God desires, but the Movement is a catch-all for Hebraic Believers with varying beliefs. It consists of a wide range of ideologies, from Christians who merely want to apply the whole Bible to how they practice their faith to Gentiles who practice or follow the teaching of Messianic Judaism.
From the beginning of my family’s walk on the Hebraic path, we have leaned heavily toward a Messianic Jewish faith. I’ve found the Messianic Jews to be the most Biblically solid group I’ve encountered. They have thousands of years of Jewish wisdom based on the Hebrew Bible, combined with a solid understanding of the New Testament. My family has grown spiritually by leaps and bounds by being a part of a Messianic Jewish synagogue and community, open to teaching and leading us on our journey.
As I change the website from Hebrew Roots Mom to Holy Branches, the information will mostly remain the same, with less emphasis on the Hebrew Roots Movement. While the concept of Hebrew Roots is valuable in understanding where we belong as Gentiles in God’s Kingdom, there are some specific reasons I’ve chosen to distance myself from the Hebrew Roots Movement itself. I would like to make it very clear that most in the HRM are honestly seeking and are in a place of valuable spiritual growth. However, I’ve occasionally seen beliefs or practices I find unbiblical and concerning in the HRM.
If you are a Believer seeking a deeper Biblical faith, I encourage you to be highly discerning in your search. I highly recommend you find a solid Messianic Jewish source as a starting point and grow from there. As I always advise, seek God in everything when making changes to your faith. Pray about all you hear regarding your faith, and use the Bible as the standard of truth.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Once a Christian is convicted to make changes to their faith and proceed on the journey of incorporating their Hebrew Roots into how they practice their faith, they often need to find a different type of community to support them in that. Although it can be difficult, many find they need to leave their Protestant or Catholic Church and seek a congregation that believes and practices similarly.
Going down the river in two canoes
My rabbi described this point in life as going down the river in two canoes – one foot in each. All goes well until you come to a rock. Then you have to choose which canoe to stay in to continue down the river.
Like many in the Hebrew Roots Movement, I had my feet in two canoes. I still do in some areas. But issues came up that were difficult to resolve – holidays, Bible versions, how and what to teach children, etc. and I had to decide which canoe my family and I were going to stay in.
When a rock is approaching
While it’s growing quickly, the Hebrew Roots Movement is still less represented than other traditional Christian faiths. I’ve been contacted by Christians all over the world who have reached the point where they need to stay in the Hebrew Roots canoe but can’t figure out where they belong. Congregations that believe this way can be difficult to find but in less than a 10-year period (the amount of time I’ve been searching for resources in this area), The amount of congregations has grown significantly!
So, if you’re one of those, feeling like you need to get into one canoe and are watching a rock approach, this post is for you! I’ll share ways I’ve discovered to find a Hebrew Roots faith community and maybe one of these ideas will help you find your own!
A few organizations have recognized the problem of finding a congregation and created online directories of Hebrew Roots/Messianic Jewish congregations. Not all are listed on these, but they’re a great place to start!
Torah Club is a deep, in-person Bible study that restores the Jewishness of Jesus and the Bible. There’s a good chance there’s a group near you! Find a Club in your area here!
Use a search engine
You can use your favorite search engine or mapping program to find a congregation as well. Search terms such as “Messianic Jewish” or “Yeshua” will be helpful.
The other place to look is on social media. Some smaller congregations may not have a website or be listed in a directory but have a Facebook page, MeWe group, or profile on Instagram. Use the terms above and include the name of your city to help dig up congregations not found elsewhere.
None in your area?
If you’ve searched online and can’t find a community in your area, don’t be discouraged! You’re not alone in how you practice your faith, you just haven’t found your people yet. Keep searching! But in the meantime, participate online with congregations that live-stream or record their services. There are many of these and, like live congregations, the number is growing!
I’ll continue to update this post with congregational resources I find. If you know of any not listed here, add them in the comments! Let’s do all we can to connect our fellow believers in Yeshua, our Messiah!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
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 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.”
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.
It is his blood on which the New Covenant is based.
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.”
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.
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.
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.”
“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.”
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!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
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.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
In addition, there’s a tradition that reminds us when the Sabbath is over, and we return to our regular week. It’s called Havdalah. In Hebrew, Havdalah means “separation” and celebrates what a blessing the Sabbath is. It’s a way of both saying our goodbyes to it and looking forward to next week’s Sabbath. As our God has asked of us, Havdalah is another way to remember the Sabbath. It’s also how we can keep it holy and set it apart from the other days.
The three essential elements of the Havdalah service are a cup of wine, a braided, multi-wick candle to light, and fragrant spices. Held on Saturday evening, just after sundown, the Havdalah service is typically held at home instead of in a congregational setting.
Like other traditions, the order of a basic Havdalah ceremony varies among households.
This blessing is the same one we say when we bring in the Shabbat called the HaGafen. Fill the cup to the very brim with wine. It’s okay if it overflows – that signifies our overflowing blessings. Recite the blessing, but don’t drink the wine until after the Havdalah service concludes.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)
At the Havdalah service, we smell pleasantly fragrant spices to remind everyone of the blessing we’ve been given in the Sabbath. Cloves and cinnamon are the most often used spices, but hyssop, anise, and other spices can also be used. A blessing is then said over the spices.
By lighting the havdalah candle, we remember two things – that light was the first thing created by our God and that the Sabbath is over, and we begin our work, our “creating.” Lighting the candle represents our first act or work of the week, as many don’t light candles on the Sabbath due to Exodus 35:3.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the light of the fire.
The final blessing brings it all together. Havdalah is to distinguish the sacred from the common, the holy from the unholy. It states that the holy Shabbat has ended, and the work week has begun. This blessing praises God for separating. While this may seem strange, think of all the separating God does. He separated the light from darkness, the waters from the heavens, the seas from the dry land, the Sabbath from the rest of the week, His people from among the nations, etc.
In the command to keep the Sabbath, we must keep it holy. Keeping it holy means we’re to set it apart from the rest of the days of the week. Havdalah is one way to keep the Sabbath holy – we’re deliberately separating it from the other days of the week. Here’s the blessing over separation, called the Hamavdil.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who distinguishes between the holy and the profane, light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are you, Lord, who separates between the holy and the profane. (Response: Amen)
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol, ben or leh-cho-shech ben yees-ra-el la-a-meem ben yom hash-vee-ee leh-sheh-sheht yeh-mei ha-mah-ah-seh. Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol.
(Response: “Amen”)
The End of the Shabbat
After the blessings, take a drink of the wine. The havdalah candle is then extinguished in the wine that overflowed from the cup, symbolizing that the Shabbat is now over. Everyone can now wish each other a “Shavua Tov” – a good week!
A Havdalah service is important because it separates the holiness of the Sabbath from the other days of the week. Instead of just being another day, the Sabbath is separated with the Shabbat service on Friday evening and the Havdalah on Saturday evening. This clear separation is not only one way we can honor God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy. It’s also a way to align our week with His calendar and receive even more blessings by living according to His ways!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Shalom! I’m so glad you’ve decided to observe a traditional Messianic Sabbath evening. I hope it becomes one of your family’s most-loved traditions, as it has in mine.
The Sabbath is not only one of the 10 Commandments; it’s a sign that we are God’s people (See Ez. 20:12, 20). By keeping the Sabbath, we’re not only being obedient to God but also showing our faith in who He is to us through our actions. Doing so brings glory to Him.
This guide provides a fundamental overview of a traditional Sabbath. Every family observes the Sabbath a bit differently, so feel welcome to use this as a guide and tailor it to work best for your family. Whatever you do, keep the focus on God and keep the day set apart for Him.
Friday is commonly known as Preparation Day because this is usually the time to prepare everything so everyone can rest on the Sabbath. Cleaning, food preparation, etc., are done in advance so everyone can rest, focus on God, and spend time with family.
Instead of days beginning at midnight like we’re used to in our culture, days on the Hebrew calendar start at sundown. So, the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday evening until Saturday evening.
Light the Candles
The woman of the house is usually responsible for lighting the candles and bringing in the Sabbath. Two candles are lit to signify the two commands given regarding the Sabbath—to remember it and to keep it holy.
Although not required, women traditionally cover their heads during the blessing as a symbol of humility before God. The woman covers her head with a head covering (scarf), lights the candles, and says the following blessing.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to be a light to the nations and Who gave to us Jesus our Messiah, the light of the world.
Different blessings are said over boys and girls, and the Aaronic Blessing follows both. The father usually says these blessings, although anyone can bless the children.
The blessing for the boys comes from Genesis 48:20, where Jacob said, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'”. The blessing over girls holds them high that they would become like some of the most remarkable women in the Bible
The Blessing over the Wife comes from Proverbs 31, verses 10-31. Interestingly enough, this blessing is also said over women who are not married. This blessing shows appreciation for wives and all women for all they do to hold homes and communities together! The husband usually says it, and it is as follows.
The Kiddush reminds us why we’re doing what we’re doing. It incorporates verses from Genesis that discuss the Sabbath, as well as a blessing over the wine and thanking God for choosing and sanctifying the nation of Israel. The man of the house traditionally says it.
The person saying the Kiddush holds the cup of wine up while reciting it. After the Kiddush is said, each participant can either take a drink from a single Kiddush cup or their own wine/juice glasses.
And it was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed. And God finished by the Seventh Day His work which He had done, and He rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had done. And God blessed the Seventh Day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work which God created to function.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has hallowed us with His commandments, has desired us, and has given us, in love and goodwill, His holy Shabbat as a heritage, in remembrance of the work of Creation; the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and with love and goodwill given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage. Blessed are You Lord, who hallows the Shabbat. (Response: Amen)
The Hamotzi is the blessing over the bread. We usually sing it together, and one person holds the challah, plate and all, up while we sing. After the Hamotzi, the bread is set down to be eaten later. It’s often eaten by tearing pieces off and dipping them in the wine or juice.
Here’s the traditional tune:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
After that, enjoy your meal together and have a restful Sabbath! If you’re looking for ideas for what to do with the rest of your Sabbath day, read What DO We Do on the Sabbath.
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
What does keeping the Sabbath look like? The fourth commandment is clear, and numerous other places throughout the Bible make it evident that God finds observation of the Sabbath something all His people should do. Keeping the Sabbath means, in part, not working on that day. We are to refrain from our vocation as well as other work.
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”
What we’re not supposed to do on the Sabbath is clear, but what isn’t exactly clear is what we DO on that day. When we don’t work, do we just lay around and watch TV all day? Should we take a vacation? Run errands? Go to church?
There are a few places we can go to find these answers. We can read the Bible and determine what Sabbath observance should look like. For practical application, we can learn from Orthodox Jews, who have been observing the Sabbath since Old Testament times. Learning from both leads to a more solid understanding of many Biblical customs, and the Sabbath is one of them.
What does a Jewish Sabbath look like?
They observe the Sabbath on Saturday.
When God commands that the Sabbath should occur on the seventh day, the Jews take Him at His word and keep the Sabbath to the seventh day of the week, Saturday. Jewish days start around sundown, so the Sabbath is from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
They take the command not to work as a declaration of their freedom from slavery, as slaves don’t usually get days off. When God freed them from slavery to the Egyptians, he took them as His people, establishing His covenant with them. The sign of this covenant is the Sabbath (Ex. 31:16 and Lev. 24:8).
They attend synagogue services.
They attend services as a family on either Friday evening or Saturday morning, or both.
They study God’s word.
The Torah is read during Friday evening and Saturday morning services. Orthodox Jews also study Torah as a family on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
They spend time with family.
The Sabbath is a leisurely affair, with taking walks, playing games, and hanging out together making up much of the day. They have meals together, with blessings for the food, the Sabbath, and each other.
There’s a definite beginning and end.
They light two candles when it begins, indicating that the family should remember and observe the Sabbath. A small ceremony called Havdalah marks its end to separate it from the other days of the week.
What the Sabbath Looks Like at My House
My family has adopted many of these customs to our Sabbath. When we first began, it wasn’t easy to implement. Not working on Saturdays was difficult, but once I figured it out, having a day of free time was a welcome change! We gradually changed our focus to fill our Sabbath with bible study, family time, and rest.
Keeping the Sabbath has been such a blessing to my family. Our culture is nonstop. While this allows us to be very productive, many American Christians have trouble finding time for what they claim are the most important in their lives—their family and faith. True Sabbath observation helps properly align our priorities. When done correctly, the Sabbath becomes a day in one’s schedule where the top priorities stay on top—every week, every year, for generations.
Here are a few things my family does on the Sabbath:
Eat simple snacks and meals that we prepared in advance
Have a family outing, such as going to the zoo or botanical gardens
Wish each other and others a “Shabbat Shalom!” or peaceful Sabbath
Our Friday evenings are getting more organized as Sabbath observation becomes routine. Each family member has specific roles on the Sabbath and looks forward to participating.
Although we have activities and school that day, Friday is Preparation Day. We spend most of the day preparing for the Sabbath (Shabbat in Hebrew), the day’s focus. Without Preparation Day, preparing everything for a peaceful Sabbath is tough.
Each child (over 5) receives a Shabbat Prep Checklist on Friday morning. Their schoolwork, daily activities, and the chores they’re responsible for are on it. They have chores like cleaning their rooms, choosing clothes for the next day, showering, and cleaning bathrooms. Doing these things on Friday allows for an evening and the following day, free to relax and enjoy family time.
My Shabbat Prep Checklist includes making meals for that evening and the next day, making challah bread, laying out clothing for the younger children and myself, cleaning the house, finishing laundry, etc. I also ensure the table is set for our Sabbath meal and the necessary items are out (candles, candleholders, challah cover, decorative platters, etc.).
Here are the type of candles we usually use and a pretty cover for the challah bread similar to the one below.
We light our Sabbath candles and say blessings around dinnertime. Usually, this is done just after sunset at the start of the Sabbath, a job commonly reserved for the woman of the house. My oldest daughter says the prayer after I light the candles. She covers her head with a headscarf to say the blessing, which is a sign of respect for God.
After the blessing over the candles, my husband blesses the children and me. The blessings are our favorite part of the Sabbath! My kids wait expectantly for their turn to be blessed. It’s touching when my husband says Proverbs 31, a blessing over me. There’s so much value in my kids watching him do this week after week! You can find out more about the blessings here and here.
After this, my husband says a prayer, and we eat. My husband usually has a subject to discuss related to the Sabbath, that week’sparsha, or just life in general. I try to choose a family favorite for the Friday evening meal to avoid any struggles over the little ones eating their dinner! Afterward, we always watch a movie as a family, complete with popcorn.
On Saturday mornings, we either attend our Messianic Jewish Synagogue or do something recreational as a family. Saturday mornings are usually slower than mornings of other days, allowing time for bible study and rest. The Sabbath afternoon is often lazier than others, with naps and more study time being common activities.
We have an evening meal, then clean up after our restful day. We even include a Havdalah ceremony to wrap up our Sabbaths.
Although our Sabbaths are free of work, we have plenty to do on Saturdays – the most important things! With the week’s work out of the way, we fill the day with much-needed rest, study of God’s word, and family time. What used to be an extra workday or a day to catch up on chores and household projects has become our most treasured day of the week. The best part is that keeping the Sabbath shows we’re in a covenant with the God of the universe, and we’re His people! What a marvelous blessing!
