What Is Required of Us?

By Brother Rabbi Dani’el Rendelman
Emet Ministries
ravemet@comcast.net

MEMBER OF BNAI YAHSHUA SYNAGOGUES WORLDWIDE

More adults in North America will die this year of congestive heart disease. Each year millions are caught off guard as this silent killer lurks painlessly, unseen in the body, until it strikes as a major heart attack. Doctors describe this illness as "blockages in the blood vessels and arteries that prevent blood from flowing properly". Physicians tell us that the nation's death rate would drastically decrease, if we would just make our heart’s health a priority. We would be "heart healthy", if we'd just eat healthy foods, exercise daily, and have regular visits with our family doctor. Spiritually, our condition is not much better, for we are "sin sick".

The Spirit cannot flow properly in our lives because of sinful "blockages" of hypocrisy, disobedience, and disrespect. Our prayers bounce off the ceiling because of the "insincerity" of our heart. We’ve not heeded the words of wisdom, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." – Mishlei / Proverbs, chapter 4.

The word "heart" appears more than 900 times throughout the Scriptures and is nearly always the Hebrew term "lev." This phrase literally means, "feelings, emotions, will, intellect, the center of our thoughts." Our heart is the seat of emotions within us that prompts us to do what we do. It is from our heart that we get excited about Elohim, and it is from our heart that we rebel against him. "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself." – Mishlei / Proverbs, chapter 14 wrote Solomon, of blessed memory.

Our heart directs our actions before we speak or do something. Therefore, as we strive to live a life that is pleasing to the Almighty, it is necessary to have regular heart "check ups." We need to regularly search our motives and intentions, to ensure that our heart is healthy. Our examination doesn’t need to be about our actions, but the reasons behind the actions. We don’t necessarily need to worry about an occasional slipping into sin. But, we should be concerned about continued habits and attitudes. A person’s arteries don’t get clogged from one fatty meal; it takes years of neglecting exercise and many times of eating the wrong food. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living Elohim, but exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened though the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Messiah, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; while it is said, Today if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation" -- Ivrim / Hebrews 3: 12-13.

The story is told of a wise old rabbi named Moshe, who in the 1930s fled his native land of Germany. He sold all his assets and converted it to gold and then, had 5 sets of solid gold false teeth made. He kept his teeth hidden in his pants’ pocket until he needed them.

When he arrived in New York the customs official was perplexed as to why anybody would have 5 sets of gold teeth. So Moshe pulled out his teeth and explained.

"We Orthodox Jews have two separate sets of dishes for meat products and dairy products, but I am so kosher and religious I also have separate sets of teeth."

The customs official shook his head and said, "Well that accounts for two sets of teeth. What about the other three?"

Moshe then said "Vell, us very religious Orthodox Jews use separate dishes for Passover, but I am so religious I have separate teeth, one for meat and one for dairy food.

The customs official slapped his head and then said, "You must be a very religious man with separate teeth for food and dairy products and likewise for Passover. That accounts for four sets of teeth. What about the fifth set?"

"Vell to tell you the truth, once in a while I like a ham sandwich."

It seems this rabbi has a little problem when it comes to Torah observance. Sure, he separates his milk and meat, but he also eats unclean foods. He is holy and reverent in front of others, but he lets his devotion slide when no one is watching. He doesn’t know, but his pork eating is evidence of a 'heart' problem. Continued feasting on sinfulness leads to spiritual heart disease. Unfortunately, we are much like this Rabbi.

We all have some areas of obedience where we could be more devoted. Yet, most of the time, we ignore these sinful problems. We hide them in our pockets until the right time to sneak away and enjoy. Who likes to control their thoughts anyway? Who wants to show respect to those in spiritual authority? Who doesn’t stretch the truth, just a little? We reason that a little sin, here and there, doesn’t count against us, if we know the Hebrew Names or keep the Biblical Sabbath. Sadly, we have heart disease. Our arteries are clogged with some wicked actions and bad thoughts.

We must guard our heart from becoming bored, complacent, or stubborn. It is so easy to go through the motions of obedience and forget why we do what we do. Many times we focus so much on the details of how to "properly" fulfill a commandment that we forget the simple reason for obedience, to draw near to YHWH.

This is why, in Mishlei / Proverbs, chapter 4, the scriptures say to "Keep thy heart with all diligence." We need to be watchmen, who are on the lookout for false concepts concerning the mitzvot (commandments). One such deception that easily slips into our heart is the idea that the Creator wants us to obey Him. We’ve allowed the mitzvot mindset to harden our hearts into believing that YHWH wants us to just obey the miztvot. However doing the right actions is not the pathway to pleasing the Almighty Elohim. We don’t earn our place into heaven, no matter how Torah-observant we are. Our spiritual standing is not based on us memorizing the worship service, so the "amen" is said at just the right time.

Somehow, we have come to believe that when YHWH looks down from heaven upon us, that He measures our Torah obedience on a scale. We reason that, if we are doing Torah then, YHWH honors us, and we are ok. We’ve come to believe, write in our emails, and even tell others that YHWH wants us to be Torah-observant. We’ll go to heaven, we’ll be happy on earth, and life will be just fine. However, this is just not true.

When YHWH looks from heaven, He is not looking in judgment towards our Torah obedience ONLY. He does not desire us to be robots, who blindly obey to just obey; He did give to us free will! Plainly, YHWH doesn’t want our obedience. He doesn’t really want us to keep kosher or speak Hebrew. What YHWH wants is us, in totality. He wants our life. Totally. Fully. YHWH wants our heart, our soul, and our devotion. He doesn’t need our service.

Likewise, He doesn’t get a thrill from our obedience when He doesn’t have our heart. Sure, we can learn the mitzvot. We can memorize the 613 commandments, we can keep the Noachide laws, and we can quote the Ten Commandments. But if we don’t totally give our life to Him then, all the good works we do are just that. Good works and nothing else! It isn’t the actions that earn us points in heaven; it is our heart condition that is most important. What pleases Him is the fact that our souls and very life have been yielded to the Almighty. YHWH wants us to submit our life totally to Him. That is the essential difference between obeying and submitting.

From our love of YHWH should come our submission to the mitzvot. The commandments are a means to an end, and not the end itself. Let’s not get the cart before the horse by stressing obedience over submission. YHWH wants us to submit our life to Him; to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Obedience to the Torah should flow freely from the heart. Saints should obey in order to please the Almighty because we love Him. We should submit to Him before we try to obey anything. "Come near to Elohim and He will come near to you," reads the book of Ya'acov/James from the Messianic writings.

Like a wife that prepares a special meal of her husband’s favorite foods, we too should seek to please Him through our deeds. Our submission to the Torah, is how we show that we love Him. "If you love me, keep the mitzvot," said the Messiah in Yochannan / John 14: 15. Love of YHWH leads us to submit to the Torah and commit our life fully to Him. In turn, this love will cause us to go beyond what is stated in the Torah. Love will cause believers to go beyond the letter of the Law to grasp the Spirit of the Law. From a heart of love and devotion, we should look beyond what is required of us, to do what the Creator desires. He requires our lives to be devoted to Him. He desires us to submit to Him in love. As we fall more and more in love with our Elohim, we will go past wanting to only obey the stated commandments, grasping the soul and purpose of Torah. To understand this concept, let’s consider the parable of a farmer and his two sons.

An elderly farmer had two grown sons that loved him very much. These brothers worked vigorously in their father’s fields. Each year, the land would reap a tremendous harvest. The farm harvested incredible amounts of large and tasty produce, much more than the small family needed.

One day, while the Father was talking with his sons about how to irrigate the land, he mentioned his desire to share the extra produce with the poor. The idea was a fleeting thought, a half-sentence, spoken in the middle of a technical discussion about water lines and germination. Nothing more was made of the father’s suggestion and the conversation ended soon after. The younger son was ready to finish up the day’s work so he could relax and rest. However, Dad’s comment peaked the interest of the older son. He reasoned, "Why should all the produce go to waste, when there were hungry people in their town?"

As the moon hung brightly in the night sky and tired weary heads fell softly on gentle pillows, the firstborn of the father was busy making plans. No, he wasn’t working on new fertilization techniques nor ways to increase plant production. He was sitting up in his bed brainstorming ideas on how to distribute the family’s food surplus to the poor. He understood his father’s desires, including the unstated. He was going to do all in his power to satisfy his father’s wish. He knew what was on his father’s mind. He was going to please him, even if it took extra work. To the younger brother, the suggestion was just that, a suggestion, and nothing more. However to the oldest son, the father’s idea was an indication of something greater. It was an inspiration.

Which of these two sons loves their Dad the most? Is it the youngest son who faithfully does exactly what the father says? Or is the devotion of the elder son greater? Which son does what is required, to know and fulfill the heart’s desires of his father?

The meaning of this parable can be discerned as we consider this story in comparison to relationship with our Heavenly Father YHWH. We can be like the youngest son who does only what is stated in the Torah. Or we can act like the elder son who deducted what was on the Father’s mind and tried to please Him. We can do exactly what the Torah says in vain repetition. Or we can give our heart to Him; do what He commands, and even more. This "even more" is brought about as we discern the purpose behind our actions.

Our Heavenly Father wants us to be a people "set apart". This we accomplish through obeying the mitzvot and learning the principles behind the mitzvoth. We can’t achieve full union with our Father through the mitzvot alone. We must totally give our life to Him and intensify our efforts toward His glorious end result of being like Him. King David understood this as he wrote, "I will delight in your mitzvot," -- Tehillim / Psalm 119: 24.

The truth is that YHWH is not satisfied in the deeds alone. He looks to the condition of the heart behind the deeds. He doesn’t want us to worship our actions. He wants us to worship Him. He wants us to love him with all that we are. Before we obey, He wants us to question our actions. What is the reason behind our actions? How healthy is our heart? When we preach obedience to the Torah we fall short of the full and true message of the Torah. YHWH wants Torah-submission not Torah-observance.

Our Master Rabbi Yahshua often spoke about the dangers of this type of attitude. There were those who obeyed the mitzvot openly, yet had not given their whole heart to YHWH. They had obedience, but not submission. They could sing the Shema perfectly in Hebrew, but their lives were not submitted to the one about whom they were singing. Yahshua is quoted by both Matthew and Mark, describing these people:

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me," Mattitiyahu/Matthew 15:8
"He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me," Markus / Mark 7:6

Moschiach compared others to whitewashed tombs that were beautiful on the outside but held death and decay on the inside.

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness,” Mattitiyahu / Matthew, chapter 23:27
"But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies," -- Mattitiyahu / Matthew 15: 18-19.

Yes, the Torah is important. The Torah is mankind’s blueprint for living. We do reap what we sow. We are blessed, if we obey and cursed, if we disobey. YHWH will reward our actions and we should be in pursuit of obedience. But, when we obey, to just obey, we become like trained animals that do what their master commands to earn a treat.

When we view our actions through the bifocals of blessing and cursing, the end result is minimizing the Torah into a book of do’s and don’ts. Let's not do this. Don’t follow the Torah only to get something. Don’t do the mitzvoth merely to earn protection during tribulation, or a better spot in heaven. This type of living is very dangerous. We can never earn what our Father freely gives.

As our faith grows and we mature in this walk, we can move from doing the specified to searching for the implied. Yahshua expounded upon this idea with the issue of adultery. The Torah commands that we should not commit adultery. Yahshua though, raised this mitzvah to a more-complete guideline when He said, "Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart," Mattitiyahu – Matthew 5:28.

When we are submitted, we do what is required, and recognize and do, what YHWH desires. One reason for the Moshiach’s coming, was to bring Yisra’el back to the heart of the Torah. It is one thing not to physically commit a sin, while it is another to walk in purity. The difference is the condition of the heart.

If we don’t guard our heart, we’ll soon begin to doubt our actions and become trapped by doing only what is required of us. There are those in this movement that use the excuse that they will do "only what is required in the Torah" before they move on in their faith. These people won’t follow traditions like lighting Shabbat candles because the "Torah doesn’t command it." And they equate not working on the Sabbath to spending a day in the Dentist’s waiting room. These attitudes are dangerous because of how they clog our heart.

Again, YHWH doesn’t want just our actions. He wants our life. He wants us. The Scriptures have an answer for those who would question what is required of believers. "Yisrael what does YHWH your Elohim require of you, but to fear YHWH your Elohim, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul," – Devarim / Deuteronomy 10:12. Notice that walking in his way, observing the mitzvoth, and loving YHWH with all of the heart are equal. What does YHWH require? He requires all that we are.

"What does YHWH require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim," -- Mica'yah / Micah 6:8. If our heart’s condition is right before YHWH, it is as if we are obeying all of the miztvot, because we will be obeying the mitzvoth. Yahshua said, "'You shall love the YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets," – Mattitiyahu / Matthew 22:38-40. This verse corresponds with the previous pasuk (passage) in Micah.

When we love YHWH with all our heart, we will do justly. When we love Him with all of our soul, we will view others in compassion and so we will love mercy. And when we love Him with all of our mind, we will keep our mind upon Him and walk humbly in His Spirit. The Zohar says, "when a man's love to the Holy One is roused, the “right hand” is moved only by a threefold impulse, by “heart”, “soul”, and “might”, for it does not say, “with all thy heart or with all thy soul”, etc., but “and with all thy soul”, etc.: all three are essential and necessary. Then does the Holy One respond and stir up His Right Hand towards that man." YHWH wants our heart. He wants all of us. His desire is for His people to submit to His will for their lives. This will is revealed throughout the Torah. To obey the Torah without giving our heart to YHWH is great loss. To submit to the Almighty and seek to walk in obedience to the Torah is great gain.