Throughout the ages, the Jewish Sages attempted to group the 613 commandments into common themes to understand the major underlying principles for the worship of the LORD. According to the Talmud (Makkot 23b-24a)…
“David came and established the number of commandments at eleven, as it is written, ‘A psalm of David, LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless(1) and who does what is righteous(2), who speaks the truth from his heart(3) and has no slander on his tongue(4), who does his neighbor no wrong(5) and casts no slur on his fellow man(6), who despise a vile man(7) but honors those who fear the LORD(8), who keeps his oath even when it hurts(9), who leans his money without usury(10) and does not accept a bribe against the innocent(11). He who does these things will never be shaken’ (Psa 15:1-6)
Isaiah then came and established the number of commandments at six, as it is written, ‘He who walks righteously(1) and speaks what is right(2), who rejects gain from extortion(3) and keeps his hand from accepting bribes(4), who stops his ears against plots of murder(5) and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil(6)’ (Isa 33:14).
Micah then came and established the number of commandments at three, as it is written, ‘He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly(1) and to love mercy(2) and to walk humbly with your God(3)’ (Micah 6:8).
Amos then came and established the number of commandments at one, as it is written, ‘Seek the LORD and live’ (Amos 5:6).”
But the Talmudic discussion is not quite over. Rav Nachman bar Yitzhaq took exception to this citation from Amos, claiming that the divine commandment to “seek me” runs throughout the entire Torah. Rather, it is Habakkuk who came and established the number of commandments at one, as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith“ (Hab 2:4).
Therefore, according to the Jewish Sages, the entire law can be summarized in a single commandment, “The righteous will live by faith”.
Paul appeared to draw on this understanding when he wrote, "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The rigtheous will live by faith'".
(Rom 1:17)
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2 comments:
I already am compelled to add a comment to my post. Faith is not independent of the law, but a summation of a single principle underlying the entire law as Paul has written, "Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, 30 since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Rom 3:28-31).
Great post Scott. My only comment is from Romans 4:13 "It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith."
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