מצוה
The Hebrew word for ‘commandment’ is mitzvah. Mitzvot is plural and is found 123 times in the Hebrew Scriptures. According to Jewish tradition there are 613 commandments in the Torah. Yeshua says that these commandments are divided into two specific ones: Loving God and loving your neighbor (Matthew 22:40).
Mitzvot means ‘command, obligation’ and in some instances ‘tradition.’
“All this is because Avraham heeded what I said and did what I told him to do — he followed my mitzvot, my regulations and my teachings” (Genesis 26:5).
“You are to keep my mitzvot and obey them; I am Adonai” (Leviticus 22:31).
“So that you will fear Adonai your God and observe all his regulations and mitzvot that I am giving you — you, your child and your grandchild — as long as you live, and so that you will have long life” (Deuteronomy 6:2).
“Halleluyah! How happy is anyone who fears Adonai, who greatly delights in his mitzvot“ (Psalm 112:1).
“Therefore I love your mitzvot more than gold, more than fine gold” (Psalm 119:127).
Hebrew Word Pictures
מ Mem – Water means ‘chaos’ or ‘mighty.’
צ Tzade – A Fishook and means ‘pull toward.’
ו Vav – A Nail and means ‘binding.’
ת Tav – Crossed Sticks and means ‘sign’ or ‘covenant.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for mitzvot – mighty pulling toward binding sign of covenant.
When Yeshua taught the people, he referred to the mitzvot and the importance of teaching others as well as obeying them. How each person responds to the mitzvot will determine their ‘place’ in the Kingdom.
“So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
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