Mitzvah is the Hebrew word for “commandment”. The plural word is called mitzvot, and is defined by any commandment, ordinance, law, or statute contained in the Torah, which is the first five books of the Bible. The Rabbis teach that a mitzvah is defined as a connection to God. When you are obedient and keep a commandment in the bible, you are connecting to God.
There are 613 laws written in the Torah that in one way or another are all connecting to God. They are written in the Bible, and there are oral teachings handed down by Moses that explains how to practically apply them in our life. By connecting to God, the Rabbis say, the part of your body you are connecting with God actually becomes holy. The mitzvot (or commandments) are tools that are all used to get to know God better.
God’s will is for all of humanity to connect to Him though His instructions, which is the Torah. As an example when you study the Bible, you learn about God, therefore, you are attaching yourself to God. Being a disciple of Jesus and believing in Him as the Messiah is attaching yourself to the Jewish people and to God. When you pray, or when you give charity and show acts of kindness, and when you love your neighbor as yourself you are connecting to God.
We will be known in the Kingdom of God based on how we obeyed the commandments that we were responsible for.
God’s will for all of humanity is to connect to Him though His instructions (Torah), learn about which of the jurisdictions a mitzvah should be used in, and how someone should apply them in their life. The Jewish people study specific portions of the Torah every week throughout a year (called a Parshah), they spend a lifetime determining who should apply which mitzvah, and how they should apply it.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:13, “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.”
This would have been what Jesus was engaged in at the age of 12 in Luke 2:41-52. Jews have had a portion of scripture they all read together every week for a long time. This was established well before the time of Jesus. Being devoted to the weekly reading and taking time to study the Bible is a lifelong discipline and is one of the best ways to understand God and who He is.
As an example of jurisdiction, the laws in Texas may be different from the laws in Florida. In the same way, there are mitzvot that are applied in Israel, some are only applied when there is a Temple in Jerusalem, some for the King, some for women, and some for men. The Jewish people are under one jurisdiction, while non-Jews are under another jurisdiction. Some laws are specific to one group while others are universal.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:19, “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
To Repent Is A Mitzvah For Everyone
Repentance is a universal mitzvah, and it is the connecting tool God gave all humanity instructions on how we should serve Him. Jeremiah 15:19 states, “Therefore this is what the Lord says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me”. God created people with different jobs and roles to serve Him, and each job has a different duty and responsibility, which is why there are different jurisdictions. The King will serve God differently than a carpenter, but both are required to repent, and everyone is required to repent every year on the Day of Atonement. Repentance should be viewed as a positive commandment and needs to be understood it is the tool to do self-improvement so you can do your part to serve God.
Leviticus 23:27-31 specifically says that during the month of Tishrei, on the 10th day (a person who considers themselves a child of God) should fast (from sundown to sundown) and use this day to ask for forgiveness. This day is known as the Day of Atonement (a.k.a. Yom Kippur) and is an appointed time that God says He will meet us. It also says it is a mitzvah that shall last forever.
In Matthew 5:18 Jesus said, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until everything is finished”. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:24, “Then comes the end, when he (Jesus) delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.”
Therefore, every disciple of Jesus should repent every year. Going through this 30-day repentance journey is a good way to prepare for Yom Kippur. We are desiring to connect to God on that day, humble ourselves, and draw near to Him. If you would like to know more about Yom Kippur, here is a good resource on the subject ffoz.org.
Although there are many mitzvot, and some of them seem difficult, it is important to have faith and proper intent to honor God in your obedience of keeping them. Desiring to know God more through them is what obedience is all about. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Remember, the New Covenant is where God promises that He will change our heart to want to server Him and keep His commandments.
While learning about connecting to God through a mitzvah, it is important to understand why Jesus said all the commandments in the Torah are central to Leviticus 19:18 which is, “…you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” Every instruction in the Torah can be tied to loving God or loving your neighbor. For example, Exodus 20:13 says, “Thou shalt not kill”, but if your intent is to embarrass someone openly in front of others, according to the Rabbis, it is as if you are committing murder. Words are like arrows; they can pierce someone.
Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
Measure for Measure
In the Bible, there is a term called “Measure for Measure”, and it is considered to be the ideal method of divine punishment and reward.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:2,“For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Paul explains this in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”.
It is logical that the entire Torah is based on the two principals of loving God and loving your neighbor. God created this world for us to do acts of kindness both towards God and towards people. If you are nice to others, others will be nice towards you. The measure of love you show others, will be shown towards you. God leaves it up to us on the measure we use.
Be Intentional in Connecting to God through a Mitzvah
A good way to apply loving God, and your neighbor at the same time is to be intentional in helping others, and always be looking for good in others. Do something nice for a person such as pay for their dinner at a restaurant without them knowing it or doing some other act of kindness towards them. Learn to invest in others and help make this world a better place.
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