I heard a Messianic Bible teacher say that Yeshua was the Torah made flesh. I do not understand this concept. Can you please explain?
According to John 1:1, Yeshua the Messiah is the Word, who is God: “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NASU). These words detail how Yeshua, who is the Word and who is God, became flesh. We should be aware that as much as Yeshua being the Word involves His Divine nature and unity with the Father—it also concerns how Yeshua embodied the Scriptures physically in His words, actions, and deeds.
Hebraically, the Word of God is synonymous to the Torah or Law of God. The following passages from the Tanach (OT) equate God’s Word with His Torah or Law:
“And many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways and that we may walk in His paths.’ For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:3, NASU).
“Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble and dry grass collapses into the flame, so their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 5:24, NASU).
“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (Isaiah 8:20, NASU).
“Many nations will come and say, ‘Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.’ For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Micah 4:2, NASU).
These passages each equate God’s Word with being His Torah. By saying that Yeshua is the Torah made flesh, Messianic teachers are communicating that Yeshua embodied the Torah’s commandments in His teachings and actions, and thus in essence, in everything concerning Him.[1]
NOTES
[1] For a further review, consult the Today’s McKee Moment from 02 July 2022, “What Does Yeshua as ‘Torah Made Flesh’ Mean to You?”, accessible via <youtube.com/MessianicApologetics>.
