The Book of the Law and the Book of the Covenant

I’ve heard this concept presented a number of times over the last several years, and I’ve not really spent much time looking into it.
As always, my goal is to simply pass my test:
Deuteronomy 13:3-4
“…for Yahweh your Elohim is testing you to know whether you love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after Yahweh your Elohim and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

This simple idea should be the goal of every person who wants to be in the Kingdom of Heaven one day…
Ecclesiastes tells us the purpose of mankind:
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.

All of my basic doctrine beliefs and behaviors are based on this concept:
If Yahweh said it, then I do my best to understand and obey.
If Yeshua said it, then I do my best to understand and obey.

For many centuries, the Roman Catholic church and her many ‘daughters’ [40,000 plus Christian denominations] have presented to humanity the idea that the Old Testament Law is obsolete and done away with.
We can walk into any church and ask the leader there to show us in scripture that the law is done away with — and they will do exactly that.
They will show us a series of verses that, when isolated from the rest of scripture, will prove that the Law is very much done away with.
There is just one problem with this idea (and it is a very big problem).
We have to depart from the things Yahweh said in order to believe this idea.
We have to depart from the things Yeshua Messiah said to believe this idea.
Just because a concept can be developed and “proven” by quoting scriptures does not make it true.  It needs to line up with the whole of scripture, and it needs to line up with the Words of Yahweh (God) and the Words of Yeshua (Jesus).
Don’t forget what Yahweh said in Deuteronomy 13.
He is testing us.
Are we able to pass this test?
He said His perfect Law is forever, and that it is for both the native born Hebrew and for the strangers among them.
Do we believe Him?
Do we listen to His voice?
Or do we depart from it?
Yeshua Messiah said He did not come to abolish the Law or the prophets.
Do we believe Him?
Do we listen to His voice?
Or do we depart from it?
I have made the decision for myself and my family that we will cling to the words of Yahweh and the words of Messiah.
We will not depart from them, even if most people think we are foolish for doing so.

Within the Torah community, there is a doctrine being taught that the Torah instructions of Yahweh are separated into the Book of the Covenant and the Book of the Law.
The idea is that the Book of the Covenant is comprised of the stone tablets that Yahweh wrote with His own finger — the Ten Words or the Ten Commandments.
This idea says the remainder of the Torah [Old Testament Law] is given as a punishment to Israel because of their Golden Calf incident.  They say the Book of the Law is only applicable to the rebellious first generation of the Exodus.  And as such, they say the Book of the Law is obsolete and no longer applicable.
Here is how they break it down:
Genesis 1:1 thru Exodus 24:8 is the Book of the Covenant, and is to be obeyed forever.
Exodus 24:9 to Deuteronomy 34:12 is the Book of the Law and is no longer applicable.

If this is true, it means that the majority of Yahweh’s commands and instructions are obsolete and need not be obeyed today.
Before we look at scripture, does this pass the ‘sniff test’?
Does this even make sense?
I say no right off the bat, without even looking into it.

We are told countless times to “obey all that I have commanded” as spoken by Yahweh.
Why would He tell us to obey all that He has commanded if we are not supposed to obey all that He commanded?
Even Yeshua Messiah said the same…
In Matthew 23, we are told to obey all that is stated from the Seat of Moses.  A little research will show that the Torah was read word for word from the Seat of Moses — Yeshua says to do it.  In addition, Yeshua Messiah tells us how to make disciples — “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded.”  What did Yeshua teach and command?  He says His teaching is not His own, but the Father’s who sent Him.  He taught the same thing the Father taught — to obey the Torah.  And specifically, to obey ALL the Torah.
Matthew 23:1-3
1Then יהושע spoke to the crowds and to His taught ones,
2saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Mosheh.
3Therefore, whatever they say to you to guard, guard and do. 

No, this obsolete Book of the Law does not pass the sniff test.
It already requires us to ignore the words of Yahweh and Yeshua.

Let’s take a look at some of the information in the “Book of the Law”, which some believe is obsolete:

Exodus 25 thru Exodus 31 gives details about the Dwelling Place of Yahweh and its appointments (the Tabernacle), as well as the priestly garments and instructions.  There are some problematic words in these chapters having to do with:
— a law forever to their generations
— continually
— a law forever to him, and to his seed after him.
— And the priesthood shall be theirs for an everlasting law. So you shall ordain Aharon and his sons.
— “And it shall be from the children of Yisra’ĕl for Aharon and his sons by a law forever…”
— a continual incense before יהוה throughout your generations.
— once a year he makes atonement upon it throughout your generations.
— And it shall be a law forever to them, to him and his seed throughout their generations.”
— ‘This is a set-apart anointing oil to Me throughout your generations.

Exodus 27:21
21“In the Tent of Appointment, outside the veil which is before the Witness, Aharon and his sons are to tend it from evening until morning before יהוה – a law forever to their generations, from the children of Yisra’ĕl.

Exodus 28:29-30, 43
29“And Aharon shall bear the names of the sons of Yisra’ĕl on the breastplate of right-ruling over his heart, when he goes into the set-apart place, for a remembrance before יהוה, continually.
30“And into the breastplate of right-ruling you shall put the Urim and the Tummim, and they shall be on the heart of Aharon when he goes in before יהוה. And Aharon shall bear the right-ruling of the children of Yisra’ĕl on his heart before יהוה, continually.

43“And they shall be on Aharon and on his sons when they come into the Tent of Appointment, or when they come near the slaughter-place to attend in the Set-apart Place, so that they do not bear crookedness and die – a law forever to him, and to his seed after him.

Exodus 29:8-9, 28
8Then you shall bring his sons and put long shirts on them,” 9and shall gird them with girdles – Aharon and his sons – and put the turbans on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs for an everlasting law. So you shall ordain Aharon and his sons.

28“And it shall be from the children of Yisra’ĕl for Aharon and his sons by a law forever, for it is a contribution. And it is a contribution from the children of Yisra’ĕl from the slaughters of their peace offerings – their contribution to יהוה.

Exodus 30:8, 10, 21, 31
8“And when Aharon lights the lamps between the evenings, he shall burn incense on it – a continual incense before יהוה throughout your generations.

10“And Aharon shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement – once a year he makes atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most set-apart to יהוה.”

21“And they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a law forever to them, to him and his seed throughout their generations.”

31“And speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘This is a set-apart anointing oil to Me throughout your generations.

Without even digging too much, we have already debunked this idea using direct quotes of Yahweh.
If Yahweh said it, then we know it is truth.
If Yahweh said things in the Book of the Law and called them forever, everlasting, continual, and throughout their generations, then we must believe what He says.
The book of the law is not added instructions just for the rebellious first generation of the Exodus.  Again, from Exodus 30:21 we see this statement made by Yahweh:
“…to him and his seed throughout their generations.”
We need not go any further to debunk this idea, but let us do so anyway, just to be sure.

Let us look at some more instructions from Yahweh, contained within the ‘so-called-obsolete’ Book of the Law:
Exodus 34
— do not make covenants with the Nations
— do not bow down to other mighty ones (other gods) for יהוה is a jealous El
— do not take daughters from the Nations as wives for you sons
— Do not make a carved mighty one for yourselves.
— Keep the feast day of Unleavened Bread
— All first born, man and beast, belong to Yahweh
— Keep the Sabbath
— Keep the feast day of Shavuot
— Instructions for the feast day of Passover
Do these instructions sound temporary? No, I don’t think so…

Let’s take a look at Leviticus:
Leviticus 1-5 give instructions for various types of offerings.
We see evidence of this continuing for many centuries and many generations throughout the scriptures, so these instructions are not just for the first generation of the Exodus.
We see this in Leviticus 3:17
17 ‘This shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings: you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’
Perpetual.
Throughout your generations.

Leviticus 6 gives us instructions about lying to our neighbor for personal gain.
Do we think this instruction is obsolete?
Can we now do this?
We see this in Leviticus 6:18
It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings made by fire to the Lord.
Does that sound temporary and obsolete?

Leviticus 11 tells us about clean animals permitted for food, and unclean animals which are not food.
We see in Isaiah 66 that those eating unclean animals in the Millennial Reign (still in the future) will be destroyed.
Does this instruction sound temporary and obsolete?
Nope.

In Leviticus 16:29, 31, 34 we see this instruction regarding the feast day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement:
29And this shall be for you a law forever: In the seventh new chodesh, on the tenth day of the new chodesh, you afflict your beings, and do no work, the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. 31“It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you shall afflict your beings – a law forever.  34“And this shall be for you a law forever, to make atonement for the children of Yisra’ĕl, for all their sins, once a year.” And he did as יהוה commanded Mosheh.
Does this sound temporary and obsolete?
Nope.

Leviticus 17 Instructions:
7And let them no longer slaughter their slaughterings to demons, after whom they whored. This is a law forever for them throughout their generations.”
Are we now allowed to make sacrifices to demons, and whore after them?
Nope, I don’t think so.

Leviticus 18 tells us this:
4‘Do My right-rulings and guard My laws, to walk in them. I am יהוה your Elohim. 5‘And you shall guard My laws and My right-rulings, which a man does and lives by them. I am יהוה.
Shall we stop doing His laws, commands, instructions, right-rulings, and statutes?
Or shall we keep doing them and so live?

Leviticus 18 tells us not to commit incest.
Are we to believe incest is now allowed, since this instruction was temporary and obsolete, only applying to the rebellious first generation of the Exodus?
Nope.

Leviticus 18 tells us this:
20‘And do not have intercourse with the wife of your neighbor, to defile yourself with her.
Are we now allowed to have sex with our neighbor’s wife?
Nope, I do not believe so.

And we get this in Leviticus 18
21‘And do not give any of your offspring to pass through to Moleḵ. And do not profane the Name of your Elohim. I am יהוה.
Are we now allowed to sacrifice our children to false gods?
No, I do not think this instruction is temporary nor obsolete.
What about this one, also in chapter 18?
22‘And do not lie with a male as with a woman, it is an abomination.
Or this:
23‘And do not have intercourse with any beast, to defile yourself with it. And a woman does not stand before a beast to mate with it, it is a perversion.
Are homosexuality and beastiality now allowed?
Were these temporary and obsolete commands, only applying to the rebellious first generation of the Exodus?
Nope.

With regard to these acts of sexual immorality, Yahweh ends Leviticus 18 with this statement:
30‘And you shall guard My Charge, so as not to do any of these abominable laws which were done before you, so as not to defile yourselves by them. I am יהוה your Elohim.’ ”
Is this obsolete?
Are we now allowed to defile ourselves?
Yeshua (Jesus) can answer this for us.
Is יהוה no longer our Elohim?

Let’s look at a direct quote of Yeshua Messiah, far in the future. He is speaking of who will NOT be in His Kingdom of Heaven:
Revelation 22:15
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Hmmm, it sounds to me like the commands given in Leviticus 18 are serious and forever.  People who break these commands about sexual immorality are not allowed into the Kingdom.
This does not sound temporary to me, nor obsolete.

On to Leviticus 19
10‘And do not glean your vineyard or gather every grape of your vineyard, leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am יהוה your Elohim.
Are we no longer allowed to help the poor?
11‘Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another.
Are we now allowed to steal and lie, and to deceive one another?
Nope, I don’t think so.

12‘And do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your Elohim. I am יהוה.
Can we now profane the name of Yahweh?
Nope, I would not recommend it.

14‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling-block before the blind, but fear your Elohim. I am יהוה.
Are we now allowed to play tricks on the deaf and the blind, to injure and ridicule them?
No, probably not.

29‘Do not profane your daughter by making her a whore, so that the land does not whore, and the land becomes filled with wickedness.
Shall we force our daughters into prostitution?
I’m gonna go ahead and say no to this one.

31‘Do not turn to mediums, and do not seek after spiritists to be defiled by them. I am יהוה your Elohim.
Shall we engage in witchcraft and divination?
No, I don’t believe this is allowed now.

35‘Do no unrighteousness in right-ruling, in measurement of length, in weight, or in measuring liquids.
36‘Have right scales, right weights, a right ĕphah, and a right hin. I am יהוה your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim.
If we are merchants, are we now allowed to cheat our customers?
Nope, I’m going to avoid that…

Leviticus 20
In case we missed it the first time, this chapter reiterates that we are not to sacrifice our children to false gods, and we are not to commit incest, beastiality, nor other sexually immoral actions. We are not to eat unclean animals, we are not to perform witchcraft.

Leviticus 23 gives us details pertaining to Yah’s feast days, His appointed times.
Are these obsolete?
No, they are not.

Leviticus 24 gives us more forever, everlasting, and throughout their generations statements.
This is not obsolete.

I won’t go into this level of detail for Numbers and Deuteronomy, but let’s take a quick look at Numbers 15 regarding the making and wearing of tzitzits:
37And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
38Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them to make tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue cord in the tzitzit of the corners.
39And it shall be to you for a tzitzit, and you shall see it, and shall remember all the commands of יהוה and shall do them, and not search after your own heart and your own eyes after which you went whoring, 40so that you remember, and shall do all My commands, and be set-apart unto your Elohim.

A man had just died for sinning with a high-hand against Yahweh.
This command is then given in mercy, intended to be helpful to those in covenant with Yah.
We are told to:
— remember ALL of the commands of הוה
— and shall do them
— throughout their generations

Does this sound like a command given only to the rebellious first generation of the Exodus, which is now obsolete and no longer in effect?
No, it sounds pretty permanent to me.
Are we now allowed to forget Yah’s commands and go whoring after the sinful desires of our own hearts?  No, I’m going to avoid that.


Let’s set all of this aside for a moment.
Let’s assume I’m wrong about every single thing so far.
Let’s assume that the Book of the Law (Exo 24:9 to Deut 34:12) is obsolete.
Let’s assume this very large chunk of the Torah Instructions is only for the first rebellious generation of the Exodus.

What do we do with this?
Deuteronomy 29:10-15
10“All of you are standing today before יהוה your Elohim: your leaders, your tribes, your elders and your officers, all the men of Yisra’ĕl,
11your little ones, your wives, and your sojourner who is in the midst of your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water,
12so that you should enter into covenant with יהוה your Elohim, and into His oath, which יהוה your Elohim makes with you today,
13in order to establish you today as a people for Himself, and He Himself be your Elohim, as He has spoken to you, and as He has sworn to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya‛aqoḇ.
14And not with you alone I am making this covenant and this oath,”
15but with him who stands here with us today before יהוה our Elohim, as well as with him who is not here with us today.

Much of this Book of the Covenant/Law doctrine is based on the idea that the nation of Israel was only held to the contract [covenant] made at Mount Sinai, which was blood ratified in Exodus 24.
This idea requires us to believe the remainder of the Torah is given as punishment to the rebellious first generation of Israel after the Golden Calf incident.

EVEN IF WE BELIEVE ALL OF THIS TO BE TRUE—–
We see a new covenant made with Israel in Deuteronomy 24.
This new covenant is made with the native born Hebrews, as well as the strangers among them.
This new covenant is made with those standing there that day, as well as those not standing there [future generations].
Even if we believe the Book of the Law/Book of the Covenant division and theory, a new covenant is made with the people and their future generations.
And the gist of it?
Deuteronomy 29:29
29“The secret matters belong to יהוה our Elohim, but what is revealed belongs to us and to our children forever, to do all the Words of this Torah.
They are not expected to know and understand everything.
They are simply expected to do all the words of this Torah.
Not some of it, but all of it.

Yahweh gives us a glimpse into the future in Deuteronomy 29 and 30, telling us about how Israel would turn their backs on Him and serve other false gods. They will be divorced from the covenant (Jeremiah 3:8) and scattered among all the nations of the earth.
And then afterwards, we see this in Deuteronomy 30 speaking of a far future generation of people who return to the Torah (today this is happening!):

1“And it shall be, when all these words come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you shall bring them back to your heart among all the nations where יהוה your Elohim drives you,
2and shall turn back to יהוה your Elohim and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your being, you and your children,
3then יהוה your Elohim shall turn back your captivity, and shall have compassion on you, and He shall turn back and gather you from all the peoples where יהוה your Elohim has scattered you.
4“If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under the heavens, from there יהוה your Elohim does gather you, and from there He does take you.
5“And יהוה your Elohim shall bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. And He shall do good to you, and increase you more than your fathers.
6“And יהוה your Elohim shall circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might live,
7and יהוה your Elohim shall put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, who persecuted you.
8“And you shall turn back and obey the voice of יהוה and do all His commands which I command you today.
9“And יהוה your Elohim shall make you have excess in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground for good. For יהוה turns back to rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
10if you obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim, to guard His commands and His laws which are written in this Book of the Torah, if you turn back to יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being.
11“For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off.
12“It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’
13Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ ”
14“For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it.
15See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil,”
16in that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His right-rulings. And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land which you go to possess.

Yahweh makes it clear that today’s generation is to return to His Torah instructions.
Not the Book of the Covenant, but all that He has commanded, and it specifically states the Book of the Torah, not the Book of the Covenant.

Just prior to his death, Moses gives this advice to the people in Deuteronomy 31
10And Mosheh commanded them, saying, “At the end of seven years, at the appointed time, the year of release, at the Festival of Sukkot,
11when all Yisra’ĕl comes to appear before יהוה your Elohim in the place which He chooses, read this Torah before all Yisra’ĕl in their hearing.
12“Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your sojourner who is within your gates, so that they hear, and so that they learn to fear יהוה your Elohim and guard to do all the Words of this Torah.
They are warned that in the future they are to read the entire Torah every seven years at the feast day of Sukkot. It is to include young and old, both the Hebrews and the strangers among them [everyone who wants to be in covenant with Yahweh]. 
Why is this to be done?
— so that they hear [the Torah]
— so they learn
— to fear Yahweh our Elohim
— to guard
— to do ALL the Words of this Torah

There are countless scriptures throughout the writings of the prophets that warn us to keep all that Yahweh commanded.
I won’t go through all of them, but here is one such example in the very first book after the Torah:
Joshua 1:7-9
7“Only be strong and very courageous, to guard to do according to all the Torah which Mosheh My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it right or left, so that you act wisely wherever you go.
What do we learn?
— Be strong
— Be courageous
— To guard
— and to do
— ACCORDING TO ALL THE TORAH
— To not turn right or left
— SO that you may act wisely
8“Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely.
What do we learn?
— Do not let
— this Book of Torah
— Depart from your mouth
— Meditate on it day and night
— so that you guard
— to do
— ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT.
— To be prosperous and wise
9“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged, for יהוה your Elohim is with you wherever you go.”
What do we learn?
— REMINDER – Have I not commanded?
— Be strong and courageous
— Do not be afraid or discouraged
— Yahweh is with us.

Let’s again assume I am wrong about everything.
Let’s again assume that the Book of the Covenant is in effect, and the Book of the Law is not in effect.
Let’s take a look at some direct quotes of Yeshua Messiah:

Matthew 22:34-40
34But the Pharisees, having heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, were gathered together,
35and one of them, one learned in the Torah, did question, trying Him, and saying,
36Teacher, which is the great command in the Torah?
37And יהושע said to him, “‘You shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’
38“This is the first and great command.
39And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40On these two commands hang all the Torah and the Prophets.

Messiah is being tested, as the Pharisees are trying to ‘trip Him up’.
They asked about the Torah.
Not the Book of the Covenant, but the whole Torah.
What is the greatest commandment in the Torah?
How did Yeshua answer?
Did He quote from the Book of the Covenant?
Did Messiah keep His answer confined to the information held in Genesis 1:1 to Exodus 24:8?
No, He did not.
He quoted Deuteronomy 6:5
5“And you shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.’

If Deuteronomy 6 is part of the obsolete Book of the Law, then why is Yeshua Messiah quoting it, saying that it is the greatest command?
This tells me it is not obsolete, and is still in effect.
What did Yeshua say about the second greatest command in the Torah?
Again, He quoted from the section of Torah that is supposed to be obsolete and no longer applicable.
He quoted Leviticus 19:18
And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am יהוה.
Why is Yeshua Messiah quoting from obsolete information, and even saying these concepts are the greatest?
He is not.
He is quoting from the Words of יהוה your Elohim, Words that He said are forever and for all people.

Let’s wrap things up here…
If you have been swayed by the idea that the “Book of the Law” is obsolete and not in effect, please study this out for yourself.
I’ve given you a good start here in this article, but do not take my word for anything.
Study and show yourself approved.
Know, recognize, listen to, and obey the Voice of Yahweh and the Voice of Yeshua Messiah.
Cling to your Elohim!!
Do not depart from Him.

Men have been developing doctrine based on isolating a few scriptures, out of context with the rest of Scripture, since Yeshua’s days on this earth.  It does not matter if they can string together a few scriptures and make complete logical sense of an idea.
If the idea requires you to deviate from the Words of Yahweh, then simply say no.
Walk away.
Take a stand for your Creator and your Savior.
Listen to their Voices.
Be sure to pass your test:
Deuteronomy 13:3-4
“…for Yahweh your Elohim is testing you to know whether you love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after Yahweh your Elohim and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.”

There are many more scriptures that debunk this concept and this doctrine.
Please do not be deceived by this, allowing yourself to stop listening to Yahweh’s voice.
Do not be deceived into failing your test.
Do not turn away from doing His commandments.
Pray about this, and spend some time studying for yourself.
Do not look in the scriptures for ways to validate this idea/doctrine.
Look to see if this idea aligns with the Words of Yahweh.