1. Overview—Messiah’s call:

• He sets us free from bondage
• Invites us to choose a new Master
• Invites us to take His yoke upon us, and learn of Him
• Invites us to walk in the Way of the Bondservant
• Invites us to become Betrothed to Him
• Invites us to enter in to the Marriage Covenant with Him

2. Intro

Statements:

a. We are first set free from the yoke of bondage (Micah 6:4; Romans 6:5-7)

For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. (Micah 6:4)

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. (Romans 6:5-7)

b. We are then called to take upon us Messiah’s yoke (of bondage) (Matthew 11:29-30; 1Corinthians 7:22)

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. (1Corinthians 7:22)

Questions:

• What do these statements mean?
• What is the Torah basis for these statements?
• How are these statements implemented in New covenant life?

In order to understand the Everlasting (New) Covenant, we must first understand how Torah forms the basis of the New Covenant.

3. The Everlasting (New) Covenant: An Overview

Yah’s Covenant perspective: Babylon vs. Scripture
a. Demo: Perspective
b. Demo: Covenant Illustration–stack of Covenant Stones

• Babylon: Teaches 2 separate stacks
• Scripture: Teaches only 1 stack

c. The New and Everlasting Covenant:

• Only one Covenant, having many new layers added over time (Psalms 105:8-10; Heb 13:20)

He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. 9 Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; 10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: (Psalms 105:8-10)

• eternal

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:33)

• sealed by Yahushua’s Blood

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Heb 13:20)

• based on foundation of previous Covenants

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (2Co 1:20)

• The New supplants the Old

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (Heb 8:13)

[This Bible statement is in agreement with modern Contract language – T&C (Terms & Conditions); Addenda; Performance Clauses]

• a better Covenant (Heb 8:6; Heb 12:24)

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Hebrews 12:24)

• a Betrothal Agreement (Ex 24:3; Isaiah 54:5)

And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words. (Exodus 24:6-8)

For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isaiah 54:5)

• The Ketubah (The Terms and Conditions of the Marriage Betrothal) –> The Torah (Ex 24:7)

And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. (Exodus 24:7)

• based on Love — not compulsion under threat of death! (Song 8:6)

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as [stronger than] death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. (Song of Songs 8:6)

• We must look for the Torah basis for the New Covenant!

4. The Torah of the Freed Bondservant

• It is unlawful to compel a freed bond servant to serve again (Leviticus 25:39;

And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: (Leviticus 25:39)

• The freed bond servant is now free to choose; if he loves his Master, may now choose to serve his master forever (Exodus 21:5-6)

“And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.” (Exodus 21:5-6)

• Compelling a freed bond servant incurs Yahuweh’s wrath (Jeremiah 34:8-11, 13-17)

This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother. 10 Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go. 11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids. (Jeremiah 34:8-11)

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying, 14 At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. 15 And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: 16 But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids. 17 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me… I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth…[I will bring YOU into bondage…]. (Jeremiah 34:13-17)

5. The Two ‘Yokes of Bondage’ in Scripture

• Yahuweh first removes the yoke of bondage (Hosea 11:4):

“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.” (Hosea 11:4)

• Yahuweh encourages a “new” yoke (of bondage) (Ezekiel 20:37; (Matthew 11:29-30)

“And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant…” (Ezekiel 20:37)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light…” (Matthew 11:29-30)

• After the bond servant is set free, any “new” yoke to serve his Master is to be voluntary, based on love:

“And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.” (Exodus 21:5-6)

6. The Torah of the Freed Servant in the New Covenant

• We have been set free from the yoke of bondage of Sin
• We are no longer ‘compelled’ under threat of death to keep His Commandments
• We are now free to choose a new Master
• We are free to choose to become ‘yoked’ to Him, (yoked in the bondage of the Marriage covenant), to become His bond-servants, and to serve Him forever.
• We are invited to take the yoke (of bondage) to Messiah in a New Covenant
• The New Covenant is not one of compulsion, but of voluntary servitude.
• Love can not exist in an atmosphere of compulsion, but only where there is a free choice. And so to love Him, is to choose to obey His commandments.
• Forms the basis of New Covenant life

7. Acts Chapter 15: The Council’s Decision

But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. (Acts 15:5-6)

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; 9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:7-11)

“And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me…” (Acts 15:13)

“…Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.” (Acts 15:19-21)

“Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment…” (Acts 15:24)

“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” (Acts 15:28-29)

• Upholds the underlying Torah basis of non-compulsion of the freed bondservant
• Upholds the principle of ‘One Law’ for both Jew and Gentile

8. The New Testament Writings: a Summary

• Presents an example of how the Torah is to be lived out in daily life, under the present (and future) Kingdom and rulership of Messiah
• Reveals the living testimony of how love is expressed in voluntary servitude