25. Isn't Torah bondage? Hasn't Christ freed us from that heavy yoke?

For atheists Christianity is 'bondage' because they don't understand how Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) liberates them and they don't want to be bound my moral or other regulations. For lawless (antinomian) Christian who don't understanhd the Torah or what it is for it is also 'bondage'. The commandments or mitzvot only become bondage if we don't understand them or if we obey them for the wrong reasons. If a person is trying to earn his salvation or obtain right-standing with Yahweh through obeying the commandments then he is obeying for the wrong reasons, and Torah does indeed become a frustrating yoke of bondage. The Torah is the standard that Yahweh has given His redeemed people to show them how to live and worship in unity and according to the divine pattern (Dt.4:5ff; Rom.3:31). When the Torah is properly understood and implemented, is ceases to be a yoke of bondage and instead becomes a source of divine joy and blessings. If you are in any doubt as to Yahweh's purpose for Torah, please read Psalm 119. In this the longest psalm, the positive attitude that Yahweh's people should have towards Torah is clearly expounded and revealed.

Many erroneously believe that Yah'shua (Jesus) did away with the Torah. This error is fully exposed by Yah'shua Himself who in no uncertain terms - to assure His followers and to expose the lies of His opponents - stated that He had not come away to destroy or dismiss the Torah but to complete, fill up or fulfil it. He then went on to warn that any believer who taught against it would become least in the Kingdom of Heaven, and that those who taught and lived it would become great (Mt.5:17-19). This is the cue for all true believers and is a hallmark of our Messianism.

Whilst Yah'shua upgraded some of Torah in the New Covenant and abolished the ceremonial law and its priesthood which were pointers to Himself, He not only affirmed but positively commanded that the moral and ethical Torah be taught even more rigorously. He taught His disciples to exceed even the righteousness of the religious hypocrites of His day, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Torah Teachers (Scribes).

There are many who use the excuse of "bondage" not to obey the commandments. To these Yah'shua says: Repent and understand their true purpose while you live them in faith and obedience.