Knowing that Jesus was a Jew and quoted the torah many times Himself, should we as Christians also be listening to rabbis and the Torah?
The Torah, better known as the first five books of the Bible; Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, was given to Moses through divine intervention from God. It is often referred to as the Law of Moses.
The Bible teaches plainly that a Christian is not under the Law of Moses. The Law was given to Israel as part of a covenant extended only to Israel. While all men are transgressors of the perfect and holy Law of God, only one group of people on earth were ever commanded by God to live according to that Law. Although, Jesus was a Jewish man and quoted the Torah, this cannot be our reason to study these books, much less from someone who is not a believer in Christ.
Instead, we should familiarize ourselves with the teachings of the Torah in order to know Christ more intimately. Genesis is foundational in the lives of believers today so that we may understand what we ourselves believe and why.
Many books of the New Testament refer back to the Torah as a means to further explain a point being made. For example:
MATT. 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Jesus, came to fulfill the Law of Moses, not to blot it out. Therefore, as we take on the task of studying scripture, it is wise to seek the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding in conjunction with solid commentary from sound Bible teachers proclaiming truth, not those who reject Messiah as Lord and Savior.
