E4
We are to be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, proclaimers of the Good News, and a light to the Gentiles.
Category: Covenant Responsibilities
Type: Positive
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Everyone
Literal Application: mandated, unauthorized
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Detailed codes: GFu - Gentile female, unauthorized | GMu - Gentile male, unauthorized | JFm - Jewish female, mandated | JMm - Jewish male, mandated | KFm - K'rovat Yisrael female, mandated | KMm - K'rov Yisrael male, mandated
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
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Acts 1:3-8
- Acts 13:46-48
- Acts 26:19-23
- Galatians 3:6-9
- Mark 16:14-16
- Matthew 28:16-20
- Romans 3:1-2
Key OT Scriptures
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Deuteronomy 23:8-9
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Exodus 19:1-8
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Genesis 17:4-16
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Isaiah 42:6-7
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Isaiah 49:5-6
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Isaiah 60:1-3
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Leviticus 12:2-3
Supportive NT Scriptures
- Matthew 10:5-8
Supportive OT Scriptures
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Genesis 12:2-3
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Genesis 13:14-17
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Genesis 17:1-8
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Genesis 17:18-21
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Genesis 26:1-5
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Genesis 28:10-15
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Isaiah 2:1-4
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Isaiah 19:24-25
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Leviticus 19:33-34
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
The designation of Israel to be a "kingdom of priests" and a "nation set apart" originated with the covenant that God made with Abraham. It was renewed through Isaac and again through Jacob, and came into fullness with the covenant that God made with the Israelites at Mount Sinai. We call the covenant with Abraham "the Abrahamic Covenant," and the one at Mount Sinai, "the Mosaic Covenant". Although the Mosaic Covenant was given to Israel, its ultimate purpose was not only to benefit Israel, but rather that, through Israel functioning as a kingdom of priests, the rest of the world (i.e. the Gentile nations) would be blessed. God's plan was (and still is) to bring His Word to the Jew first, and the Jew to bring it to the Gentile. It doesn't always work out that way, but that is the overall plan. Edom, Assyria, and ancient Egypt have a special role in that plan as being examples of the nations of the world that do not know God. The Israelites of old had reason to despise these three in particular. Esau (the patriarch of the Edomites) showed disdain for his birthright by selling it to his brother Jacob, and he later hated his brother for it ( Genesis 27:41 ). At one point in history, Assyria (Iran today) subjugated Edom (which became an Assyrian vassal state), and captured and subjugated the Israelites of ancient Samaria. Both Edom and Assyria were, therefore, enemies of Israel at one time, and Egypt became an enemy of ancient Israel as well. Although Egypt first sheltered and provided sustenance for the Israelites, it later oppressed and enslaved them. What is remarkable considering what has transpired, is that the Mosaic Scriptures name all three as blessed nations, and though they (the three nations) and their descendants may hate us and hate God's ways even today, we are, nevertheless, to bring the "Good News" of Yeshua to them with love and with the hope and expectation that some will receive it. In that way and through our prayers and our example of being a servant people devoted to loving God and neighbor, the Jewish people are uniquely commissioned by God to be a light to their own ("the lost sheep of the house of Israel") first, and then to the Gentile nations of the world.
Rabbi Daniel Juster
In regard to Assyria and Egypt: Despite the fact that Israel had to struggle with these two empires throughout its history, their people will nevertheless come to embrace the God of Israel and be one with the Jewish people, as the rest of the nations also come to the knowledge of God ( Isaiah 2:1-4 , supra).
Classical commentators
Maimonides and HaChinuch wrote mitzvot stating that we are not to exclude the descendants of Esau and of the Egyptians from full membership in our Jewish communities after they have become proselytes; Meir did not write on the subject. All three commentators wrote mitzvot requiring b'rit milah for Jews.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Classical sources
Maimonides
Maimonides (Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, 12th century) organized all 613 Torah commandments into a structured list. These linked items show where this Law of Messiah commandment overlaps with that classical framework.
Meir of Rothenburg
Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg (13th century, Germany) was a leading Talmudic authority. These reference numbers link this commandment to his halachic rulings.
MP47, MP47
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2