A New Commandment? What?

Some within Christendom uses John 13:34 of the KJV as a justification or excuse for not following the Torah. They feel that "love is the fulfilling of the law" and that there is no need to walk in the Torah.

KJV

Joh 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

But is this what Yahushua really saying?

 

Firstly we must understand that Yahushua is Mashiach, and a Rabbi with Authority or Smicha (also spelled Smikhah). Smikhah is the authority/anointing to interpret, explain and apply Torah.

 Remember that Yahushua said that He did not come to destroy Torah, but to fulfill it? (Matthew 5:17). To fulfill it is to fill it up to proper interpretation and people of that day knew that this is one of the signs and assignments of HaMashiach. See Matthew Chapter 5-7 were Yahushua was properly applying Torah. After He ended His teaching in Matthew 7, notice how the people responded in verse 28-29....

Mat 7:28 And it came to be, when Yahushua had ended these words, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

Mat 7:29 for He was teaching them as one possessing authority, and not as the scribes

Also, see the woman at the well in John Chapter 4

Joh 4:22 "You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, because the deliverance is of the Yehuḏim.

Joh 4:23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father also does seek such to worship Him.

 Joh 4:24 "Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship Him need to worship in spirit and truth."

 Joh 4:25 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming, the One who is called Anointed. When that One comes, He shall announce to us all."

(announce in verse 25 is another way of saying "teach us Torah accurately and with proper interpretation and application")

Secondly we must keep in mind that Yahushua will only speak what YAH is saying, and has already said. See Deut 18:15-18

Deu 18:15 "יהוה your Elohim shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brothers. Listen to Him,

Deu 18:16 according to all you asked of יהוה your Elohim in Ḥorĕḇ in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of יהוה my Elohim, nor let me see this great fire any more, lest I die.’

Deu 18:17 "And יהוה said to me, ‘What they have spoken is good.

Deu 18:18 ‘I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.

 A closer examination of John/Yohanan 13:34-35 from the KJV in parallel to the ISR

KJV----

Joh 13:33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

ISR----

Joh 13:34 "A renewed command I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Joh 13:35 "By this shall all know that you are My taught ones, if you have love for one another.

What Yahushua is actually doing is using Smikhah to interpret Leviticus 19:18

Lev 19:18 ‘Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am יהוה.

When comparing Leviticus 19:18 with John 13:33-34, you'll see that by using Smikhah Yahushua applied the phrase "as I have loved you" to an existing Mitzvah/Commandment.

So it's not a new as in a replacement Mitzvah/Commandment- but new as in regenerated and refreshed for the purpose of bringing out proper interpretation and application

Now let's look at the phrase "love is the fulfilling of the law"

KJV

Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

ISR

Rom 13:10 Love does no evil to a neighbour. Therefore, love is completion of the Torah.

This 13th chapter is focusing on how we deal and relate to each other and mankind in general. It is not an endorsement to remove Torah keeping; but to highlight a portion of the Ten Words in Exodus/Shemot 20; specifically, our love toward each other. See Romans 13:8-9

Rom 13:8 Owe no one any matter except to love one another, for he who loves another has filled the Torah.

Rom 13:9 For this, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other command, is summed up in this word, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."

So when applying the Covenant appropriately - causes us to live and love appropriately

Shalom