WAKE-UP CALL: Part 5 – Come out of Babylon! HEAR THE WORD, UNDERSTAND IT and BEAR FRUIT – The IMPORTANCE of RIGHTEOUSNESS when in COVENANT with YHVH

21 November 2025

We are proceeding in our study on what Yeshua our Messiah explained in His PARABLE on the SOWER and the SEED in Matthew 13:1-23 (also read Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15). And we are still focusing on THOSE BELIEVERS WHO SUCCEED TO COME OUT OF BABYLON because they are able to:

HEAR the MESSAGE (the GOOD NEWS) of the KINGDOM of YHVH, UNDERSTAND it and BEAR FRUIT.

In the PARABLE of the SOWER told by Yeshua in Matthew 13:8 some SEEDS SOWED, fell into RICH SOIL and PRODUCED GRAIN, a HUNDRED or SIXTY or THIRTY TIMES as much as had been SOWN.  He then explained in verse 23 this means: “The SEED SOWN on RICH SOIL is the one who HEARS the MESSAGE, and UNDERSTANDS (comprehends, grasps, appreciates) it; such a person will SURELY BEAR FRUIT, a HUNDRED or SIXTY or THRITY TIMES what was sown.

We have spoken in our previous message on:

• The relevance of the PARABLE of the TALENTS (gifts, capabilities, abilities, skills) in Matthew 25:14-30 as well as Luke19:11-27 forming part of what we will be evaluated on during the SECOND COMING at the JUDGEMENT SEAT OF THE MESSIAH since ALL OF US RECEIVED GIFTS at birth, including a CALLING (mission, assignment) and GIFTS from the HOLY SPIRIT to enable us to BEAR FRUIT for the KINGDOM of YHVH our GOD.

• NOAH and LOT as examples of people WHO DID HEAR and UNDERSTOOD the WORD of YHVH and CHOSE TO OBEY IT and TO BEAR FRUIT.

• The REASONS for the DESTRUCTION of the EARTH in NOAH’s time and of the CITIES, SODOM and GEMORRAH during LOT’s time, since Yeshua our Messiah told us He will come in a time like that of Noah and Lot.

• The PROTOTYPES of people who were DESTROYED during the catastrophic events in Noah and Lot’s time and the SMALL REMNANT that were SAVED.

We saw in our study that BOTH NOAH and LOT, including their respective families, had been saved due to NOAH and LOT being considered by YHVH our God as RIGHTEOUS men.

So, today we are going to focus on what the WORD teaches us on RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The word RIGHTEOUSNESS means: virtuous/ honorable, morally good, justice/ fairness/ impartiality, decency, uprightness, blamelessness/ innocence/ incorruptibility/ purity/ honesty.

RIGHTOUSNESS is defined in the Nelsons’ Foundational Bible Dictionary as: conforming to the ethical and moral standards of God (the Father) and when we trust (have faith, belief) in Yeshua the Messiah, who paid the full price for our sins, God recons us as righteous.

In Matthew chapter 5, generally known as: “THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT” Yeshua our Messiah gives an INTERPRETATION of the RIGHTEOUSNESS the TORAH (the WORD of YHVH in Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments) DEMANDS.

He starts off with the SERMON giving the CONDITIONS for receiving SPECIFIC BLESSINGS.  In Matthew 5:6 He says: “How BLESSED (the Hebrew word used is “asher” meaning blessed, happy, fortunate) are those who HUNGER and THIRST for RIGHTEOUSNESS, for they will be filled.” In line with this we rea din Psalm 5:12 “For You YHVH BLESS the RIGHTEOUSS; You SURROUND them with FAVOR like a SHIELD.”

And in Matthew 5:17 to 19 Yeshua says: “Don’t think I have come to abolish (eliminate/ discard, eradicate/ remove/ wipe out, end) the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments) or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish, but to complete (to make full our understanding, to demonstrate obedience to it). Yes indeed (certainly, truly)! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud (the smallest letter in the Hebrew Alphabet) or a stroke will pass from the Torah – not until everything that must happen, has happened. So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvoth (commandments) and teaches others to do so, will be called the LEAST in the KINGDOM of HEAVEN. But whoever obeys them (the commandments in the Torah) and so teaches will be called GREAT in the KINGDOM of HEAVEN.” And then Yeshua specifically states in Matthew 5:20: “For I tell you that unless your RIGHTEOUSNESS (virtue, morality, uprightness, blamelessness/ innocence/ purity) is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers (also referred to as scribes) and Pharisees (one of the groups of the religious establishment in Yeshua’s time, the other group being the Sadducees), you will certainly (surely, definitely) not enter the KINGDOM of HEAVEN!”

The Complete Jewish Study Bible – Insight for Jews & Christians explains it as follows: These verses provide crucial insight into Yeshua’s understanding of  the TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments), and its meaning (importance). He is not cancelling (stopping, revoking, annulling/ dissolving) the TORAH; instead He is stating that HE CAME TO INTERPRET IT OCRRECTLY. Some translate the word used in Greek, namely telos as “fulfill” and understand it as Yeshua’s LIFE, or perhaps His DEATH, meant the termination of the LAW (the TORAH). Yet the word telos is used 37 times in the New Testament as “outcome”, “result” or “consummation” and only 5 times as “finish”, “cessation” or “termination”. Yeshua therefore came to AFFIRM the FULLNESS and TRUTH of the TORAH by TEACHING ALL of it in a way that is TRUE to its INTENDED MEANING so that HIS DICIPLES (His followers, and therefore believers) will know HOW to OBEY GOD the FATHER.

The Jewish Study Bible further explains what the TORAH is, namely: In COVENENTAL FAITHFULNESS, YHVH provided GUIDANCE and DIRECTION for HIS PEOPLE and through them, to ALL humankind. This INSTUCTION (meaning “the way to go”) of YHVH is known as the TORAH and is FOUNDATIONAL for an ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING of the REST of SCRIPTURE.

The TORAH of YHVH finds its ORIGIN (its source, foundation) in the ETERNAL ONE. He declared HIS COMMANDS to ISRAEL on Mount Sinai (please REMEMBER ISRAEL at that time, already consisted of many nations, including all twelve tribes of which the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were half Israeli and half Egyptian as well as a mixed multitude of people from other nations who went with them), and ISRAEL was to FOLLOW and TEACH HIS WAYS to others. YEHSUA the MESSIAH IS THE and LIVING WORD (TORAH), who EMBODIES (represents, personifies) the WILL of THE FATHER. The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD LEADS and GUIDES the FOLLOWERS of YESHUA into ALL TRUTH, ENABLING them to OBSERVE (comply with/ obey) GOD THE FATHER’s INSTRUCTIONS.

In Deuteronomy 6 Joshua (previously called Hosea the sun of Nun, but later his name was changed by Moses to Joshua was from the tribe of EPHRAIM according to Numbers 13:8 and 16) was appointed as the new leader of Israel and tasked to lead the people into the PROMISED LAND after Moses’ death, TEACHING the people the MITZVAH (COMMANDMENTS), the LAWS and RULINGS YHVH ordered him to teach the people to OBEY in the land that they were about to enter and poses. So that they and their children and grandchildren (therefore ALL GENERATIONS following them), will FEAR YHVH and OBEY HIM as long as they live.  And they are CAUTIONED (warned, counseled, encouraged, alerted) to: LISTEN and TAKE CARE to OBEY (submit, follow, observe/ DO IT), so that THINGS WILL GO WELL WITH THEM and THEY WILL INCREASE GREATLY in the LAND PROMISED TO THEM (Also read Deuteronomy 5:29).

And we then see THE NATURE OF THE COVENANT BETWEEN YHVH and ISRAEL (al twelve tribes, INCLUDING the TRIBES of EPHRAIM and MANASSAH that were half Egyptian and the multitude of people from other nations that were with them according to Exodus 12:38), in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 namely:

• Shema, Yisra’el! YHVH Eloheinu, YHVH echad! (Meaning: HEAR, ISRAEL! YHVH our GOD, YHVH IS ONE). In this BOLD STATEMENT ISRAEL is declaring, now and in future through every generation:, YHVH is the ONE TRUE GOD, as it is written in Zechariah 14:9 “On that day (the Day of the Second Coming of Yeshua the Messiah, this time as King) YHVH will be the ONLY ONE, and HIS NAME will be THE ONLY NAME”; and

• You are to LOVE YHVH your GOD with ALL your HEART (heart and MIND work together as one, and therefore your WHOLE MIND and WHOLE HEART should be committed ONLY to HIM, being wholehearted/ committed and single-minded/ dedicated ONLY TO HIM), ALL your BEING and ALL your RESOURCES (the NIV says: “LOVE YHVH your God with ALL your HEART and with ALL your SOUL (mind/ thoughts) and with ALL your STRENGTH”).

• These WORDS, which I am ordering you TODAY, are to be ON YOUR HEART; and

• You are to TEACH them carefully (cautiously/ thoughtfully/ vigilantly, prudently, wisely) to your CHILDREN – talk about them when you sit at home, when you are travelling on the road, when you lie down (prior to going to sleep) and when you get up (arise in the morning); and

• Tie them on your hand as a sign (meaning, REMEMBER your hands are to DO in accordance to God’s COMANDMENTS), put them at the FRONT of a HEADBAND around your forehead (meaning, REMEMBER the COMMANDMENTS as if WRITTEN in your MIND to guide your THOUGHTS and EMOTIONS accordance to God’s COMANDMENTS). The PRIESTS had priestly clothing, including turbans around their heads with a little golden plate on the front saying: “Holy unto YHVH” meaning: “Set apart for YHVH” read Exodus 28:36-37, therefore REMEMBERING they BELONG to YHVH and should therefore DO HIS WILL and BE HOLY as HE IS HOLY, with other words, be in character LIKE HIM and SERVING HIM ONLY with their WHOLE MIND and HEART); and

• Write them (Abba Father’s COMMANDMENTS) on the DOOR FRAMES of your HOUSE (in your house, each room reminding you to DO HIS WORD in all of your HOUSE), and on your GATES (at the entry point leading to your house) REMEMBERING you and everyone living with you or visiting you that YOUR HOUSE BELONG to YHVH and is MANAGED in accordance to HIS WIL, AND HIS LAWS GOVERNS your HOUSE and the GROUNDS it stand on in accordance to what is ACCEPTABLE to YHVH your GOD.

Note: Believers are regarded as being made by Yeshua our Messiah kings and priests of YHVH our Father (read 1st Peter 2:9 and Revelation 1:6), and to function within  the authority structure as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:24-25 and Ephesians 5:23, namely, GOD THE FATHER, then YESHUA the MESSIAH, then THE MAN, then THE WOMAN, then the CHILDREN. Therefore the HUSBAND and FATHER of each HOUSEHOLD (regarded as his kingdom) is to TAKE UP THE PRIMARY AUTHOITY as king (therefore ruler, provider and protector) and priest (ministering the Word of God to his family and interceding for them) of his household. And that is the reason why brothers had to step into this role for WIDOWS in the family, protecting them and their CHILDREN. And we even read in James 1:27: “The religious observance that God the Father considers PURE and FAULTLESS is this: to CARE for ORPHANS and WIDOWS in their distress (suffering, pain, sorrow) and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.”

The question arises however: what about divorce? DIVORCE was never part of God’s plan as Yeshua our Messiah explains in Matthew 19:8, but Moses allowed it due to the HARDNESS of men’s hearts, but in the event of a divorce, the biological father of the CHILDREN should still play the role of king and in their lives. However, if this is not possible, a RESPECTED MAN within the family should be identified to take this authority over the DIVORCED WOMAN and HER CHILDREN. Women are not ordained by God for the role of king and priest over their households because God made the woman as a HELPMATE for the man (serving as king and priest for his family), and not as the RULER of the HOUSEHOLD. Please note, this is not said to make you feel bad in any way if you are a single mother. In today’s world many single mothers are left alone vending for themselves, and I honor you for your braveness and willingness to take care of your children and raise them as good as you can; but it is best, and to you and your children’s benefit to ask for the COVERING of a man you trust, someone in your family or maybe a trustworthy friend or pastor. Be careful however that this man does not take advantage of you and your children. Pray to Abba Father to provide someone who is a man after own His heart. And if there is really no one, Abba Father promises to be our HUSBAND and FATHER – therefore pray to Him and He will give you guidance.

With that said, let us return to our study on the COVENANT.

The Complete Jewish Study Bible – Insight for Jews & Christians explains: THE NATURE OF THE COVENANT in Deuteronomy 6:4-6 is as follows: historically, the FUNDAMENTAL FUNCTION of A COVENANT was to establish a COMMUNITY of INTEREST between the KING and his PEOPLE. COVENANT thus implies COMMUNITY – meaning: the forming of common customs, views and life with the aim of an intimate sharing of life and free will choices of the CONTRACTING PARTIES ultimately BECOME IDENTICAL – UNITING to a COMMON PURPOSE (aim, goal, objective) as a CLOSE UNION. Much like a man and woman marrying and having to form a UNION with a COMMON PURPOSE. At its CORE, LOVE forms the HEART of the COVENANT RELATIONSHIP. The Biblical history shows this clearly, pointing to the gracious actions of YHVH the KING of ISRAEL prior to the COVENANT and then in INITIATING it, specifying (stipulating, requiring) it as the FOUNDATION of the RELATIONSHIP.

There is a POWERFUL DEMONSTRATION of the LOVE of YHVH in leading and providing for the people of ISRAEL during the 40 years during their wilderness experience in exodus as described in Deuteronomy 29:1-9. And in Deuteronomy 31:8 Moses said to Joshua: “YHVH – it is He  who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will never fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.” Also read Exodus 34:6, Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10-13, 49:15-16, 54:10, Lamentations 3:22-23, Zephaniah 3:17 and many of the  Psalms like Psalm 36:7, 63;3, 86:15, 103:11 and Psalm 136, Proverbs 8:17.

LOVE and GRATITUDE (thankfulness, appreciation, gratefulness) were to permeate (infuse/ fill, saturate) ALL of LIFE and the THINKING (thoughts, opinions, views, feelings, beliefs) of those under the COVENANT. In fact, Deuteronomy chapters 5 through to 11 can be seen as an emphasis on WHOLEHEARTED LOVE (to LOVE Him with your WHOLE HEART, committed and single-minded, dedicated) toward GOD, stressing the WILL to FULFIL (achieve, accomplish) COVENANT OBLIGATIONS (duties, responsibilities, requirements).

So, in SUBMITTING to GOD’s TEN COMMANDMENTS, also called HIS LAW OF LOVE, ISRAEL PROOFS their LOVE for HIM. And that is why Yeshua our Messiah says in John 14:15, 21 and 23: ”If you LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDS;…Whoever has MY COMMANDS and KEEPS them is the one who LOVES Me, and the one who LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED by My FATHER, and I WILL LOVE him and REVEAL MYSELF to him…If someone LOVES Me, he WILL KEEP MY WORD; and My FATHER WILL LOVE him, and WE WILL come to him and make our home with him.” Many New Testament writers understood this, read Romans 13:10, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 6:24, 1^st John 2:3-5 and 5:2-3, 2^nd Jon 1:6, Revelation 12:17 and 14:12.

As we know this SAME COVENANT was PROPHECIED TO BE RENEWED in Jeremiah 31. Jeremiah chapters 30 and 31 are prophecies about the physical and spiritual DELIVERANCE of YHVH’s people out of BABYLON.

Jeremiah chapter 30 is about YHVH’s promises to cause both ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom and everyone grafted in from the nations as explained in Romans 11:17) and JUDAH (the Southern Kingdom, today known as the JEWS) to return to HIM. We see the fulfilment of this in terms of the Southern Kingdom since 1948. We read in Jeremiah 30:18-22: “I will return Jacob’s captives to their tents; I will take pity on his dwellings. Cities will be rebuilt on their tels (meaning, mount of remains that accumulates under a city over the centuries, hence the reason for the word “Tel” in front of the names of cities in Israel, like Tel-Aviv) with palaces where they’re supposed to be. From them will come THANKSGIVING and the SOUND of PEOPLE CELEBRATING. I will increase them; they will not be decreased; I will honor them; they will not be despised. Their children will be as they used to be, their community confirmed in My presence; and I will punish everyone who oppresses them. Their leader will be one of their own, their ruler will come from among them. I will cause him to come close and let him approach ME’ for, otherwise, who would guarantee his heart enough to approach Me” says YHVH. You will be My people and I will be your God.”

And Jeremiah 30 concludes with verses 23-25 saying: “Look! The storm of YHVH, bursting out in fury, a sweeping storm, whirling down upon the heads of the wicked! YHVH’s fierce anger will not abate till He accomplishes the purpose in His heart. In the acharit-hayamim (the end of days) you will UNDERSTAND. When that time comes, says YHVH, ‘I will be God of ALL the clans of ISRAEL (all twelve tribes and those grafted in from the nations, Romans 11:17), and they will be My people.” Also read Ezekiel 37.

In Jeremiah 31, YHVH, through the prophet Jeremiah, confirms that He had brought ISRAEL out of bondage to REST in the desert and He reminds them of HIS EVERLASTING LOVE for them and because of HIS LOVE and in HIS GRACE He DRAW them to HIM. Once again He will build them, REBUILT (restore, restructure) them, ISRAEL will once again SING with JOY and DANCE, PROCLAIMING to the NATIONS: “YHVH! You have saved Your people, the REMNANT of ISRAEL!” (Jeremiah 31:1-4). He will bring them from the land in the NORTH, gathering them from the far ends of the EARTH; among them are the blind and the lame, woman and children, women in labor, all together a HUGE MULTITUDE will be RETURNING. They will come WEEPING and PRAYING and He will lead them by streams of water on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble. For HE (YHVH) IS A FATHER TO ISRAEL (all twelve tribes, including those from the nations grafted in) AND EPHRAIM is HIS FIRSTBORN SON (the tribe of Ephraim was the descendants of Joseph’s youngest son from his marriage to Asenath, an Egyptian and Ephraim was blessed by Jacob, his grandfather as the firstborn), read Genesis 41:45, 46:20 and Genesis 48).

We further read in Jeremiah 31:10-17, the nations are CALLED to HEAR the WORD of YHVH and to PROCLAIM it in the coastlands far away saying: “He (YHVH) who scattered (dispersed) ISRAEL is GATHERING him, GUARDING him like a SHEPHERD, his FLOCK. ISRAEL, described as a VIRGIN (depicting that the remnant, will be FAITHFUL to YHVH alone and worshipping NO other small letter gods and they) will DANCE FOR JOY, young men and old men together; for I WILL TURN THEIR MOURNING (grief, sorrow, sadness) INTO JOY (and I) will COMFORT and GLADDEN them (cheer them up, bring joy to them) after their sorrow. Then Abba Father focusses on the NORTHERN KINGDOM (the Ten Tribes under Ephraim that went into captivity in Assyria due to their sinfulness and integrated into the nations, read 2nd Kings chapter 17). Rachel (the mother of Joseph, and therefore the grandmother of Ephraim, and subsequently also of the Northern Kingdom under Ephraim called ISRAEL) is symbolically indicated as lamenting (filled with sorrow) and bitterly weeping for her children who are no longer alive (they are spiritually dead, separated from YHVH, the LIVING GOD). But YHVH says to her: “Stop weeping; and dry your eyes, for your WORK will be REWARDED,…they will RETURN from the enemy’s land; SO THERE IS HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE, says YHVH, Your children will return to their own territory.”

And then Abba Father further says in Jeremiah 31:18-19 “I hear Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom, currently still dispersed in the nations, but in process of being awaken by YHVH and slowly returning) bemoaning (lamenting, regretting, apologizing for) himself (saying): “You (Abba Father) discipline me, and I took Your discipline like a young ox not used to a yoke (remember Ephraim was described and blessed by Jacob his grandfather, and compared to an ox and it also later became the symbol of the TRIBE of EPHRAIM, read Deuteronomy 33:17, Hosea 10:11). LET ME RETURN and I WILL RETURN, for YOU ARE YHVH, MY GOD. Yes, I turned away; but I later REPENTED (teshuvah). When I had been made to UNDERSTAND (so here we clearly see that in order to be able to TURN from our sins, we must be able to UNDERSTAND the WORD of Abba Father – therefore the development of INSIGHT – understanding, comprehension – is a prerequisite for CHANGE, and that is WHY a person with a HARDENED HEART is SPIRITUALLY BLIND, unable to UNDERSTAND Abba Father’s WORD and likewise a person NOT ROOTED, GROUNDED, ESTABLISHED in the WORD and a person, ENTANGLED in the WORRIES, WEALTH and PLEASURES of the WORLD). I struck my thigh (the NIV says: I beat my breast) in SHAME and REMORSE, BEARING THE WIGHT of the DISGRACE ACQUIRED WHEN I WAS YOUNG.” Maybe we can identify with this, the shame and remorse one are feeling about the evil and unwise decisions taken and ways one reacted in the past in words and deeds and all the grief one caused to Abba Father and all the harm one caused to other people and yourself. It makes one think of Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:8 “For you used to be darkness; but now, UNITED with Master Yeshua, you are LIGHT.”

And we then see a MESSAGE from YHVH in this prophecy of Jeremiah, for both:

1. The NORHTERN KINGDOM (the TEN TRIBES under Ephraim, with all the multitude of people from other nations who willingly graft into them as we also read in Romans 11:17) saying in Jeremiah 31:21-22a “Set up ROAD SIGNS, ERECT GUIDEPOSTS, PAY ATTENTION to the HIGHWAY, the PATH on which you traveled. COME BACK, virgin ISRAEL, come back to these cities of yours. How long will you hesitate, UNRULY (disobedient, wayward, rebellious, stubborn) daughter?

2. The SOUTHERN KINGDOM (the tribe of JUDAH and the smaller tribe of BENJAMIN, known as the JEWS today) saying in Jeremiah 31:23-25 “Here is what YHVH-T’zvaot (the God of Angel Armies), the GOD of ISRAEL says: “This expression will be used again in the land of JUDAH and its cities after I have returned their exiles: ‘May YHVH BLESS you, HOME of JUSTICE (fairness, impartiality, righteousness), HOLY MOUNTAIN! (referring to the NEW JERUSALEM). In it will LIE TOGETHER Judah and ALL its cities, the FAMER and those who LEAD the FLOCKS For I have satisfied the weary and filled the needs of ALL in distress (suffering, pain, sorrow).

And we further read in Jeremiah:27-30 the DAYS are coming when YHVH will SOW the HOUSE OF ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom and everyone grafted in from the nations) and the HOUSE OF JUDAH (the Southern Kingdom, known as the JEWS) with the SEED of HUMANS and ANIMALS (meaning, God will repopulate and prosper His people, ensuring a full harvest of both people and livestock, emphasizing His unwavering commitment to His COVENANT). At that time just as He used to watch over them with the INTENT to uproot, break down, overthrow, destroy and do harm (because of their sins); so then He will watch over them to BUILD and PLANT. When those days come they will no longer say: “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge (with other words, saying the children bear the sins of the fathers). Rather, each will DIE FOR HIS OWN SIN; everyone who eats sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge (meaning, each person will be held accountable for their own choices they make. Even if the generations before us have sinned, we do not have to follow in their footsteps and keep on doing their sins. We have a free will to choose the way we want to live and will bear the consequences for our own decisions). In  Deuteronomy 7:9-11 it is explained that: “From this you can know that YHVH your God is INDEED GOD, the FAITHFUL GOD, WHO KEEPS HIS COVENANT and EXTENDS GRACE to THOSE WHO LOVE HIM and OBSERVE (comply with/ obey) HIS MITZVOT (HIS COMMANDMENTS), to a THOUSAND GENENRATIONS. But He REPAYS those who hate Him to their face and DESTROYS them. Therefore, you are to KEEP the mitzvoth (commandments), laws and rulings which I am giving you today, and OBEY them (also read Exodus 20:3-6).

And in Psalm 103:17-18 David says: “But the MERCY of YHVH on those who FEAR Him is from eternity PAST to eternity FUTIRE, and his RIGHTEOUSNESS extends to his children’s children, PROVIDED (IF) they KEEP HIS COVENANT and REMEMBER TO FOLLOW HIS PRECEPTS (principles, teachings, rules, guidelines, instructions).

And we read about the NEW or maybe more accurate: THE RENEWED COVENANT  in Jeremiah 31:31-34 in the OLD TESTAMENT and CONFIRMED in Hebrew 8:8-12 and 10:16 in the NEW TESTAMENT as:

• The DAYS ARE COMING when YHVH will make a NEW COVENANT with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom and everyone grafted in from the nations) and with the HOUSE of JUDAH (the Southern Kingdom, known as the JEWS) (Jeremiah 31:31). The writer of Hebrews (probably Paul) refers to this in Hebrews 8:8 saying: “For God does find fault with the people when He says, “See! The days are coming, ‘says YHVH, when I will stablish over the HOUSE of ISRAEL and over the HOUSE of JUDAH a NEW COVENANT.”

• It will NOT be like the COVENANT He made with their fathers (al TWELVE TRIBES including the mixed multitude of other nations that left Egypt with them according to Exodus 12:38) on the DAY He took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated HIS COVENANT, even though He, for His part, was a HUSBAND to them (Jeremiah 31:32).

• For this is the COVENANT He will make with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL (the Northern Kingdom and everyone grafted in from the nations) after those DAYS: He will put HIS TORAH (Genesis to Deuteronomy, summed up in the Ten Commandments) within them and WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS (please note: His TORAH, HIS WORD as summed up in HIS TEN COMMANDMENTS did not change; ONLY “the delivery method” changed – it will no longer be written on STONE TABLETS (as we read in Deuteronomy 4:13 and Exodus 34:8), but on the FLESH TABLES of THEIR HEARTS and IN THEIR MINDS, indicating an internalization of His WORD and a DEEP CONNECTION and COMMITMENT to Him. This is confirmed in the New Testament in Hebrews 8:10 and 10:16. And in 2nd Corinthians 3:3 Paul used this symbolism saying to the believers: “You make it clear that YOU are a LETTER from the MESSIAH placed in our care, WRITTEN not with ink but by the SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD, not on STONE TABLETS but on HUMAN HEARTS. ” Also read the prophecy in Ezekiel 11:19-20 and 36:26-27.

In Deuteronomy 5:27-28 the people said to Moses they will LISTEN to what God says to Moses and they WIL DO IT. And YHVH heard what the people were saying and everything they have said is good. And then we read in verse 29: YHVH said: “Oh, how I wish their hearts would stay like this ALWAYS, that they would FEAR ME and OBEY ALL MY MITZVOT (commandments); so that it would GO WELL WITH THEM and THEIR CHILDREN FOREVER.”

And we further read in Jeremiah 31:33b “I will be their God and they will be MY PEOPLE (they will acknowledge Him as their God and willingly belong to Him – much like a bride and bridegroom). We already read this in Exodus 19:5-6 when the COVENANT was established with ISRAEL in the desert “Now if you pay CAREFUL ATTENTION to what I SAY and KEEP MY COVENANT, then you will be MY OWN TREASURE from among ALL people, for all the earth is mine, and you will be a kingdom of priests for me, a NATION SET APART.

• No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother to KNOW YHVH, for ALL WILL KNOW HIM (be in UNITY with HIM), from the least of them to the greatest, because HE WILL FORGIVE THEIR WICKEDNESS and REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE (Jeremiah 31:34). Paull refers to this in Romans 11:27 and Hebrews 8:12.

• And in Jeremiah 31:38 we read the PROMISE of the BUILDING of the NEW JERUSALEM!