Have we been missing the whole point of God’s Law?
Rabbi Kirt Schneider, host of Discovering the Jewish Jesus, joined Paul Begley to share insights from his latest book, Decoding the Torah: Applying Ancient Wisdom in a Modern World. This new work dives deep into the 613 commandments of the Torah and brings spiritual applications relevant to both Jewish and Gentile disciples of Jesus today.
“This is the most profound book that I’ve ever written,” Rabbi Schneider says. “It’s been in my spirit for about 10 years.” His passion is to show that far from being irrelevant, the Torah reveals the very heart of God. “Jesus said in Matthew 5 that He didn’t come to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfill them,” Schneider emphasizes. “God’s self-revelation is within His Law.”
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The book aims to correct the misunderstanding among many Christians that the law no longer applies. “We’re not under the law in terms of legal requirement, but that doesn’t mean we throw away the baby with the bathwater,” he said. “Without the law, we really don’t know how to walk with God.”
One example Schneider gives is the commandment in Genesis 32:32 forbidding the eating of the thigh muscle, which commemorates Jacob’s encounter with God. After wrestling all night, Jacob was blessed—only after God dislocated his hip. “The hip area is considered the seat of pride,” Schneider explains. “Before God could bless Jacob, He had to break his pride.”
Schneider also spoke on the principle of Sabbath rest. “The Sabbath is not just a law—it’s a creation principle,” he says. “God rested on the seventh day and was refreshed. He created it for man. It’s a day to stop doing, to be refreshed, to become a human being rather than a human doing.”
Another Law discussed came from Exodus 20:26, which instructed priests to ascend to the altar via a ramp, not stairs, to avoid exposing themselves. “This speaks to us of modesty,” Schneider says. “We’re to dress in garments of glory and beauty—not to draw people to our flesh.”
Schneider highlighted a second powerful Law found in Exodus 23:2: “You shall not follow the masses in doing evil.” In a world where cultural trends often contradict biblical truth, this command remains vital. “We are not to be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds.”
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Rabbi Schneider’s Decoding the Torah isn’t just a theological deep-dive—it’s a prophetic call to rediscover the heart of God through His commandments. Far from outdated or irrelevant, the Torah pulses with divine wisdom meant to shape how we live, worship and walk in holiness today. For believers hungry to go deeper, this book offers more than insight—it offers transformation.
Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
