“The Torah (The Law) of Yahuah (The Lord) is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of Yahuah is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of Yahuah are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of Yahuah is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Yahuah is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of Yahuah are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” — Tehilliym (Psalms) 19:7–11, Cepher

Wait a minute… I thought I was taught that the Law was a burden?

Over and over again, the Torah (first 5 books of the bible) is described in the language of joy, peace, and freedom — not in the tone of a cosmic killjoy handing down impossible rules.

And yet, if I had a shekel for every time someone said to me “we’re free from the burden of the law”, I could probably afford a camel, a saddle, and a personal harpist to play Psalm 119 on repeat.

(Alternatively, you can cue “If I Were a Rich Girl” la la la lal la 🎶)

When you open Scripture without the weight of centuries of tradition pressing on your shoulders, you find something surprising: the Bible declares — not once, not twice, but more times than I could even count while researching this post — that the Torah is a blessing.

It calls God’s Law perfect, life-giving, pure, delightful, freedom-bringing, and sweeter than honey. From Genesis to Revelation, you’ll find the same theme: Yah’s instructions are good.

Just a few examples for the Torah (The Law):

• Devariym (Deuteronomy) 30:11–14 — “For this command which I command you this day, it is not hidden from you, neither is it far off… But the word is very near unto you, in your mouth, and in your heart, that you may do it.”
• Devariym (Deuteronomy) 28:1–2 — “And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of Yahuah Elohayka (your God), to guard and to do all His commandments… all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you.”
• Tehilliym (Psalms) 119:1–2 — “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Torah of Yahuah. Blessed are they that guard His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.”
• Basically the whole book of Proverbs is a love letter to the Torah, but here’s one verse to display the idea:
  • Mishlei (Proverbs) 3:1–2 — “My son, forget not my Torah; but let your heart guard my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.”
• Yahusha (Joshua) 1:8 — “The Torah shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate therein day and night… for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.”
• Nechemyahu (Nehemiah) 9:13 — “You came down also upon Mount Ciynai (Sinai), and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right rulings and true Torah, good statutes and commandments.”
• Ya’aqov (James) 1:25 — “But whoso looks into the perfect Torah of freedom, and continues therein… this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
• Yochanon Aleph (1 John) 5:3 — “For this is the love of Elohiym, that we guard His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.”

So if the Torah is so obviously a blessing throughout scripture, why do so many believers insist we’re “no longer under the burden of the law”?

Is there a contradiction in Scripture?

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When You Add to Something Perfect

In the blog post “The Fall’s Fault” we unpacked in detail the very first addition to Yahuah’s instruction we find in scripture, and the devastating fallout that accompanied it.

As a recap, Yahuah (The Lord) tells Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This instruction takes place before Chavah (Eve) was even created. Later, when confronted by the serpent, the command has changed – with the addition of ‘and neither shall ye touch it’.

The text implies, Adam added to the command to keep Chavah from even getting close to breaking it. A premiss that is later cemented in scripture, as it is accounted that Chavah was indeed deceived, but Adam is the one who sinned:

“And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” – Timotheus Ri’shon (Timothy 1) 2:14, Cepher

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…”
-Romaiym (Romans) 5:12, Cepher

That addition created space for deception. Once the serpent saw the command had been altered, it became easier to undermine, create doubt, and yes – deceive.

When you add to something perfect, you create distortion.
When you take away from it, you create compromise.

This is why Yah clearly states: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may guard the commandments of Yahuah Elohaykem (your God) which I command you.” —Devariym (Deuteronomy) 4:2

By the time Yeshua (Jesus) walked the earth, the Pharisees had made the same mistake— except on a massive scale…

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Defining our Terms

Before we go any further, we need to clear something up: a lot of people don’t know what the word Torah means.

Torah (תּוֹרָה) is a Hebrew word that means instruction or teaching. It comes from the root word yarah (יָרָה), which means “to point out, to direct, to shoot an arrow.” Think of it like an arrow aimed at the target of life and blessing — Torah points you toward the bullseye.

In Scripture, Torah refers to the first five books of the Bible — Genesis through Deuteronomy — which contain God’s foundational instructions for His people.

Here’s the key:

• God’s Torah = His divine instructions, perfect and life-giving.
• Man’s law / Fence laws = rules, traditions, and interpretations added to God’s commands, often making them heavier and harder than He ever intended.

When Yehusha (Jesus) rebuked the religious leaders for “binding heavy burdens” in Matthew 23:4, He wasn’t condemning His Father’s Torah — He was confronting those man-made additions. The Pharisees had layered on countless human traditions and restrictions, creating a burden Yah never gave.

That’s not Torah. That’s religious gatekeeping.

So when someone says, “The law is a burden,” the first question we should be asking is: “Whose law are we talking about?”