The Gentiles were not obligated to follow the Torah because it was given specifically to Israel.


Noah after the Flood
Genesis 9:1-7 It only gives three specific instructions after the flood:

Be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:1, 7).
Do not eat blood (Genesis 9:4).
Do not murder (Genesis 9:5-6).
These are the only explicit laws God gave to Noah and his descendants, which include all of humanity.

The Ten Commandments Were Given to Israel Alone

The Old Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) was primarily written for the people of Israel—the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It served as their covenant document with God, guiding them in faith, law, history, wisdom, and prophecy. However, while it was specifically for Israel, it also contained instructions and messages for the nations (Gentiles).

Who Was It For?
1. The Israelites (God’s Chosen People)
The Torah (first five books) was given to Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai as a covenant (Exodus 19–24).
The laws, rituals, and commandments were meant to set Israel apart as God’s holy nation (Deuteronomy 7:6).

2. The Priests and Levites
They were given special instructions for temple service, sacrifices, and teaching God’s laws (Leviticus 10:11, Deuteronomy 17:18).
They helped the people understand and follow the Torah.

3. The Kings of Israel
The Torah commanded that kings should write their own copy of the Law and read it daily to rule justly (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).
The prophets rebuked kings who failed to follow God’s laws.

4. The Common People of Israel
The Torah was read aloud publicly so that all could hear and obey (Deuteronomy 31:10-13, Nehemiah 8:1-8).
Parents were instructed to teach it to their children daily (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

5. The Prophets and the Future Generations
The writings of the prophets were given to warn, instruct, and guide Israel back to God when they strayed.
They also contained promises of a future restoration and a righteous king from David’s line (Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2).

The Nations (Gentiles)
While the Law was for Israel, the Hebrew Bible includes prophecies about the nations (Isaiah 2:2-4, Jeremiah 12:14-17).
Foreigners who wanted to follow Israel’s God were welcomed if they obeyed His laws (Isaiah 56:6-8, Ruth 1:16).
The Hebrew Bible prophesied that one day, all nations would come to worship the God of Israel (Zechariah 14:16, Isaiah 49:6).

Why Was It Given?
To teach who God is and how to worship Him (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).
To provide laws for a just and righteous society (Exodus 20, Leviticus 19).
To warn against sin and the consequences of disobedience (Deuteronomy 28).
To give hope of redemption and restoration (Isaiah 11, Ezekiel 37).
To prepare the way for the promised Messiah (Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 53, Micah 5:2).
While it was given to Israel first, the Hebrew Bible makes it clear that God's plan was always for all nations to know Him and be blessed through His people (Genesis 12:3, Isaiah 42:6-7).

The New Covenant: A Biblical Perspective

The New Covenant is a promise from God that is first spoken of in Jeremiah 31:31-34. It is described as a future covenant that would not be like the one made at Mount Sinai with Moses but would be written on the hearts of God’s people rather than on stone tablets.

What is the New Covenant?
The New Covenant (בְּרִית חֲדָשָׁה, B’rit Chadashah) is God's promise to bring His people into a deeper relationship with Him, one where His laws would be placed within them and they would all know Him directly.

📖 Jeremiah 31:31-34 (Hebrew Bible)
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel: After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."

This prophecy speaks of a time when God's Torah (instruction) would no longer be external but would be internalized in the hearts of His people.

Who is the New Covenant For?
The House of Israel & Judah → It is specifically made with Israel, not with Gentiles or foreign nations.
Those who seek God → Though it is for Israel, those from other nations who turn to the God of Israel are welcomed into His people.
It is not a rejection of the Torah → Instead of replacing the Torah, the New Covenant makes it part of the person’s inner being.

How is the New Covenant Different?



Old Covenant (Sinai)
Written on stone tablets (Exodus 24:12)
External laws and rituals
Based on obedience to laws
Repeated sacrifices for sin
Given through Moses

New Covenant (Jeremiah 31)
Written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:33)
Internal relationship with God
Based on a transformed heart
God forgives sins permanently
Directly from God

The New Covenant does not do away with God's laws or instructions—it transforms the people so that they desire to follow them.

How Did Early Believers Understand It?

The Essenes (Qumran community) saw themselves as living in the "New Covenant" mentioned in Jeremiah.
Some Jewish followers of Yeshua (Jesus) believed that he was establishing this New Covenant by teaching that God's commandments should be kept from the heart, not just outwardly.
Others awaited a future fulfillment, expecting a time when all of Israel would fully return to God.

When Does the New Covenant Happen?
Some say it began in the first century with a spiritual transformation.
Others believe it is still unfolding, as Israel has not yet fully returned to God.
Ultimately, it will be fulfilled when God restores Israel completely, and all people know Him directly.

Does the New Covenant Abolish the Old?
No! The New Covenant does not replace the Torah—it internalizes it. The Torah is still God’s eternal law, but instead of being a set of external commands, it becomes a living guide inside each person.

Final Thought
The New Covenant is about a transformed relationship with God, where His teachings become part of a person’s very nature. It was always intended for Israel, but others who seek God can also be part of His people. This covenant is still unfolding, leading toward a future where all people will know the one true God.

Key Aspects of Jesus' Covenant:

1. Fulfillment of the Law, Not Abolition – Jesus said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17)
This means His covenant builds upon and completes God's original plan.

2. The Law Written on Hearts – Unlike the Mosaic Covenant, which was written on stone tablets, the New Covenant is internal: “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
Jesus emphasized this transformation of the heart, teaching that righteousness is not just about external obedience but about inner purity and love.

3. Direct Relationship with God – Under this covenant, people no longer need priests as intermediaries because each believer has direct access to God: “No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
Jesus reinforced this by calling God “Father” and teaching His followers to pray directly to Him.

4. Forgiveness of Sins – The old sacrifices were temporary, but Jesus provided a permanent atonement: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
This is why Jesus said at the Last Supper, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28)

5. A Covenant for Israel and the Nations – Jesus first came for the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 15:24), but He also extended salvation to the Gentiles: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob... I will also make you a light for the Gentiles.” (Isaiah 49:6)
Jesus fulfilled this by commissioning His disciples to bring the message of the Kingdom to all nations.

How Is This Different from the Old Covenant?
The Mosaic Covenant (given through Moses) required external obedience to the Torah, temple sacrifices, and priestly mediation.
The New Covenant (through Jesus) focuses on an internal transformation, direct relationship with God, and the final sacrifice of Jesus as atonement.

Did Jesus Replace the Torah?
No, Jesus did not replace the Torah but clarified and fulfilled it. He corrected misunderstandings (e.g., Matthew 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount) and brought people back to God's original intent—loving God and loving others.

Conclusion
Jesus’ covenant is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, bringing forgiveness, transformation, and a direct relationship with God. It calls people to walk in righteousness, not just externally but from the heart.