YITRO (יתרו) - JETHRO- Audio Podcast Feb 18, 2023

There is a Talmudic dispute regarding the time Jethro’s arrival in the Israelite camp. Some - before the Torah - given the news of Splitting of the Red Sea and the Amalekite attack influenced him to join Israel.

Others- after the giving of Torah - came because he heard the news the 10 commandments had been given

In plain meaning of the verses, it seems he came after the giving of the Torah. Why then is he mentioned here and not later?

Ezra explains that the Torah wished to draw attention to contrast between Jethro and Amalek- Jethro gave good counsel. Amalek attacked Israel. This is how when King Saul attacks Amalek in 1 Sam 15:6, he allows the descendants of Jethro evacuate before the war.

1 Samuel 15:6 NKJV

Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, get down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

Presentation

Exodus 18:1–4 NKJV

And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt. Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back, with her two sons, of whom the name of one was Gershom (for he said, “I have been a stranger in a foreign land”) and the name of the other was Eliezer (for he said, “The God of my father was my help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh”);

Gershom:

I have been a stranger in a foreign land

Eliezer:

For the God of my Father was my help and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh

Exodus 18:5 NKJV

and Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness, where he was encamped at the mountain of God.

The mountain of God:

Sinai

Jabal Allahs in Arabic

Jabal Moshe - the Mountain of Moses

This is the same place where Moses heard the voice of God in the burning bush

Exodus 18:6–10 NKJV

Now he had said to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her.” So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. And they asked each other about their well-being, and they went into the tent. And Moses told his father-in-law all that the Lord had done to Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardship that had come upon them on the way, and how the Lord had delivered them. Then Jethro rejoiced for all the good which the Lord had done for Israel, whom He had delivered out of the hand of the Egyptians. And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians.

יהוה (Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh)/ YaHava/ YHWH

Exodus 18:11–12 NKJV

Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.” Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took a burnt offering and other sacrifices to offer to God. And Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law before God.

What else about Yitro?

Midian was a son of Abraham by his wife Keturah

Genesis 25:1–2 NKJV

Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.

Jethro was not Jew

He was at some point an Advisor to Pharaoh

A priest of the Land of Midian

He must have been a descendant of Priests

He was recognized as Kohen- priest

Targum says about Yitro, when he comes to meet Moses:

“I thy father in law Yitro have come to thee to be a proselyte”

This would seem to suggest that Yitro, the name of the Torah Portion, represents the first proselyte of the Torah, a sincere covert to Israel.

His name makes the tablets of the Lord

A great example for any one who wants to be grafted into Israel and wants to leave false religion and idol worship behind

The Targum explains he is converted in the “house of instruction” the tabernacle.

The mighty power of

יהוה (Yud-Heh-Vav-Heh)/ YaHava/ YHWH

had convinced Yitro the God of Israel is Yud Heh vav Heh - and caused to say:

Blessed be the name of Yud Heh Vav Heh

The book of Yaser also tells us Jethro knew Yud Heh Vav Heh from that day on, and that he stay with them for a good number of days

Numbers 10:29–32 NKJV

Now Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well; for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.” And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my relatives.” So Moses said, “Please do not leave, inasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. And it shall be, if you go with us—indeed it shall be—that whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same we will do to you.”

Jethro was a believer of the Lord, but not a partaker of the Land of Israel.

priest of Midian (Exod 2:16; 3:1; 18:1) a Midianite (Num 10:29)

Yitro:

Is a title

he is called “Reuel” (רעואל = “God is his friend”1

1 Isidore Singer, ed., The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, 12 Volumes (New York; London: Funk & Wagnalls, 1901–1906), 173.

Exodus 2:18 NKJV

When they came to Reuel their father, he said, “How is it that you have come so soon today?”

He had seven names:

the view of some modern scholars, who hold that his name was “Reuel,” and that “Jethro” was a title, “his Excellency”). According to Simeon b: Yoḥai, he had two names, “Hobab” and “Jethro” (Sifre, Num. 78). It is, however, generally accepted that he had seven names: “Reuel,” “Jether,” “Jethro,” “Hobab,” “Heber,” “Keni” (comp. Judges 1:16, 4:11), and “Putiel” Eleazar’s father-in-law (Ex. 6:25) being identified with Jethro by interpreting his name either as “he who abandoned idolatry “or as” who fattened calves for the sake of sacrifices to the idol”

(Ex. R. xxvii. 7; Mek., Yitro, ‘Amaleḳ, 1; Tan., Shemot, 11; comp. Targ. pseudo-Jonathan to Ex. vi. 25 and Soṭah 44a).11 Isidore Singer, ed., The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day, 12 Volumes (New York; London: Funk & Wagnalls, 1901–1906), 173–174.

• Jethro (Exod 3:1; 4:18; 18:1–2, 5–6, 9–10, 12)he who conquers and reigns with YHWH as a prince• Jether (Exod 4:18)-Abundance; excellence; pre-eminent

• Reuel (“God’s friend”; Exod 2:18; Num 10:29) Friend of God; (root = to feed; to shepherd; to use as a friend). Associate ye with God1

• Hobab (Num 10:29; Judg 4:11) - beloved

• the Heber, Keni (Judg 1:16; 4:11) Heber: fellowship, companion, production

Keni: a fabricator

Putiel - Eleazar’s father in law (Exodus 6:25) = afflicted of God- God enlightens

1 Stelman Smith and Judson Cornwall, The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names (North Brunswick, NJ: Bridge-Logos, 1998), 205.

Jethro also means he who conquers and reigns with YHWH as a prince

He is both a prince and a priest

With excellency

Some of the words that relate to Yitro are:

Abundance

Remainder

Advantage

Superiority

Profit

Spiritual elation (happiness)

Moses was the lead but he needed help- Yitro was his counsel

Exodus 18:14–20 NKJV

So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.” So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.

Then Yitro exhorts him to look for very specific type of men to help him.

Exodus 18:21–24 NKJV

Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.” So Moses heeded the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.

Characteristics

Able men

Who fear God

Men of truth

hating covetousness

Trustworthy

Hate dishonest gain

Good example for us today in the importance to surround ourselves with people with these characteristics

These will eventually will become the Sanhedrin

These are the qualifications the Apostle Paul uses for elders in the NT

1 Timothy 3:2 NKJV

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;

1 Timothy 3:4 NKJV

one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

1 Timothy 3:12 NKJV

Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Acts 14:23 NKJV

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Hopefully this would be a spiritual multiplication

Exodus 19:1 NKJV

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

בחודש השלישי, “in the third month.” This was the month of Sivan. The words ביום הזה mean that it was the first day of the month. This is the day normally called חדש (new moon- hodesh), such as in

1 Samuel 20:24 NKJV

Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast.

“It was on חדש (hodesh) and the King sat down to eat.” Another example of the word חדש (hodesh) referring to New Moon is found in the same chapter of the Book of Samuel three verses later:

1 Samuel 20:27 NKJV

And it happened the next day, the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today?”

We read “It was on the second day of the New Moon celebration that David’s seat remained empty.” The verse teaches you amongst other things that they observed two days of New Moon.

Exodus 19:1–2 NKJV

In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain.

יָצָא (v) heb

to go out, come out, exit, go forth

(Qal)

to go or come out or forth, depart

to go forth (to a place)

to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something)

to come or go forth (with purpose or for results)

Having spent so many years in a country full of all kinds of abominations, the Israelites had absorbed much of the spiritual pollution prevailing in Egypt and they required 49 days during which they progressively cleansed themselves of these pollutants and readied themselves for their bride.

According to the Zohar third volume page 97-the seven weeks that we count between Passover and Shavuot are to be viewed as seven times the 7 day purification rite that a זבה, a woman suffering from a vaginal discharge, has to undergo before she is ritually pure.

When the Torah speaks of לצאת בני ישראל ממצרים, (Israel having gone out of the Land of Egypt) this is not to be understood as a date as much as a cause.

Seeing the point of departure of the Israelites was Egypt (and not some other place), it required a certain number of days before the groom could ready himself spiritually for union with a bride such as the Torah.

As soon as the Israelites were close to regaining their spiritual purity, i.e. on the first of the third month, they immediately arrived at their destination at Mount Sinai.

The Torah describes arrival in the desert of Sinai and arrival opposite the Mountain as occurring practically simultaneously.

We find confirmation of this in Shabbat 87 where the Talmud states: "on the day they travelled they arrived."

Reviewing all these events I have asked myself that if our perception is correct, why did G'd not telescope the earth underneath the Israelites and bring them to Mount Sinai immediately?

They could then have awaited the proper moment for מתן תורה at the end of seven weeks while encamped at Mount Sinai

Or HaChaim on Exodus 19:1:2

Basically on that day

on that very day Midrash Tanḥuma comments that the Hebrew has “this” instead of “that” in order to teach that the revelation at Sinai—the words of the Torah—should be newly experienced each day.1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 103.

This is when the Lord gives the Torah, and the pouring of His Spirit

Acts 2:1–3 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

Exodus 19:18–22 NKJV

Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”

Exodus 20:18 NKJV

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.

The 10 commands were given to have a blue print of His character and glory, so that it would manifest in their lives that the world may see the image of the father

Exodus 19:4–6 NKJV

‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

These verses express the essence of the covenant idea. Israel is chosen to enter into a special and unique relationship with God. This bond imposes obligations and responsibilities. The prophet Amos (3:2) formulated it this way:

Amos 3:2 NKJV

“You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

“You alone have I singled out/Of all the families of the earth—/That is why I will call you to account/For all your iniquities.”1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 103.

My treasured possession Hebrew segullah, like its Akkadian cognate sikiltum, originally denoted valued property to which one has an exclusive right of possession1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 104.

The biblical description of Israel as God’s segullah or as his ʿam segullah, “treasured people,” as in Deuteronomy (7:6; 14:2; 26:18–19)

Deuteronomy 7:6 NKJV

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2 NKJV

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:18–19 NKJV

Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.”

Thus expresses God’s special covenantal relationship with Israel and His love for His people. At the same time, those biblical texts, as well as Exodus 19:6, all uniquely emphasize the inextricable association between being God’s segullah and the pursuit of holiness.1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 104.

Exodus 19:7 NKJV

So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him.

דבר= ‎ (dabbar) = word

1825 דִּבֵּר‎ (dib·bēr): n.[masc.]; ≡ Str 1699; TWOT 399c—LN 33.69–33.108 word, i.e., a message of communication (Jer 5:13; 9:7+), note: 9:7 the niv parsed as 1819(piel)11 James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

Exodus 19:8 NKJV

Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord.

Moses conveys the divine message through the agency of the elders. On this institution.

the elders Moses’ first concern in his new role must be to win the confidence and support of the acknowledged leaders of the people.

These are the elders (Heb. zekenim) who are frequently mentioned in the Exodus narratives, although little information about them is offered.

The institution of elders is rooted in the tribal-patriarchal system that shaped the character of Israelite society in early times.

The rich Mari archives dealing with Northwest Semitic tribes show that the council of elders was entrusted with considerable authority, judicial and political. Its members acted as the spokesmen and the delegates of the tribes in dealings with the urban administration.43

I have taken note This statement echo1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 18.

the yes, I do

The unanimous and unhesitating response is to accept, readily and freely, God’s charge—even before hearing the terms of the covenant (cf. 24:3, 7).

Moses, in turn, reports this to God.1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 104.

Exodus 24:3 NKJV

So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has said we will do.”

Exodus 24:7 NKJV

Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.”

This is the same as:

Romans 10:9–11 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

But they disobeyed. God is done with them?

Romans 9:3–7 NKJV

For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”

Romans 11:25–29 NKJV

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

I do is I do

Exodus 19:9 NKJV

And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and believe you forever.” So Moses told the words of the people to the Lord.

Exodus 20:19 NKJV

Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

People are the same today.

They do not want to hear the word of God.

They are afraid of the commandments of God

This is too bad because the Torah is the terms of the marriage between Yeshua and His people.

God gave them at mount Sinai for us to know the word He has spoken is true.

Exodus 20:18 NKJV

Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.

Thunderings and lightenings = voices and torches

Acts 2:1–3 NKJV

This sounds like the chuppah covering their heads

and

This is the picture of a ketuva - which is a betrothal covenant.

The HS speaking to the disciples to let them know about the renewal of the covenant that Yeshua has accomplished for Israel.

What was the voice of God saying at Mount Sinai?

What was in that ketuba?

What are those words God gave Moses?

Picture 10 commandments

In Hebrew:

ʿaseret ha-devarim

This same expression is used in:

Exodus 34:28 NKJV

So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

Deuteronomy 4:13 NKJV

So He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tablets of stone.

Deuteronomy 10:4 NKJV

And He wrote on the tablets according to the first writing, the Ten Commandments, which the Lord had spoken to you in the mountain from the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me.

A similar expression is used in the promise to Abraham:

Genesis 15:1 NKJV

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

devarim

Genesis 15:1 ʿaseret ha-devarim

Devarim is the plural of debar

Devarim - things, events

Debar - word

The words become things when the Lord speaks

דבר = ‎ (dabbar) = word

Word

Words

Things

Thing

Matters

Acts

Chronicles

Affair

The popular English title “The Ten Commandments” is derived from the traditional, although inaccurate, English rendering of the Hebrew phrase ʿaseret ha-devarim that appears in Exodus 34:28 and in Deuteronomy 4:13 and 10:4.

In fact, the term “commandment” (Heb. mitsvah, pl. mitsvot) is not employed in the present context.

The Hebrew means, rather, “The Ten Words,” which the Jews of ancient Alexandria in Egypt translated literally into Greek as deka logoi -dekalogos

This gave rise to the ...English alternative “Decalogue.11 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 107.

Hebrew devarim does appear in the introductory verse as well as in the epilogue to the repetition of the Decalogue found in Deuteronomy 5.

In rabbinic texts, and generally in Hebrew down to modern times, the common designation is ʿaseret ha-dibrot.

This latter word is the plural of diber, which in Jeremiah 5:13 denotes the revealed word of God, a meaning that is singularly appropriate in the present context.1

1 Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 108.

The word for commandment is not Devarim - it is Mitzvot (exed 20:6)

So it is not 10 commandments

ʿaseret mitzvot

But - devarim = word

ʿaseret ha-devarim

10 things

10 matters

10 Utterances

10 acts

10 chronicles

10 sayings

10 words

Let’s take a closer look at the 10 Words:

People divide them differently

First 5 words

Next 5 words

Some differences:

10th saying is cut in two in the Catholic church

3rd saying - Sabbath is completely wiped out

1st saying - does not look like a commandment - because it is not a commandment but a saying: matter

Closing

Yitro - had to learn the Torah too, since he was not Jewish

The word of God has been given to us for Life:

Just like Yitro, we need to learn it

This is what Paul said to Timothy

1 Timothy 1:8 NKJV

But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

2 Timothy 3:10–17 NKJV

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Yeshua said this when referring to the parable of the sower:

Luke 8:11 NKJV

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Logos

The word He used is logos = word

Peter also makes emphasis on the word, as a way of purifying ourselves

He is coming for a purified bride

1 Peter 1:22–25 NKJV

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

The word “word” is verse 23 is logos

But the word “word” in verse 25 is rhama - referring to the HS

We need both the word and the HS to be sanctified

Peter continues in the next chapter

1 Peter 2:9–10 NKJV

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

There is a Hebrew alignment to the word logos - devarim

Yeshua did not abolish the sayings (devarim) either:

Matthew 5:17–19 NKJV

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

When the scribe came to ask Yeshua, which is the first commandment of all?

Yeshua answered:

Mark 12:29–30 NKJV

He responded Using Shema:

He also adds

Leviticus 19:18 NKJV

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Devarim is to learn to live with one another

Mark 12:29–31 NKJV

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The Torah for life:

Jesus provides a summarized version of devarim

When we study the word, we will end up studying the 613 commandments

It provides the description of our marriage contract (ketuba) with Yeshua, and the Qualifications to life, and for leadership in His Kingdom:

Titus 1:5–9 NKJV

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.