Special Guest Rabbi Ed Bez: Covenant Changes Everything (Part 1)

“Law” is one of those words that can instantly shut people down, but what if we’ve been aiming at the wrong target? We sit with Rabbi Ed Bez and open up a covenant-focused way of reading the Bible that refuses the easy split between Old Testament and New Testament. For us, this is about spiritual growth that actually changes relationships, first with God, then with each other, and covenant becomes the thread that ties it all together.

Rabbi Ed shares why the Scriptures are a single, organic unity from Genesis to Revelation, then walks us through the covenant storyline that shapes the entire biblical narrative. We talk about why “testament” can miss the point, why “new covenant” is often better understood as a renewed covenant, and how the covenants God makes across history build a framework for reading the Torah, the Prophets, and the Gospels with clarity instead of confusion.

The heart of the conversation is Matthew 5:17, where Jesus says he does not abolish the Torah and the Prophets but fulfills them. We explore what “fulfill” means in real terms, including Jesus’ perfect obedience and his final sacrifice, and we challenge the common habit of equating law with legalism. Then we land in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36, where the promise gets intensely practical: God writes his Torah within us, gives a new heart, and empowers obedience through the Holy Spirit, not through flesh-driven striving.

If this stirred questions or brought conviction, we’d love to hear from you. Subscribe for part two, share this with a friend who wrestles with grace and obedience, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Transcript

Welcome And Spiritual Growth Focus

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Hi folks, I want to welcome you to another episode of Life Around the Fire. My name is David Hutari, and I'll be your host today. We are a podcast that is devoted to spiritual growth. And what we mean by spiritual growth is this growth in our relationship, first and foremost with God, then in our relationships with one another. We have today a real treat. Once again, in the house, we've invited Rabbi Ed Bez to come and break open the word of the Lord to us, specifically in the area of covenant. And Rabbi Ed has a real unique gift, and he's what I consider to be one of the elders of our city in Jacksonville, Florida. We're a city of about a million people, give or take. And uh so it's not a big city, but it's a big town, small city. But there's a real thing that God's doing in our midst, and he has risen up people from around the nations to be part of what's going on and to help provide some leadership. And Rabbi Ed happens to be one of those individuals, so it's a real privilege for us to have you in our house today, Rabbi, and we give you complete freedom and liberty to express yourself as the Lord's Beefit.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Thank you, Brother David. I was thinking, it's been several years ago when I was on your podcast a number of years ago, and I'm just have to let your listeners know that I I periodically listen in on the podcast and have been enriched every single time. You have amazing men of God and women of God throughout

Meet Rabbi Ed And Covenant Theme

SPEAKER_01 2:15

the city and this region that speak into those, your audience, and I am honored. Thank you very much, Brother David. Call him David, which is the Hebrew for David. Uh he's very gracious. And I'm honored to share these next two sessions, kind of a mini, a mini-series on a topic that has really gripped my life and has by and large shaped, molded, fashioned, and established my ability to have a more mature grasp on the scriptures, both what we refer to as the Old Testament and the New Testament. Brother David, you know I have a I I come from a messianic backdrop, being a Jew that's accepted Yeshua as the Mashiach, the Messiah, and I lead a small congregation of believers in the city called the Seed of Abraham. But I think you you know that I believe that the your audience can appreciate if I were to say to them, I believe, as as well, I believe you likely also believe that the scriptures, the holy scriptures, the Bible, is not made up of two halves, but actually it's a composite, organic whole. It's a unity from Genesis to Revelation. There is an unfolding of God's character, his mission, his purpose, his intention from Genesis to Revelation. And so there have been times, years ago, I pastored Christian churches, as I know David, you too have pastored. In the Christian circles, it's not uncommon to call it Old and New Testament. I find that this is just a little pet peeve. I want to get it out of the way. Old and new, I think is uh creates a problem, an unnecessary dichotomy that doesn't need to be there, because I believe it's the whole organic word of God. All scripture, the Paul writes, all scripture is profitable. And all scripture means Genesis to Revelation. So I will be discussing a little this morning about or in this broadcast, the first part of it, kind of addressing

Why Scripture Is One Whole

SPEAKER_01 5:05

terms like old and new. You're used to the word testament, it's better better word that I'm going to be using is covenant. Covenant is a very important and key kingdom concept. I believe the Bible is essentially incomprehensible until we can get our hands, wrap our hands around, and get our hearts in alignment with and our minds in tune to the fact that God, throughout his entire exposed existence on this planet, is a God of covenants. And there are series of significant covenants that he makes in the timeline of human history. Hopefully, we'll touch on those all the way from the some scholars call it the Adamic covenant, the covenant God made with our ancestral parents, Adam and Eve. Then there's the Noic covenant, the covenant God made with Noah, then you go to the Mosaic covenant, then you go to the Davidic covenant, a very important one. I know, Brother David, you had particular interest in the Davidic covenant, and we will touch on that because the Davidic covenant, each of these covenants, by the way, contribute substantially in a growing body of covenant language, so that by the time we get into the time of Jesus and into modern times, it's called the new covenant. But actually, the word new is never attached. It's the word renewed, the renewed covenant. So I'm going to give you some legal forensic language to help you understand covenant in the context of the of the Torah or the Tanakh, as we would say in our circles. Old Testament, Tanakh, they're one and the same. Hebrew Bible, another way of putting it. So what I thought I would do, Brother David, is launch with a couple scriptures that I think are key that your audience can jot them down and then think about them later. Now I want to begin with one of the most important statements concerning Yeshua or Jesus as it relates to the Mosaic Covenant or one of the covenants. And it's in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 5, and verse 17.

Covenant Timeline And Key Terms

SPEAKER_01 7:50

And I'm going to be reading from the Tree of Life translation. Wow. Brother David, that was produced by Pastor Jack Hayford and some Jewish rabbis. And he spearheaded this translation of both Old and New Testament. Really called Tree of Tree of Life. The Tree of Life version. It's easily accessible. It's uh it's but it is much more kindly disposed toward those of us that are a part of a stream and a segment of the body of Yeshua, his bride. We are the messianic component, and it's it is very kindly disposed toward those of us who have a messianic theological framework. So from chapter five of Matthew and verse 17, do not think this is Yeshua, this is Jesus, do not think I came to abolish. Huge word, abolish, to destroy, devastate, explode, blow up, eliminate, evaporate. I did not come to abolish the Torah, nor did I come to abolish the prophets. I did not come to abolish, but I came to fulfill. I love that word. Abolish and fulfill.

Abolish Versus Fulfill In Matthew

SPEAKER_01 9:25

What a contrast in vocabulary. One a very positive word to fulfill, the other one a rather devastating negative term to blow up or to abolish. Jesus here explains that his mission was to complete the ultimate purpose of the law and the prophets in each of the subset covenants that he made with his people rather than to annul the scriptures. One translation of the word to fulfill means to gather together and sow into a single fabric. So I believe that there are shades and hues of covenantal language in the Tanakh or the Old Testament, then it's going to be important for us to look at over these this next session and the one following. So how is it that he could come to fulfill? What does it mean that he came to fulfill? Well, I I think that he perfectly fulfilled their moral demands and accomplished the redemptive purpose and plan that they pointed towards. So I think Christians, Brother David, you and I probably would generally agree that this fulfillment that Jesus spoke about happened in two primary ways. One, it was fulfilled by perfect obedience. Perfect obedience. Perfect obedience. The reason that Jesus could come to say, I've come to fulfill, because he demonstrated that he could perfectly live, and he did live, a sinless life. Hallelujah. A sinless life, perfectly keeping the moral requirements of all of the covenants, including the Mosaic Law. But not only did he fulfill because of perfect obedience, but there was also a final sacrifice, meaning though through his death he fulfilled the ceremonial laws and covenantal contractual sacrifices required in the covenant, he became the final sacrifice. So through those two avenues, Brother David, I believe that Yeshua said, I did not come to abolish the law. He fulfilled it because he perfectly obeyed and he perfectly aligned his heart and mind, his actions, his reactions, his decisions. We're in perfect alignment. I love throughout the gospel stories we're told. Jesus repeatedly said, I'm not going to do anything but what I see my Father. What my Father shows me, I will do. Oh, I long for that in my life. And for those of you that are listening, I long for it in your life as well. That you have such a passion to align your thoughts, your emotions, your decisions, your appetites, they all come in heart alignment that we also, knowing that we have

Perfect Obedience And Final Sacrifice

SPEAKER_01 13:20

a redeemer that did perfectly obey the moral requirements of the law. And let me say just for a minute, because I'm a messianic, I am a functioning rabbi, but I also pastored for years and years and years, decades, that I do need to say that it's not just in the Old Testament that you hear, if you love me, keep my commandments. It is repeated over and over from Matthew all the way to Revelation. Paul says it repeatedly. So that is my challenge this morning. So I'm sorry, Brother David.

SPEAKER_00 15:00

I any thoughts, my friend? No, no, no. I uh I I I said very simply, hallelujah, and yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 15:09

See, he's speaking Hebrew. Did you know that Brother David speaking? Hallelujah. What a beautiful word. Do you know that's the same word used around the world, hallelujah? And that is absolutely 100% Hebrew, one of the few Hebrew words that survive, other than shalom. I think we all use that as well. So, you know, you and I, Brother David, are trained. We have, we've had formal Bible education theologically, where we are, you may not know it in the audience, but your host is rather theologically sophisticated. He is gifted. He has, he doesn't just speak out of the off the top of his head. There's stuff that he's put in his heart and his mind through years and years of study as well as ministry experience. But theologians and believers frequently debate the exact mechanics of how covenant ought to work amongst those of us who are following Yeshua. The word testament, law, that word somehow freaks people out because they think law,

Law, Legalism, And Moral Obligation

SPEAKER_01 16:25

and the minute you hear the word law, there's this kind of cloud, and you somehow confuse law with legalism. And unfortunately, that that's what many, many people hold. Some believe, and I'm amongst them, that the moral commands still remain as an ongoing standard for holy living. I don't think you can do away with the Abrahamic covenant. I don't think you can do away with the Mosaic covenant, I don't think you can do away with the Davidic covenant. When the new covenant comes, the assumption is, well, we're no longer under law and legalism. Well, you would be really in error because it's understood that in the entire Old Testament, which by the way is three-quarters of our Bible is the Old Testament. So a larger hunk of our Bible, which was the Bible of Yeshua, Jesus, a large chunk of it, by the way, is it contains six hundred and thirteen mitzvots or six hundred and thirteen laws. So those of you that think that the Judaism or messianics, all we talk about is law, law, law. There's only 613 in the Bible. Now, the Pharisees, they added a couple thousand more, but in the Bible itself, in the Hebrew Bible, there's only 613. Now compare that with the commands of obedience that Yeshua and the apostles place upon us, the moral obligation to obey and follow Jesus. Guess what? There's nearly 2,000 of them. So when you say that you're when you come in the gospel, when you come in the gospel of grace, and all of a sudden there's no longer moral obligation, there's no longer a requirement to seek alignment with God's will and purpose and word, that really is a misnomer. Because it's not true that when we're walking in the grace of redemption through Yeshua, that we are somehow set free, that all of the chains of so-called moral obligation to obey is somehow we now just kind of cruise and it's kind of smooth sailing. But I think that that's a wrong-headed perspective. So let's talk a little bit more now. There's some scriptures, I just, Brother David, I want to take a moment. I think I've picked out four passages. I want to explore the following core, C-O-R, the following core, Old Testament passages that will help create a comprehensive understanding that even under the Old Covenant, there was a prophetic promise that there was going to be a renewal of that covenant, not changing all of the terms of the covenant, but addressing who empowers us to be obedient in the first place. It wasn't just obedience because we put our mind, that we put our hand to the plow, that we did it out of our own human will, because no human person was able to keep all of the terms of the covenant in their own human strength. But I want you to know that even in the old covenant, there are strong prophetic words that there was going to be a renewed covenant coming, and that's the era in which you and I now live. I want to begin with Jeremiah 31, a passage that many of you should memorize. Jeremiah 31, 31 through 34. If you take a look at that, maybe if we have a moment, Brother David, would it be okay? Do do your uh listeners uh follow along? Or uh yes, I do. Okay, okay. So if you give me one moment, I want to see if I can find Jeremiah.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

And I would like to read it. And as you're looking, for those of you that have access to the transcripts for this particular podcast, they're also available, and you can get the exact address for the scriptures on the transcripts.

SPEAKER_01 21:04

Thank you, Brother David. Jeremiah 31, and beginning, actually, let me begin at verse 30. Behold, days are coming. Oh, hallelujah. Days are coming. That phrase immediately should put you into the prophetic

Jeremiah 31 And The Renewed Covenant

SPEAKER_01 21:25

realm. Days are coming. This is an eschatological expression. Days are coming. It is a declaration of Adonai when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. That's obviously talking about the Mosaic covenant. For they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them. Interesting language here. Covenantal language has to do with a marital contract. I don't know how many of your listeners realize that the laws given at Sinai, the Ten Commandments, are a prenuptial agreement. It's a prenuptial agreement between God who wanted to be, he said, I will be your God, you will be my people. But that is marital language of husband. I want to be to you a husband. And that metaphor is used throughout all the prophetic. Literature that he wants to be our husband. And he said, many times he said, Israel went, and you're almost driving to a state of divorce, says the Lord, because you're constantly playing the harlot. You're whoring after idols, you're whoring after other gods. You're not being faithful to the covenant. Continuing on, it says, it is a declaration of Adonai. But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days. It is a declaration of Adonai. I will put my Torah within them. I will put my Torah within them. The technical Torah is Genesis through Deuteronomy. How much time do believers, Christians, messianics, how much time do we spend allowing God through the Holy Spirit, the Ruach Hakudesh, putting the Torah within you? Yes, I will write it on their heart. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will each teach his neighbor or each his brother saying, No, Adonai, for they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. It is a declaration of Adonai, for I will forgive their iniquity, their sins. I will remember no more. I absolutely love Jeremiah 31. It is the foundational prophecy explicitly naming that there was going to be a new agreement, an updated agreement. It shifts the focus here, right? The focus is no longer on the laws written on stone, but now it's the instrument of the Spirit of God writing them on the tablets of our hearts. I love it. We go from the external, now we're kingdom is not external. If all you preach is the external things, you're missing the idea of the kingdom. The kingdom of God is something that does not come with outward sight. The kingdom of God is an inward working, and having the Torah written upon the tablets of our heart is an amazing, amazing scripture. So Jeremiah 31. And I want to make sure I get these. I want you to look at Ezekiel, Ezekiel chapter 36. Ezekiel 36. And I'm flipping the pages. I probably should have written them out. I apologize for that. But Ezekiel chapter 36, beginning at verse 26. And this is what it says. Moreover, I will give you a new heart. Hallelujah. I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the stony heart from your flesh. The Lord

Ezekiel 36 And The New Heart

SPEAKER_01 25:34

is no longer interested in chiseling his laws in or on stone. Whether that's granite and feldspar from the mountains, or whether it's the hardened heart of a human being. He doesn't want to use his finger, he doesn't want to waste his energy, doesn't want to take his finger and write on stone. He says, I want, I will remove the stony heart from their from your flesh and give you a heart. I will put my ruach within you. How important to all of you listening, how important it is for you to have an understanding of the role, the function, the ministry of the Ruach Hakkadesh, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost. It's important that you understand what a spirit-filled life is. It's through the instrumentality of the Ruach, the Holy Spirit, that God will write the Torah upon our hearts. But when it becomes a vibrant part of your inner being, when you feel it being written in your heart, it becomes easier to submit to, become compliant, and I love we can start moving toward a more perfect obedience, maybe not perfect obedience. Because, Brother David, I suspect you and I both have struggles with perfect obedience at times.

SPEAKER_00 27:09

You know, there's a powerful anointing on the past several statements that you just made. From my perception, the emphasis on that is so important because there's an exclamation point that I feel the Spirit of God is placing on this particular portion. Could you just express that a little bit more, please?

SPEAKER_01 27:32

I I think are you referencing the the dynamic work of the Holy Spirit in all of our lives? How that the Word of God, the finger of God wrote the original covenantal agreement, the prenuptial agreement, the terms of marriage and covenant in stone. Right. But now he said, that didn't work so well. So I am going to do an operation that removes the stony heart. And I'm going to allow the ruach Hakkadesh to overshadow you, and I'm going to impart into you, and I'm going to blazon and blazon. I'm going to etch into your very being and core and in your heart. I'm going to give you a heart of flesh. And it's much more easy, it's easier, a better way, English, it's easier for us to be compliant to the law that has been so beautifully etched in our inner being because it changes our appetites, it addresses our appetites, it adjusts our trajectory through life, and it is the compass. It gives us a sense of direction, keeps us on target, speaks to us when the Holy Spirit pricks your heart saying, don't do that. It's a wonderful thing. And I don't know if that's fully what you had in mind. So maybe we can wrap up here with this passage from Ezekiel 26 and 27. And I just love it. Then I will cause you to walk in my laws. I will cause you. The causation for obedience in the new covenant is not striving in the flesh, but surrendering to the tender nudging of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Spirit, the Ruach. I will cause you. The causation of obedience is the indwelling presence of the Ruach. I will cause you to walk in my laws. So you will keep my rules and do them. Then you will live in the land that I pledge to you with Shalom. Hallelujah. Thank you, Lord.

SPEAKER_00 29:55

Hallelujah. Would you, Rabbi, would you do us uh uh the the the honor of tapping this particular portion of in prayer? And then I'll close us off. But if you could just leave us in a moment of prayer. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 30:07

Oh, Holy Spirit, living God, Rua Kakadesh, Baruch Hashem, Baruch Hoshim, we praise and magnify your holy name. I thank you for the evident anointing and presence of the sweet Spirit of God that's hovering in this uh podcast room.

Prayer, Listener Outreach, Part Two

SPEAKER_01 30:25

I pray, Lord, that the words that were shared in that first uh first portion would somehow take root. Let people ring our bells a little, help us to see more beautifully that you did not come to abolish terms of covenant, but you've come to empower us to make it easier for us to flow in obedience to you. Bless every listener, help them, Lord, in their walk of obedience, help them. If you love me, keep my commandments. Jesus said that. But now we know we can't keep them in our flesh, but we can keep them because you will cause us to walk in your ways. I pray this in the lovely name of Yeshua Hamasheik. Baruch Hashem. Baruch Hashem.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen. Amen. Folks, we love you. And if you have any thoughts, questions, concerns, please feel free to drop us a line at life on the fire at gmail.com. That's our email address. Or you just type in life on the fire and look yourself on the web. Either way, we would love to hear from you. In the meantime, God bless you. Adios, amigos, and stay tuned for part two.