Parashat Ki Tetze
The Bible was written in a specific culture and language that most modern readers have never been introduced to, and understanding that framework can transform the way we read Scripture and live our faith. Jewish tradition offers a four-level approach to interpreting Scripture known as PaRDeS, which moves from the plain meaning of a text all the way to its deeper spiritual reality.
When Yeshua said He came to fulfill the Torah, He was using language His audience understood clearly. In the rabbinic tradition, to fulfill the Torah meant to interpret it correctly so it could be properly observed. The Hebrew word for commandment, mitzvah, carries the Aramaic meaning of connection, which means that obeying God is not just rule-following but an act of deepening relationship with Him. The kingdom of heaven, as Yeshua used the phrase, was not only about the afterlife but about participating in God’s sovereignty through how we live, treat others, and walk with Him every day.
True faith is not about external religious performance. It is about a living, active connection with God expressed through love.