How Many Mitzvahs Make a Mensch?
During the period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur many Jewish people have been thinking about their standing before our holy God. For some, it is a time of intense self-examination.
Over the past year, where have I fallen short?
To whom do I owe an apology?
In what ways might I make amends for wrongs done?
Having peace with God matters! The impetus for the “ten days of repentance”[1] is the traditional Jewish teaching that from the sounding of the first shofar of Rosh Hashanah (the biblical Feast of Trumpets) until the Neilah[2] prayer at the close of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), God is “weighing the deeds” of everyone. Those deemed worthy He inscribes into the Book of Life for another year.
Rabbinic Judaism places high value on works-based righteousness. Performing good deeds in keeping with the sages’ traditional interpretation of God’s commandments will merit His favor. It is hoped that sincere regret and making restitution where possible will remove the weight of wrongdoing.
The attraction of a religious system based on performance is that it provides a way of keeping score. I can track how many times I pray daily, how much I give to charity, how well I observe the Sabbath or refrain from eating non-kosher food.
The problem with such a system is that even if I say, “I did the best I could,” could I not always do better?
Another challenge with attempting to merit God’s favor is, which “yardstick” should I use to measure my progress toward holiness? As a simple example, if I desire to “keep kosher,” who is my authority?[3] What level of kashrut[4] will I seek to maintain? Does God require abiding by the Levitical code in Scripture, strict adherence to the minutiae of rabbinic halakhah,[5] or is just skipping bacon good enough?
Perhaps the greatest conundrum in works-based righteousness is, How can I ever be sure I’ve done enough? How many good deeds must I do to counter my bad ones? How much weight does God give to each category of sin I commit or command that I fulfill? This dilemma is highlighted in the video How many mitzvahs make a mensch?
The Scriptures hold the answer: “You shall be holy for I the LORD your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). We are to be holy as the One whose “eyes are too pure to approve evil…who cannot look upon wickedness with favor” (Habakkuk 1:13).
On a flight to Tel Aviv I was seated next to an Israeli who told me he was a “material scientist.” When I asked for clarification he said, “I am a scientist who studies the material makeup of things primarily for industrial purposes.”
As we discussed spiritual matters he said he was unsure if God existed, but if He does then surely there is a heaven and probably a hell. He agreed that heaven is considered to be a perfect place, free of all the ills that plague us in our present state.
I asked, “How many imperfect people can be in a perfect place before it’s not perfect anymore?’
His puzzled face prompted explanation. “For sake of illustration, let’s suppose you have a glass of pure water,” I began.
“Let me stop you right there. Pure water doesn’t exist.”
Now I was puzzled. “You can buy pure water at the grocery store.”
“No, you can buy purified water,” he corrected. “But there is not enough energy in the world to completely purify water.”
“I didn’t know that. But it makes the illustration even clearer. Let’s say it is possible to have completely pure water. How many drops of poison would it take before it was no longer pure?”
“That’s easy. Even the smallest particulate would do it.”
“Exactly. So if heaven is a perfect place, how many imperfect people can go there before it is no longer perfect?”
Light dawned. “I suppose none.”
“And how many perfect people do you know?”
“Same answer.”
“And now you will understand why I’m so glad God promised to send Messiah. He’s the only One who can make us pure in God’s sight. Just as God passed over the homes of the Hebrews in Egypt when the lamb’s blood was applied to the doorposts, so we escape His judgment when we place our trust in Yeshua, the Lamb of God. Our stain of sin is washed clean and the perfect righteousness of Messiah Jesus is credited to us. God can now treat us as holy because He has made us righteous. As the Scriptures tell us, ‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.’”[6]
Does God really keep track of our thoughts, attitudes, and deeds? Indeed He does!
for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9; see also Psalm 94:11).
You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all (Psalm 139:3-4).
the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who esteem His name (Malachi 3:16).
“May you be inscribed for a good year” is a traditional Jewish New Year’s greeting. That’s a wonderful sentiment. But how much more important to be inscribed in “the Lamb’s Book of Life” by virtue of placing our trust in Him. We are assured we truly have peace with God when His Son is our Savior.
Written by Wes Taber, LIFE Global Ambassador
1) How has your thinking been shaped by the common image of God “balancing our good and bad deeds?”
2) Are you clear in understanding that good works don’t pay the entrance fee into heaven?
3) What would your Jewish friend answer if you asked, “Now that Yom Kippur is over, are you assured you have right standing before God?”
Endnotes:
[1] Called “Days of Awe” in English, “Days of Repentance” is a more accurate translation of the Hebrew phrase. The root idea of “teshuvah” (repentance) is that of turning/returning, indicating a change of direction, not merely regretting one’s wrong actions.
[2] Neilah refers to the “closing of the gates” of God’s judgment; the word in Hebrew is used today for “locking” the door, underscoring the finality of the decision.
[3] Agencies certifying kosher items: https://www.kashrut.com/agencies/.
[4] A manual with introductory guidelines designed to help students away from home with keeping kosher can be found at https://www.ou.org/life/files/Kashrut_Organization_Nov13.pdf.
[5] Halakah is rooted in rabbinic rulings and commentaries from the Mishnah (around 200 AD) and Gemara (500 AD) and continuing to be developed through today.
[6] Titus 3:5-6 is a great companion to Ephesians 2:8-10 which tells us we are saved by grace through faith, not works, so that no one may boast. But as believers, we are created “for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”