Bits of Torah Truths – #Torah Concept in the NT: Put On Bowels of Mercy – Episode 685 Colossians 3:12 לָכֵן אַתֶּם, כִּבְחִירֵי אֱלֹהִים קְדוֹשִׁים וַאֲהוּבִים, לִבְשׁוּ חֶמְלָה וְרַחֲמִים וּנְדִיבוּת לֵב, נְמִיכוּת רוּחַ וַעֲנָוָה וְאֹרֶךְ אַפַּיִם. #torah #torahwisdom #torahtruth #torahforlife #torah4you #torahtruth Colossians 3:12 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; (NASB) https://www.matsati.com/index.php/category/bits-of-torah-truths/ The phrase “put on bowels of mercy” (Col. 3:12) sounds very NT, but the concept is deeply rooted in the Torah. The Torah repeatedly commands us to cultivate compassion, mercy, tenderness, and empathy. – Torah Parallels to “Put On Bowels of Mercy” – God’s Own Compassion (Exodus 34:6–7), This is the Torah’s foundational revelation of God’s character. Compassion Toward the Stranger (Exodus 22:21; 23:9), The Torah repeatedly commands compassion toward the outsider. Compassion Toward the Poor and Vulnerable (Deut. 15:7–11), The Torah commands us to open their hand and heart. This is “bowels of mercy” in action, mercy that flows from the inner being into concrete kindness. Compassion Toward Animals (Deut. 22:6–7; 25:4), The Torah even commands mercy toward animals, showing that compassion is a character posture, not just a social rule. Compassion as the Proper Way to Apply Torah (Deut. 10:18–19), God defends the fatherless, widow, and stranger, and we must imitate Him. The Hebrew Word Connection: Rachamim (Mercy), the Greek phrase in Col. 3:12 (“bowels of mercy”) corresponds to the Hebrew rachamim. The Torah uses this root repeatedly to describe God’s compassion and the compassion Israel must imitate. – Context Synthesis – Paul is not inventing a new ethic, he is summarizing the Torah’s compassion ethic and telling believers to “put it on” like clothing, the same metaphor the Torah uses for holiness, obedience, and covenant identity. The Torah teaches: God is compassionate, we must imitate that compassion, Compassion must flow from the inner being, Compassion governs how Torah is applied. Paul simply internalizes and universalizes this Torah principle. This is how Paul taught Torah in the NT, the Torah has not passed away!
Visual Summary of Concepts the Torah in the NT
