𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬?

The Noahide Laws evoke different responses in each of us. For many, they serve as a solid foundation, but for those who feel a call toward a deeper observance of Torah, these seven commandments can seem limiting. Jewish believers have 613 commandments as a way to draw close to God, while Gentiles are given these seven—enough to live morally yet leaving some feeling a gap between their own desire for closeness and what’s prescribed. Those eager to express devotion, seeking to deepen their connection to God, may feel that something is missing, unsure of where these laws place us in the Divine relationship.

The language of the Noahide Laws—sometimes broad, sometimes vague—invites a range of interpretation. Words like “idolatry,” “blasphemy,” and “justice” carry profound meaning, but putting them into practice can require clarity that often comes from rabbinic interpretation. For those outside of Judaism, looking to rabbinic authority for guidance might feel unfamiliar, especially if we’re used to shaping our beliefs and practices independently. While rabbinic wisdom offers valuable insight, some may find this added layer of authority challenging, perhaps even limiting.

There’s also the question of scope. Seven laws provide a moral framework, yet many feel that these don’t fully capture the breadth of the spiritual life we’re called to. Values like charity, forgiveness, and care for creation—central to the spiritual life for many—aren’t found in the Noahide Laws, which can leave us wondering if these laws encompass the complete path we seek. For Christians especially, the command against idolatry can sometimes raise tension; traditional interpretations occasionally clash with Christian beliefs around the Trinity, and that tension may leave some feeling their faith is being misunderstood.

The history and potential future application of the Noahide Laws also bring up important questions. Since they appear as a unified set only in later rabbinic texts, some of us may find ourselves curious about their origins and wondering if these laws have the same divine mandate as other commandments. Others may wonder what it might look like if these laws were enforced broadly, raising concerns about how that might impact religious freedom, especially for those with beliefs outside the scope of traditional Jewish interpretations. Though hypothetical, such thoughts tap into our desire for both freedom and unity, reminding us of the balance between universal ethics and practical realities.

These reflections bring forward the challenges we may face in embracing the Noahide Laws. They offer a helpful foundation and call us to lives of integrity, but they may leave some wondering how these seven commandments fit into the broader landscape of spiritual life. Through the New Testament, however, we see these laws take on a rich significance. They remind us that God’s foundational commandments are meant for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Looking at the Noahide Laws through the lens of the New Testament, we start to see them as more than rules. They become pathways that lead us deeper into God’s love and holiness. For early followers of Yeshua, these principles resonated with the teachings of the apostles, inviting Gentiles into a life of faith. Though not listed explicitly in the New Testament, each Noahide command is echoed in Yeshua’s teachings, pointing us toward a life that honors God, respects others, and pursues righteousness.

The call to worship God alone comes through clearly in both Yeshua’s words and Paul’s teachings. When Paul urges the Thessalonians to turn from idols and serve “the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9), he reinforces the Noahide prohibition against idolatry. Yeshua’s affirmation of the Shema—the command to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength—draws us toward wholehearted worship. For those of us pursuing purity and devotion, this invitation calls us to focus fully on God, putting aside anything that could divert us from Him.

The prohibition against blasphemy also finds deep resonance in Yeshua’s teachings. In teaching us to pray, “Hallowed be Your name,” he shows us how to honor God’s holiness (Matthew 6:9). James, too, speaks to the power of the tongue, urging believers to guard their words, which reflects the Noahide respect for God’s name. The call here isn’t only about speech but about the reverence in our hearts—a reverence that shapes how we speak and think about God.

The other Noahide commandments—against murder, theft, and sexual immorality—are not only affirmed but deepened by Yeshua’s teachings. When he speaks about anger as a form of murder or lust as a form of adultery (Matthew 5:21-28), Yeshua calls us beyond mere actions to the condition of our hearts. His words urge us to release resentment, to reject selfish desires, and to cultivate peace and purity from within. This focus on the inner life aligns our intentions with the outward holiness we seek to live.

Even the call for compassion toward animals, rooted in the Noahide prohibition against eating the limb of a living animal, resonates in the New Testament. The Jerusalem Council’s guidance to Gentiles to “abstain from blood” (Acts 15:20) reflects a sensitivity that honors all life. And Yeshua’s emphasis on justice, urging his followers to practice mercy, justice, and faithfulness, places God’s justice at the center of our actions (Matthew 23:23).

In embracing the Noahide Laws through Yeshua’s teachings, we find more than a checklist of commands. These laws, when viewed through the Spirit, become invitations into a holy life—a life grounded in kindness, compassion, and justice. The Noahide Laws, seen this way, become stepping stones toward the wholeness that God envisions for us, guiding us into a life of integrity and closeness with Him, inviting us to embody His love and righteousness in every part of our lives.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

So, are we to embrace the Noahide Laws? Perhaps the answer lies in the way we study them—through the Torah Pursuancy hermeneutic, tracing each command through the Prophets and Writings, through the New Testament, past the insights of great rabbis and church fathers, across the centuries, and into our present. In this journey, we observe their development, evolution, and interpretation until we bring the conversation into our own time. Then, we discern the ways in which the Holy Spirit might lead us to observe these mitzvot today.

So yes, I believe we should observe them. Not because rabbinic authority requires it, but because our intimacy with the Father invites it. Loving God means loving Him in the way He desires—through obedience to His commands, including those the rabbis identified as the Noahide Laws. Through these, we walk in closeness with Him, living out His call with devotion, integrity, and joy.

B”H