TORAH
Intro to Torah
Torah is Law, but not exclusively.
Did Messiah fulfill or fill the Torah?
The New Testament is written primarily in Greek. The word plerosai means ‘to fill’ however, most translators render ‘to fulfill.’ This makes no sense based on Messiah’s following statement.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill (to fill) (Matthew 5:17 RSB).
What Messiah came to do is ‘fill’ the Torah with all its proper understanding. One such meaning is that we no longer violate a commandment by just a physical act, as in adultery, but we also violate a commandment by an impure thought seeded from our hearts! Messiah came to inform, explain, and complete the details of all of Yahweh’s Laws (Matthew 5:27-280).
Does the Messiah bring the Torah to an end?
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth (Romans 10:4 KJV).
The word in Greek for the end is telos meaning ‘goal.’ This scripture does not mean the extinction or termination of the Laws of Yahweh. The goal at which the Torah (law) aims is the Jewish Messiah. Through Messiah, righteousness is offered to everyone who trusts. In 1 Peter 1:9, telos is used in speaking of “Receiving the end of your faith.” Salvation is the goal of your faith, not the obliteration of one’s faith!
The proper clarification is, ‘For Christ is the goal of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.’
Gentiles are not required to become Jews but to seek the Truth in Scriptures penned by Hebrew servants of the Highest. This will involve fervent study and research of Hebrew and Greek words.
Is the Torah legalistic?
The apostle Paul coined the word, Judaizers, to describe Jewish believers who taught that the law must be kept as a necessity for salvation. Paul speaks of ‘works of the law’ and ‘under the law’ translated from Greek phrases, erga nomou and upo nomon. These Greek words are found in his three letters in Romans, Galatians, and 1 Corinthians, appearing ten times in the New Covenant. See Galatians 2:14, Strong’s G2450.
The word Judaizers goes hand in hand with the meaning of erga nomou.
Erga nomou does not refer to the Torah (law) itself but to man’s legalistic perversion of it!
Upo nomon is to bring subjection to the system, which results from perverting the Torah (law) into man’s legalism!
When Paul sounds negative about the Law (Torah), he’s referring to the misuse and legalism that goes above the laws and commandments of Yahweh, echoing Yahushua’s warning to the Pharisees and Scribes.
Read Matthew 23 and the content titled ‘Takanot and Ma’asim’ a later posting on this same page with an explanation.
Paul defends the Torah; Therefore, we hold the view that a person comes to be considered righteous by God on the ground of trusting, which has nothing to do with the legalistic observance of Torah commands. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is indeed the God of the Gentiles; because, as you will admit, God is one. Therefore, he will consider righteous the circumcised (referring to Jews) on the ground of trusting and the uncircumcised (referring to non-Jews) through the same trusting. Does it follow that we abolish the Torah by this trust? Heaven forbid! On the contrary, we confirm the Torah (Romans 3:28-31 CJB).
Trusting is faith in the Jewish Messiah. Using the commandments and teachings of Yahweh is your road map to life. How would you know right from wrong unless you read God’s laws?
Jewish legalism, as well as Christian legalism, exists throughout the world, and this is bad. Living according to Yahweh’s Torah (Commandments) is the ‘Fountain of Life’ which is good!
“The law (Torah) of the wise is the fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs 13:14 RSB).
Is the New Testament Torah?
The Jewish community has viewed the Torah as the first five books of the Tanakh, where all 613 principles (commandments) are written. The New Covenant brings completion and clarification of the Torah. This extension of Torah, by the Messiah Himself, has brought the basis of even better promises! The Brit Hadashah/New Covenant is just as much Torah as the Sinaitic Covenant, given through Moshe. Messiah came not to abolish but to explain and complete the understanding of total redemption!
“Yahweh’s inspiration inspires all scripture and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16 RSB).
Includes both Old and New Covenant scriptures!
Law or Grace?
(And Yahweh descended in the cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of Yahweh. And Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, Yahweh, Yahweh El, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:5-6 RSB).
Two of Yahweh’s character traits are; merciful, compassionate, gracious, and generous of spirit. The Tanakh/Old Testament is filled with acts of mercy. These attributes always existed with our Creator. The story in the book of Jonah is one great case. Judgment on Nineveh was about to take place. The people repented, and Yahweh held off the destruction of the city and its kingdom. The same grace is carried through the Brit Hadashah/New Testament. Law and Grace exist side by side then and now! The Hebrew words for compassionate and gracious are rahum we-hanun. A pairing of two words that explain each other.
The book of Revelation points to the end-time saints as those who believe in the redemption plan for mankind and followed the Law/Torah!
“Here is the saints’ patience: they keep the commandments (Torah) of Yahweh and the faith of Yahshua” (Revelation 14:12 RSB).
Let’s continue to go further in ‘Understanding Torah.’
Understanding Torah
"Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" John 5:39
John 14:15 RSB, “Messiah’s Words; If ye love me, keep my commandments. 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
The commandment is ‘Torah,’ also known as ‘Moral Law.’ Torah has several Hebrew meanings; one is nomosv (nomo). The Septuagint (1), is the work and translation of seventy Jewish Scribes who interpreted the Hebrew Scrolls into the Koine Greek language. Greek was spoken by Jews living in Alexandria, Egypt, and some Jews in Israel at that time. The Septuagint was produced about 250 years before Yahushua (Jesus), and made known the meaning of the Hebrew word nomo. Nomo is widely interpreted as law, but not exclusively as law! There are other related root words engaging Torah. Another is moreh, the word for teacher, one who imparts instruction, as noted in the Shema. Shema will be explained later. The next word related to Torah is horeh, a parent who instructs children. Torah has a broad sense of meaning, and there is one more to focus on.
Let’s focus on another root form derived from Torah, yareh used in the sphere of archery. Yareh means shooting an arrow to hit a target, the Bulls-Eye! The Bulls-Eye is an object at which the bow person is aiming. Yareh is one of the verbs associated with Torah and logically means the arrow aimed at the target. The target is the truth about our Heavenly Father, Yahweh, who gave us the commandments and how one relates to Him. The walking Torah is the Word made flesh, Yahushua the Messiah! He instructs us and restores us to a proper relationship with the Father! The Torah is, therefore, in the strict sense, instruction designed to teach us the truth about Yahweh our Father, and how mankind can again fellowship with Him.
Zechariah 9:14 RSB, “And Yahweh shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: my Sovereign Yahweh shall blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds of the south.”
In summary, Torah means direction, teaching, instruction, or doctrine. These are the oracles of Yahweh, our Creator, and His commandments.
John1:1-5 RSB, In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. The same was in the beginning with Elohim. He made all things, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Yochanan (John) 1:14 CJB, The Word became a Human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah, the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, of grace and truth (Sh’khinah means Glory)>
Most Jews say the Torah is the first five books of Moses, but we can determine that the books of Genesis thru Revelation all contain valid teaching and instructions for all mankind. The B’rit Hadashah (New Covenant) itself continually quotes from the Tanakh (Old Covenant). This New Covenant completes the Old Covenant as the completion of the Torah and Instructions. The Instructions are the Promise and Plan of redemption for Mankind. Every Believer in Messiah lays claim to all scriptural authority from Genesis and extends to Revelation. This is all the Word of Yahweh that Messiah spoke. Though many books are mentioned throughout Scripture, they are validated as cultural and historical accounts and fill gaps of understanding. The Almighty has His reasons for mentioning these books. (2) The New Testament contains about 300 direct quotations from the Old Testament and several hundred more references from Old Testament teachings. Grace, faith, and obedience parallel both the Old and New Testaments. Noach (Noah) found divine grace (Genesis 6:8), and Abraham was found righteous through faith (Genesis 15:6). The Law (Torah) continues as Grace continues both within the Old and New Testaments.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 RSB, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of Yahweh, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of Elohim (male and female in Messiah) may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Since the chosen people, the Israelites, along with the Gentile Nations, fall short of the mark the Torah commands, Yahweh sent Himself to fulfill the Torah in details man is yet to comprehend and, most of all, to atone for the weakness and sin nature of mankind! Although the blood of animals proved futile and only temporarily covered sin, it was and is the shadow of someone greater to come. Messiah was prophesied to put an end to and complete the sin sacrifice once and for all! The Ceremonial Law is the temporary law for a sin offering. The Death penalty is the curse of the law. The curse of the law is the Death penalty. The Death penalty is what was nailed to the cross and eradicated from the law, not the commandments and teachings of Yahweh.
The commandments of Yahweh (First spoken by Elohim Himself, Exodus 20:1-22) contain the bulls-eye (target) that guides man in righteous living. When man, by willful disobedience, broke His laws, a Ceremonial Law was in place to cover man’s indiscretion, which we know as sin. Sin in Hebrew is ‘chatah.’ When we sin, we miss the bulls-eye, which is the target and goal of the Torah. The Ceremonial Law was spoken first by Moshe (Moses) Exodus 24:3 gave the man a redemptive solution to deal with his sinful indiscretions. The problem is this sacrificial system was ongoing and never remedied mankind’s sinful and corrupt nature. With all its beauty, the Earth could only offer blood sacrifices of animals who themselves are in a death spiral. Mankind is in need of divine intervention, and Yahweh, the Creator of the Universe, became the Plan! Pure Holy Blood was Yahweh’s intent in erasing sin from man.
Romans 8:22 RSB, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”
We see a beautiful picture and a hint of something to come in the OT (Tanakh) when Abraham was instructed to bring a sacrifice to the land of Moriah. Genesis chapter 22, you see a picture of a father (Avraham) and his son (Yitzchak) on the wood for a sacrifice, a willing Father and a willing Son.
Genesis 22:8 RSB, “And Abraham said, My son, Elohim, will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: they went both of them together.”
Within scripture, a clue. Elohim will provide Himself! Referring to the sacrifice, He Himself is the Lamb! If you jump ahead to the future, the same theme, Passover in Exodus, is the saving of sons through the use of a sacrificial lamb. Blood from the lamb was placed on wooden doorposts (crossbeam), and children (Bnei-Yisra’el) were saved from the Death Angel.
For someone pure must be sent to deliver mankind from his impurity. So, ‘Elohim will provide Himself a Lamb.’ They went both of them together. For the Son is in the Father, and the Father is in the Son. And Moshe (Moses) wrote in the present and then future concerning the Lamb of Yahweh in the book of Exodus 23 RSB.
Exodus 12:5 RSB, “Your lamb shall be without blemish.”
Exodus 23:20-22 CJB, “I am sending an angel ahead to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him, listen to what he says, and do not rebel against him; because he will not forgive any wrongdoing of yours since my name resides in him. But if you listen to what he says and do everything I tell you, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.”
John 10:30, 38 RSB, “Yahushua says; my Father and I are one. But if I do, though ye believe not me believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
The Jewish Messiah fulfilled the sin sacrifice by offering Himself as a Lamb without blemish for the sins of the world.
Hebrews 9:11-12 RSB, “But Messiah being come to a high priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say not of this building.”
Scripture indicates Messiah is not of this created world! Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood entering in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
John 3:13 RSB, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.”
Man, in his futile attempt to obey all the sin ordinances of the Torah, falls short in covering his sins. Sin separates us from the Heavenly Father, so Yahweh manifests Himself in His Son to accomplish the task of saving and atoning mankind (Isaiah 7:14 fulfilled, Mattityahu 1:18-23). A Son from above, pure and holy, willingly sacrifices His Holy Life to redeem the earthen vessel doomed to die and save man from eternal separation from his Creator. Messiah is the Son of God (Divine) and Son of flesh and blood Mother (Human), a concept Jews wrestle with.
Romans 3:20 RSB, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
2 Timothy 1:10 RSB, “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Yahshua Messiah, who hath abolished death (curse of the law) and brought life and immortality to light through the good news.”
We need to be reminded that the laws of the spirit and life of Messiah set men free from the law of sin and death! But not from the laws of Yahweh, our Father! The laws of the spirit and the life of the Messiah are the life of the Torah.
Question? What does the ‘Letter of the Law’ mean vs. the‘ Spirit of the Law?’
In Matthew 5:20-44, Messiah showed that obeying the letter of the Law is a matter of physical action, whereas obeying the spirit of the Law requires more than outward actions; it also involves an attitude of the mind and heart. Paul (Sha’ul), the apostle, referred to this as circumcision of the heart.
Romans 2:28-29 RSB, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (the letter of the law) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohim.”
2 Corinthians 9:7 RSB, “Another example, Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for Elohim loveth a cheerful giver.”
Giving (tithe, alms, etc.) is a habit we must embrace as believers, and many in this world do justice in helping mankind. If we do this activity as a duty, we are just following the letter of the Law. To embrace giving with a loving commitment to furthering the gospel with a heartfelt, sincere motive, then this attitude is blessed without measure. This is the spirit of the Law that pleases Yahweh.
Messiah taught to merely refraining from adultery is obedience to the letter of the Law, but to obey both the spirit and the letter of the law, one must exercise self-control (temperance Galatians 5:23) and not even lust after someone, thus committing adultery in his heart.
Isaiah 66:23 RSB, “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh.”
All flesh, Jew and Gentile, will observe the Sabbath and new Moons in the coming Millennial Kingdom of Messiah’s reign on planet Earth (See Ezekiel 44-46 and Zechariah 14:18-19), To merely remember the Sabbath (Jews and Gentiles alike observed in NT) and to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8), not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Heb.10:25), is obedience to the letter of the Law, but we are to also rejoice in the Sabbath and call it delight (Isa. 58:13), keeping the spirit of the Law, as Yahweh intends. This Principle applies to all of Yahweh’s Laws!
Isaiah 58:13-14 RSB, If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of Yahweh, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in Yahweh, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of Yahweh hath spoken it.
Remember, the Law is the Torah, which are the Commandments and teachings of our Creator, our guideline for living a Holy Life. This is the Mark, the Target, the Bulls-Eye, and He has sent us a helper! Messiah promised to send a teacher, a comforter, the Spirit of Yahweh, the Ruach HaKodesh, which is the Spirit of Truth and Joy. Allow His Holy Spirit in, and the finger of Yahweh will write the Torah upon your new heart as He did on the stone tablets of old. The Spirit of Elohim can only write what you accept as truth about His Word. Understanding His Word rightly divided is the opening of receiving the Torah scrolls written upon your heart.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 RSB A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
This Scripture speaks of the Torah being engraved upon our hearts. Scripture came to pass at Shavuot and is ongoing, also known as Pentecost. (Acts 2) There is a pattern that follows great men and women of faith, written in the scriptures in Hebrews Chapter 11. They followed the Commandments and had grace in believing and trusting for a better resurrection……..
Hebrews 11:35 RSB, “That they might obtain a better resurrection.”
Genesis 26:4-5 RSB, Promise to Abraham’s descendants, And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Abraham believed and trusted in a better resurrection. He had faith and grace! He obeyed having the knowledge of the commandments before Moshe (Moses) received them and carried them down from Mount Sinai. Grace is favor and mercy forever linked. Abraham had faith and believed that Isaac, his son, would experience a better resurrection.
Acts 28:17 RSB, Sha’ul (Paul) had Grace! And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they came together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans.
Acts 28:23 RSB, And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of Yahweh, persuading them concerning Yahshua, both out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Both the Old and New Covenants confirm the Law of our Father Yahweh. He seeks to write it upon our hearts thru Yahushua!
The thread of the Torah is proclaimed till the end of days. Messiah, His Son reveals, John 15:10 RSB – if ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Messiah, our Savior, endorses the Torah. It is our guide to a Holy Lifestyle. Messiah who lives within us requires our obedience. This willful obedience makes Him your King. (See Zechariah 9:9) This is the Spirit of the Law.
To kiss your Bible is like kissing Messiah, like kissing Yahweh, like kissing the Holy Spirit. Proclaim His Word till He arrives! The Jews are seen kissing the Aron Kodesh, the covering where the Torah Scrolls are kept. This is like kissing the face of the One who spoke the living oracles.
John 3:16 RSB, “For Yahweh so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The thread of the Torah continues till the end of time. Is there a secret ingredient in keeping the commandments and teachings of the Father?
Yes, and Messiah sells it!
He has bent His bow and set me as a target for the arrow. Lamentations 3:12
May 12, 2017, Yahweh gave us a sign in the sky regarding the Torah. While my wife and I sat outside, she snapped this picture. The street we live on is called Longbow! A root word derived from Torah is ‘yareh,’ used in the sphere of archery. I had just finished composing "Understanding Torah."
Takanot & Ma’asim
Matthew 23:1-4, Then Yahushua spoke to the people and to his disciples saying: Upon the seat of Moses the Pharisees and the Torah scholars sit. Now all which (they) say to you keep and do, but (according to) their ordinances {takanot} and deeds {ma’asim} do not do because they say and do not. They demand and set forth great burdens [which] (the shoulders of men) are not able to bear, but they themselves, even with their fingers, are unwilling to move.
The Hebrew word takanot is ‘reforms that change Biblical law.’ The Hebrew word ma’asim, is ‘acts or deeds that serve as common law.’ Yahushua preached against these manmade rules because they were the pharisaic reforms that changed Yahweh’s Torah (Commandments). Messiah rebuked the Pharisees for placing their invented laws above our Creator’s law! This plague exists within the assemblies and church walls to this day!
Matthew 23:1-4, Tree of Life Version, read again. Then Yeshua spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, “The Torah scholars and Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. So whatever they tell you, do and observe. But don’t do what they say; they do not do. They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger to move them.”
The Gospel of Matthew gives us a clue as to what Yahushua is referring us to do concerning the Law of Moses. What not to do, the added rabbinical oral laws along with the invented acts and deeds.
Let’s examine the ‘Seat of Moses.’ When the Torah scholars and Pharisees sat upon this particular chair, they expounded the laws given to Moses. These laws were written by the finger of Yahweh, including the Ten Commandments, the teachings contained in the Torah, Prophets, Psalms, etc. This is our guide in living a holy and righteous life. This is what we obey and do. The Torah is the Fountain of Life. Today the New Testament teachings echo the Old Testament teachings as they further clarify Yahweh’s Laws.
Luke 4:16-21 RSB, Messiah reads the Torah. “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Yeshayahu – Isaiah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the glad tidings to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of Yahweh. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, this day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”
The preceding Scriptures reveal Messiah was observant of the Fourth Commandment, which is the Sabbath day. On the Sabbath day, we rest, reflect on worship and family, and abstain from physical labor. Exceptions are life-endangerment issues and professions such as police, medical, and defense-related. Our Creator instituted the Sabbath at the dawn of man for all mankind. Today many non-Jews, who testify Jesus as Savior, observe Sunday by tradition. Most of the days of the week have been named after false deities. The Death Angel has been busy corrupting time elements, like days, weeks, and months by renaming them. Yahweh has numbered the days 1 thru 6, and the 7th day is named the Sabbath. There is no such thing, called the Jewish Sabbath! The Sabbath started at creation before the first Hebrew Abram. Though we can worship our Creator on any day, the Sabbath is what Yahweh chose to sanctify and make Holy for His children. Obedience to His Commandments is what pleases Yahushua your King! I myself grew up going to church on Sunday until I grew in understanding what pleases our Creator. Today I follow what pleases our Maker; at some point, the world will follow His laws.
As a spiritual leader, do you have the right to install laws or rules that change the mandates of our Creator’s laws and then impose them on others? Yahushua – Jesus warns His people about such leaders.
So let Us observe and keep and do, is Messiah’s instruction. When the Torah is expounded from Genesis thru Revelation, the entire covenant of scriptures is to be observed. The whole Gospel is the story of the fall of man and the redemption of man. What a story!
Now let Us discard and not do (according to) their ordinances and deeds do not do because they say and do not. These are manmade laws and acts of deeds that alter the Word of Elohim.
From Messiah’s lips, He reveals His disdain for the heavy burdens placed on the innocent who are controlled by man-made rules. Oh Israel, what have the rabbis done? To add or take away from the Torah is prohibited!
Deuteronomy 4:2 RSB Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of Yahweh your Elohim which I command you.
Manmade traditions and rules have led many away from Yahweh’s decrees. This infection affects the entire Earth. Man has made himself religious. This was evident before Messiah, during Messiah’s sacrificial visit, and what is current in Israel at this moment. The same scenario plagues the Christian assemblies across America and the world. Spiritual blindness poses disadvantages. We need clarity of His Word. The Torah sets us free; the Holy Spirit is willing. His laws are life to those who obey! Messiah’s Victory is Everlasting! To live without the Law (Torah) is to be Lawless (Torah-less). To add to the Law is bondage (1 John 3:4).
2 Kings 17:33-34 RSB, They feared Yahweh and served their own mighty ones, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. To this day, they do after the former manners: they fear not Yahweh, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which Yahweh commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;
The Israelites assimilated themselves with the persuasions and influence of other nations, giving heed to their gods. Yahweh deported the children of Jacob from His sight due to their spiritual whoredom. Today, in fulfillment of His Word, the ‘Greater Exodus’ continues as He gathers His children for a latter rain outpouring! Traditions will fall by the wayside as authors, teachers, and preachers continue to call out the truth from His Word.
Ezekiel 39:27-29 RSB, When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am Yahweh their Elohim, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face anymore from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith my Sovereign Yahweh.
Currently, rabbinical oral traditions have led the children of Israel away from focusing on the Truth concerning Elohim’s Word. As in Yahushua’s day, Hardline Torah scholars continue to mislead the masses. Let’s look at a few problems that Yahushua faced head-on with the Scribes and Pharisees in His day.
Example one: Matthew 15:1-3 RSB Then came to Yahshua scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, why do ye also transgress the commandment of Elohim by your tradition?
Messiah warned His disciples and followers not to obey the traditions or man-made laws.
Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Matthew 15:6 NKJV
Messiah called out the Pharisees for placing their invented laws above our Supreme Maker’s laws! Sound the Alarm!
Example two: Luke 13:14-16 RSB And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Yahshua had healed on the Sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day. The Master then answered him and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?
Oh boy, another rabbi with rules. Yahushua receives criticism from a synagogue enforcer pertaining to the act of healing on the Sabbath. Deeds related to the fountain of life always apply on any day. As believers, we should move freely by acts governed by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit). Restoring mankind is monumental, as is the healing and restoration of the daughter of Abraham. This is the Gospel the world waits for.
Example three: Matthew 12:1-8 RSB, At that time, Yahshua went on the Sabbath day through the corn, and his disciples were hungered and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But he said unto them, have ye not read what David did when he hungered, and they that were with him; how he entered into the house of Elohim and did eat the shewbread which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you that in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Master even of the Sabbath day.
Yahushua explains that unusual circumstances rule the day, and therefore mercy trumps the letter of the Law.
Proverbs 6:30 RSB, “Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry.”
The Priests who performed in the Temple on the Sabbath were working for Yahweh and were blameless from breaking the Sabbath. Today, Preachers who expound the Torah on the Sabbath work tirelessly in preparation for the teaching brought forth to lambs of Yahweh. Yahushua is greater than the Temple, and He is the Master of the Sabbath. I asked Adonai, during a long drought, my lawn was dry from lack of water, “Is it lawful to water?” He quickly responded, “The lawn is thirsty, water!” He is Master over His creation. Our Master is about Life!
Example four: Today’s dietary laws have developed into a maze of pots, pans, and the separation of foods. Keeping a kosher kitchen is a full-time job. Does it have to be this way? Rabbis have been busy with ordinances! Kosher foods are divided into meat, dairy, and pareve. One of the basic principles of kashrut (Hebrew for kosher) is the total separation of meat and dairy products. Meat and dairy may not be cooked or eaten together. To ensure this, the kosher kitchen contains separate dishes, utensils, cookware, and preparation areas for meat and dairy. A third category, pareve, is comprised of foods that are neither meat nor dairy and may therefore be eaten with either. Who made all these rules?
From Judaism 101 Kashrut: Dietary Laws; Separation of Meat and Dairy, on three separate occasions, the Torah tells us not to “boil a kid in its mother’s milk” (Exodus 23:19, Ex. 34:26, Deut. 14:21). The Oral Torah explains that this passage prohibits eating meat and dairy together. The rabbi extended this prohibition to include not eating milk and poultry together. In addition, the Talmud prohibits cooking meat and fish together or serving them on the same plates because it is considered to be unhealthy. However, eating fish and dairy together is permissible, and it is quite common (lox and cream cheese, for example). It is also permissible to eat dairy and eggs together.
Let’s keep this biblically simple, the written Torah trumps man-made traditions, remember called takanot.
Genesis 18:1-3 CJB, Adonai appeared to Avraham by the oaks of Mamre as he sat at the entrance to the tent during the heat of the day. He raised his eyes and looked, and three men stood in front of him. On seeing them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, prostrated himself on the ground, and said, “My Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please don’t leave your servant.”
Abraham found favor. This is grace found in the Tanakh.
This encounter with Abraham and the three visitors includes one, who was likely the pre-existent Messiah. Scripture explains that no man has heard or seen the Father in Spirit form. The Hebrew scrolls reference the three visitors as three Yahweh’s! Did the Father appear as a Theophany? Scripture says Adonai, which is plural!
John 5:37 RSB – see also 1 Timothy 6:16, “And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time nor seen his shape.”
Yahushua is referred to as the “image of the invisible EL.”
Colossians 1:14-15, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible El, the firstborn of every creature.”
The New Testament declares Messiah’s Pre-existence. John 1:1, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Revelation 3:14
Genesis 18:5-8 RSB – Back to the meal being served to Adonai. And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, so do, as thou hast said. And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetch a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man, and he hasted to dress it. And he took butter, milk, and the calf he had dressed, and set it before them, and he stood by them under the tree, and they ate.
Abraham’s visitors approved the meal: “so do, as thou has said.” The meal consisted of cakes, butter, milk, and a young calf. Verse 8 says, “they did eat.” Why have the rabbis caused such a stir in separating dairy from meat? This meal consisting of meat and dairy is kosher, with the “image of the invisible EL!” Case Closed!
Kashrut’ comes from the Hebrew root, Kaf-Shin-Reish, meaning fit, proper, or correct. It is the same root as the more commonly known word ‘kosher.’ Kosher describes food that meets Biblical criteria. Our Creator has given us dietary laws concerning food. Swine is forbidden for consumption. Yahweh declares this is not food! A pig’s digestion is fast, and toxins lodge within its flesh. The unclean animals were created to clean up after the clean animals. The ocean has bottom feeders to clean toxins and poisons. The land has birds of prey like buzzards and land mammals to eat the dead carcasses. This is the Creator’s way of maintaining the earth in its fallen state. In Isaiah’s prophesy of the New Earth, after the return of Messiah, those who violate shall be consumed.
…eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith Yahweh. Isaiah 66:17 RSB
From one end of the Bible to the other, the concept of clean and unclean land animals, birds, insects, and fish is upheld. It is also a matter of health and well-being. Kosher also speaks to the way an animal is put down. A violent act on an animal is prohibited. There is a humane way of slaughter. Humans will be judged who practice violence in killing Earth’s creatures. Defending yourself from predators is permissible when life is threatened.
Acts 15:19-20 RSB Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to Elohim: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
The Spirit of Elohim addresses the Gentile Nations concerning the slaughter of animals.
G4156 Strangle – Defined by Strong’s concordance; an animal throttled as choked to death, not bled.
Choke suggests a violent killer. Hunters today seem to relish their acts of slaughtering innocent animals. Clean animals are to be raised and put down the Biblical way of bleeding to sleep. Kosher animals have one artery that supplies blood to the brain. When the blade severs the artery, the blood flow is cut off from the brain, and the animal feels no pain and instantly dies. Non-kosher animals have two arteries that supply the brain with blood, so even if the animal is put down the Biblical way, the animal suffers. This is unacceptable to our Creator!
Our Creator encourages the Gentile Nations to take part in the kosher diet based on His laws, found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Noah and his family were not Jews who entered the ark. Later, Abraham and his descendants established a covenant in the flesh (circumcision) and were known as Hebrews. Before the Jews, Yahweh instructed men in the concept of ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ animals. The list predates the laws of Moses, therefore applying to all mankind, not just the Jew.
1 Peter 1:10-11 KJV, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.”
Yahushua tells us, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
Peter tells us ‘the Spirit of Christ’ was in the prophets of old, meaning that the scriptures they wrote, including the dietary laws, are the Words of Messiah!
I do not believe eating foods that are unclean keeps you from eternal life, though this choice for an unhealthy lifestyle will prevail. I suffered for years from severe heartburn ending in the emergency room. Once I switched to a Biblical diet, my issues ceased.
We have learned in this content traditions of men have hindered and enslaved the masses. Traditions do not rewrite the Torah. It takes the Spirit of Yahweh to lead you out of these false practices, and Yahushua will empower you to do so. The Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) will enlighten you with the Truth. The Truth eradicates darkness from our sight. Your cure is faith in the Spirit of Messiah!