The Christmas Question from 119 Ministries

 Please enjoy!

The Observer

Please give 30 mins to learn what the Bible, Jesus and Christianity are actually all about.

This young fellow has a very good understanding of what the basic biblical framework is.  It also gives us insight into the "Heaven or Hell" topic.  Please enjoy:

The Observer

Toby Mac - The Elements

Hi Folks! I haven't forgotten about you - I simply have been very busy.  Here is a tune from Toby Mac, A Christian singer/rapper.  I've included a version with and without lyrics.  Special thanks to my son, Matthew!

First, the official release video:

Next, one with lyrics.

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 6

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch.12 

Before continuing, let's have a look at some significant scripture.  Deuteronomy 29 is a TANAKH classic.  It is the last time Moses addresses the nation of Israel before they go into the "Promised Land".  At this point Moses "renews" the Covenant (Torah) established at Mt. Horeb.  He reminds them to keep it, no matter what happens, or they will fall, which they later do.  For the purpose of this study something he says stands out in his introduction.  Most people miss it:

Deut. 10 “You are standing today, all of you, before the Lord your God: the heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel,

Deut. 11 your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water,

Deut. 12 so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the Lord your God, which the Lord your God is making with you today,

Deut. 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Deut. 14 It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant,

Deut. 15 but with whoever is standing here with us today before the Lord our God, and with whoever is not here with us today.

Is this the first time Yehovah establishes Israel as His people and swears a Covenant with them?  No, of course not.  This is Moses reminding them of their obligation to the Covenant made previously.  This reminder will be done again, in a future setting, by The Prophet like Moses, Yeshua!

Look at verses 14 and 15. Yehovah has made this Covenant with more than just the Israelites!  He has made it with, "whoever is not here with us today."  Is this just the descendants of the Israelites?  No, this is ALL future people who accept the invitation and agree to follow the Covenant!  Indeed, this is exactly what God's Chosen had been instructed to do after entering the Land, spread this gospel throughout the World.  Sound familiar?  It should because it's repeated in the New Testament.  Does the Church think it was the only one given this instruction, sometimes called, "The Great Commission"? We know the Israelites failed at this. They kept the gospel to themselves and/or didn't keep it.  We know the Church has failed in this as well, in the last 2,000 years or so, but at least we got Jesus and the Cross from them.

Another point to make here.  A rhetorical question may be in order; "Was Abraham Jewish?" - verse 13.  No!  He was an Assyrian, a Gentile!  Many Jews don't understand that "Father Abraham" was a Gentile.  He was the first one to be referred to as "Hebrew".  So, does the Covenant with the Israelites only involve the Israelites and the Jews?  No!  It's for everyone!  Is the moniker, "Hebrew Roots", or "Hebraic Roots" making more sense now?  Should we call ourselves Christian or Hebrew?  That's another discussion, for later.

The point of all this is to illustrate that the "Old" and "New" Testaments are all one Testament, one Covenant, one God!  Yeshua proclaimed the Covenant of His Father and our Father.  Yeshua did not proclaim a new and different covenant, but like Moses, "renewed" the original Covenant because man had supplanted it with his traditions.  To do anything different than proclaim Yehovah's Covenant with us would have disqualified Yeshua as the Messiah! (Deut. 13)

There are many examples in the TANAKH that state the Law (Torah) is for Israelites and Gentiles.  Here is one more:

Num. 15:15  For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord.

Num. 15:16  One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”

In context, Numbers 15 has to do with animal sacrifices and other subjects, and I have had churchgoers ask me why I don't sacrifice animals.  The reason I don't is the same reason Jews and Israelis' don't sacrifice animals according to Torah nowadays; the Aaronic Priesthood has been suspended and there is no Temple to sacrifice the animals appropriately, as stated in Torah.  Later, in the New Testament, we'll read about a "change in the Law".  As you will see, this is not a denunciation of the Torah but rather a change in the Priesthood as described in the Torah.  Yeshua, being our one and only sacrifice makes it clear that believers in Him do not need animal sacrifices.  Yet, we are still told in scripture to obey and do all we can as it concerns Torah.

... continuing ...

Matthew Ch. 12 has so many things to contemplate but I'm trying hard to stick to the subject of Torah.

Matt. 12:1  At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.

Matt. 12:2  But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

Matt. 12:3  He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

Matt. 12:4  how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?

Matt. 12:5  Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless?

Matt. 12:6  I tell you, something greater than the temple is here.

Matt. 12:7  And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Matt. 12:8  For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

The Pharisee Rabbinic authorities had many man made rules added to the instructions already in Torah.  Yeshua made it a point to constantly break Rabbinic rulings to show them their human authority is worthless when compared to His.  Does the Torah state it is unlawful to work in the fields on Shabbat?  Yes, of course it does!  The Sabbath is first and foremost a day of rest, for you and your animals that may assist you in the fields.  My wife has a horse.  Does she ride the horse on Shabbat?  No, because that would be working the horse, but she does feed it and care for it.  Were the disciples involved in crop harvesting as they walked through the fields?  No, they were simply pulling grain from the stalks and eating.  Is Yeshua the author and initiator of the Sabbath, the "Lord of the Sabbath"?  Indeed!  The Pharisees never fully realized just who they were dealing with.

The modern Church has the same problem as the Pharisees.  They set up man made rulings for people to follow so that they become "Lord", keeping Sunday instead of the 7th day, celebrating pagan feast days instead of the biblically prescribed feast days, introducing man made doctrine although the Bible declares Torah is our true doctrine!  Truly, the "Jews" and the "Christians" have both failed to teach the true Gospel, which is Torah!

Matt. 12:9  He went on from there and entered their synagogue.

Matt. 12:10  And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him.

Matt. 12:11  He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?

Matt. 12:12  Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Matt. 12:13  Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.

Matt. 12:14  But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

Why would the Pharisees want to destroy someone?  Isn't this kind of behavior against Torah?  Of course it is, just like the small groups of people rioting, burning, and sometimes killing in the streets of America's large Liberal cities nowadays!  It's simply wrong no matter what the perceived slight is.  Yeshua was illustrating how hypocritical the Pharisees were.

Years ago, a family we knew of had a devastating house fire on a Friday night.  So, on Shabbat morning the assembly got together and cleaned up the wreckage and consoled the heartbroken family.  Was this wrong?  Did the action break any instructions in Torah?  No, because people were in need!  Later, such things are spoken of as the "weightier matters of Torah", and the "Spirit of Torah".

You see, man can take Godly rules and use them to control you by pretending to be the controlling authority.  This not the intent of the instructions of Torah and Yeshua constantly points this out!

Matt. 12:15  Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known.

Matt. 12:17  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

Matt. 12:18  “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

Matt. 12:19  He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;

Matt. 12:20  a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;

Matt. 12:21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

(see Isaiah 42 for above verses)

Matt. 12:46  While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers

Matt. 12:47  stood outside, asking to speak to him.

Matt. 12:48  But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

Matt. 12:49  And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

Matt. 12:50  For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

What is the will of the Father in heaven?  The Bible clearly states that following His instructions in Torah is His will!

The Observer

How Many Mitzvahs Make a Mensch?

 

A “Mensch” is the ideal of a good and honorable person that we all aspire to. But how do we get there? How much good do we need to do to be considered a “Mensch?” How much good, is good enough?

Does following the instructions in Torah (mitzvahs, mitzvot) make us a Mensch? No, only Yeshua can do that. We follow Torah out of Love and Obedience to a loving Father.

[Note: Rosh Hashanah is the Rabbinic way of referring to Yom Teruah, The Day of Trumpets, and is from pagan Babylonian tradition. However, the video still has merit in it's overall message.]

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 5

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch.8 - Ch. 11

Did you know there are actually five gospels? We all know of  Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John.  But there is a fifth one - Revelation!  Each of the gospels declare the Messiah in a different way as if a movie director is telling His story from different camera angles and perspectives.  The themes overlap at times which speaks to the veracity of the historical events.  Here is, generally, what each gospel represents:

Matthew : The King - who lays down the rules of the kingdom - Torah!

Mark : The Servant - who is out there and doing it (serving others), making it happen.

Luke : The Son of Man - showing us how to live the rules of the kingdom by living it Himself, as man.

John : The Son of God - who pays the atoning sacrifice for our sins, as described in Torah.

Revelation : The Conquering King - who rules with a rod of iron and is the ultimate judge of everyone, based on how well we have lived Torah and/or are living Torah in the millennial reign.

.... continuing:

Mat 8:14  And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.  

Mat 8:15  He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

Mat 8:16  That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.

Mat 8:17  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."

... from Isaiah 53.  Did you know that most Synagogues skip Isaiah 53 in their yearly Torah readings?  Rabbis' will on occasion wax eloquently that Isaiah 53 is speaking of Israel herself, as a nation.  Most Bible scholars, however, Jewish and Christian, agree that Isaiah 53 is speaking of the coming Messiah.

Mat 10:40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.

Mat 10:41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward.

Mat 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Question: Who sent Yeshua?  Obviously, the Father sent Yeshua!  Will Yeshua do something different or against the Father?  The answer is clearly no!  Torah cannot be done away with.  If Torah has been done away with by the Son's teachings then the Son is not from the Father.  I love the way Yehovah/Yeshua's Word works with logic, which is something I think the main stream Church misses most of the time.  The totality of His Word is the Truth.  What it repeatedly states is the only way to establish the Truth.

Entire books have been written about Matthew Ch. 11, but there is one thing I wish to point out here:

Mat 11:1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Mat 11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples

Mat 11:3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Mat 11:4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

Mat 11:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Mat 11:6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

Who is this, "one who is to come", and where is he spoken of in the TANAKH?  One must know something about the religious history of the time and the expectations of Jewish believers in Yeshua's day.  They were expecting a prophet, actually, "The Prophet", who was declared in the TANAKH and associated with the coming Messiah (Moses in speaking here in Deuteronomy):

Deut 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 

Deut 18:16 just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ 

Deut 18:17 And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 

Deut 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 

Deut 18:19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

This Prophet would speak the same commandments (instructions) as given by Moses himself  (as dictated by Yehovah) "at Horeb on the day of assembly".  What did Moses proclaim on that day?  Torah!  Did Yeshua teach Rabbinic instruction or did he teach Torah?  The Rabbis' hated Him because he did not teach their tradition but instead, taught Torah, so Yeshua is that expected Prophet!

"I myself will require it of him" (verse 19).  This statement should frighten every church going modern Christian who says Torah has been finished.  Verse 15 says, "it is to him you shall listen".  The Hebrew word for "listen" is "shema".  It means much more than "listen".  It means to "hear and obey" what is being spoken of.  What is being spoken of in this context is Torah!

... more to come ...

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 4

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch.6 - Ch. 7 

Chapter 6 of Matthew is worth reading.  One wishes to comment on every verse, but this is a survey study not a multi-volume critique!  This chapter discusses giving to the needy, the Lord's Prayer, fasting, laying up earthly treasures instead of heavenly ones, and about not being concerned and anxious concerning all the details of your life.  All of these things are spoken of in the TANAKH.  Please notice how the Lord's Prayer mentions His Kingdom coming on "earth" as it already is in "heaven".  The Kingdom of God, for us humans, will be located on earth, not in heaven!  That earthly Kingdom is the Kingdom we wish to serve Yehovah/Yeshua in, as immortals.  And we get there by serving Him now, in this fallen world.

Chapter 7 has some very good verses to concentrate on:

The Golden Rule

Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Mat 7:13  "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Mat 7:14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

What is this "narrow gate"?

So, the narrow gate or narrow road is the instructions given in Torah.  Notice how most people will not find it.  Why?  Because they are busy following man's religion or no belief at all!  See how my simple answer in the beginning of this study is starting to make sense?  The choice really is a simple one; "Do you follow man or God?".  God is not a God of confusion (1 Corinthians 14).  He has given us clear, concise instructions.  Our reward at the Resurrection is based on how well we have followed these instructions.  Please notice; I did not say one's Salvation is based on what works you have accomplished in this life, vis-a'-vis Torah, but on what reward you will have earned at the Resurrection.  I have already given four good reasons for following Torah - now we have a fifth one:

1. To show our love for God.

2. To show we are obedient to God.

3. To receive the blessings from God.

4. To be that light that shines for others.

5. To store up rewards for the Resurrection.

Again, the Church teaches that your Salvation and Rewards are one and the same, but they are not.  Salvation is the free gift from Yeshua, most certainly not to be diminished in importance, but it is the beginning of the race, not the finish.  After acceptance of the free gift and by then following Torah you receive blessings.  When we are resurrected we receive the rewards based on how well we have followed Torah when compared to our sins.

A Tree and Its Fruit

Mat 7:15  "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Since one who commits sin is not following Torah and one who follows Torah is practicing "Righteousness" then we should be able to discern the difference.  (See first blog entry)

I Never Knew You

Mat 7:21  "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22  On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23  And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

What is this word; "lawlessness", and why would Yeshua tell people to deny the Father's will, as the Church teaches, concerning Torah?  The answer is; He doesn't!  He states it right here, emphatically, "but the one who does the will of my Father ...." And that word; lawlessness?  In GREEK it is: "anomia", which means being in violation of the law - unrighteousness.  This could not be any clearer, folks.  Yeshua tells us plainly again and again that by following the instructions of Torah, we will be following the will of the Father!

Build Your House on the Rock

Mat 7:24  "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Mat 7:25  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Mat 7:26  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

Why is a firm foundation mentioned in the same context as Torah?  Because Torah is that foundation!

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 3

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch.5

Matt 5:1-16 The Blessings from Works

These verses reference blessings straight out of the TANAKH and Torah.  Sometimes called, the Beatitudes, in Christian circles, this famous sermon exudes nothing but Torah.

"Blessed are ..."
"Blessed are ...
"Blessed are ..."

It is interesting that Yeshua's first sermon to the masses stresses Torah.  The TANAKH says plainly that we have a choice:

Deu 11:26  "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse:
Deu 11:27  the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today,
Deu 11:28  and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

Please remember, one has to believe that Yeshua did away with these blessings and curses in order to deny Torah.  And, what does Matt. 5:16 say?

Matt 5:16  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

What "works" are these?  They are the works of Torah!

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

Matt 5:17  "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Matt 5:18  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Mat 5:19  Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:20  For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

One of the most misconstrued words in the ENGLISH Bible is the word, "fulfill".  Yeshua has just made a declarative statement that Torah HAS NOT been done away with as it relates to His teachings, yet the Church claims it has!  The word "fulfill" in GREEK is "pleroo", pronounced, "play-ro-oo".  It means to completely fill something up to it's ultimate level, for example, to fill to overflowing a half-filled glass of water on a table.  To fulfill the Torah is to fully and completely teach and magnify Torah. The Pharisees had hidden Torah behind their man-made doctrine and people were following man and not God.  Yeshua's desire was to place Torah above man's teachings.

Remember the Deut. 13 Test from the last blog entry? If Yeshua came to abolish Torah - He is NOT and CANNOT be the Messiah!

How can your "righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees"?  The answer is simple; by following Torah!  Most Christians think the Scribes and Pharisees are following Torah when they follow Rabbinic tradition but that is very far from the truth.  Pharisee Judaism today and at the time of Yeshua follow Rabbinic edict; rules that add to and take away from Torah.  Yeshua's teaching wholly proclaims Torah above Pharisee tradition and edict!

Deu 4:2  You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

And what about entering, "the Kingdom of Heaven"?  Where is this "Kingdom" - in Heaven?  No, the Kingdom of Heaven is in reference to the earthly Kingdom Yeshua will reign over during the millennium.  And He will be called, Yehovah, LORD of Hosts.

At this point, my Christian friends will stop me and say: "Nobody can possibly do Torah - it's impossibe!", thereby ignoring the context of the subject matter, so let's review some things.

We are now under a Melchizedek Priesthood and following Torah as best we can.  The Aaronic Priesthood has been suspended only but will be fully ensconced again during the millennial reign.  Much of what's instructed in Torah simply doesn't apply to you and I.  Some of the instructions apply only to the Aaronic Priests, some apply to animal sacrifice, some apply to just women, some apply to just men, some to children, etc.  And no, it is not too hard for us!

Deu 30:11  "For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
Deu 30:12  It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
Deu 30:13  Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?'
Deu 30:14  But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

My Christian friends have also asked; "Why follow Torah, you have your Salvation!"  As we go through the study this point of argument will become clearer and clearer.  We follow Torah for four good reasons:

1. To show our love for God.
2. To show we are obedient to God.
3. To receive the blessings from God.
4. To be that light that shines for others.

Your acceptance of the wonderful free gift of Salvation is just the beginning of the race!

The Observer

Torah in the "New Testament" - 2

What is His Word - Torah?

The Torah is the first 5 scrolls (books) of the TANAKH, or Old Testament.  "TANAKH" is an acronym consisting of; Torah, and Nevi'im, and Ketuvim (Instructions, Prophets, Writings).  The actual word, Torah, in Hebrew, means "instructions", not Law, as most Bible translations would state.  Our western mindset on language has us seeing Torah as a harsh set of rules to be obeyed or denied.  In Hebrew culture, however, Torah is seen as a set of instructions in making day to day decisions about our relationship with God and with each other.  Torah is also known as "Logos" and "Nomos" in the Greek, as well as "Dabar" (word) in the Hebrew.  We all commonly refer to the Bible as the "Word of God".  Okay, so the Torah is His Word, His instructions, His commandments.

 So, Who is Yeshua?

We now know that Yeshua is the embodiment of the Torah and is literally the walking, living, breathing Torah, Word, Logos, Nomos, and Dabar.

At this point a Church person may say, "Yes!  That's right!  Jesus lived the Torah perfectly so we don't have to!"  Yes, I've actually had folks tell me that.  But, the Church person's remark must be validated by the Word, not man, so let's keep going.

Let's make an additional point.  Is Yeshua different from Yehovah or are they one and the same?  Well, my goodness, even Church doctrine acknowledges that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One and this agrees with Deut. 6:4, also known as the Shema, which states God is One.  The New Testament says this as well, John 10.

At this point one of my favorite topics comes into play; logic.  In my opinion, Yehovah is very logical and even mathematical and so is his Word - the Bible.  So, if  Yehovah the Father teaches a thing, then Yeshua the Son must be in complete agreement.  Does this make sense?  Did God make a mistake and provided the Son to fix things?  Someone saying that the Son came along to repair what the Father messed up is nonsensical, in other words.  No, we humans messed up and the Father sent His Son to redeem and fix us!

So, hopefully I've driven home the point that the Bible's teachings are to be believed because it's literally God's Word and that an "Old Testament" belief and doctrine has not been superseded by the Son's teaching via the New Testament.  To believe so would be us creating a New God in our own image - with our human understanding - and not the understanding of His Word.  If one does not believe the Bible's words at all, then you would be what we call a non-believer.

Therefore:

-The Word is His instructions in Torah, sometimes called commandments.
-The New Covenant is the Old Covenant placed on the heart, under a Melchizedek Priesthood.
-Sin is defined as breaking (transgressing) Torah.
-Righteousness is living by the instructions of Torah.
-Yeshua is Yehovah's Word and the two cannot contradict each other. To do so is saying that Yeshua is working against the Father.

Btw, if Yeshua's teachings contradict Torah then he cannot be the Messiah!



So, on this basis, let's look at the New Testament as it concerns Torah!  (ESV, generally)

Matthew (Mattityahu) Ch. 1

Matt 1:1-17 The Genealogy

These verses trace Yeshua's bloodline all the way back to Abraham.  Much has been written about this - too much to cover here, but what is necessary to point out is that Yeshua is a Jew.  He is called the Lion of Judah.  He is not a Greco-Roman-Western figure.  He is middle-eastern.  He is our Jewish Messiah, our one and only Rabbi - because no man deserves to be called "great one".  Rabbi, a title which has the root "Rabi", meaning "Master" in English, which in Hebrew is "Rav", meaning "great one" should never be applied to humans.  Moreh is the Hebrew word for "teacher".  So, in Judaism a Rabbi is a moreh who teaches Torah and the Talmud, as expressed by Pharisee doctrine.  Yeshua said, do not refer to men in this way. (See Matt. 23)

Matt 1:18-25 The Birth of Yeshua - Joseph's Dream

Joseph (Yosef) was bethrothed to Mary (Meriam) and when he realized she was pregnant he decided to divorce her quietly (annul the betrothal), because in those days an unwed pregnant girl was put to death.  But Yosef has a dream in which an Angel (Messenger) of Yehovah told him to marry her, saying she is a virgin who will bear a son, and who will be referred to as, "Emmanuel", meaning, "God is with us.", and his name shall be "Yeshua" (Salvation).

You understand don't you, how Yeshua cannot have a separate doctrine (teaching) than the Father?  It's the same Covenant, better and renewed, now under an eternal Priesthood.

Next ... Matt. Ch. 5,  Torah in the Sermon on the Mount ...

The Observer

Torah in the New Testament - 1

Introduction

The modern Christian (Roman) Church would have us believe that Yehovah's perfect instructions on how to live our life have been done away with.  They would say people under the "New Covenant" do not need or can't even live by Torah, even if they tried.  They would say we cannot earn our Salvation by following God's "law" and it's even a sin to try, thereby denying Christ's great sacrifice by attempting to follow His (the Father's) instructions.  They would say that God the Father tried Torah with the "Jews" and they failed Him, so a better way had to be introduced and presented to the Gentiles.

These are just a few of the remarks I've heard over the years concerning this subject.  Yes, I realize all Christians don't say these things and this study is not about condemning individuals in the Church.  Instead, this study is about what the institution of the Church teaches vs what the Bible teaches, vis-a'-vis, Torah in the New Testament.

So, I would begin to answer these "churchy" ideas with a simple question; "Do you follow man or God?".

This is not a trite question.  The question is important because our final judge on these matters will be Yeshua (Jesus) Himself and His Word, and not a human denomination or doctrine.  But we must determine what is His "Word", what is the "New Covenant", what is Sin, and just who Jesus is!  We will answer these questions and more while studying this issue.

Right now let's look at a few verses on His "perfect law" since it has been mentioned (ESV used, generally):

Psa_19:7  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
[in the Hebrew this literally states that Torah is true and without error, having Yehovah Himself as The witness to this fact]

Pro 4:2  For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. (KJV used)
[I've used the KJV here because it has the most direct translation from the Hebrew. It emphasizes the fact that man-made doctrine is not required because Yehovah has already given us good doctrine and that doctrine is Torah!  It truly makes all the various Christian "denominations of abominations", with their differing doctrinal ideas, superfluous.]

Heb_7:19  (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
[This is one of the most misunderstood verses in Hebrews.  Roman Christians have told me they have a better hope than Torah!  But, what is it that was not made perfect here?  Just a cursory reading of the chapter tells us it was the human Aaronic Priests that were, in fact, sinners like the rest of us and not perfect, so the better hope is through Yeshua, who is a Priest forever, in the Order of Melchizedek!  It isn't saying the Law is not perfect. It is saying we have a better, improved Covenant because of Yeshua.  Btw, it is the same Covenant but without the weakness of human priests.  The Covenant described in the New Testament has been "renewed and improved".  It was prophesied in the Old Testament. (See Jeremiah 31:31-40)  Please notice, Jeremiah speaks of Torah being written on our hearts so we may follow it willingly!  (See James 1)  Also, please understand, the word "new", in Hebrew, can be translated as "renewed".  When one looks at the Whole Word this becomes clear.]

Heb_7:28  For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
[... related to verse 19, shown above.]

Heb_10:1  For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
[How often have you heard a Roman Christian say; "the Law is just a shadow of good things to come ..."?  Look closely at the verse.  It doesn't say the Law is a shadow, but "has", that is, it contains a shadow of good things to come.  That shadow was the continually offered animal sacrifices which did not make one perfect, which pointed to the One and Only sacrifice given just once for all of us; Yeshua!  This is the entire point of Hebrews Ch. 10!  Contextually speaking, the word "shadow" here is more appropriately called, "foreshadowing".]

Jas_1:25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
[Why would James (actually Ya'a'kov) say we must do Torah to be blessed?  He says it because this is where our blessings come from! (Read all of Deuteronomy!)

Before continuing to the book of Matthew to start our digging into the N.T., lets state a definition or two which will become important to our study.  What does it mean to be "Righteous", to have "Righteousness"?  I'm using the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

Righteous

1. acting in accord with divine law : free from guilt or sin.

2. a: morally right or justifiable; a righteous decision.
    b: arising from an outraged sense of justice or morality; righteous indignation.

3. slang: genuine, excellent.

righteously - adverb
righteousness - noun

And, how is sin defined by the Bible?

1 John 3:4: Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (ESV)
1 John 3:4 : Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)

Btw, the word, "lawlessness" in the Greek is; "anomia", meaning, being WITHOUT TORAH!

Interesting isn't it?  To be Righteous one must be practicing Torah, to be Sinful one must be without Torah!

... stay tuned for more!

The Observer

Life After Death Series:- Part 7 - The Resurrection of the Unjust

Life After Death Series! - 119 Seven - The Resurrection of the Unjust

The Observer

Life After Death Series:- Part 6 - The Resurrection of the Just

Life After Death Series! - 119 Six - The Resurrection of the Just

The Observer

Life After Death Series:- Part 5 - Difficult Verses (continued)

Life After Death Series! - 119 Five - Difficult Verses (continued)

The Observer

Life After Death Series:- Part 4 - Difficult Verses

Life After Death Series! - 119 Four - Difficult Verses

119 Ministries is really "beating me to the punch" here! And doing an excellent job, I might add!

The Observer