I'm going to do something a little different for this entry because of some questions that came up. We'll get back to Matthew a little later.
In the tradition of Socrates, I'll answer questions by asking questions. These kind of questions may have come to your mind as well. So, here's a few rhetorical ones for you:
... Did Yehovah create Judaism? ... Did Yeshua create Christianity? Are all those 40,000 plus Christian denominations and sects teaching what Yeshua said? ... Are all the Jewish denominations and sects teaching what Yehovah said? Are Yehovah and Yeshua separate "Gods" who teach different "religions"? Does the TANAKH (Old Testament) describe a different "God" than the B'rit Hadashah (New Testament)?
The direct answer to all of these questions is an emphatic NO! Man is the creator of "Christianity". Man is the creator of "Judaism". Man is the creator of all those differing slants on biblical truth within Christianity and Judaism. Man has separated the Covenant writings and is the one who added Chapter and verse. Man, in other words, is the creator of "Religion"! Yehovah and Yeshua are the same - in every way.
One must understand, the Truth within the Holy Bible is ultimately taught to us by discernment through the Holy Spirit. Do we then still need Pastors, Preachers, Rabbis, Teachers, Elders, etc? Yes, we do! We need them because no one man has in his mind, body, and spirit all the Truths of God. In fact, throughout our history only one has claimed that distinction - Yeshua ha Mashiach. So, over our lifetimes we do our best to learn these Truths by bouncing ideas and doctrines off of each other, and by doing so, some men desire to glom onto a set of ideas and claim them as their own, thereby creating all manner of confusion by insisting only they have the real "Truth". This is simple human nature. Compound that human desire of control with what has happened to scrolls, manuscripts, and writings throughout history and we end up with competing groups of zealous fanatics! Indeed, men have attempted to destroy biblical Truth by altering and influencing the Word over millennia. What is astounding and miraculous is that biblical Truth still finds it's way to the surface!
Is it any wonder that some of us shy away from being labelled? We don't want to be known as a Baptist, or Catholic, or Reform Jew, or Orthodox whatever. I myself don't really like the label of Hebrew Roots or Hebrew Heritage, but we have to have some way of referring to each other as it relates to our basic beliefs. Again, this is simple human nature. When people ask me what denomination I am I simply tell them I'm a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Yeshua ha Mashiach (Jesus the Messiah). From that point on the discussion becomes a dialogue about what the Bible says and all the details therein, not which men I follow.
This basic Truth - that we are to follow God, not man's religion - is very dangerous to those who desire control. The Prophets have been murdered throughout history because they espoused this simple Truth. Yeshua said;
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (ESV)
Interesting isn't it, that by hearing the Truth one's sin becomes very obvious and guilt becomes apparent? This is what people don't like and why they hate you. Our utterance of the Truths of the One True God makes people who hate Him angry and they take it out on you!
Hopefully, you will now understand why some people exhibit such harsh vehemence against you just because of your beliefs. This kind of interaction with our fellow man will increase as we get closer to His return.
Blessings to You All!
The Observer
