Can we be “Torah Observant” in the New Covenant?
BY: Eric Turner
I read an article by a group who call themselves “Messianic Jews” that states we cannot possibly be Torah Observant in the New Covenant, and if we try, we are defying the teachings of Yeshua. Well, they have some very weak, and VERY Protestant points, using single scriptures out of their context, stating that we can’t be Torah Observant. I would like to note that you can find this article, along with many statements refuting this Protestant theology at http://oneforisrael.org/blog/389-is-there-really-such-a-thing-as-torah-observant . Read the article before going any further here. It is the duty of everyone to expose untrue works of darkness, and to correct all sin as prescribed, else we do not love our neibour, one of the points this article tries to use to show we do not need to and can not possibly follow the Torah.
Lev 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise REBUKE THY NEIGHBOUR, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am Yahweh.
FGT loves everyone, so we will be rebuking this “Ministry” using both the “Old” and the “New” Testament. We will show this “Ministry” that every single scripture reference or point they make can be found in both, and that ALL of the “New Testament” can be referenced directly, or used as commentary on the “Old Testament”. We will go point by point, one at a time, as the Berans, and see if what these men teach is indeed truth. I will tell you up front that it is not truth, but we must test it and make sure, and we will use not single scriptures as this “Ministry” does, but mountains of scripture IN CONTEXT as this “Ministry” says we should do, even though they do not themselves. So, let us begin, and start the Courts, to see if the prosecuting attorneys have a case, or if we as defense attorneys have the case once we place the evidence on the scales of Truth. We will see which side weighs more and should be ruled in favor of. On to the claims. We will copy and paste their claims, and then we will refute them.
1. “Basically, Keeping the Law Has Become Impossible! But what if you really wanted, with all of your heart and mind—just for the sake of argument—to keep the Law (be “Torah observant”)? Well, it is simply impossible. There is no priesthood, no temple, and no sacrificial system—all of which comprise the heart and essence of the Law (the commandments are all associated with it). You see, we cannot separate the Sinai Covenant from the Law. The laws are merely an outgrowth of the covenant; they cannot stand on their own, just as eating mayonnaise and mustard is pointless without the sandwich itself. The covenant was ratified by the shedding of blood (Exod 24:8) and was maintained by the blood of the sacrifices upon the altar (Exod 30:10). Without the sacrificial system we are unable to keep the Sinai Covenant. All we can do is keep a few leftover laws, which are not related to the temple, the priesthood or the sacrificial system. Moreover, while these laws continue to speak to us as inspired Scripture, many of these laws were given to Israel 3,500 years ago in order to establish a nation in the context of the Ancient Near Eastern world. If we were to establish a new nation today, we would give its people laws and rules (traffic, family, taxes, torts, civil, labor, etc.) according to their situation, lifestyle, era and location. However, many of Moses’ laws are practically impossible to keep in our day and age, due to the current reality in which we live: for example, issues concerning slavery or purification rituals are no longer relevant.”
FGT Arguments- First off, we see only two scriptural references to support this entire argument, so we will look at these very same scriptures first off IN CONTEXT, then show that the New Testament teaches the exact same thing as these scriptures. But first, I would like to address the claims that they make that keeping the Law is not possible.
Deu 30:6 And the LORD your God will CIRCUMCISE YOUR HEART and the heart of your offspring, so that you will LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND ALL OF YOUR SOUL, that you may live. 7 And the LORD your God WILL PUT ALL THE CURSES ON YOUR FOES AND YOUR ENEMIES WHO PERSECUTED YOU. 8 And you shall again OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD AND KEEP ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS THAT I GIVE YOU THIS DAY. 9 The LORD your God WILL MAKE YOU ABUNDANTLY PROSPEROUS IN THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS, IN THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB AND IN THE FRUIT OF YOUR CATTLE AND IN THE FRUIT OF THE GROUND. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, TO KEEP ALL OF HIS COMMANDMENTS AND ALL OF HIS STATUTES THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK OF THE LAW, when you turn to the LORD your God WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART AND ALL OF YOUR SOUL. 11 “For this commandment that I command you today IS NOT TOO HARD FOR YOU, NIETHER IS IT FAR OFF. 12 IT IS NOT IN HEAVEN THAT YOU SHOULD SAY, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, THAT WE MAY HEAR IT AND DO IT?’ 13 NIETHER IS IS BEYOND THE SEA, THAT YOU SHOULD SAY, ‘WHO WILL GO INTO THE SEA, THAT WE MAY HEAR IT AND DO IT?’ 14 BUT THE WORD IS VERY NEAR YOU. IT IS IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART, SO THAT YOU CAN DO IT. 15 “See, I have set before you today LIFE AND GOOD, DEATH AND EVIL. 16 IF YOU OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD YOUR GOD THAT I GIVE TO YOU THIS DAY, BY LOVING THE LORD YOUR GOD, BY WALKING IN HIS WAYS, AND BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES AND HIS RULES, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God WILL BLESS YOU in the land that you are entering TO TAKE POSSESION OF IT.
The very first thing I would like to point out is this…….You get blessings if you keep the commandments, and curses if you do not. Can we find this in the “New Testament”? Sure we can.
Rev 22:14 BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For WITHOUT ARE DOGS, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, AND WHOSOEVER LOVETH TO MAKETH A LIE. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things IN THE CHURCHES. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Luk 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. 28 BUT HE SAID, YEA RATHER, BLESSED ARE THEM THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND KEEP IT.
Act 3:25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth BE BLESSED.
Why are the kindreds of the Earth blessed because of Abraham?
Gen 26:4 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 BLESS; 5 BECAUSE that Abraham OBEYED MY VOICE, and KEPT MY CHARGE, MY COMMANDMENTS, MY STATUTES, aAND MY LAWS.
The word here for “laws” is;
H8451
תּרה / תּורה
tôrâh
BDB Definition:
1) law, direction, instruction
1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
1a1) body of prophetic teaching
1a2) instruction in Messianic age
1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction
1a4) body of legal directives
1b) law
1b1) law of the burnt offering
1b2) of special law, codes of law
1c) custom, manner
1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law
Abraham kept the commandments, statutes, and the laws, or, in the Hebrew tongue, the TORAH, contrary to the claims of the writers of this “Ministry”. What does the Apostle John say about the law being too hard, or a burden that no one can possibly keep?
1Jn 5:2 BY THIS we know that we love the children of God, WHEN WE LOVE GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 3 FOR THIS IS THE LOVE OF GOD, THAT WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT BURDENSOME.
So, we see that Moses and John agree, that the Torah/Law/Commandments/Statutes ARE NOT BURDENSOME/TOO HARD TO KEEP. What does the Apostle Paul say about the Law being burdensome? Ironically, he actually DIRECTLY quotes Moses, the very same verses that I layed down above. In Deut. 30:11-14, we see ironically Paul quoting directly these very same scriptures in Deut. 10. 11-14, saying that observing the commandments, laws, and statutes are not too hard.
Rom 10:4 For Christ is the end(GOAL) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, THAT THE PERSON THAT DOES THEM >>>SHALL FIND LIFE IN THEM<<<. >>>(Starting the quote from Deut 30)>>>6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, WHO WILL ASCEND TO HEAVEN?'” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS(The sea)?'” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
The word for “end” here means;
G5056
τεìλος
telos
tel’-os
From a primary word τεìλλω tellō (to set out for a definite POINT OR GOAL); properly THE POINT AIMED AT as a limit, that is, (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state (termination [literally, figuratively or indefinitely], result [immediate, ultimate or prophetic], purpose); specifically an impost or levy (as paid): – + continual, custom, end (-ing), finally, uttermost.
The word CAN mean the end of something, as in the termination of it, but ALL the evidence we have seen so far shows that the first definition of the GOAL THAT WE ARE AIMING AT is the correct definition, as we ARE TO WALK AS HE WALKED.
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. 4 He that saith, I know him, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR(Reference again Rev. 22:14-15), and THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him OUGHT HIMSELF TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.
How did Yeshua/Jesus walk?????? Did he not keep the Law perfectly? Did he sin? While we are on the word SIN, WHAT IS SIN???
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for SIN IS THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW.
Back to the scriptures that Paul wrote, Paul says that the person who does the commandments will FIND LIFE IN THEM. We KNOW that he is not speaking ONLY about the commandments that Yeshua/Jesus spoke directly because he is quoting Moses. By this time, it is getting almost comical, but we will bury this hatchet to leave NO DOUBTS. So we have Yeshua/Jesus, Moses, John, and Paul ALL AGREEING that the person who does the commandments and keeps the Torah/Law shall be BLESSED. When Yeshua/Jesus, in Rev. 22, says BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, he is not solely speaking about the commandments that he directly gave. How do we know this?
Joh 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, MY DOCTRINE IS NOT MINE, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 DID NOT MOSES GIVE YOU THE LAW, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
We have not even gotten past the first claims of this “Ministry’s” arguments. As stated, we are going to bury this. Allow me to remind what is said by the claims of this “Ministry”.
“The covenant was ratified by the shedding of blood (Exod 24:8) and was maintained by the blood of the sacrifices upon the altar (Exod 30:10).”
Was not Yeshua/Jesus’s New Covenant ratified by blood upon the Altar??????? Come on people, this claim isn’t even worth commenting on. Let us move on.
“One In Israel’s statement”- “Without the sacrificial system we are unable to keep the Sinai Covenant. All we can do is keep a few leftover laws, which are not related to the temple, the priesthood or the sacrificial system. Moreover, while these laws continue to speak to us as inspired Scripture, many of these laws were given to Israel 3,500 years ago in order to establish a nation in the context of the Ancient Near Eastern world. If we were to establish a new nation today, we would give its people laws and rules (traffic, family, taxes, torts, civil, labor, etc.) according to their situation, lifestyle, era and location. However, many of Moses’ laws are practically impossible to keep in our day and age, due to the current reality in which we live: for example, issues concerning slavery or purification rituals are no longer relevant.”
Is not the Word of YHVH/God forever? ARE NOT THE COMMANDMENTS COMMANDED TO BE OBSERVED FOREVER?
Deu 4:30 When thou art IN TRIBULATION, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter(The last) days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; 31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. 32 For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 38 To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. 40 THOU SHALT KEEP HIS STATUTES, AND HIS COMMANDMENTS, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, FOR EVER.
This speaks about the plagues that come upon the people who are living during the tribulation IN THE LAST DAYS. It also says that the statutes and commandments that MOSES delivered FOR EVER. Can we change the definition of FOR EVER? Why is he speaking about the tribulation of the last days? Well, EVERY plague, every judgment, and every tribulation found in the Book of Revelation are the judgments laid down by MOSES!!!! This is exactly why people cannot comprehend the Book of Revelation, they do not connect these plagues with the judgments laid down by MOSES!!!! Again, can we change the definition of FOREVER?????? For Hebrew people that work for a “Ministry” based in Israel, founded in 1990, they sure do make absolutely no logical arguments. We haven’t even gotten past the first two paragraphs of their article. But, let us continue. The next claims these people make…..
“Without the sacrificial system we are unable to keep the Sinai Covenant. All we can do is keep a few leftover laws, which are not related to the temple, the priesthood or the sacrificial system. Moreover, while these laws continue to speak to us as inspired Scripture, many of these laws were given to Israel 3,500 years ago in order to establish a nation in the context of the Ancient Near Eastern world. If we were to establish a new nation today, we would give its people laws and rules (traffic, family, taxes, torts, civil, labor, etc.) according to their situation, lifestyle, era and location. However, many of Moses’ laws are practically impossible to keep in our day and age, due to the current reality in which we live: for example, issues concerning slavery or purification rituals are no longer relevant.”
REALLY!!!!! First let me address this thought that we have no Temple, therefor, we can’t keep the rituals and are left with few laws that that are not related to the Temple. They are correct, BUT, the Jews that were dispersed into Babylon were in the very same condition that we are in today, yet they continued to keep everything that applied to them in the dispersal. When they returned, they built the second Temple, and continued the rituals required by the Torah/Law. Even further, I will say something that may shock some of you. Yeshua/Jesus DID NOT KEEP THE ENTIRE TORAH/LAW!!!!! Why? He was not a woman, and many commandments are only for women. He was not a home owner, and many commandments are for home owners. He was NOT A PRIEST, and he did not keep ONE commandment that applied to the Priests, the Levites, as he was from the Tribe of Judah. He did not keep the commandments only for children. He did not keep the commandments that only apply to people in the process of conversion, as he was born a practicing Jew. He didn’t keep many of the commandments because they did not apply to him, so their argument that no one can keep the entire Torah/Law is true, but not for the reasons they list. Now, I will address again the notion that we have no Temple, just as the Jews that were dispersed into Babylon. Let me tell you a little information that most have never understood. WE ARE AWAITING A THIRD TEMPLE TO BE BUILT AND LEVITES ARE AT THIS TIME BEING TRAINED TO DO THEIR WORKS IN THE TEMPLE. Yeshua/Jesus instructed the people that he cleansed to go to the Priests to do what was commanded for them to do that are laid down in the Torah/Laws of Moses, which are not from Moses, but from YHVH/God.
Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, GO SHEW YOURSELVES TO THE PRIESTS. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.
Lev 14:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.
You see, even though Yeshua/Jesus did not quote and completely reread and command what was already commanded, he did indeed do and teach what was required by the Torah/Law laid down by Moses and commanded by YHVH/God. The claim that if WE made a new nation today, we would make new laws, for MODERN comfort, we could not possibly do what is required by the Torah/Law. This statement shows where their hearts REALLY are. They want to do things according to the times, not according to what is commanded by YHVH/God to be observed FOR EVER! It does not matter what the World in modern times live like, because even though we live in the world, we are not of the world and should not live as the world. Not to mention, has ANYONE in this so called “Ministry” even thought about what the world will be like once YHVH/God judges first His people, then the Nations? The Prophets give us a picture, a very detailed picture, and it will NOT be like we live now. I will not quote the things that will be required in the coming third Temple, you can find that in Ezekiel 40-48 which gives in great detail what will be required. This Temple has never been built, so we KNOW for a FACT that there will be a Third Temple. We can see this in all the Prophets, but since they give so much emphasis on the “New Testament”, I will show this from the writings of Paul.
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that HE TAKES HIS SEAT IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then THE LAWLESS ONE will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of THE LAWLESS ONE is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they REFUSED TO LOVE THE TRUTH and so be saved. 11 Therefor God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned WHO DID NOT BELIEVE THE TRUTH AND TOOK PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
What is the truth that these people do not love?
Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and THY LAW IS THE TRUTH.
What is righteousness? We must know what righteousness is so that we know what unrighteousness that these people took pleasure in.
Deu 6:25 And it shall BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, IF WE OBSERVE TO DO THESE COMMANDMENTS before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
So if righteousness is doing the commandments, by default, unrighteousness id not doing the commandments. These people are believing the strong delusion that YHVH/God has sent them. Why? Because they do not want to observe the Torah/Law which is the TRUTH. The next claim these people make is that we cannot observe the “slavery” instructions. Let me first say this. The “slavery” that the scriptures speak of is NOT the same slavery that we saw in the history of this Nation, it is commanded for the Israelites to treat their “slaves” as they would treat themselves.
Lev 25:6 The Sabbath of the land shall provide food for you, for yourself and for your male and female slaves and for your hired worker and the sojourner who lives with you, 7 and for your cattle and for the wild animals that are in your land: all its yield shall be for food.
Lev 25:45 You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. 46 You may bequeath them to your sons after you to inherit as a possession forever. You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly. 47 “If a stranger or sojourner with you BECOMES RICH, and your brother beside him becomes poor and SELLS HIMSELF to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger’s clan, 48 then after he is sold HE MAY BE REDEEMED. ONE OF HIS BROTHERS MAY REDEEM HIM, 49 OR HIS UNCLE OR HIS COUSIN MAY REDEEM HIM, OR A CLOSE RELATIVE OF HIM MAY REDEEM HIM. OR IF HE BECOMES RISH, HE MAY REDEEM HIMSELF.
Contrary to the type of slavery of the history of this Nation, that forced slavery by tyranny over a man or woman, “slaves” of Israelites were able to be redeemed, or they could redeem themselves IF THEY BECAME RISH, so we see that a “slave” was not ruled over and they were provided with a roof, food, and obviously money, or an inheritance of a relative because they could be redeemed. The word “slave” in Hebrew is;
H5647
עבד
‛âbad
BDB Definition:
1) to work, serve
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to labour, work, do work
1a2) to work for another, serve another by labour
1a3) to serve as subjects
1a4) to serve (God)
1a5) to serve (with Levitical service)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be worked, be tilled (of land)
1b2) to make oneself a servant
1c) (Pual) to be worked
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to compel to labour or work, cause to labour, cause to serve
1d2) to cause to serve as subjects
1e) (Hophal) to be led or enticed to serve
This is NOT a forced slave. They could be bought as a possession, but they could be redeemed, or released by a relative, or even redeem themselves should they become rich. The word “slave” does not mean the same as what we think of as a slave. Not so long ago, that ended in the 50’s called sharecropping, where a person could work and serve another in exchange for a house, food, money, and a portion of the fruits of the land that they were permitted to sale. This is what a “slave” was like in the Ancient Near East. It was VERY beneficial to poor people who could not provide for themselves for lack of education or other circumstances that kept them from getting a job. I wish it was still allowed, it would pretty much end poverty, lower taxes that are taken to give people food stamps and welfare, and give poor people a chance at a better life and save the Nation A LOT of money and take the load off the backs of business owners, especially farmers, who are being wiped out at an alarming rate in this Nation. To be a “Ministry” based in Israel, you would think that these people would have a bit more discernment on this issue. They give a VERY false image of what Hebrew servants were treated like. I am actually quite offended by the way they portray the commandment of YHVH/God on this issue.
Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
I am also quite upset about the comment that these people say about the Word and commandments of YHVH are not relevant for us today, as if YHVH/God has changed his mind.
Num 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? 20 Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.
The notion that ANY of the Word of YHVH/God is not relevant for us today is justrediculous, period. YHVH/GOD DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND! HE IS THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY, AND FOR EVER! I guess we have already shot down in great detail the first two paragraphs of their claims, and I could do much more, but for the sake of time, we will move on.
2. “As we show in our new book “The Torah’s Goal?” there are many implications in the Law to our lives today.
However, there really is no such thing as “Torah observent”, as most of the 613 commandments are impossible to keep even if we wanted to try. Those who are left, are usually being cherry picked from, ignoring most of them and ending up with only a few.
If somebody is telling you he is a Torah observant, try to randomly pick a few commandments and see if he really observes them or not, for example, you may ask them:
– Do you keep your diet 100% animal fat free, as in accordance with Leviticus 3:17 ?
– Do you stone your children if they curse you, as in accordance with Leviticus 20:9 ?
– Do you never shave your facial hair, as in accordance with Leviticus 19:27 ?
– Do you support the killing of gays and lesbians, as in accordance with Leviticus 20:13 ?
– During the Shabbat, do you not drive or BBQ? (and if you lived before the nineteenth century, will you not turn on lights nor start the heating in the winter if you are cold?), as in accordance with Exodus 35:3 ?
– Do you always wear only one kind of fabric on your body so not to mix between linen and wool, as in accordance with Deuteronomy 22:11 ?
– Do you never buy fruit in the supermarket as their producers do not wait until the 5th year to start selling them? (not to mention the fact that the majority of today’s supermarket food products includes corn or soy), as in accordance with Leviticus 19:23-25?”
The first comment about the law being impossible has been beat into the ground already so I will not waste time commenting on it again. They are correct, not one person can keep the “613 Commandments”, because as stated earlier, many do not apply to an individual, even the Messiah, because of circumstances such as not being a man, a woman, a land owner, a Priest, etc. What I would like to point out is there are 1,040 commandments in the “New Testament if they want to play the numbers game. So, the claim that people “cherry pick” from the Torah/Law is true, but not in the context in which they portray it. Moving on.
“If somebody is telling you he is a Torah observant, try to randomly pick a few commandments and see if he really observes them or not, for example, you may ask them:
1.- Do you keep your diet 100% animal fat free, as in accordance with Leviticus 3:17 ?
2.- Do you stone your children if they curse you, as in accordance with Leviticus 20:9 ?
3.- Do you never shave your facial hair, as in accordance with Leviticus 19:27 ?
4.- Do you support the killing of gays and lesbians, as in accordance with Leviticus 20:13 ?
5.- During the Shabbat, do you not drive or BBQ? (and if you lived before the nineteenth century, will you not turn on lights nor start the heating in the winter if you are cold?), as in accordance with Exodus 35:3 ?
6.- Do you always wear only one kind of fabric on your body so not to mix between linen and wool, as in accordance with Deuteronomy 22:11 ?
7.- Do you never buy fruit in the supermarket as their producers do not wait until the 5th year to start selling them? (not to mention the fact that the majority of today’s supermarket food products includes corn or soy), as in accordance with Leviticus 19:23-25?”
As you see, I have numbered these points so I can give the answers they seek one by one.
1. Some may not keep their diets fat free as prescribed in Lev. 3:17 because as stated before, 1, we have no Temple nor do the Sons of Aaron have a Priesthood, nor will they ever, because Yeshua/Jesus has replaced the Aaronic Priesthood. Some may indeed eat a fat free diet, it is possible, you just have to want to do it because you love YHVH/God enough to observe this. Some are further in their walk than others, but since you ask such a question, allow me to ask a question. Who receives mercy in a Court, the man who tries but fails, or the man who simply refuses to try and says “I will not try, I will do it my own way”?????? Good luck lol.
2. No, we do not stone our children, nor did Israel EVER stone any children. Let us examine the commandment they are not discerning at all.
Deut. 18: 18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious SON(not child) who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; HE IS A GLUTTON AND A DRUNKARD.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
This commandment is NOT for a child, it is for a grown man who is the son of parents who have tried to discipline their son who is rebellious and a DRUNKARD. In other words, HE IS A GROWN MAN. No need to go any further, other than when we live in a completely Torah Observant World, which is indeed coming, known as the Millennial Kingdom, YES, if a man acts in such a way, he will indeed be stoned. The laws of this Nation prevent this, it has NOTHING to do with this commandment not being relevant today. If we could observe this commandment, we would not have the issue of drug addicts, alcoholics that drive drunk and kill people, so if we could observe this commandment, it would solve many problems we have in this ungodly society. How dare you give this commandment a false image and act as if it has no worth, only to prove that your false image of YHVH/God’s commandments are somehow not good, holy, and just as Paul says.
Rom 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
3. This commandment has absolutely nothing about shaving your beard about it in it. The word ‘Mar” means;
H7843
שׁחת
shâchath
shaw-khath’
A primitive root; to decay, that is, (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively): – batter, cast off, corrupt (-er, thing), destroy (-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, X utterly, waste (-r).
In the context which your “Ministry” pushes so much, it is placed in context with Pagan practices. It is a form of snatching hair from your beard as a sign of mourning for Pagans, nothing to do with shaving, so let us look at the context.
Lev 19:26 Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD. 29 Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
So, again I say for a “Ministry” based in Israel, you surely have absolutely no discernment at all about this commandment, plus, unless a man’s job prevents him from doing so, most of us do have beards, look at my facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/eric.turner.54943
4. Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Yes, as the Messiah himself supports the killing of gays, should they not repent, just as Paul shows us.
1Co 6:9 You know that wicked people will not inherit the kingdom of God, don’t you? Stop deceiving yourselves! Sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, HOMOSEXUALS, 10 thieves, greedy people, drunks, slanderers, and robbers WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Allow me to ask you a question. What happens to them that do not enter the Kingdom of YHVH/God? Are they not thrown in the lake of fire. Also, let us look at the commandments surrounding this one, and then once again, look at Paul’s writings.
Lev 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them SHALL SURELY BE PUT TO DEATH; their blood shall be upon them.
1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, THAT ONE SHOULD HAVE HIS FATHER’S WIFE. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, HAVE JUDGED ALREADY, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
What does “the destruction of the flesh” mean? Again, no discernment, and an insult to the commandment of YHVH/God. You should be ashamed. Why do you set stumbling blocks before men so that you can lead them to lawlessness? Allow me to show you what the Messiah says will happen to them that come in His name, Prophesying, casting out demons, and doing miracles in His name but refuse to observe the Torah/Law.
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.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?’23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Again, you bring shame to the name of Yeshua and His Father’s commandments.
4. During Shabbat, we do drive, as there is no commandment not to, that is unless you observe Talmud, Mishna, and Gemara, all scribed by Pharisees. The only command about not kindling a fire on Shabbat is for the works of your trade, such as using fire as a blacksmith. Do you really believe that YHVH expected us to live in the cold and dark on Shabbat? How would one read the scriptures in the home on Shabbat, not to mention the Menorah, which burned day and night, and the fire of the Altar of incense that burned day and night. Again, no discernment nor understanding of the ways of YHVH/God, nor understanding his mercy. Candles have ALWAYS been burned during the Shabbat during Hannukah, in which Yeshua/Jesus Himself observed, the time of His conception.
Joh 10:22 At that time the Hòanukkah came to be in Yerushalayim, and it was winter. 23 And יהושע was walking in the Set-apart Place, in the porch of Shelomoh. 24 So the Yehuḏim surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, say to us plainly.” 25 יהושע answered them, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s Name, they bear witness concerning Me. 26 “But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
Did Yeshua/Jesus rebuke ANYONE, even the scribes and Pharisees for observing Hannukah? Again, no discernment, nor understanding the ways of YHVH/God, nor the ways of His Son.
6. No, many do not wear cloths with wool mixed with flax. Again, some are further in their walk than others. This commandment does not prohibit the mixing of any other materials, such as cotton and wool. You need to look at the definitions of the words, instead of solely relying on the English translations, but I personally believe you know but intentionally do this to cause men to stumble. So, let us look at the meaning of the words.
wool;
H6785
צמר
tsemer
BDB Definition:
1) wool
1a) wool
1b) whiteness (metaphorically)
1c) wool (in garments)
linen;
H6593
פּשׁתּה
pishteh
BDB Definition:
1) flax, linen
1a) fibre used as material for garments
This commandment has nothing to do with mixing other materials. We see this with Elisha, who wore clothing and a mantle that was made from a different material. Again, I believe you intentinally do this in order to cause men to stumble.
7. Some may buy fruit in the supermarket, others may grow it themselves, so you may see once again, some are further in their walk than others. What you do not understand is a sin(transgression of the Torah/Law) of ignorance, or weakness of the fleshly desires are atoned for, but willful and rebellious sin is not. You all are sinning intentionally and teaching others to do so, again, causing some to stumble. You can find the differences of sins which are atoned for and which one are not in our article “What is Sin” at this location
http://faithgracetorah.net/2014/05/21/what-is-sin/
Now we will move on and address the next issues you use to cause others to stumble.
“These are only 7 examples of the hundreds of Sinai commandmends, and remember, if in Yeshua we still under the authority of the Sinai covenant, we can’t just keep some commandments, we must keep them all: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.” (James 2:10)”
Allow us to look at this in CONTEXT.
Jas 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with RESPECT OF PERSONS. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have RESPECT OF PERSONS, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 SO SPEAK YE, AND DO SO, AS THEY THAT SHALL BE JUDGED BY THE LAW OF LIBERTY. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 EVEN SO FAITH, IF IT HAVE NOT WORKS, IS DEAD , BEING ALONE. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: SHEW ME THY FAITH WITHOUT WORKS, AND I WILL SHEW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O VAIN MAN, THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD? 21 Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, AND BY WORKS HIS FAITH WAS MADE PERFECT? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that BY WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED, AND NOT BY FAITH ONLY. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot JUSTIFIED BY WORKS, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, SO FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.
First off, the “perfect law of liberty” IS THE TORAH/LAW!!!!!!
Psa 19:7 THE LAW OF YHVH IS PERFECT, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;44 So shall I KEEP THY LAW FOR EVER AND EVER. 45 And I will WALK AT LIBERTY: for I seek thy precepts.
Secondly, the entire chapter of James 2, if read in CONTEXT, by itself tears down your entire argument. Secondly, once again, Paul agrees.
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, BUT THE DOERS OF THE LAW SHALL BE JUSTIFIED. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, DO BY NATURE THINGS CONTAINED IN THE LAW, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 WHICH SHEW THE WORK OF THE LAW IS WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS , their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
Paul first of all says that the hearers of the Torah/Law are not justified, but THE DOERS OF THE LAW SHALL BE JUSTIFIED. Secondly, he says that the evidence that the Torah/Law has been written on a GENTILE’S heart is when they BY NATURE DO THINGS CONTAINED IN THE LAW. So, at least learn the “New Testament” before you start speaking evil against them that observe the Torah/Law and against the Torah/Law itself. On to the next points.
“But the more important question is – do you convinced that God is really interested in us following these commandments and being under their authority today under the new covenant?
If the answer is “yes”, then your don’t believe in a New Covenant, but in a Renewed Covenant. And that would be in contradiction to Jeremiah’s words:
” “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, becausee they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:31-33)”
Paul and James have already testified against this ignorant statement. THOSE WHO DO THE LAW WILL BE JUSTIFIED, and FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD BEING ALONE. No need to comment more on this issue. On we go.
“Some in the Hebrew roots movement appeal to John 14:15 to support their position that Yeshua’s followers are obligated to keep the Law. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15; see 14:21, 23-24). There is absolutely nothing in the immediate context, however, which would lead one to conclude that “my commandments” refers to the Law. Biblical interpretation relies heavily on context and the immediate context clarifies the specific commandments to which Yeshua refers. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you….These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (John 15:12, 17; other commandments given by Yeshua in the immediate context include John 14:1, 11, 27; 15:4, 7, 9; 16:24).
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
So, are we throwing the Torah out of the window?
Of course not! The commandments of the Sinai Covenant continues to function as inspired Scripture. The Law witnesses against us, points us to Yeshua, teaches us about God, offers us wisdom and insight, deepens our understanding of the person and work of Yeshua, and challenges us to love God and our neighbor. As we continue to meditate on the riches of the Torah, may we, like David, desire its teachings more “than gold, even much fine gold.” May it be to us “sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb” (Ps 19:10) After all, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17)”
Not only have you thrown the Torah out the window, you have at the end of your article completely contradicted the rest of the article. How people in Israel have listened to you in any way is beyond me and you need to repent, and you can’t repent without keeping the Torah/Law since sin is defined as transgression of the Torah/Law. Now I will address some things you say in your FAQ portion. Rare steaks? This contains blood, and no person I have ever heard of eats it rare because it contains blood. Once again, the “New Testament” testifies against this.
Act 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, AND FROM BLOOD, and from strangled, and from fornication.
This is one major thing we use to show Protestants that they can’t even meet the minimum requirements of the Covenant. As the comments as touching the Holy Spirit, and not the Torah/Law being our guide, the Prophet Ezekiel testifies against you. Speaking of the New Covenant, the Prophet has written;
Eze 36:26 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 an heart of flesh. 27 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 testifies against your theology. Leaving the idea that the Holy Spirit is our guide without the Torah/Law leaves everything open to one’s own understanding, and this is why we have 38,000 “Christian” denominations, all with differing doctrines, all claiming they follow the Holy Spirit, all thinking their denominations are the only ones entering the Kingdom, and only agree on one thing…….We no longer need to observe the Torah/Law. Let me explain it like this. With Torah/Law observant assemblies, anyone anywhere in the world can go to any assembly, and will be studying the same scriptures, at the same time, in unity, and will be edified. The 38,000 denominations are all at odds with one another. The Torah/Law unifies, while the throwing out of any portion of it divides. This is testified by the changing of the dates of the Feast Days between the Northern Kingdom(House of Israel), and the Southern Kingdom(House of Judah). Allow me to ask one last question. What harm can come from observing the Torah/Law? Why speak against it when we are PROMISED blessings should we keep it? I believe this article you have written offends both YHVH/God, Yeshua/Jesus, and His Observant and Obedient believers. You should pull this article, repent, and start DOING and not giving lip service only, as Faith without works IS DEAD. In conclusion,
RAK CHAZAK YISRAEL!
Faith, Grace, and Torah 