Take away the Old, establish the New!

Perhaps you have the idea (according to 2 Corinthians 3: 7-11 & Hebrews 8: 13 I might add), that YaHUaH has replaced the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. To ASSUME or to PROCLAIM that the “new COVENANT” has replaced the “old COVENANT” WITHOUT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION is not only a Hellenistic point of view but also in direct contradiction to the Scriptures! Every “new” COVENANT enriches the previous!  The Eden, Adamic, Noahadic, Avraham, Mosaic, Davidic and REnewed covenant. The REnewed covenant didn’t replace the Davidic covenant as much as the Davidic covenant didn’t replaced the Mosaic, as much as the Mosaic didn’t replaced the Avraham covenant – need I even continue? If it did, then why are you who teach others that it did, still holding on to the Avraham covenant? Do you honestly believe YaHUaH contradicts Himself? For when He said, “I shall not profane My covenant, neither would I change what has gone out from My lips”,(Tehillim (Psalms) 89: 34) He meant it! The second witness to the stand, I call Eph’siyim (Ephesians) 2: 12-13 and let us see what Scripture has to confirm about itself:

“that at that time you were without Messiah, EXCLUDED FROM [what?] the citizenship of (((YShREL)))[not Christianity] AND STRANGERS FROM [what?] the covenantS of promise, (notice the plural) having no expectation and without ELaHYM in the world. But now in Messiah YaHUShA you who once were FARR OFF [from what?] have been brought near [to what?] BY the blood of Messiah.”

FARR OFF FROM WHAT? ANSWER: CITIZENSHIP and COVENANT(S) [plural]
AND BROUGHT NEAR TO WHAT? ANSWER: CITIZENSHIP and COVENANT(S) [plural].

The majority of people believe that YaHUaH’s commandments, statues and judgments, what is known as the Torah categorized by many as the “Old Testament/Covenant”(mosaic I might add)  have been abolish and replaced by the “new covenant” – THUS THEY SELDOM CONSULT THEM. For THEM the “old covenant”(Torah) came to an end in Messiah. Could this be true, or is there more going on in the Hebrew than meets the eye in English? Here is some food for thought: YaHUaH didn’t bring the YShREL’ites out of Mitsrayim (Egypt) which means “slavery/bondage” to put them back into “slavery/bondage” or under a curse when (((He))) gave them the Torah as most people would like to believe. Perhaps this is what you have come to believe after reading a few Scriptures from Galatians out of CONTEXT, misinterpreting Shauls writings. Then there are those who (ironically) believe themselves to be “led by the Spirit” for not accepting the Torah. Yet Mosheh and Yirmeyahu (who was filled with the Spirit of YaHUaH) both mentioned a stiff necked people always resisting the Spirit of ELaHYM who gave them the Torah (Deut. 31:27/Yir 17: 23). The Prophet Zekaryah (also filled with the Spirit of ELaHYM) said, “And they refused to listen and gave a stubborn shoulder and made their ears heavy against hearing. Yes, they made their hearts adamant against hearing the [What?] Torah and the words WHICH YaHUaH OF HOST HAS SENT BY HIS RUACH (SPIRIT) by the former prophets.” (7: 11-12) Therefore Shaul said, “for we know the Torah is Spiritual” (Romans 7:14) and to the Corinthians he said, “But the natural man does not receive the matters of the Spirit of ELaHYM (referring to the Torah which is spiritual) for they are foolishness to him, and he is unable to know them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2: 14). Yochanan described these people to be under a “spirit of delusion” for when he said, “We are of ELaHYM, the one knowing ELaHYM hears us. He who is not of ELaHYM does not hear us. By this way, we know the Spirit of the TRUTH and the spirit of the delusion,” Yohanan Aleph (1 John) 4: 6

I believe the Psalms to have had the “Spirit of Truth” when they wrote, “Your Righteousness is righteousness forever, and YOUR TORAH IS TRUTH” Tehillipm (Psalms) 119: 142 and let’s not forget: “The Torah of YaHUaH is perfect, bringing back the being” (Tehillim /Psalms 19: 7). It WAS and still IS to this very day the HEARTS and MINDS of the people who aren’t perfect, always resisting the spirit of ELaHYM who gave us the Torah, therefore Ya’aqob said, “But he that looked into the perfect Torah, THAT OF FREEDOM(Liberty), and continues IN IT, not becoming a hearer that forgets, BUT A DOER OF WORKS, this one shall be blessed IN HIS DOING OF THE TORAH.” (Ya’aqob/James 1: 25) The problem WAS and the problem STILL IS to this very day the HEARTS and MINDS of the people, who cannot see the Torah for what it is (((“living words”))). CAREFULLY NOTICE:

“This is that Mosheh who said to the children of YShREL, ‘YaHUaH your ELaHYM shall raise up for you a prophet LIKE ME [like Mosheh] from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’ This is he [Mosheh] who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the Messenger [referring to Messiah YaHUShA] who spoke to him on Mount Sinai,[i.e. YaHUShA the law giver as confirmed in Ya'aqob / James 4:12.] and with our fathers, who received the LIVING WORDS [i.e Torah is living words] TO GIVE TO US [that’s right, “us”, the Torah was given to us!], unto whom our fathers WOULD NOT BECOME OBEDIENT, BUT THRUST AWAY, and in their hearts they turned back to Mitsrayim (Egypt/bondage).”(Ma’asei / Acts 7: 37-39)

The question is, ‘Are we obeying our heavenly Father’s “living words” or are we looking for excuses like “our fathers” to turn back to Mitzrayim (Egypt)? Now CAREFULLY notice 2 Corinthians 3: 14-16, “But their MINDS were hardened, for to this day, when the old covenant (Mosaic) is being read, that SAME VEIL remains, not lifted, because in Messiah IT [referring to the veil] is taken away. But to this day, A VEIL lies on their HEARTS. And when one turns to the Master, the VEIL IS TAKEN AWAY.” It’s only in the Master that we can see the Torah / Old covenant (Mosaic) for what it is – “living words”! We should turn to the Master (and only THEN the VEIL will be lifted) who said, “For IF you believe Mosheh,[Torah] you would have believe Me, since He wrote about Me. But if you DO NOT BELIEVE HIS WRITINGS [Torah] HOW shall you believe My words?” (Yohanan / John 5:45-47)

And Abraham who said, ‘If they do not hear Mosheh [Torah] and the prophets[pointing back to Torah] neither would they be persuaded even if one should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:29-31)

The problem was and always is the HEARTS and MINDS of the people. Therefore the writer of Hebrews (8:8) confirms when he said, “For finding fault with THEM…” but according to the majority who find themselves under the veil of Christianity, ELaHYM found fault with the Covenant and therefore “replaced it” with the new. YaHUaH certainly didn’t find fault with the Covenant(Torah) because that would certainly mean He find fault with Himself who gave us the Torah. “For finding fault with THEM…”, He found fault with the “HEARTS” and “MINDS” of the people, therefore: “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. And I shall put My Spirit within you, AND CAUSE YOU TO [what?] (((WALK IN MY STATUES))), AND YOU SHALL [what?] (((KEEP MY JUDGMENTS))) and [what?] (((DO THEM)))! YehezqEL/Ezekiel 36: 26-27 With this NEW heart, we will start loving it, abiding it, rejoice in it, as someone who keep their beloved one’s words close to their heart. Not like our fathers who “made their HEARTS adamant against hearing the Torah” Zekaryah 7:11-12

The very reason He gave us the Set Apart Spirit was to give us the desire to keep His Torah, the very words Mosheh received from YaHUShA, and then gave unto us. For those who have a relative good translation such as the King James we find the word covenant in ITALICS. For when we read in Hebrews 8:13, “In that he says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away,” the translators were pointing out that the word “covenant” is not found in the original text. They were making an assumption or guess as to what the text were implying therefore placing the word covenant in ITALICS. But reading it WITHOUT the word “covenant” as we suppose to then it clearly reflects Yehezqel 36:26-27 “A NEW heart”!

Not under law but under grace

PART 1

Now if Shaul taught in Romans 3:31 that AFTER we were saved by grace through faith that we are to ESTABLISH the Torah and also taught in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are created unto Messiah to DO GOOD WORKS (that is to follow Torah which will become evident later on in this study). THEN WHY IS IT, that so many think that Shaul taught differently quoting a single verse “for you are not under the law but under grace” as if to mean, we do not have to walk in the Torah (it’s clearly not what the text is implying). It is because they have taken the verse, ‘ ..for ye are not under the law but under grace’ OUT OF CONTEXT and have TWISTED the teachings of Shaul. These men are familiar with Kapha’s words that the UNTAUGHT and UNSTABLE will twist the writings of Shaul to their own destruction, (Kepha Bet [2 Peter] 3:15-16) YET OVERLOOK THE VERY WORDS of Kepha who said these are “lawless men” (verse 17). By “lawless”, he did not mean people who were without Roman law. Lawless throughout Scripture refers to being without YaHUaH’s Torah. Kepha was in fact saying that those who twist Shaul’s writings are those who are untaught in the Torah. The same holds true for many who had an incorrect idea on what Shaul was in fact teaching, assuming him of teaching against the Torah. If ever Shaul had the opportunity to show that we are no longer under the law but under grace AS IF TO IMPLY that we no longer had to “WALK IN THE TORAH” and OBEY the Torah, this was it – however, Shaul denied the charge in the strongest possible way, by taking a Natzarite vow (Acts 21: 21-26). This involves him performing sacrifices and offerings (Numbers 6: 1-21) ACCORDING TO THE TORAH long after Messiah’s death and resurrection.

So based upon what has been written in this article so far, what really did Shaul mean when he said, “for you are not under law but under grace”? It was Messiah who said, “You do ERROR not knowing the SCRIPTURES nor the power of ELaHYM” it should then be understood in the light of the time in which Messiah said it, when there were no New Testament writings yet ever written down. So the term SCRIPTURES Messiah was referring too could only mean the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings (Old Testament Writings). So in order for us to not do any ERROR and therefore TWIST the writings of Shaul, we should turn to the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings. Even Shaul’s own words testify to this important fact when he point out to Timothy “the Set Apart SCRIPTURES” which Timothy “had known from a child” (when the New Testament wasn’t even there) and the “word of TRUTH”(Tehillipm/Psalms 119: 142) which Timothy had to learn to “rightly divide,”(2 Timothy 3:14-15) could only mean the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.

So when we read in Eph’siyim (Ephesians) 2:8 (The New Testament Writings) “For by favour you have been saved, THROUGH belief…” it’s only repeating of how the Torah (Old Testament Writings) describes how the ELaHYM of YShREL saves His people. It’s affirming what the Torah says! Only AFTER we were saved by grace through faith, we came unto mount Sinai where we received the Torah on HOW WE ARE TO LIVE OUR LIVES AS A SAVED OR REDEEMED PEOPLE! We are NOT saved by our own good merit or our own GOOD WORKS, “lest any man boast.” (verse 9). It doesn’t mean we don’t persue GOOD WORKS (Torah). Our good works is a result of being saved by grace through faith. “For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah YaHUShA UNTO GOOD WORKS, which ELaHYM hath before ordained THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. Ephesians 2:10 We should walk in the Torah of ELaHYM. Messiah confirms this by saying, “Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mattiyahu 5:16) We need to Scripturally define what the “LIGHT” is that we need to shine before men. The Writings (Proverbs 6: 23) states, “For the COMMANDMENT is a LAMP; and the TORAH is LIGHT; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” If we want our LIGHT to shine before men, we should clearly, according Messiah, walk in the LIGHT of the Torah!

“Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a TORAH SHALL PROCEED FROM ME, and I will make my judgment to rest for a LIGHT of the people.” Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 51:4

Carefully notice what has been said, “which ELaHYM hath (((BEFORE ORDAINED))) that we SHOULD WALK IN THEM” Where in Scripture do we find this? “And YaHUaH said to Mosheh, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, THAT I MAY PROVE THEM, (((WHETHER))) THEY WALK IN MY TORAH, OR NOT. (Shemoth (Exodus) 16:4) Notice Yochanan’s words when he said, “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also TO WALK even as HE WALKED” then continued by saying, “Beloved, I write no fresh command to you BUT AN OLD command which you have had FROM THE BEGINNING. Again I write you a fresh command, which is true in Him AND IN YOU [refering to the Torah in you], because the darkness is passing away, and the true LIGHT now shines.”(Yochanan 2: 6-8)

The Psalm had a way of putting things into perspective by saying, “they kept not the covenant of ELaHYM and refused to WALK IN HIS TORAH” (78: 10)

So we do not WALK IN THE TORAH to be saved; we OBEY and “WALK IN THE TORAH” because we were saved! THEREFORE the Psalms wrote, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who WALK IN THE TORAH of YaHUaH.” (Thellim / Psalm 119:1) THERFORE Yochanan said, “The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.” And we know that Messiah was the perfect law abiding example who WALKED IN THE TORAH.

So WHY IS IT that so many both Messianic and Christian alike teach differently, teach that Shaul wrote differently when Kepha himself said “reckon the patience of our Master as deliverance, AS ALSO OUR BELOVED BROTHER SHAUL WROTE TO YOU, according to the WISDOM given to him,” Kepha Bet/2Peter 3:15 Should we not rather turn to the SCRIPTURES and ask ourselves ‘what is the WISDOM which he was given?’ We need to Scripturally define what it was!

“The fear of YaHUaH is the beginning of WISDOM: a good understanding have all they that DO his COMMANDMENTS: his praise endureth for ever.” Tehillem (Psalm) 111:10

KEEP therefore and DO them; for this is your WISDOM and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a WISE and understanding people. Deuteronomy 4:6

Certainly Shaul “Kept” the Torah, for that was his WISDOM. Many use the words of Shaul, “for you are not under the law but under grace” AS AN EXCUSE for not OBEYING the forth commandment (the Sabbath) and many other Torah commands – who would much rather WALK IN a man made tradition (a Sunday Church assembly) than following in the way of YaHUaH, but we know what Scripture have to say about these men, “The one who says ‘I know Him’ and does not guard His commands, IS A LIAR and the TRUTH is not in him.” (Yochanan Aleph 1: 4) Again – We need to Scripturally define what TRUTH is and the TRUTH which is not in them?

“Your righteousness is righteousness forever AND YOUR TORAH IS TRUTH.” Tehillim (Psalms) 119: 142

WE NEED TO WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE TORAH! SO THAT BEING SAID, let us now look at the words of Shaul in its CONTEXT in light of the Torah by continuing on to …

PART 2

Prior to verse 14 of Romans chapter 6, where Shaul said the very famous words, “for you are not under law but under grace” Shaul was building his case in which he started by saying, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”(verse 1) In order to understand his question, we need to understand the SCRIPTURAL definition of sin. Because everything else he said in this chapter is really predicated upon a Scriptural definition of what sin is.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the Torah (law): for sin is the transgression of the Torah (law). Yochanan Aleph / 1 John 3:4

Shaul was asking “shall we continue by transgressing the Torah that grace may abound?” In other words, is it alright for us to forget His Sabbath (transgressing Torah) and follow after the traditions of men (Sunday Church assembly) hoping that YaHUShA will forever overlook our transgressions, and his answer were,  “ELaHYM FORBID! How shall we, that are dead to sin (no more transgressing Torah), live any longer therein?”(verse 2) Put it another way, How shall we continue transgressing His Torah? Shall we purposefully violate the Torah, not guarding the Sabbath(as an example), hoping grace may abound? His answer was “ELaHYM FORBID!” Then he aksed, “Do you not know that as many of us as were immersed into Messiah YaHUShA were immersed into His death?” He was further building his case by using an analogy; “dead to sin” by “immersed into His death” reflecting the life of YaHUShA who are “dead to sin” and if sin is the transgression of the Torah then Messiah are dead to transgressing the Torah.

“We were THEREFORE, buried with Him through immersion into death, that as Messiah was raised from the dead by the esteem of the Father, so also we should WALK IN newness of life.” We need to Scripturally define how we should WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE. So forgive me for going slightly of course in order to explain. But it is paramount that you understand Shaul’s “Scriptural” word terminoligy. When we read in Eph’siyim (Ephesians) 2:8 (The New Testament Writings) “For by favour you have been saved, THROUGH belief…” it’s only repeating of how the Torah (Old Testament Writings) describes how the ELaHYM of YShREL saves His people. It’s affirming what the Torah says! Only AFTER we were saved by grace through faith, we came unto mount Sinai where we received the Torah on HOW WE ARE TO LIVE OUR LIVES AS A SAVED OR REDEEMED PEOPLE! We are NOT saved by our own good merit or our own GOOD WORKS, “lest any man boast.” (verse 9). IT DOESN’T MEAN WE DON’T PERSUE GOOD WORKS (Torah). Our good works is a result of being saved by grace through faith.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah YaHUShA UNTO GOOD WORKS, which ELaHYM hath before ordained THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM. Ephesians 2:10

We should walk in the Torah of ELaHYM. Messiah confirms this by saying, “Let your LIGHT so shine before men, that they may see your GOOD WORKS, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mattiyahu 5:16) We need to Scripturally define what the “LIGHT” is that we need to shine before men. The Writings (Proverbs 6: 23) states, “For the COMMANDMENT is a LAMP; and the TORAH is LIGHT; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” If we want our LIGHT to shine before men, we should clearly, according to Messiah, walk in the LIGHT of the Torah!

“Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a TORAH SHALL PROCEED FROM ME, and I will make my judgment to rest for a LIGHT of the people.” Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 51:4

And this is how we “WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.” Let us continue in Romans chapter 6.

“For (((IF))) we have come to be grown together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also of the resurrection.”(verse 5) He was explaining that only IF we have grown to be “dead to sin” (not transgressing Torah) we shall share in likeness of the resurrection. And continue by saying, “Knowing this, that our old man (the one who was transgressing Torah) is crucified with him, that the body of sin (the one who transgressed the Torah) might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”(verse 6) Put it another way, ‘that we should henceforth not transgress the Torah”! “For he who has died has been made right from sin”(verse7). The one who buried the old man who was transgressing the Torah, has now been made right, his sins are forgiven.

“And if we died with Messiah, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Messiah, having been raised from the dead, dies no more – death no longer rules over Him.(verse 9) For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to ELaHYM.(verse 10) Here Shaul says that Messiah indeed paid the penalty of sin but only once, never again and that he aslo did it “for all” everyone of us, since he explained in Romans 4: 15; 3:23 “for all have sinned (transgressing Torah) and come short of the glory of YaHUaH” and it is said that the “soul that sins (transgressing Torah) shall die”(Yehezqel 18:20) but if we died with Messiah by being “dead to sin”(no longer transgressing Torah) by “immersed into His death”,(burried the old man who was transgressing the Torah) we shall also live with Him! What a wonderful gift!!!

“So you also, reckon yourself to be dead indeed to sin” and if sin is the transgression of the Torah (law)Yochanan Aleph / 1 John 3:4 THEN WE BETTER BE DEAD INDEAD TO TRANSGRESSING THE TORAH, “but alive to ELaHYM in Messiah YaHUShA our Master. THEREFORE do not let sin reign in your mortal body, to obey it in its desires,” i.e. do not give the former man who were a transgressor of the Torah the opportunity to sin again, “neither present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to ELaHYM as being alive from the dead (as one who walk in the likeness of Messiah who are “dead to sin”) and your members as instruments of righteousness to ELaHYM”(verse 13) Being an instruments of righteousness to ELaHYM merely means you are an instrument that is in right standing with ELaHYM’s standards set out in the Torah.

THEN the very famous words (all in context I might add), “For sin shall not rule over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” He was merely explaining that, not only will we NOT sin (transgressing Torah) anymore, but the law of our flesh that causes us to sin (transgressing Torah) shall not have dominion over us because we have buried the old man (who was a transgressor of the Torah) therefore no longer under the condemnation as set out in the Torah (Yehezqel 18:20) but under grace / mercy extended to us as also explained in the Torah (Exodus 20:6 and Psalm 103: 17,18) Then the very next verse he makes sure you did not forget his very first question by saying, “What then? Shall we sin (transgressing Torah) because we are not under Torah (law) (Yehezqel 18:20) but under grace?”(verse 15) His answer: “LET IT NOT BE!”

Shaul was asking “shall we continue by transgressing the Torah because we are not under the Torah…?” Put it another way, Shall we purposefully violate the Torah, not guarding the Sabbath (as an example), hoping grace may abound because we are no longer under the condemnation as set out in the Torah (Yehezqel 18:20)? His answer was “LET IT NOT BE!” Then he makes an very important statement by saying:

“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves servants for OBEDIENCE, you are servants of the one whom you OBEY, whether of sin (transgressing Torah) TO DEATH (Yehezqel 18:20) or of obedience to righteousness?”(verse 16) i.e. IF we are a servant of the one whom we OBEY – in this case Messiah “who is our righteousness”, we are in OBEDIENCE to His words in Mattiyahu (Matthew) 19:17, 5:19, Luqas 10:28, 16:17, Yochanan 12:50 and Hazon(Revelations) 22:14 THEREFORE in righteousness that is the act of being in right standing with ELaHYM’s standards as set out in the Torah!

Clearly within the context of the entire chapter we can see that Shaul was explaining that we are no longer under the condemnation as set out in the Torah (Yehezqel 18:20) but under grace / mercy extended to us as also explained in the Torah (Exodus 20:6 and Psalm 103: 17,18) So when we read in Galatians 5: 18, “But if you are led BY THE SPIRIT, you are not under Torah” it clearly reflects his writings in Romans chapter 6 explaining that we are no longer “under condemnation” or at least “no longer under the norm”. But many (ironically) believe themselves to be “led by the Spirit” for not excepting the Torah. Yet Mosheh and Yirmeyahu both mentioned a stiff necked people always resisting the Spirit of ELaHYM who gave them the Torah (Deut. 31:27/Yir 17: 23). Therefore Shaul said, “for we know the Torah is Spiritual” (Romans 7:14) and to the Corinthians he said, “But the natural man does not receive the matters of the Spirit of ELaHYM (referring to the Torah which is spiritual) for they are foolishness to him, and he is unable to know them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2: 14). Yochanan described these people to be under a “spirit of delusion” for when he said, “We are of ELaHYM, the one knowing ELaHYM hears us. He who is not of ELaHYM does not hear us. By this way, we know the Spirit of the TRUTH and the spirit of the delusion,” Yohanan Aleph (1 John) 4: 6 I believe the Psalms to have had the “Spirit of Truth” when they wrote, “Your Righteousness is righteousness forever, and YOUR TORAH IS TRUTH” Tehillipm (Psalms) 119: 142

I pray that this teaching has been and will be a rich blessing to you and your loved ones. Please do share these teachings with others. And may YaHUaH do a mighty work WITHIN you and yours, Shalom!

Acts 10 – A licence to eat anything you want?

In our previous study we could clearly see that Shaul WAS NOT trying to say that the “weak” brother “eats” some things and “esteems one day (Sabbath) above another” while the strong brother believes that he may “eat all things” and “esteems every day alike” – TO THE CONTRARY!

In this study (which is a continuation on our previous study) we are going to look at the vision that was given Kepha. The great majority believe this vision to be their licence to ignore Leviticus 11. To THEM, a “prayer” is sufficient and they can eat anything they want. Now before we continue, I wish to draw your attention to Proverbs 28: 9 which clearly states, “He who turns away his ears from hearing the Torah, even His prayer is an abomination.” So according to Scripture, you may pray all you like, it wouldn’t change a thing, what do matters to YaHUaH is that you “hear” and “obey” His Torah! That includes Leviticus 11!

A Torah clearly to be “EVERLASTING”, “ETERNAL”, “FOREVER”(1 Chronicles 16:15; 16:16-17; Psalm 119:44, 89, 97;  Yshayahu 24:5; Luqas 21:33; Malaki 3:6; Hebrews 13:8 to name but a few)

Now we come to the heart of the matter. Cornelius “dedicated, and fearing ELaHYM with all his household, doing many kind deeds to the people (referring to the Yahudim) and PRAYING to ELaHYM always.”(verse 2) and it is said, “your PRAYERS and your kind deeds have come up for a remembrance before ELaHYM.”(verse 4) His prayers would have been an “abomination” to YaHUaH if he had “turn his ears from hearing the Torah”, instead, Cornelius with his entire household chose to fear YaHUaH and obey his charge – the Torah! Cornelius has send men to Yapho and send for Shimon who is called Kepha to hear words from him.(verse 22) YaHUaH knew Kepha wouldn’t leave with these men for fearing they wouldn’t keep the SANCTITY commands of the Torah which is why he was given the vision.

“and he saw the heavens opened and a certain vessel like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth,”(verse 11)

This was a visual display of a tallit katan “sheet” or “garment” which has tzitzits “fringes” on each corner. All YShREL were commanded to wear tzitsits “fringes” on the “corners of their garments” in Numbers 15: 37-39. This vision was very significant; because the very reason YShREL was given the command to make and to wear tzitsits is to “REMEMBER ALL THE COMMANDS (including Leviticus 11) and not search after your own hearts and your own eyes after which you went whoring”. No wonder this vision made NO SENSE to Kepha , “doubting within himself” when he saw these unclean animals on this particular sheet and heard the voice which said to him “Rise up, Kepah, slay and eat”. His response was, “Not at all, Master! Because I have never eaten whatever is common or unclean. And a voice came to him again the second time, “What ELaHYM has cleansed you do not consider common. And this took place three times, and the vessel was taken back to the heaven. And while Kepha was doubting within himself about what the vision might mean, look, the men who had been sent from Cornelius, having asked for the house of Shimon, stood at the gate.”

So before you, the reader, jump into any hasty conclusions as to what the vision might mean, consider this: When Kepha was told to “slay and eat”, he was told to perform the slaughter of a peach offering which I will explain shortly. It had but nothing to do with YaHUaH cleansing pork or lobster. We better Scripturally look at what this vision was set out to accomplish! REMEMBER: “not search after your own hearts and your own eyes after which you went whoring.”  

Scripture make a clear distinction of what the “unclean animals” or rather “whatever is common or unclean” represents. We need to scripturally define what they are. The unclean animals are described in the vision in the following way, “in which were all kinds of four-footed beasts of the earth and wild beasts and creeping creatures, and the birds of the heaven.” Now carefully notice how Scripture define other “nations” to be likened to “BEAST OF THE FIELD”:

“But YaHUaH your ELaHYM shall drive out those nations before you, little by little. You are not allowed to destroy them [nations] at once, lest the BEAST OF THE FIELD [nations] become too strong for you.”Deuteronomy 7: 22

This clearly isn’t speaking about “cattle”. In the context of Scripture it’s dealing with the Nation YShREL that should not become like other nations (verse 1-4). But since YShREL went after these nations, disobeying Torah, and “search after their own hearts and their own eyes after which they went whoring”, Yehezqel explained, “And they were scattered because there was no shepherd. And they became food for all the BEAST OF THE FIELD [nations] when they were scattered.” Yehezqel 34:5

When YShREL (all 12 tribes) was exiled into the nations, they were given over to their enemies who are called the “BEAST OF THE FIELD”. They became likened to the nations of the world who are described as being birds, beasts and creeping things.

Hoshea 2: 18-19 explain: “And in that day I will make a COVENANT for THEM [house of YZRAEL] WITH THE BEAST OF THE FIELD, and with the FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN, and with the CREEPING THINGS of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. And I will betroth thee unto Me forever.”

In chapter 1,  Hoshea explains how the Northern Kingdom of YShREL is prophetically given the name ( יןרעאל ) YZRAEL in their exile amongst the nations. (verse 4) YZRAEL means “ELaHYM will sow” or rather “EL will scatter” as appose to the Hebrew word ( ישראל ) YShREL meaning “overcome with EL”. Then in chapter 2, he explains how a Covenant was made “FOR YZRAEL WITH the” nations of the world who are described as being birds, beasts and creeping things. At first, the vision made NO SENSE to Kepha, but carefully notice what he says AFTER YaHUaH has shown him what this vision was set out to accomplish. “And he said to them, “You know that a YaHUDi man is not allowed to associate with, or go to one of another race. But ELaHYM has shown me that I SHOULD NOT CALL ANY MAN COMMON OR UNCLEAN.”(verse 28) “but in every NATION,[birds, beasts and creeping things] he who fears Him and work righteousness [obeying Torah] is accepted by Him.”(verse 35)

Kepha eventually understood in no uncertain terms that ELaHYM was referring to the NATIONS (birds, beasts and creeping things) whom YaHUaH has made clean through the atoning work of Messiah. They could now have TABLE FELLOWSHIP because Messiah has made PEACE between those “near” (referring to the Southern Kingdom) and those “far off” (referring to the Northern Kingdom amongst the nations) see Ephesians 2:13-18

This vision had but everything to do in explaining the partition of the barrier between the Northern Kingdom (YShREL) and the Southern Kingdom (YaHUDaH) that is now removed through the blood of Messiah.

So when Kepha was told to “slay and eat”, “that which ELaHYM has cleansed”, he was told to perform the slaughter of a PEACE offering as an example set by Ya’aqob.

“And Ya’aqob slaughtered a slaughtering on the mountain, and called his brothers TO EAT BREAD. And they ate bread and spent the night on the mountain” Bereshith (Genesis) 31:54

The slaughter of killing of a sacrifice was for the purpose of having a COVENANT meal – in this case with the house of YShREL the Northern Kingdom, with Cornelius and his household. Prior to this event, “YaHUShA took BREAD, and having blessed, broke and gave it to the taught ones and said, ‘Take eat, this is My body (sacrifice)’”(Mattiyahu 26: 26) Then there was those men from the YaHUDim who “continuing steadfast in the teachings of the emissaries and in the FELLOWSHIP, and in the BREAKING OF BREAD, and in prayer.”(Acts 2:42) “And day by day, continuing with one mind in the set apart place, AND BREAKING BREAD from house to house,”(verse 46) prior to the vision and revelation that was given Kepha whom at that time wouldn’t even “associate with or go to one of another race” according to a YaHUDim TRADITION for fear that they wouldn’t be keeping the SANCTITY laws of the Torah.

No wonder Kepha were rebuked by Sha’ul for getting caught up in a form of hypocrisy. Galatiyim (Galatians) 2: 11-13

For Kepha to have received the revelation about the Covenant FOR YZRAEL WITH the nations (whom are described as being birds, beasts and creeping things), whom delivered the decision to the brethren (Acts 15: 30-35) about this good news. For them, Kepha and Barnaba to have stood with Sha’ul and agreed with this good news and then to withdraw from  keeping company with the nations out of concern for what those of the “circumcision”(YaHUDim) might say or do was quite hypocritical. Because it was known to everyone that he was chosen by YaHUaH to first bring the good news to the Northern Kingdom together WITH the nations (Acts 10) where he was at that time willing to FELLOWSHIP with them and defended it in Acts 11.

This obviously caused confusion amongst the nations, which was contrary to the decision that was made beforehand. So Sha’ul explained: “But when I saw that they are not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said unto Kepha before them all, If you, being a YaHUDi,[following Torah] live as the nations (whom are described as being sinners) and not as the YaHUDim [who follow Torah], why do you compel nations to live as Yahudim? We, YaHUDim by nature, and not nations as sinners,…” Galatiyim (Galatians) 2: 14-15

Now there are some who like to interpret this as if Sha’ul in essence were saying, “If you are a YaHUDim and have rightly abandoned the law living like the nations, why do you compel the nations to keep the law like the YaHUDim by only eating with the YaHUDim?” Due to this interpretation, it is commonly understood that this is a passage that support the doctrine of the Torah (law) being abolished. But verse 15 exposes the fallacy of this interpretation when Sha’ul CONTRASTS the YaHUDim with nations and identifies the nations as being SINNERS (i.e. transgressing Torah). So while many think that Sha’ul’s statement of Kepha “living after the manner of Nations” was a positive one, it is actually a negative one because in verse 15 Sha’ul says we are not “nations as sinners”!

So a more accurate interpretation of Shaul’s words unto Kepha would sound more like, “how are you ever going to bring the nations whom are described as sinners who transgressing Torah into living righteous lives when you are an acting sinner “torah breaker” yourself” following after a manner of a man made tradition?”

This was definitely a very convicted statement to Kepha that exposed his hypocrisy. So rather than Sha’ul’s rebuke being proof that a Gentile should not keep the Torah, it was simply a rebuke that Kepha himself was transgressing the Torah (1 Yochanan 3: 4) when he chose to fear man over YaHUaH, pretend he was going along with the false good news, and play the hypocrite. So the question wasn’t, “Why are you there trying to get the nations (Torah breakers) to live like YaHUDim (Torah keepers)?” as if to ask, “Don’t you know the law is abolished?” The real question was, “How can you ever compel the nations to keep the Torah (like YaHUDim’s suppose to) if you are a sinner yourself?”

Clearly the vision that was given Kepha had but NOTHING to do with YaHUaH telling Kepha that it was OK for him to eat unclean foods. In this study I hope you came to the realization that ELaHYM was referring to the NATIONS (birds, beasts and creeping things) whom YaHUaH has made clean through the atoning work of Messiah YaHUShA. And that we can now have TABLE FELLOWSHIP (1 Corinthians 10: 16-17 especially verse 17) REMEMBER: “but in every NATION,[birds, beasts and creeping things] he who fears Him and work righteousness [obeying Torah] is accepted by Him.”(verse 35).

May YaHUaH continue to bless you in your studies.

Shalom

One indeed judges one day above another

As soon as we mention the importance of keeping or guarding the Sabbath, then we are often quoted a single phrase of Scripture from Romans 14 (out of context I might add). The very words are, “One indeed judges one day above another, another judges every day alike. Let each one be completely persuaded in his own mind.”

Now to the “untaught” and “unstable” these words simply mean that it doesn’t make a difference to ELaHYM which days we keep or guard. To them, the Sabbath isn’t really that much important. These are one of the many “strongholds” which people have accepted from constant exposure to false teachings. Overcoming strongholds like this is done by simply accepting the TRUTH. Scripture make a clear distinction of what truth is! We need to scripturally define what truth is! “Your righteousness is righteousness forever AND YOUR TORAH IS TRUTH.” Tehillim (Psalms) 119: 142 Which brings me to Messiah’s words in Yochanan 16: 13, “But when He comes, the Spirit of Truth, HE SHALL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH…”and according to Scripture – “Torah is Truth” so Messiah was in fact saying that the Spirit of Truth shall guide us INTO ALL TORAH. i.e. He will not guide you into believing a lie, and annul the 4^th Commandment, the sign of the everlasting Covenant. Yshayahu 56: 4-8; Yehezqel 20:12; Shemoth (Exodus) 31: 12-17; Bereshith (Genesis) 2:2; Ibrim (Hebrews) 4  

The text (Romans 14) is discussing the very people who are misapplying this section. FOR THEM the “weak” brother “eats” some things and “esteems one day (Sabbath) above another” while the strong brother believes that he may “eat all things” and “esteems every day alike” which is not only plain ignorant but both foolish and unscriptural, as it implies that Shaul is granting anyone the ability to ignore Leviticus 11 (which is found in the Torah and the Torah is TRUTH), assuming that “unclean” animals are included as “food.” Unclean animals are NOT food to begin with, but every animal that Leviticus 11 declares to be food is “clean”, declares so by the Word. If the Word of YaHUaH declares that an animal is not to be eaten, and you ignore His Word, then the prophecy at Yshayahu (Isaiah) 66: 16,17 will befall you. Because Messiah will not judge us by what any man believes. He will judge us by His Words (the Torah, Prophets and the Writings), “the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day”Yochanan 12: 48

REMEMBER the words of YaHUaH in Yshayahu 8: 20 “To the Torah and the Prophets! If they do not speak according to this Word [according to the Torah or according to the Prophets] it is because there is no light in them.”

SHAUL WAS NOT trying to say that the “weak” brother “eats” some things and “esteems one day (Sabbath) above another” while the strong brother believes that he may “eat all things” and “esteems every day alike” – TO THE CONTRARY! In order to grasp its true intent, we must read starting where the context of the subject begins, not just one or two verses taken out of context. The same hold true for many who had an incorrect idea on what Shaul was in fact teaching, assuming him of teaching against the Torah. If ever Shaul had the opportunity to show that we no longer had to follow and obey the Torah (including Leviticus 11), this was it – however, Shaul denied the charge that he taught against Torah in the strongest possible way, by taking a Natzarite vow (Acts 21: 21-26). This involves him performing sacrifices and offerings (Numbers 6: 1-21) long after Messiah’s death and resurrection.

So let us carefully and thoroughly look at the text of Romans 14:

“And receive him who is weak in the belief, [Being “weak” in the belief, means the new believer has not yet learned the details of how to walk according to Torah] not CRITICISING his thoughts.

One indeed believes to EAT all food,(that which Leviticus 11 declares to be food) but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

“vegetarian” is probably a concept that developed from the minds of those in 1Corinthians 8 who’s conscience were troubling them  - “until now eat it  as having been offered to an idol, so their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to ELaHYM, for we are none the better if we eat, nor any worse for not eating.”(verse 7-8)

Now carefully notice! Not only were there “weak” converts who avoided eating meat offered unto idols, but there were others who customarily abstained from particular foods. They semi-fasted “twice a week” (Luqas 18:10-13). Still others refused to practice a semi-fast or abstain from foods, but regarded every day in the same way!

He that EATS, (that which Leviticus 11 declares to be food) [the one who refuse to practise a fast] let him not DESPISE him who does not EAT [the one who fast/“him who is weak”] and he that does not eat [the one who fast/“him who is “weak”/"vegetarian”], let him not JUDGE him who eats [the one who refuse to practise a fast], for ELaHYM receives him[the one who does not fast, like the tax collector see Luqas 18:10-13].

Who are you to JUDGE another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. But he shall be made to stand, for ELaHYM is able to make him stand.

Disputes, criticism, despicable and judgemental attitudes regarding FOOD existed among a few and Shaul clearly exhorts that in such things no longer essential to those in the belief. But one important thing the reader is usually unaware of that is central to this section concerns FASTING. A man made tradition held by the Pharisees to “fast twice a week”(see Luqas 18: 10-13) and some would also fast during the fifth and seventh month (Zekaryah 7: 4-7). They were divided as to exactly when too fast while others were divided as to what days to obtain from certain foods. There were division that should not recite amongst the believers. YaHUShA taught us that fasting is something between an individual and ELaHYM without making it obvious to others. (Mattiyahu 6:16) The subject of this question surrounded the matter of abstinence on particular days – upon which days many voluntarily abstained from certain foods. It did not involve whether or not to “keep” or “guard” YaHUaH’s Sabbath. Carefully notice how Shaul combines “the day” with “those who eat” and “those who do not eat”   which is central to this section. And key to understand the entire chapter.

One indeed judges one day above another, another judges every day alike. Let each one be completely persuaded in his own mind.

He who minds the day [and fast] minds it to YaHUaH. And he who does not mind the day [who does not fast] to YaHUaH he does not mind it. He who EATS [during a day when everyone else fast] EATS to YaHUaH for he gives ELaHYM thanks. And he who does not EAT [the one who FAST], to YaHUaH he does not EAT,[i.e. to YaHUaH he fast - now does he?(see Zekaryah 7: 4-7)] and gives ELaHYM thanks.

For not one of us lives to himself, and not one dies to himself.

Shaul seems to tell us that not one of them is trying to short circuit YaHUaH, they both are in the belief and still have an honest and serious regard for YaHUaH. If a person did not choose to FAST, then that is fine. If a person DID choose to FAST, that is fine too. The same holds true for those who eat meat and for those who choose to be a “vegetarian”.

For both [the one who fast & the one who does not fast][“weak” brother or the “strong” brother] if we live, we live unto the Master, and if we die, we die unto the Master.[remember though both are in the belief and both have an honest and serious regard for YaHUaH]

Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Master’s.

For unto this Messiah died and rose and lived again, to rule over both [both in the belief] the dead and the living.[even if one might have passed away]

But why do you [the one who FAST "the weak brother in the belief"] Judge your brother? Or why do you [the one who does not fast/the ”stronger” of the two in the belief] despise your brother? [Implied from verse 3] For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah.

For it has been written, “As I live, says YaHUaH, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to ELaHYM.”

Each one of us [the one who fast & the one who does not fast / the “weak brother in the belief as well as the stronger brother in the belief] therefore, shall give account of himself to ELaHYM.

Therefore, let us not judge one another any longer, but rather judge this, not to put an obstacle or stumbling block in our brothers way.

I know and am persuaded in the Master that NONE AT ALL is common of itself. But to him [who is weak in the belief] who regards whatever to be common [in this case who regards the meat to be common for he only eats vegetables], to him it [meat] is common. In order to grasp its true intent, we must read starting where the context of the subject begins, not just one or two words taken out of context. Many would like to rely on their own understanding instead of following the very guidelines YaHUaH has set out in His Word (Proverbs 3:5) and until you know what ELaHYM says in His Word and not rely on your own understanding, how are you going to be fully assured in your own mind? Shaul stated “the set apart Scriptures which are able to make you wise”(2 Tim 3:15). The “Scriptures” is none other than the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings. Its true intent would never contradict Leviticus 11 which is part of the Torah.

And if your brother is grieved [the weaker brother in the belief] because of your food [in a case where you might offer him meat which he regards to be common when you know that he only eats vegetables], you are no longer walking in love.

Do not by your food ruin the one for whom Messiah died.

Do not then allow your good to be spoken of as evil.

For the reign of ELaHYM is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Set Apart Spirit. [Which is why he states in 1 Corinthians 8: 8, “But food does not commend us to ELaHYM.”]

For he who is serving Messiah in these matters is well pleasing to ELaHYM and approved by men.

So then, let us pursue the matters of peace, and the matters for building up one another.(see 2 Tim 3:16,17)

Do not destroy the work of ELaHYM for the sake of food.(that which Leviticus 11 declares to be food) All indeed are clean but evil to that man who eats (that which Leviticus 11 declares to be food) SO AS TO CAUSE STUMBLING.

Purposefully eat meat when it causes the one who is “weak” in the belief much distress.

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine, nor to do whatever by which your brother [the one who is weak in the belief] stumbles.

Do you have belief? [Are you persuaded that it is good to eat meat as described in Leviticus] Have it to yourself before ELaHYM. Blessed is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves (the Torah)

But he who doubts,[those who’s conscience are troubling them – “being weak” as described in 1 Corinthians 8]  if he eats, is condemned, because it is not of belief, and all that is not of belief is sin.” Our belief is not in idols but in YaHUaH and His Torah, and it is through the Torah we know what sin is. So we measure ourselves by the Torah.

Amein?!

Introduction

Picture, as an instance a rabbi (teacher) many people call “Paul” when in fact Messiah referred to this man as Shaul (Acts 26: 14) and in truth we find no Scriptural evidence as to why, when and by whom this change of his name was instigated. To avoid taking sides I have used the form Shaul as per Messiah. Yes, picture this man wearing a tallit (prayer shawl with tzitzits, fringes) as per Messiah (1 Corinthians 11: 1). At the same time contrast that picture of him with the common one: “the apostle Paul” with a Mithraistic (sun-god-worship) “Christian halo” around his head and being called “Saint Paul” and you will catch the misinformed, untaught and unstable contrast all at once!

Many whom are in fact misinformed, would also refer to Kepha as Peter and are very familiar with his words that the UNTAUGHT and UNSTABLE will twist the writings of Shaul to their own destruction, (Kepha Bet [2 Peter] 3:15-16) yet overlook the very words of Kepha who said these are “lawless men” (verse 17). By “lawless”, he did not mean people who were without Roman law. Lawless throughout Scripture refers to being without YaHUaH’s Torah. Kepha was in fact saying that those who twist Shaul’s writings are those who are untaught in the Torah.

After all, the prophet Yshayahu said, “To the Torah and the Prophets! If they do not speak according to this Word [according to the Torah or according to the Prophets] it is because there is no light in them.” (Yshayahu 8:20) So either Shaul was speaking contrary to the Torah – having “no light in him” or we can merely face fact, that he has “uphold the Torah”!(Romans 3:31) So through these teaching we are going to look at some of the very difficult but often technical writings of Shaul, of which he penned much, in hope to bring you to a better understanding.

There is only ONE Name above ALL other names!

There is only (((one))) Name above ALL other names!

It is either YaHUaH or YaHUShA, it can’t be both! Many would immediately “prove” from Philippians 2: 9-10 that YaHUShA is that very name without a thorough investigation or evaluation of the Scriptures (The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings).

Philippians 2: 9-10 states, “ELaHYM, therefore has highly exalted Him [referring to YaHUShA] and given Him [referring to YaHUShA] THE NAME [SINGULAR] which is above every name, that at the name of YaHUShA every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that YaHUShA Messiah is Master to the esteem of ELaHYM the Father.”

So I would like to pose a very simple question: Does “THE NAME [singular] above all other names” referring to Messiah’s earthly name YaHUShA? It is said that it was “given Him THE NAME” (singular), but should we regard that Name as “YaHUShA”, as so many Messianic’s believe or do they find themselves misguided, or deceived? And if so, how should “at the name of YaHUShA” be interpreted?

Therefore, the above words in Philippians can only take on full meaning when they are compared to the rest of the Scriptures (The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings) because no single scripture is of any private interpretation (i.e. your own opinion, implied from Kepha Bet [2 Peter] 1:20) and Scripture must always be compared to Scripture (Corinthians 2:13) and because of this, the Word stands in its own defense when it says that two or three witnesses establish a matter (Deut. 19: 15). Therefore, we can only conclude that the words of Sha’ul in Philippians is merely based upon Yeshayahu 45: 23-25 (a direct paraphrase);

“I [referring to YaHUaH] have sworn by Myself, a word [singular] has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, SO THAT EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, EVERY TONGUE SWEAR. One shall say, ‘ONLY IN YaHUaH do I have righteousness and strength’ – he comes to Him [referring to YaHUaH]. And all those displeased with Him [YaHUaH] shall be put to shame. In (((YaHUaH))) all the seed of YShREL shall be declared right and boast”

At first glance, it seems that the words in Philippians contradict that of the prophet Yshayahu. It seems the one says that every knee will bow to YaHUShA and the other says that every knee will bow to YaHUaH. But in retrospect the one is affirming the other! In stating that YaHUShA was given “THE NAME above all other names” the writer is trying to make us understand that “the Name of YaHUShA” is that of the Father YaHUaH. Messiah’s own words testify to this important fact when He prayed to the Father and said, “guard them in YOUR NAME WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN ME”(Yochanan 17: 11) and much later when He stated in Revelations 3: 12 “He who overcomes, I shall make him a supporting post in the Dwelling Place OF MY ELaHYM and he shall by no means go out. And I shall write on him THE NAME OF MY ELaHYM and THE NAME OF THE CITY OF MY ELaHYM, the renewed Yerushalayim, which comes down out of the heaven FROM MY ELaHYM, AND MY (((RENEWED))) NAME.”

Many people regard the earthly name of Messiah called YaHUShA as that INHERITED NAME spoken about in Hebrews 1: 4, yet Scripture clearly refer to His INHERITED Name as that of “MY ELaHYM” who was and will always be His Father “YaHUaH” and Daniel 9: 18 and 19 confirms even further that the “CITY OF MY ELaHYM” is called YaHUaH and not YaHUShA! Therefore when the writer explains in Philippians that YaHUShA was given “THE NAME above all other names”, he was merely affirming the words of the Psalms when they said, “I bow [i.e every knee shall bow] myself towards Your set apart Hekal (temple), and give thanks to Your Name, for your loving commitment and Your truth; for You [refering to YaHUaH] have made great Your Word [singular] YOUR NAME ABOVE ALL” Psalms 138: 2

His earthly nameS (notice the plural) was MERELY PROPHETIC in nature. He appeared unto Mosheh as the Malak (messenger) MichaEL.Ma’asei (Acts) 7: 38-39 The “mi cha” part means “who IS” and “EL” is a poetic short form for “ELaHYM” (“Strong Authority”) therefore MichaEL in some instances could literally be a question “who is EL?” but in this particular reference I believe it is pointing to the Melak (messenger) YaHUShA “who IS ELaHYM”! When this messenger was raised up, he was given two names for a very spisific reason. The one being ImmanuEL meaning “EL with us” or rather “ELaHYM with us” and to Maryām it was said to call Him YaHUShA (“YaHU Saviour” or “YaHUaH Saviour”) but upon His resurrection he obtained the “Sacred Name” as His permanent INHERITANCE! It became His new Name, a “more excellent Name”! Because it was no longer temporary! He is now able to come in His own Name as “YaHUaH” rather than just “in the Father’s name”. Which is why Scripture even confirms when it says, “Near is the great day of (((YAHUAH,))) [Not YaHUShA] near and hurrying greatly, the noise of the day of (((YAHUAH.)))” Tsephanyah (Zephaniah) 1:14, 15

He will not return as YaHUShA (his earthly name) but with His inherited Name YaHUaH on Yom TerUaH.

It is also important to understand that (((we will also))) INHERIT the “Sacred Name” Ma’asei (Acts) 15: 13-18 and Ibrim (Hebrews) 6: 10-12, although we are now known as the followers of YaHUaH, we shall only later after the resurrection and after our quickening into “eternal life” inherit the “Sacred Name” (YaHUaH) and we will stand in unity having ONE family name!

When he spoke of “My Name”, or when his disciples referred to doing something like baptism or something else “in the Name of YaHUShA” it is a reference to His “Sacred Name”! This should answer the question on how should “at the name of YaHUShA” be interpreted? And YaHUaH is the only name in the entirety of the scriptures said to be sacred. At no time is it even suggested that the earthly name of Messiah called “YaHUShA” or “ImmanuEL” is of this everlasting, eternal or “Sacred” character. For example see, Tehillim (Psalms) 33:21; 103:1; 105:3; 106:47; 145:21; Luqas 1:49; 11:2 In the Psalms for example we read, “They shall thank your great and fearful name, it is sacred.”(Tehillim 99:3; 111:9) Yeshayahu refers to YaHUaH as “the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity, and His name is sacred.(Yeshayahu 57:15) When the Messiah taught His disciples to pray, the opening line acknowledges, “Our Father who is in heaven, sacred be Your name”. Neither is this merely an opinion of men, YaHUaH Himself refers to it as, “My sacred name”(Lev 22:2,32; Ezek 20:39; 36:21,22; 39:7,25; 43:7-8; Amos 2:7)

So coming back to my question: Does “THE NAME [singular] above all other names” referring to Messiah’s earthly name YaHUShA? The answer is simple: Not in this age or the age to come! Thousands upon thousands of people are misguided and deceived!

THERE IS ONLY ONE NAME ABOVE ALL OTHER NAMES! The body of Messiah is unified under (((one))) Name Ma’asei (Acts) 15: 13-18  (“that they may be one as we are one”) Yohanan (John) 17: 11, 21, not divided into parts. In Ephesians 3: 13-15 for example, Sha’ul states:

“I pray therefore, that you do not lose heart at my pressures on your behalf, which is your ESTEEM. For this reason I bow my knees to the FATHER (((YaHUaH))) of our Master YaHUShA Messiah, from whom the whole family of heavens and earth IS NAMED.” These words brings more understanding to the very reason why he would also end with these words in Philippians when he said, “and every tongue should confess that YaHUShA Messiah is Master to the ESTEEM of ELaHYM the Father.”

The single body of Messiah has but (((one))) Name shared by the Father the Son and the Set Apart Spirit.They are known by the same name! “What is His Name and what is His Son’s Name, if you know it? (Proverbs 30:4) Sha’ul is only quoting Debarim (Deuteronomy) 28: 10 (((YaHUaH))) says that the peoples of the earth will know that all YShREL is “called by the Name of YaHUaH.” And Dibre haYamim Bet (2 Chronicles) 7: 13-14 also states, “…My people who are called by my Name…”

Continue on to ” ‘In My Name’ a message to be understood in figure of speach”

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Easter

Sha’ul had to sternly warn the Gentiles who had converted at Galatia, and to those at Ephesus AS YONAH HAD IN NINEVEH as it recorded in Ephsiyim 4: 17,18, “So this I say and witness in the Master, that you should NO LONGER WALK AS THE NATIONS WALK, in the futility of their mind, having been DARKENED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING, having been estranged from the life of ELaHYM, BECAUSE OF THE IGNORANCE THAT IS IN THEM, because of the harness of their hearts.” Perhaps this brings clarity why so many believe that Messiah died on Good Friday and then He got up on “Easter” Sunday morning. It only allows a maximum of two nights and one day in the grave. Yet we were given one sign and one sign only of our Saviour’s authenticity, that He will be three days and three nights in the grave, in the heart of the earth! (Matthew 12:38 – 40) And with this “ignorance that is in them”, they associate “Easter” with the resurrection of our Saviour and wishes everyone a “happy Easter”! This reminds me of Acts 7:42 “So ELaHYM turned and gave them up to worship the host of the heaven”.

The Assyrian goddess Ishtar, evidently pronounced by the people of Nineveh as Easter, as is the pronunciation of today, was also known to the Babylonians as Astarte, the “queen of heaven”. She is also known by various other names such as Venus, Semiramis, and Liberty. She was the wife of Nimrod and the mother of Tammuz. Let’s not forget the very reason ELaHYM drove Yahudah (Southern Kingdom) into Babylonian captivity and YShREL (Northern Kingdom) into Assyria. It was because of their idolatry with Easter! Perhaps read the entire chapter 7 of Yermiyahu (Jeremiah). You better choose for yourself THIS DAY, is it going to be the cup of the Master or demons? Passover vs. Easter?

“Truly then HAVING OVERLOOKED THESE TIMES OF IGNORANCE, ELaHYM now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given proof of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Ma’asei (Acts) 17: 30,31

After the prophet Yirmeyahu had address the YShRELites in chapter 7 he prophesied and said in chapter 16, “O YaHUaH, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress the NATIONS shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, SURELY OUR FATHERS HAVE INHERITED LIES, WORTHLESSNESS AND UNPROFITABLE THINGS. Will a man make gods for himself, which are not gods?” (Yirmeyahu 16: 19)

Surely our fathers have inherited lies because we were told by them that Messiah died on “Good Friday” and then He got up on “Easter” Sunday morning (PROVEN TO BE A LIE) but what they fail to mention was that on Good Friday, was when Dagon the Assyrian fish god were worshiped and that Easter Sunday refers to the day in which the Babylonians believed that Nimrod’s wife Semiramis was sent back by the god’s from heaven in a giant egg. The egg landed in the Euphrates River on Easter Sunday morning and the egg broke open and out came Semiramis, REINCARNATED AS EASTER, the bear breasted goddess of fertility, who turned a bird into an egg laying rabbit, in order to proclaim her divinity. This was a recent display by a worldly singer named Lady GaGa when she arrived at the 2011 Grammy awards. This was the very origin of the playboy buddy, and yet this ignorance has been overlooked by thousand upon thousands of people when having a “nice family day” when an Easter bunny and Easter eggs are present. The prophet Yirmeyahu also made reference to this “family day” when he spoke the words of ELaHYM; “The children are gathering wood, the fathers are lighting the fire, and the woman are kneading their dough, TO MAKE CAKES FOR THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, and to pour out drink offerings to other mighty ones, to provoke Me.” Yirmeyahu 7: 18 This very same idolatrous worship to the queen of heaven is present in our day and age when millions of people buying and eating HOT CROSS BUNS at “Easter Season”!

We are explicitly told by ELaHYM that we are NOT to learn the way of the heathen, we should NOT learn how the NATIONS serve their mighty ones and do so as though we worship Him the same way and do so unto Him,… He said it is an abominations (Repulsive, Disgusting) Debarim (Deuteronomy) 18:9

YShREL is a nation but is not numbered among the nations. Bemidbar (Numbers) 23:9. It is for this reason that YShREL is rather referred to as a “people” whereas the word nation(s) or the term “beast of the field” are used for those outside of covenant with YaHUaH. The true believer is repeatedly admonished not to learn the way of the Nations (Lev.18:3, Deut. 12:30; 8:9, Yirm. 10:2, Yehez. 11:1; 18:9, Mik. 4:5). And those who were gentiles before they came to conversion are admonished to “no longer walk as the gentiles walk” (1Cor 12:2, Eph. 4:17, Kepha Aleph [1Peter] 4:3). Therefore those who were gentiles, but came to belief, who are grafted in among YShREL (Rom 11:17-24) simply have to unlearn their old gentile ways, and “come to the light” of Tsiyon (Yesh. 60:3) and walk “in the light” of the renewed Yerushalayim (Hazon [Rev.] 21:24). Because Yeshayahu plainly said: “To the Torah and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to (((this))) word, it is because there is no “light” in them.” (Yesh. 8:20) They shall serve YaHUaH, they shall love the Name of YaHUaH, they shall no longer defile the Sabbath, and they shall hold fast to the covenant of YAHUAH (Yesh. 56:6). They shall come to the House of Ya’aqob (Luqas 1:33) to the heavenly Tsiyon, to Yerushalayim, and be taught the Torah, the Word of YaHUaH (Yesh. 2:2-3, Mik. 4:2).

“Truly then HAVING OVERLOOKED THESE TIMES OF IGNORANCE, ELaHYM now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed, having given proof of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Ma’asei (Acts) 17: 30,31

What is the future for those who did not repent? For those who stand outside the covenant of YaHUaH? For those who carried on in their EASTER PRACTICES? None at all! Read the following; Yesh. 34:2; 45:17, Yirm. 25:26-33; 30:11; 46:28, Dan. 2:44; 7:27, Amos 9:8, Obad. vv. 15-21, Hagg. 2:22, Hazon 11:15. ONLY YShREL, living true Torah, shall be saved (Yesh. 45:17).

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The YEAST of the Pharisees (man made traditions) PART 2

Next time you hear someone quoting Galations 3:10 to prove their twisted idea that anyone in obedience to Torah is under a curse, remind yourself that such a person has no light in them; Yeshayahu 8: 20 clearly states, “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to (((this))) word, it is because there is no light in them”

“For as many as are of works of law are under a curse, for it has been written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all that has been written in the Book of the law, to do them.”

The term “works of the law” in Hebrew is “Ma’asei HaTorah” and in principle it refers to all the binding rules, regulations, traditions, enactments and prohibitions that make up the teachings of the Oral Law of the Pharisees and scribes. YaHUShA had already warned His disciples against these teachings (years before Sha’ul’s conversion), saying to them in Mattithyahu 16: 11-12

“How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread, but to beware of the LEAVEN [Oral Torah] of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, BUT OF THE TEACHINGS [Oral Torah] of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.”

UNDERSTANDING the very principle of Oral Torah will open your UNDERSTANDING to the very conflicts YaHUShA and Sha’ul had with it. Sha’ul spoke boldly against the oral law after his conversion from it, saying “For as many as are of works of law (Ma’asei HaTorah) are under a curse, for it is written, Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things (((written in the book of the Law))), to perform them”, because the “book of the law” or rather the “written Torah” tells us plainly, “You shall not add to the Word, which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of YaHUaH your ELaHYM which I commanded you.”(Deut 4:2, 12: 32, Prov 30:6)! And the fundamental principle of Oral Torah is adding to the Written Torah! i.e. prior to Sha’ul’s conversion he was following the binding rules, regulations, traditions, enactments and prohibitions of the Pharisees, “at the feet of Gamli’el” as mentioned before. Failure to interpret it from its foundational Hebraic context assures misunderstanding. Does Scripture say that those who do Torah are under a curse? Certainly not! It is saying those who DO NOT do them are under a curse! Sha’ul is merely quoting from Deuteronomy 27: 26 where it says: “Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this Torah TO DO THEM.” Sha’ul is not saying we should not do them. Sha’ul is saying that no one should submit to the false good news of binding rules, regulations, TRADITIONS, enactments and prohibitions that the Pharisees added (Traditions) to the Written Torah – “a heavy burden”, which actually places a person under a curse by trying to insert the works of Adam man (self) into YaHUaH’s plan for salvation!

Messiah referred to their teachings as “YEAST” (or leaven)! Yeast is something that puffs-up, or adds – changing the volume of what it is! What the Pharisees (Orthodox) taught during the 2^nd Temple times and still teaching to this very day is that the written Torah (5 books of Moshe) is really incomprehensive without the oral Torah. The oral Torah has actually been written down and contain in four different containments of writings:

1. Mishnah 200CE
2. Jerusalem Talmud 350CE (written in Tiberius)
3. Babylonian Talmud 500CE
4. Midrash 200-900CE

Although at the time of YaHUShA it was still Oral Law and not yet written down. In the Talmud (Oral Torah) are the traditions of the elders, which were passing down from generation to generation (A direct continuation from the 2nd Temple times). It is a record of questions, debates, and decisions over a number of years. It MUST BE NOTED that YaHUaH outright forbids anything added to the written Torah (Deut 4:2, 12: 32, Prov 30:6)! So these writings (Oral Torah) are in error with ELaHYM’s standards! Remember what Messiah said, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of ElaHYM by your TRADITIONS?’ The Mishnah or Talmud (Oral Law) has no bearing on the Natsarim (Branches) of the true vine YaHUShA. Quoting from it should be done with words of warning. We can read anything but must be discerning. There are most definitely many historical explanations found buried in Talmudic sources, and should be handled with caution.

What saddens me is that so many people “drinking from this well”, the very teaching YaHUShA referred to as “leaven” of which He told us to beware of it. (Mattithyahu 16: 11-12)! How do they drink from this well? The Talmud will tell you to never pronounce the Name of ELaHYM (i.e. YaHUaH) and proclaims the death penalty for doing so.  It speaks of when to stone “blasphemers” and so there are those in certain “Messianic” circles who choose to use the shortened form “YaH” instead of the full Name YaHUaH to keep from “offending” their YaHUdim (Jewish) brothers who adhere to the Talmudic prohibition against the Name. I had someone once said, “I won’t use that Name out of respect for my blind brothers”. They forsake the will of the Father in deference to pleasing their fellow man, forgetting that YaHUShA OFFENDED the YaHUDim’s(Matt 13: 57) and more so BECAUSE He revealed the Name to His set apart ones (Yochanan 17:6). Although I do however understand their reasoning approach but there are other means by which we provoke Yahudah to jealousy. In stating, “And blessed is he, whosoever shall NOT be offended”(Matt 11: 6) is Him also explaining that there will be those who will take offence! I truly believe it will very much AGAIN be the factor that distinguishes the truly Set Apart from the rest (Matt 24:10). They forget the very reason WHY ALL the prophets and ALL the disciples were put to death. A CAREFUL examination of the records prove that, YaHUShA and His disciples TAUGHT AND USED the sacred name YaHUaH and THEREFORE got killed for doing so! Which is WHY Ya’aqob urged every one of us and said the following: “My brothers, AS AN EXAMPLE OF SUFFERING and patience, take the prophets, WHO SPOKE IN THE NAME YaHUaH! (Ya’aqob [James] 5: 10)

Now let us CAREFULLY examine the records: Shaul went on his way to Damascus to arrest Nazarenes to carry them back to the Sanhedrin to see if they would say the Name and be similarly condemned to death. The first thing the Sanhedrin asked the set apart ones after their arrest was, “In what power, OR IN WHAT NAME” had they cured the man. It was not against the law of this period to heal anyone UNLESS the healer used the Sacred Name, therefore Kepha’s response (brilliant I might say) were a citation from Psalm 118: 22 which states, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone”. The entire Psalm (verse 1-29) meanwhile proves beyond any doubt that the stone under discussion was YaHUaH. At Luke 19:38, the crowds were crying out a verse from Psalms 118:26 which contained the Name YaHUaH and the Pharisees told YaHUShA to rebuke them, because they were using the Name.

The other hard fact of the matter is found in Tehillim (Psalm) 118: 26 & Mattityahu 23:39 / Luqas 13:35 THEY BETTER NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE!

Quit drinking of the “deadly poison”!!! The very same people who try and debate the fact that the Sacred Name is to sacred to be spoken will try and “sell” you the idea that His Name is pronounced “Yahweh” – the name “JEWISH” encyclopedia ring any bell?!

The disciple Ya’aqob (James) said, “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man is able to tame THE TONGUE. It (tongue) is unruly, evil, filled with DEADLY POISON.” Ya’aqob (James) 3: 7-8

So it stands to reason that the comment made by Messiah concerning drinking “deadly poison” (Mark 16:17-18) can be understood to refer to false teaching, which is poison.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: IN MY NAME [see “In My Name, a message to be understood in figure of speech”] they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

“Wormwood” is poisoned living water. The Truth is mixed with error, and can still kill you. But for those who BELIEVE IN HIS NAME will not be affected by these false teachings!

When Yochanan “seeing many PHARISEES and SADDUCEES coming to his immersion”, NOTICE WHAT HE SAID TO THEM, “Brood of vipers!”…

And Messiah addressed the Pharisees and He says this, “Brood of vipers! How are you able to SPEAK what is good – being wicked? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.”

Like I said, UNDERSTANDING the very principle of Oral Torah will open your understanding to the very conflicts YaHUShA and Sha’ul had with it. For instance Sha’ul said in Romans 3:13-14 “Their throat is an open tomb, with their TONGUES they have deceived, The POISON OF VIPERS is under their LIPS. Whose mouth is filled with cursing and bitterness.”

CAREFULLY EXAMINE Mattiyahu 23: 33-39 – you will notice something significant once Ya’aqob (James) words in chapter 5 verse 10 is considered with it! It had but everything to do with the Name (YaHUaH) the Pharisees were trying to keep away from their audience (Luqas 11:52)! And UNTIL we acknowledge that great and wonderful Name, we can forget of ever seeing Him again! (carefully note Matt 23:39).

We found these remarcable words in 1 Timothy 6: 3,4

If ANYONE (((teaches differently))) and does NOT agree (((to the))) SOUND WORDS [Torah], those of our Master YAHUSHA Messiah, [who was in fact the law (Torah) giver, see Ya’aqob (James) 4:12] and to the teaching which is according to reverence, he is (((PUFFED UP))), UNDERSTANDING NONE AT ALL”, …

YEAST (leaven) is something that PUFFS-UP, or adds. Timothy made it clear, that if we want to UNDERSTAND YaHUShA’s teachings and that of Sha’ul we better get rid of our YEAST (leaven or MAN MADE TRADITIONS)!

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The YEAST of the Pharisees (man made traditions) PART 1

In the juvenile searching and seeking of your development, you may be uncertain of many things, and might be a bit scared to even look into the Hebraic Roots, because of immature people who say such things as, “you’ll be caught up in Judaism”, which is in fact a ridiculous remark! “Hebraic” does NOT equal “Judaic”! Abraham the believer was the first Hebrew, in other words the first one to “cross over” as that is what “Hebrew” means. In as much as those who embraced rabbinic Judaism, have to unlearn traditional Judaism in order to come into the fullness of what Messiah YaHUShA AND Sha’ul really taught, likewise those who have been brought up under Christianity, have to unlearn traditional Christian bias and error and also need to “cross over”. Sha’ul who said that “some HAVE ALREADY embraced another Besorah”. And this is why we need to:

“Earnestly content for the faith which was once delivered unto the set-apart people” as said by the disciple Yahudah (Jude) 1:3

Therefore, let me ask you; “Was Mosheh’ (Moses) faith labeled Christianity? Was the Prophet SamuEL or King David’s faith labeled Christianity? Was the disciple who walked with Messiah, was their faith labeled Christianity? MOST CERTAINLY NOT! And it wasn’t Judaism either! So those raised up in a Christian family and/or raised up in a Judaic family need to realize that they would be better off giving heed to the words of the disciple Yahudah and need to also “cross over”! You had better come to the faith of YShREL (Hazon [Revelations] 21:12) or you will remain outside (Marqos 4: 11-12) and be labeled a dog!(Hazon [Revelations] 22:15)

Sha’ul turned from all of his traditional learning as a Pharisee, realising that all he had learned as a Pharisee studying the (((Oral law))) what is referred to as the Oral Torah of the rabbinites with men like Gamaliel was nothing more than rubbish. Sha’uls teachings prior to his experience on the road to Damascus was to obey the laws and authority of the Pharisaic Sanhedrin who had religious control over the Temple high priests, a religious authority derived from a Pharisaic (((twisted))) interpretation of Debarim (Deuteronomy) 17: 9-12. Sha’ul came to learn what YaHUShA’s disciples had already learned years before. A classic example is seen when the Pharisees came to YaHUShA and said to Him, “’Why do your disciples transgress the TRADITIONS of the elders? For they wash not their hands before they eat bread.’ But YaHUShA answered and said unto them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of ELaHYM by your traditions?” YaHUaH forbade anything to be added to the written Torah, “the commandments of ELaHYM”! YaHUShA stood up against these very enactments [Takanot] and precedents (ma’asim) of the Pharisees, because nowhere in the written Torah are we commanded to wash our hands before we eat, that is adding to the Torah. That very same ancient Pharisee custom or ritual is still in use today by the modern Pharisee called Orthodox. It’s by following or rather submitting to the Oral Torah that you’ll be caught up in Judaism, not by searching your Hebraic Roots.

Kepha (Aleph (1 Peter) 1: 18, 19) wrote unto the Northern Kingdom (“us”) saying, “Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver or of gold from your VAIN CONVERSATIONS received by TRADITIONS from your fathers”… “traditions from your fathers” referring to the Rabbinical Oral Law, what we call the Mishna or Talmud that is referred to as tradition! Note also what it says about the Mishna or Talmud – “from your vain conversations”. He also wrote to them and said, “You WERE as sheep that go ASTRAY”, how did we go astray? We broke the Covenant, by following man made traditions, not obeying Torah and so we were scattered “but are now returning unto the Shepherd and Overseer of your Souls”(Kepha Aleph (1 Peter) 2: 25)

For Sha’ul it was indeed a “conversion” BUT NOT into Christianity. Rather his conversion was to leave the doctrines of the scribes, Pharisees and elders like Gamaliel (Ma’asei 22: 3) and to remove himself from their binding traditions (Mattithyahu 15: 3) and legal interpretations concerning the Scriptural law of Mosheh (Moses). Consequently, when you read through Sha’ul’s letters, particularly Galatians and some of the narratives about Sha’ul in the book of Acts, you will notice plenty of rabbinate oral law terminology that the chronicler Luke placed in juxtaposition with Mosaic written Law terminology. However, for most people unfamiliar with this kind of technical writing, of which Sha’ul penned much, misunderstanding can be expected. Until you understand the concept of Phariseeism and what they taught (Oral law) you are still untaught and unstable in regards to the technical writings of Sha’ul’s letters!!! To make an even more in-depth study of Phariseeism and what they taught, I strongly suggest you watch a video called “The Hebrew Yeshua vs. the Greek Jesus” by Nehemia Gordon and then turn towards “Galatians” using “Galations, a Quick Reference Pocket Commentary” by Avi ben Mordechai (a verse by verse explenation). In fact, I strongly suggest it to everyone! A good article written by Lew White can be found at http://www.fossilizedcustoms.com/leaven.html

The original faith of our heavenly Father was meant to be neither “Jewish” nor “Christian” in the way we most often see them represented today, so even those accuse you of getting caught up in Judaism are as blind as those who do practice Judaism.

If we want to stop misunderstanding YaHUShA’s teachings and especially that of Sha’ul, then we must (((study))) to show ourselves approved like the Bereans who were “examining the SCRIPTURES DAILY, whether these things were so.” Now let’s for a moment supposes that you were a Berean believer in YaHUShA in the era that He was giving His teachings. Let’s suppose you wanted to share with a fellow believer, a teaching or an insight that you had heard either directly from YaHUShA’s mouth, or perhaps, you had heard from Sha’ul and you wanted to check for yourself. Where would you go to find the proof for what you had heard, whether these things you’d heard were so? You would obviously turn to the Scriptures. So what were the Scriptures in the time of Messiah YaHUShA and His disciples? How did the believer or any of the Bereans in the context of the time of the Hebrew Messiah understand the term “Scriptures”? They didn’t have the Brit HaChadashah (New Testament), so they went to the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings. And so it was our beloved Messiah YaHUShA who said, “You do ERROR, not knowing THE SCRIPTURE nor the power of ELaHYM.” Not knowing the Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings, we can forget to accurately interpret the New Testament!

In fact YaHUShA spoke about this in Luke 24: 44,45 and it is said, “He opened their UNDERSTANDING in the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings”. The New Testament is only a commentary on that of the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings which I would refer to as the 2nd writings. Again if you were a Berean living in the first century when Sha’ul was writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16 what would it mean? The only thing it could mean is the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings. Of course the “word” which YaHUShA made flesh, “the Set-Apart Scriptures” which Timothy “had known from a child” (when the New Testament wasn’t even there) and the “word of truth” which Timothy had to learn to “rightly divide,” and the “law” which YaHUShA said that not a jot or tittle would pass from “until heaven and earth pass away” was not the New Testament but the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings! The Bereans who had no New Testament held fast to the words of Yeshayahu 8:20 which states;

“To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to (((this))) word, it is because there is no light in them.”

The “law” of course is Torah (meaning Instructions) and the “testimonies” are the “words” or “oracles” of YaHUaH which were spoken through the Prophets;

Mosheh of course, being the chief prophet. “This is that Mosheh who said to the children of YShREL, YaHUaH your ELaHYM shall raise up for you a prophet LIKE ME [like Mosheh] from your brethren. Him you shall hear. This is he [Mosheh] who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the Messenger [referring to YaHUShA] who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received the LIVING WORDS [i.e Torah is living words] TO GIVE TO US [yes that’s right, us, the Torah was given to us!], unto whom our fathers WOULD NOT BECOME OBEDIENT, BUT THRUST AWAY, and in their hearts they turned back to Mitsrayim (Egypt).” Ma’asei (Acts) 7: 37-39

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Passover (Pesach) PART 1

Shemoth (Exodus) 12: 14 tell us that we are to GUARD (shamar) and ((( OBSERVE ))) Passover as a “zikrown”, or “memorial” throughout our generations FOREVER! And, whoever does not GUARD and PERFORM IT, is “cut-off” from the congregation of YShREL. And, we all know how that feels. We’ve been cut-off for 2,730 years…, let me explain.

According to the prophet Yirmeyahu in chapter 3, we were given a certificate of divorce (SEPERATION) when the Northern Kingdom (house of YShREL) was carried into captivity by the Assyrians in around 722 BCE (Before the Common Era). Later in around 586 BCE, the Southern Kingdom (house of Yahudah) was likewise carried into captivity by the Babylonians. Their captivity ended when a small percentage of the house of Yahudah returning after 70 years. The Northern Kingdom was warned and said to REPENT (return to YaHUaH’s Torah) through the prophet Yehezqel (see chapter 4), and would have spent 390 years in captivity for their idolatry. They didn’t, so unfortunately the seventy-fold penalty kicked in (see Lev. 26) and so their captivity has lasted 2,730 years till their punishment will/have be/been lifted and a remnant of Ephraim will cry out to RETURN to YaHUaH and His Torah (see Yirmiyahu 31: 6) The Prodigal Son is returning!

And so we became known as the ten lost tribes of YShREL.

“For the Son of Adam have come to seek and to save what was LOST!” Luqas 19: 10

And He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the LOST SHEEP of the house of YShREL.” Matthyahu 15:24

The Hebrew word “Pesach” is translated as “Passover” but through a Hebraic understanding it also means “sparing from calamity or penalty”, the very reason Messiah came to “seek and to save” Him being the Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5: 7). The ordinances that were against us were the punishments for transgressing YaHUaH’s Torah. The transgression of the Torah is sin (1 John 3:4). The wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23) as it is written, “the soul that sins [transgressing Torah] shall die.” (Yehezqel [Ezekiel] 18:20) Our sin [violation of the Torah] SEPERATES us from ELaHYM (Yeshayahu [Isaiah] 59:2)“. If not for Messiah, the Northern Kingdom would’ve been LOST (SEPERATED) FOREVER. And it is through this gesture we begin to see our obligation to the Feast!

“THEREFORE, let US KEEP THE FEAST”! Qorintiyim Aleph (1 Corinthians) 5: 7-8

Therefore it is also important to understand WHEN the month of the Aviv begins so that we know when to start counting the days to “GUARD and OBSERVE” the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened bread and all subsequent “APPOINTED TIMES” which occur throughout the year. (see Vayigra 23). Please NOTE: These are not to be observed whenever you feel like it, these are “appointed times”! I am therefore encouraging people to visit an article written by Todd D. Bennett entitled: “How do we determine the month of the Aviv?” to be found on http://www.shemayisrael.net/articles/how-we-determine-month-of-aviv.html#aviv-cont perhaps we can connect the dots from the time the Northern Kingdom was carried into captivity to the time this article was written.

YaHUaH said through the prophet Mosheh, “For this command which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may OBSERVE it? Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may OBSERVE it? But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may OBSERVE it.” Devarim 30: 11-14

Why “in your mouth and in your heart”? Because not only does Shemoth (Exodus) 13: 8 -10 explains how you are to “inform your son in that day” (sometime in the future) that it is done (OBSERVE) as a celebration of Passover, “and IT shall be a SIGN to you on your hand and as a REMINDER between your eyes, that the Torah of YaHUaH is to be in your mouth”; but also explains how it is not too difficult to GUARD, ((( OBSERVE ))) and PERFORM! Those who keep this SIGN (those who observe the Passover) actually show that the Torah is within their mouths and within their hearts!

Why “a sign to you ON YOUR HAND and as a reminder BETWEEN YOUR EYES”?

The HAND is a symbol of (((ACTION))) see Shemoth (Exodus) 13: 9, Qoheleth (Ecc) 9: 10 and Yshayahu (Isaiah) 59: 6.

“BETWEEN YOUR EYES”  is a symbol for the (((MIND))) see Debarim(Deut.)6:6-8; Rom 7: 25; Yehezqel 3:8-9, and Hazon(Revelations)14:1 and 17:5.

“…So then, with the (((MIND))) I truly serve the Torah of ELaHYM, but with the flesh the Torah of Sin.”Rom 7: 25