Response to a “grace only” Christian

COMMENT FROM A CHRISTIAN: “I totally agree we are not to sin, but we do this not by trying to obey LAWS but by the very heart of God who lives within us"

OUR RESPONSE:

Try telling that to a cop who catches you speeding, or in the process of killing someone! Laws are given for a reason: So that ALL will know what the boundaries are. A lawless society will quickly implode because many, if not most, will do whatever is right in their own eyes and, consequently, end up in trouble in one way or another.

God gave us Divine Rules to follow so that HIS people could know and learn how to be holy - “set apart” - in an evil, pagan world.” Without His Torah (Divine Instruction in Righteousness, which is what Torah means) we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living!

Even Y'shua didn't do his own will or stray from Torah! (As the WORD – John 1:1, 14) He SPOKE the Torah into being! As YHWH’s human Messiah, he came to do everything his Father commanded….

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.

And take a look at this:

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.

So, while His death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! God isn't just in the business of "saving" people. As Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come!

If "Jesus abolished Torah at the cross" then why was EVERY believer completely Torah observant for one hundred years after Yeshua's death, including the Apostle Paul who was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death (Acts 21:23-24)! Was Paul a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another; or were his teachings, perhaps, misunderstood?

Humans HAVE to have rules, because their hearts are, by nature, evil, and that is why YHWH said FOUR TIMES IN A ROW that ALL who accept Him must do exactly as HIS people do! (See Numbers 15:12-16.)

Note that there were TWELVE tribes before YHWH on Mt. Sinair, along with a “mixed multitude” – not just “the Jews.”  Yes, YHWH ordered the Tribe of Yehudah to guard His Torah (Genesis 49:10, Micah 4:2) but that didn't mean it was only for "the Jews" as so many erroneously believe. Take a look:

Genesis 49: 10 The scepter will not pass from Y'hudah, nor the ruler's staff from between his legs, until he comes to whom [obedience] belongs; and it is he whom the peoples will obey.

Micah 4: 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.

Mankind MUST have divine rules for holy living because, without them, we tend to get into trouble:

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes. (CJB)

Proverbs 21:2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But ADONAI weighs the hearts. (CJB)

Proverbs 24:12 If you say, "See, we did not know this," Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work? (CJB)

Numbers 15: 13 "'Every citizen is to do these things in this way when presenting an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. 14 If a foreigner stays with you - or whoever may be with you, through all your generations - and he wants to bring an offering made by fire as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI, he is to do the same as you.

15 For this community there will be the same law for you as for the foreigner living with you; this is a permanent regulation through all your generations; the foreigner is to be treated the same way before ADONAI as yourselves. 16 The same Torah and standard of judgment will apply to both you and the foreigner living with you.'" (CJB)

Please re-read the above in case you missed it: Any Torah-less non-Jew/Hebrew/Israelite who does not yet believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is an "alien"/foreigner. However, if they do wish to accept Him, then they are to do exactly as those who are already belong to Him!

It is very dangerous to cherry-pick YHWH’s Word – the Word that tells us we MUST have both Torah AND Yeshua…

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged against the woman; and he went to make war upon the remnant of her seed who keep the Commandments of Elohim and have the testimony of Y'shua. (AENT)

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See that you do not do this; I am your fellow-servant and of those your Brothers who have the testimony of Y'shua. Worship you Elohim: for the testimony of Y'shua is the Spirit of Prophecy. (AENT)

1 John 2:3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, "I know him," but isn't obeying his commands is a liar - the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him. 6 A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did.

How did Y'shua walk? IN TORAH!

Reading the Bible from cover to cover is the only way to know whom you are serving….

There are times I am convinced that my only reason for being is to get people to READ the Bible, from cover to cover, LOL! It seems many (if not most) have never figured out that you can’t read a book by skipping around or cherry-picking parts of it. Unfortunately, that is how many read the Bible, and then feel themselves qualified to discuss or even teach it...

Many absolutely cannot see that the Bible BEGINS with Genesis, which reveals the beginning of everything including mankind; and ends with Revelation, which sums up the end of man’s reign on earth, and reveals the enormous mistake on the part of those who refused both – adherence to Torah AND acceptance of YHWH’s Messiah:

John 17:3 Now this is life that is eternal, that they might know You, that You are the Elohim of Truth, and he alone whom You have sent, the Mashiyach Y’shua. (AENT)

1 John 2:3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, "I know him," but isn't obeying his commands is a liar - the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him. 6 A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command. On the contrary, it is an old command, which you have had from the beginning; the old command is the message which you have heard before. (CJB)

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged against the woman; and he went to make war upon the remnant of her seed who keep the Commandments of Elohim and have the testimony of Y'shua. (AENT)

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, See that you do not do this; I am your fellow-servant and of those your Brothers who have the testimony of Y'shua. Worship you Elohim: for the testimony of Y'shua is the Spirit of Prophecy. (AENT)

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and (persons) sat on them, and judgment was given to them, and to the souls that were beheaded for the testimony of Y'shua and for the Word of Elohim: and these are they who had not worshiped the beast of prey nor its image; neither had they received the mark upon their forehead or on their hand; and they lived and reigned with their Mashiyach those thousand years. (AENT) (See also: Revelation 1:1-2; 1:9.)

Y'shua and all the Apostles CONSTANTLY referred to and quoted from Torah! When confronted by Satan, Y'shua did NOT quote Himself; He quoted from the Torah (Luke 4:1-12)! The Bible from Genesis to Revelation ... all of it goes hand in hand!

Unfortunately, we have on one side people who insist that the “New Testament” is a complete myth, and therefore YHWH’s Messiah is a farce; while the other side insists “those Old Testament rules were only for the Jews, and we’re totally under grace.” BOTH sides, according to the whole of the Bible when read in context, are severely mistaken!

So, PLEASE, people - be VERY careful because false teachers abound! They surround themselves with folks who blindly support them and who are ready, willing and able to take you away from GOD's TRUTH! PLEASE learn to double-check and verify against Scripture EVERYTHING you see, read or hear! Don't ever blindly trust ANYONE!

Jeremiah 14: 14 YHWH replied, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I didn't send them, order them or speak to them. They are prophesying false visions to you, worthless divinations, the delusions of their own minds.

2 Timothy 4:3-4: For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths....

The Bible - from Genesis to Revelation - is ONE, continuous revelation from YHWH. Like any other book, it MUST be read in proper sequence, from start to finish. Skipping parts of it only leads to confusion and false conclusions. Don't be among those who cannot grasp that simple concept....

Homosexuality keeps being shoved down our throats!

My husband and I love to watch the program "Sunday Morning" on Sunday mornings. But this morning, it was deleted after the third segment started because of its relentless "gay" theme. America has, in just one generation, become completely tolerant of anything and everything (except, of course, the Bible).

Suddenly, it's "okay to be gay!" One popular singer, with haughty gaze straight into the camera, said: "I'm proud to be queer in America!"

Well, that's really too bad, because The Creator is not proud of those who commit deliberate, willful sins - especially sins against their own body, which is supposed to be our Temple! HE calls it an ABOMINATION! I don't care how many ways people will try to twist it, HE abhors homosexuality and any other sexual sin!

Shame on America for being so liberal, so tolerant and so BLIND to the Word of YHWH!

Leviticus 18: 22 - You are not to go to bed with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination. (CJB)

Revelation 22:14-16: How blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they have the right to eat from the Tree of Life and go through the gates into the city! 15 Outside are the homosexuals, those who misuse drugs in connection with the occult, the sexually immoral, murderers, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (CJB)

1 Thessalonians 4:3: For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality....(CJB)

For those who believe "God is nothing but endless grace and love, and "do your own thing, whatever it might be," let's do a quick study of Romans 1:18-27:

Romans 1:18. For the wrath of Elohim from heaven is revealed against all the iniquity and wickedness of men who hold the truth in iniquity 19. Because a knowledge of Elohim is manifest in them; for Elohim has manifested it in them.

20. For, from the foundations of the world, the hidden things of Elohim are seen by the mind in the things he created even his eternal power and divinity, so that they might be without excuse 21. because they knew Elohim and did not glorify him and give thanks to him as Elohim, but became vain in their imaginings and their unwise heart was darkened.

22. And, while they thought within themselves that they were wise, they became fools. 23. And they changed the glory of the incorruptible Elohim into a likeness to the image of a corruptible man,[1] and into the likeness of birds and four-legged animals and reptiles on the earth. (AENT)

[1] Rav Shaul rejects the idea of making a deity out of a human being, something he himself is often being wrongly accused of. The key is the phrase “corruptible man” which is put in contradistinction of Y’shua who fulfilled prophecy by virtue of having the Ruach haKodesh, the Spirit of YHWH, inside him. If Rav Shaul did not approve of others turning images of men into false deities, he would certainly not approve of what Christendom has done today.

The Son did the Father YHWH’s will; his human side submitted to the divine. This is what opened the door for repentance for all of us; therefore, all who follow Y’shua must also yield unto YHWH rather than follow a deity who lessens the Name of YHWH and abolishes Torah.

Romans 1:24. For this cause, Elohim gave them up to the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies with them. 25. And they changed the truth of Elohim into a lie; and worshipped and served the created things, much more than the Creator of them, to whom belong glory and blessing, forever and ever: Amen.

26. For this cause, Elohim gave them up to vile passions: for their females changed the use of their natures[2] and employed that which is unnatural. 27. And so also their males set aside the use of females, which is natural, and burned with lust toward one another; and, male with male, they did what is shameful, and received in their core substance[3] the just recompense of their error. (AENT)

[2] The Image of Elohim is both male and female (B’resheet/Gen. 1:27). To deny the distinctions of male/female gender is to spurn the One who created male and female according to His own Image.

[3] The word translated as “themselves” by Murdock is much better rendered as “core substance” one of several important meanings for qnoma, which also refers to an occurrence (not a separated “person”) of a nature. This verse states that punishment for sexual sin is not in the external body, but in a foundational place where the very essence of humanity resides.

And finally, here's a real wake-up call:

1 Corinthians 6: 18-20: Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (CJB)

When YHWH calls something "an abomination," HOW could anyone possibly believe that He will turn a deaf ear and blind eye to THEIR sin?

Y'shua died ONCE to remove our past sins. He's NOT returning to "die" again; he is returning as the Lion of Judah who will cleanse the earth of its filth! (Genesis 49:8-10; Revelation 5:5)

Parashah 31: Emor (Speak) Leviticus 21:1 through 24:23

Shabbat shalom, everyone!  This week’s Torah portion can be found on our website. It consists of the following readings:

Parashah 31: Emor (Speak); Leviticus 21:1 through 24:23.

Haftarah (Writings and Prophets): Ezekiel 44:15-31.

B'rit Hadasha (New Testament): Matthew 5:38-42; Galatians 3:26-29.

This lesson is absolutely POWERFUL - with its basic messages being the holiness YHWH expected of His cohenim (priests); and the giving of YHWH's "designated times" - His Feasts - all of which bear the statement that they are to be observed "forever" and/or "throughout your generations."  For more, please click on the link.

Y’shua was and is YHWH’s Messiah!

We've all heard counter-missionaries insist that since "Jesus" isn't mentioned by name in Torah (or even in all of the Tanakh), he clearly can't be the Messiah. Well, truth is, the same applies to the person whom the Jews will eventually SAY is the Messiah, because he is ALSO NOT named there!

Scripture is progressive! It doesn't reveal everything within the first chapter of Genesis (or even in the last chapter of Deuteronomy) concerning what God is going to do! For instance, Torah doesn’t mention any of the prophets by name, nor are we told about Deborah,the first female Judge over all Israel; yet, they're eventually revealed in Tanakh....

Genesis Chapter One doesn't reveal that Adam and Eve would end up committing the first known sin which would send the entire world into chaos! It didn't reveal to Adam and Eve that they would have a son (Cain) who would become a murderer or that that son's descendant (Lamech) would become the first adulterer. They also didn't know about the Flood, or that someone named Noah and his family would have to start mankind all over again because of man's penchant for sinning.

God's revelations are progressive; not necessarily mentioned upfront!

According to counter-missionary logic, Torah doesn't mention Kings David or Solomon; therefore,they must not exist! Torah also doesn't mention cell phones, space shuttles, automobiles, computers or Facebooking - but yet we are all familiar with these things!

Daniel 7 gives us a hint about the Messiah - whose name (whether counter-missionaries like it, or not!) was Y'shua:

Daniel 7:13 “I kept watching the night visions, when I saw, coming with the clouds of heaven, someone like a son of man. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. 14 To him was given rulership, glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him.

His rulership is an eternal rulership that will not pass away; and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (CJB)

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi-'Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace] (CJB)

Has anyone besides Y'shua been referred to as "God" or "Prince of Peace?"

Micah 5:2 But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times. 3 Therefore he will give up [Isra'el] only until she who is in labor gives birth. Then the rest of his kinsmen will return to the people of Isra'el. 4 He will stand and feed his flock in the strength of ADONAI, in the majesty of the name of ADONAI his God; and they will stay put, as he grows great to the very ends of the earth; (CJB)

The BIBLE contains at least 300 prophecies that have already come to pass exactly as was written, and there is no way they could all be "coincidences."

As a matter of fact, according to mathematician and professor, Peter Stoner, the probability of even just 48 prophecies being fulfilled by one person (referring to Y'shua) is the incredible number of 1 in 10^157 power!

(And, oh by the way, for those who believe that men were never supposed to do anything to ATONE for the sins of others, please see our blog article for a wakeup call – because that is exactly what priests of old did.)

BOTTOM LINE: Y'shua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and to do everything His Father commanded. He tore down the fences of man's legalism; and neither He nor His Apostles or Disciples ever advocated against Torah!

John 12: 44. But Y'shua cried out and said, He who believes in me, it is not in me he does believe, but in Him who sent me. [1] 45. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me! 46. I have come as the light into this world that all who believe in me might not remain in the darkness! 47. And he who hears my words, yet does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I have not come to judge the world but to give life[2] to the world.

48. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, there is something that judges him. The word that I have spoken, it will judge him on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken from my soul, but the Father who sent me. He gave a Commandment to me what I should say and what I should speak. 50. And I know that His commands are eternal life. [3] Therefore, these things that I speak just as my Father told me, thus I speak.[4] (AENT)

[1] Y'shua does not bring a new Faith, but reveals the original Faith of YHWH the Father.

[2] Y'shua proclaims that he came to give life, then he declares that His father's Commands are eternal life! The Father's "Commands" are instruction in righteousness; this is Torah which contains Commandments, Judgments, Testimony and Witness regarding the Kingdom of Elohim. Those who enter into Covenant with Mashiyach are entering into Covenant with his Father YHWH; therefore, it is evil - an outright lie - to teach that Torah is done away with and replaced by a new theology!

[3] The Commands of YHWH bring eternal life. YHWH's "Commands" refers to all of His Commandments; these are one and the same as every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of Elohim. These are not Commands only between Y'shua and His Father but they are universal for all souls who will enter into the Malchut Elohim.

[4] Y'shua speaks the Word of YHWH, not his own words; therefore, he conveys the revelation of YHWH according to the Ruach haKodesh without the baggage of man's religious tradition. Religion has a propensity to reinvent or interpret the Word of YHWH to make it "acceptable" to man's standards; whereas Mashiyach came not to please men, but to honor and bring Glory to his Father.

Y'shua is exactly whom YHWH made him to be: His Messiah!

Can Gentiles have a bar mitzvah for their kids?

READER QUESTION:

Dear Sirs

Would you be so kind and answer a question? We are a group of Messianic Jews and Messianic Gentiles who worship together. Now some of the Jewish members have expressed the wish of having a bar mitzvah for their kids.

The Gentiles on the other hand would also like to have a bar mitzvah for their kids. Do you think it is appropriate for the non Jewish kids to have a bar mitzvah or should one use another name for this? We have found several names on the internet such as “bar Avraham” or “simcha mitzvah”. What is your view on this subject? Your help is greatly appreciated!

OUR RESPONSE:

Absolutely YES, a non-Jewish boy can have a bar mitzvah and a non-Jewish girl a bat mitzvah! Traditional and Orthodox Jews will scoff at the idea because a Jewish child has spent years preparing for his bar mitzvah and may argue it is "only for Jews" but there is no Biblical prohibition of a non-Jewish child and non-Jewish family celebrating this transition to adulthood in the same manner as traditional Judaism. (Numbers 15:14-16; Romans 11:17).

The difficulty lies in developing in the child and the family the importance of the ceremony to the child, the parents, and to the community. It is NOT just "something to do"! It is a demonstration of knowledge and understanding by the child and the acceptance of the child into the community as an adult (with the attendant adult responsibilities.) The bar mitzvah is a "big deal", a major milestone and accomplishment on the road to adulthood, and the child must understand and demonstrate their part in the commitment.

The bar mitzvah is not just a "party for turning 13". So our advice is that you study, study, study the meaning and purpose of the bar mitzvah and when it is held, conduct it with all the honor and dignity the tradition has come to mean in Judaism. This means the child needs to actually study (actually study!), learn, demonstrate understanding and proudly do his part when the ceremony is held. Perhaps one or more of your Jewish parents who themselves experienced the bar mitzvah in their lives can help develop the program in your group. If not, study, study, study what is needed. Here is one potential source: http://messianicfellowship.50webs.com/barmitzvah.html.

And in all your bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, be open and announce that you are aware that holding the honored ceremony for a gentile is looked down upon by traditional Judaism but that it is not your purpose or desire to offend the Jewish community. Rather, just as in Judaism, the family and your community has tried to instill the love of YHWH in the child, and the love of being obedient to Him and expressing that obedience through the Torah. Every child of YHWH, Jew or gentile deserves the right to be recognized in their transition to adulthood for we are all one in Messiah (Galatians 3:38, Ephesians 2:10-13).

By the way, once someone has accepted YHWH as their ELOHIM, they are no longer a "gentile"; they are "Hebrew" (which, in Hebrew, means "to cross over" - which is what Abraham the pagan Chaldean did, both spiritually and physically when he went into the Land YHWH commanded him to go to).

What is your insight on Yeshua’s return?

Question: I was wondering what your thoughts were on Yeshua’s return. I was invited to attend a study soon on a topic that, admittedly, I have not devoted much time to: second coming/end times/tribulations etc. including misconceptions? (rapture, pre-trib etc) Do you have any insights you’d be willing to share on those subjects and/or links to trusted source on them?  Anything is appreciated even if just a summary of your belief on those topics.

Our answer: Far too broad a subject for us to address.  I'm reminded of the old Jewish story:

A rabbi was asked by his students "When should we repent?"

The rabbi responded: "Repent one day before you die."

Of course the students asked their Rabbi, "Does one know when he will die, that he can repent one day before?"

The Rabbi responded: "Therefore repent today, lest you die tomorrow."

(Ecclesiastes 9:8: '"At all times, your clothes should be white, and oil should not lack from your head.")

All of these subjects, "coming/end times/tribulations, rapture, pre-trib, misconceptions, etc." deliver us all in the same place:  Live your life daily so you are "clean" before the Creator so He will welcome you no matter when or how you meet your fate.

...And that is a summary of our belief on these topics!

What I believe Y’shua would say to the Jewish counter-missionaries who are actively working to debunk him…

In the beginning was the Word, and I am the Word made flesh (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 11:1-5; John 1:1, 14). I am the ‘arm” of my Father (Isaiah 53:1) who now resides with my Father and sit at His right side (Psalm 110:1; Mark 16:19-20, Luke 22:69; John 6:62; John 20:17; Acts 1:1-9; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 3:21).

He sent me to teach and prophesy to you (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), yet you insist passages such as those in Isaiah 53 are not about me. So tell me, how did Israel die as a substitute for the sins of Israel? How can Israel be wounded for anyone’s transgressions? Can people really take Israel's garments and divide them? All those things happened to me!

I was never ‘sacrificed’ as יהוה doesn’t demand or accept human sacrifice. But as the ‘Word made Flesh’ I was the one to allow my flesh to die on your behalf so that you could SEE the love of ELOHIM for His Creation (Isaiah 53:12, Zechariah 12:10, Matthew 27:32-56, etc.).

I was your redemption for you, for your life must be redeemed by blood (Leviticus 17:11); yet you reject it! (Psalm 118:21-23; Matthew 21:42-43, John 3:16-19, 5:43, 12:48.) I bore your griefs, carried your sorrows, was wounded for your transgressions, bruised for your iniquities: and by my stripes those who believe in my divine blood are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5)

I stated PLAINLY my teachings were not my own and I could do nothing without my Father (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 5:19,30; 6:38; 7:16; 8:28), yet you wish to chastise me for those teachings. That is because you are unable to fathom how I and my Father are one and the same! (John 10:27-30).

ADONAI didn’t die on the stake; my human FLESH did! You killed that flesh back then, just as you’re trying to kill it with your words now because you don’t believe.

Where did you get the idea that I had to fulfill ALL the prophecies in a certain time frame that you thought was required?

My Father continuously reached out to you (see the entire Torah!), yet you continuously strayed because you humans have a need to do so, and then you pretend my Father condones what you THINK.

You constantly twist and turn and demolish HIS WORD to feed your own, selfish bellies. (Proverbs 21:2; Amos 6:4-7; 2 Chronicles 32:24-25; Romans 16:18; James 4:3).

While walking on earth, I was a Torah observant, Sabbath and mo’edim-keeping, tallit-wearing, kosher Jew in the line of David who was sent to proclaim the Kingdom (Luke 4:43) and do everything my Father commanded (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 4:34, 5:19, 5:30, 6:38, etc.)

What new “religion” did I supposedly bring? Did I or any of my apostles ever teach anything besides my Father’s Torah? (Deuteronomy 12:32 (13:1); Matthew 5:17-18, 22:37-40; John 10:37-38, etc.)

I, Y’shua haMashiyach, the only begotten Son was killed, but יהוה’s Spirit that was and is in me (Matthew 3:16-17, Luke 3:21-22) was "pierced" because of what was done to me by people like you. (Isaiah 53:3-5; John 14:6-7, 19:34, etc.)

Unlike the Messengers/Angels, I carry the Name of the Father within my own name (Exodus 23:20-22). My very nature is revealed in my name. Through the Name of יהוה my followers know that it is the Ruach haKodesh who gave me my authority, which was not of my human soul. The Spirit of Mashiyach is the Spirit of יהוה, and these ARE One! (John 10:30)

I called my Father MarYAH (Master יהוה). Contrary to popular belief, there was never a ban on using the Name of Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey; there was a ban on CURSING in the name or abusing it in some way (i.e., attributing something to Him that He never said or did). (Exodus 20:7)

There are at least 300 incidences in Tanakh where we are commanded to know and use the Name of יהוה, who accepts no substitutes! (Example: Jeremiah 16:19-24; Ezekiel 39:7). I was squarely against the Oral Law that included the ban! (Joshua 23:7, Isaiah 42:8).

Christianity has twisted my Father’s Word and given me the name of “Jesus” – which does not contain the meaning of my name, “יהוה is Salvation”, The prophets spoke about me in places like Isaiah 4:2, 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 33:14-16; and fulfilled in John 17:11.

Their mindsets changed who I am and what I said, but at least THEY recognized and accepted His Messiah, and millions were “saved” by that name (Acts 4:12) while my own people reject me (Deuteronomy 18:19; Ezekiel 36:21-24; John 1:11).

I cannot help what they THINK about me; but that didn’t change WHO I am, or why I came! But yet, instead of seeking יהוה’s Truth concerning the Mashiyach, YOU wish to obliterate me completely BECAUSE of how Christians view me! You’re stealing eternal life from myriads - how does that make your conduct any different from the deeds of Hitler?

“I AM!” (Exodus 3:13-15; Revelation 1:8 and 4:8) As the Word, I always was. You would do well to remember that YOU are created mortal beings with limited mindsets and capabilities. YOU have no righteousness – those who decide to dismiss and reject יהוה’s Messiah!

Away from me you evil-doers! I never knew you! (Isaiah 1:4; Job 8:20; Psalm 14:4, 119:115; Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 13:27).

Revelation 3: 21. And to him that is victorious, to him will I give to sit with me on my throne, even as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22. He that has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. (AENT)

Swarming ticks in New Jersey….

Swarming ticks in New Jersey.  Yes, you heard right: Swarming ticks! A woman in New Jersey went into a doctor's office with thousands of these things on her body! It's a new species that can apparently survive the winter. It's only a matter of time before they infest the rest of the US.

Sound familiar? Every time man thinks he's in control, YHWH reminds us we are not! America is in deep trouble on every level. We are not only plagued with strange weather patterns, fires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes - all of "biblical proportions," but we are experiencing political and social unrest of all kinds. Respect for authority and even for each other is basically nonexistent today....

The ONLY real thing we can do in these end times is to prepare ourselves spiritually. Nobody is guaranteed the next day. Nobody.

Psalm 104:20 You appoint darkness and it becomes night, In which all the beasts of the forest prowl about.

Deuteronomy 32:23-25 - I will send wasting famine against them, consuming pestilence and deadly plague; I will send against them the fangs of wild beasts, the venom of vipers that glide in the dust.

Luke 21:10-12 - There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Revelation 6:7-9 - I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Revelation 18:7-9 - Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Isaiah 18:6 They will be left together for mountain birds of prey, And for the beasts of the earth; And the birds of prey will spend the summer feeding on them, And all the beasts of the earth will spend harvest time on them.

Isaiah 51:8 "For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations."

Parsha 29 - Acharei Mot (After death); and Parsha 30: Kedoshim (Holy People)

Shabbat shalom, mishpocah! As always, a synopsis of this week’s Torah portion can be found on our website. This week, we have another double parashah: Parashah 29: Acharei Mot (After death) Leviticus 16:1 through 18:30  and Parashah 30: Kedoshim (Holy People) Leviticus 19:1 through 20:27.

These lessons are absolutely POWERFUL – with their basic message being that the Book of Leviticus is not a "book of laws" as so many insist. It is our Creator asking us to be holy through obedience to HIS rules!

In the Book of Leviticus we are told via many examples exactly how we can be "set apart" for Him - by not following the abominable ways of the other nations. He gives us a choice to follow Him, or not. Those who follow Him are blessed; those who don't are cut off. Simple as that. There is no gray area.  Please click on the links for more!

Challenging the comments, “Jesus changed Passover's meaning” and “Pesach is the Celebration of Freedom”

Here are a couple of comments by counter-missionaries who are doing their level-best to take Christians and Messianic/Hebrew Roots people away from Messiah Y’shua:

COMMENT 1: “Jesus changed Passover's meaning...so will you follow someone who changed HaShem's Laws or follow HaShem? You cannot do both.”

OUR RESPONSE: FALSE!

This comment is probably from 1 Corinthians 5:7 which reads: “Get rid of the old hametz, so that you can be a new batch of dough, because in reality you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed.” (CJB).

Fact is, this is Paul writing, not Jesus speaking - and Paul is clearly relating the shed redeeming blood of the Messiah to that of the redeeming blood of the lamb at Pesach. But neither Paul, nor Jesus “changed” the meaning of Pesach! Pesach in Paul’s time (and in Jesus’ time) was celebrated in the same manner and for the same purpose as all of Judaism! Jesus changed nothing about Pesach!

The claim might also have come from Luke 22:19-20 which reads: “Also, taking a piece of matzah, he made the b'rakhah, broke it, gave it to them and said, ‘This is my body, which is being given for you; do this in memory of me.’ He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.’” (CJB).

Perhaps this person “sees” in this verse that somehow Jesus “changed” the meaning of Pesach, but that is simply not the case. Jesus only expressed the remembrance of what He was about to do for the apostles and all mankind; that the life and redemption of the original pass-over for the Hebrews would forever be given to them by His redemptive blood. This in no way “changed” Pesach!

I know it’s hard for counter-missionaries to get past their bias and contempt to see what was really presented in the New Testament and to come to understand that Jesus actually changed nothing in the Torah. Not one thing. But for those of you reading this, consider the parallels:

1. At the original and only “pass-over” the blood of an unblemished lamb redeemed the firstborn of the Hebrews. Jesus is recognized as our “unblemished lamb” whose blood redeemed us. (1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). (Note: This does not “change” the meaning of Pesach.)

2. Jesus was killed the same afternoon as the lambs. (Note: This does not “change” the meaning of Pesach.)

3. The sacrificed lamb “spared” the Hebrews (Exodus 12:27). Jesus’ (volunteer) substitution of Himself delivered mankind from bondage to sin and death (Romans 8:2). (Note: This does not “change” the meaning of Pesach.)

4. The bones of the lamb were not broken. (Exodus 12:46). None of Jesus’ bones were broken. (John 19:33). (This does not “change” the meaning of Pesach.)

5. The lamb spared the firstborn from death, the consequence had they sinned and not obeyed. (Exodus 12:12). Jesus spares from eternal death those who accept His redemption. (Revelation 1:5). (Note: This does not “change” the meaning of Pesach.)

6. Even the disciples of Jesus recognized that Jesus changed nothing about Pesach but only provided for their redemption. They continued to celebrate Pesach but with the renewed “life” in the remembrance that now, they too, were saved as were the Hebrews in the one-and-only pass-over. “So then let us observe the festival, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of evil and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:8). (Note: This does not “change” the meaning of Pesach.)

The Messiah-denier above also asked: “So will you follow someone who changed HaShem's Laws or follow HaShem? You cannot do both.”

We follow HaShem, of course. We’ve shown, in regard to Pesach, Jesus did not change HaShem’s laws, so the point is moot. What you can say is that Jesus helped to explain the Torah and to clarify and provide depth to the laws (akin to the Talmud if it were not for the many discrepancies in the Talmud). Of course the Torah commands us to have only HaShem as our God (see Exodus 20:2 and Deuteronomy 5:6).

The Messiah-deniers point to the Christian tradition that “Jesus is God” thus claiming that Christians believe in “another god” or an idol. But nothing is further from the truth. Jesus said “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30). He never said “I am God.” It would be silly for Him to say He was God, for God cannot be born, nor die. (Please see our article on that very subject!)

Unfortunately, people have concluded Jesus was God (which is, admittedly, quite wrong). Adonai said in Exodus 23:21 that the messenger He would send “has His Name in Him”; and many other Tanakh scriptures point to the savior.

Exodus 23: “See, I am sending a Messenger before you to guard you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 “Be on guard before Him and obey His voice. Do not rebel against Him, for He is not going to pardon your transgression, for My Name is in Him. 22 “But if you diligently obey His voice and shall do all that I speak, then I shall be an enemy to your enemies and a distresser to those who distress you. (ISR)

Question for the counter-missionaries: Which “Messenger” has the power to “pardon transgressions? ONLY Y’shua! What “Messenger” has YHWH’s name within his own name? ONLY Y’shua! The names of the rest of the “Messengers” contain only the TITLE of ELOHIM (El) – Micha’el, Rapha’el, Gavri’el….

COMMENT 2: “Pesach is the Celebration of Freedom, the Israelites Slaughtered, Roasted, and Feasted on Goats and Lambs against Egyptian Law to MOCK AND INSULT the Egyptians and their Pagan Sheep deity. All about Freedom!”

OUR RESPONSE: This comment is simply ludicrous! The meaning of Passover is still, today, what it always was. It is here:

Exodus 12: “3 Speak to all the assembly of Isra'el and say, 'On the tenth day of this month, each man is to take a lamb or kid for his family, one per household — 4 except that if the household is too small for a whole lamb or kid, then he and his next-door neighbor should share one, dividing it in proportion to the number of people eating it. 5 Your animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats.

6 " 'You are to keep it until the fourteenth day of the month, and then the entire assembly of the community of Isra'el will slaughter it at dusk. 7 They are to take some of the blood and smear it on the two sides and top of the door-frame at the entrance of the house in which they eat it. … 11 …. It is Adonai's Pesach [Passover]. 12 For that night, I will pass through the land of Egypt and kill all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both men and animals; and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt; I am Adonai.

13 The blood will serve you as a sign marking the houses where you are; when I see the blood, I will pass over [Hebrew: pasach] you — when I strike the land of Egypt, the death blow will not strike you. 14 " 'This will be a day for you to remember and celebrate as a festival to Adonai; from generation to generation you are to celebrate it by a perpetual regulation.” (CJB)

So we learn from Scripture that ADONAI’s Pesach is His salvation for the Hebrews by the blood substitution of an unblemished lamb. The firstborn of anyone who put the lamb’s blood on their door-frame were saved and did not die. Note that nowhere in this scripture defining Pesach contains anything about “celebration of freedom” or to mock and insult the Egyptians.

Yes, in Exodus 8:25-27 (21-23 in some versions), Pharaoh summoned Moshe and Aharon and said, "Go, and sacrifice to your God here in the land." But Moshe replied: “It would be inappropriate for us to do that, because the animal we sacrifice to Adonai our God is an abomination to the Egyptians. Won't the Egyptians stone us to death if before their very eyes we sacrifice what they consider an abomination?”

From this Maimonides concluded (in “Guide for the Perplexed”, Part 3, Chapter 46):

“Scripture tells us, according to the Version of Onkelos, that the Egyptians worshipped Aries, and therefore abstained from killing sheep, and held shepherds in contempt. Comp. ‘Behold we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians,’ etc. (Exod. 8: 26); ‘For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians’ (Gen. 46:34).”

Maimonides goes on to say:

“This is also the reason why we were commanded to kill a lamb on Passover, and to sprinkle the blood thereof outside on the gates. We had to free ourselves of evil doctrines and to proclaim the opposite, viz., that the very act which was then considered as being the cause of death would be the cause of deliverance from death. Comp. ‘And the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come unto your houses to suite you’ (Exod. 8: 23). Thus they were rewarded for performing openly a service every part of which was objected to by the idolaters.”

Is Maimonides saying this was the purpose of Pesach? Is he saying that the purpose was to “mock and insult the Egyptians and their pagan sheep deity”? OF COURSE NOT! Maimonides states it clearly that the command to kill the lamb was to cause the deliverance from death, that is, redemption!

Moshe knew quite well that the slaughter of a lamb would be an abomination to the Egyptians as we read in Exodus 8. So Moshe would never have relayed the message to the Hebrews to go and “slaughter the lamb in front of the Egyptians so we can mock and insult them!” No. Indeed, Moshe relayed the entire message of Adonai to the Hebrews, that the blood of the lamb would substitute for the firstborn and they would be redeemed. Reread Exodus 12 if this is not clear.

Similarly, does Maimonides, or scripture for that matter, say that Pesach is the “celebration of freedom”? Absolutely not! Adonai tells Moshe what to tell the Hebrews about what Pesach meant!

“When you come to the land which Adonai will give you, as he has promised, you are to observe this ceremony. When your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this ceremony?' say, 'It is the sacrifice of Adonai's Pesach [Passover], because [Adonai] passed over the houses of the people of Isra'el in Egypt, when he killed the Egyptians but spared our houses.' " The people of Isra'el bowed their heads and worshipped.” (Exodus CJB).

Pesach is about redemption, (Exodus 13:15), not a “celebration of freedom!”

Freedom of the Hebrews is important, of course, and is celebrated in the immediate aftermath of the exodus. Simply read on in Exodus 13 to see this. “When, at some future time, your son asks you, 'What is this?' then say to him, 'With a strong hand Adonai brought us out of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.” (Exodus 13:14, CJB).

FOLKS, IT’S RATHER SAD that so many messiah-deniers must resort to such a narrow-minded view of Jesus and the New Testament. In reality, the NT is a brilliant adjunct to the Tanakh, which provides a richness to Adonai’s offer of salvation to all. That salvation happened, yet so many “intellects” think otherwise.

Scripture explains “faith vs. works”

Someone recently posed a question about “faith and works” which caused me to do some research. Here is just one passage, with some great footnote explanations!

James 2: 14. What is the use, my Brothers, if a man say, I have faith; and he has no works? Can his faith resurrect him? 15. Or if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. and one of you say to them, “Go in peace, warm yourselves, and be full;” and you do not give them the necessities of the body, what is the use? 17. So also faith alone, without works, is dead.

18. For a man may say, you have faith and I have works; show to me your faith that is without works and I will show to you my faith by my works. 19. You believe that there is one Elohim; you do well; the demons also believe and tremble. 20. Would you know, O weak man, that faith without works is dead?

21. Awraham our father, was not he justified by works[1] in offering his son Yitz’chak upon the altar? 22. Do you realize that his faith aided his works, and that by the works his faith was rendered complete? 23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says: Awraham believed in Elohim, and it was credited to him for righteousness and he was called the Friend of Elohim.

24. You see that by works a man is justified[2] and not by faith alone. 25. So also Rahab the harlot, was she not justified by works when she entertained the spies and sent them forth by another way? 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (AENT)

[1] Some theologians allege this teaching to be opposite of the Pauline Epistles, such as Galatians. The reality is that Paul was grossly misquoted whereas Ya’akov was not. Rav Shaul did not accept empty ritual devoid of proper spiritual focus.

He was Torah Observant; he kept the Moedim (feast days), the Shabbat, and took one or more Nazirite vows; he fasted on Yom Kippur, ate “clean” food and lived a Set Apart life in Mashiyach Y’shua. The fact is that Romans 7:12 totally harmonizes Galatians with, and complements, Galatians and Ya’akov.

[2] The Hebrew word for a righteous soul = tsadiq; righteousness = tsedeq; justified = tsadaq; notice they are the same word. A soul without righteousness can never be “justified” regardless of what theologians claim. The original root word for justified relates to righteous action. However, mainstream Christianity teaches that a person is “justified” solely on the merits of belief in Y’shua, and that observing Torah is impossible.

Even in Ya’akov’s day, some individuals wanted cerebral belief to “justify” themselves, which is impossible. Y’shua’s person (example) and Spirit is meant to literally be imparted into us; this must be evidenced by our actions, otherwise we do not belong to him. Theological, or cerebral “belief” without works, is dead religion; but active literal Faith comes to life in Mashiyach. Torah Observance/obedience is clear evidence that we have passed from death to life. See John 5:29, Matthew 7:23.

1 John – a great tool to challenge those who attempt to tell you that “Jesus” and the New Testament are a myth

First Yochanan (1 John) contains some great tools to challenge those who are busy trying to tell people that Y’shua (Jesus) is a myth!

1 John 2: 15. Love not the world nor anything in it; for whoever loves the world has not the love of the Father in him. 16. For all that is in the world is the lust of the body and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the world, which are not from the Father but from the world[1] itself. 17. And the world is passing away, (both) it and the lust thereof; but he that does the pleasure of Elohim abides for ever.[2]

18. My children, it is the latter time; and as you have heard that a false Messiah was to arise, so there are now many false Messiahs;[3] and from this we know that it is the latter time. 19. From us they went out, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would have continued with us: but they went out from us that so it might be known that they were not of us. 20. But you have an anointing from the Set Apart (One); and you discriminate every person. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] “The world” refers to pagan, Torahless, humanistic, evolutionary, relativistic, materialistic, sensual, unrighteous lifestyles that haSatan used to seduce mankind away from YHWH. This certainly does not refer to the earth which YHWH made according to His good pleasure.

[2] And the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he who does the will of Elohim abides forever. 1 John 2:17 (Lamsa). In Aramaic the words for world (alma) and forever (alam) are nearly identically spelled and pronounced. … The pun is also multi-tiered in this case because ancient Jewish thought has always centered on the idea of olam haba, which is literally rendered as “world to come” but figuratively means “world of eternity” or “heaven.”

When confronted with these facts, some theologians suggest that “from the beginning” can mean “from the time of Mashiyach’s ministry”; however, such thinking is easily refuted: “For this is the commandment that you have heard from the beginning, that you must love one another. Not do as Cain did, who belonged to the wicked one and slew his brother.” 1 John 3:11-12 (Lamsa).

If Cain knew this commandment, it must also then go back to Adam. That being the case, the old commandment is very old indeed, and it is rooted firmly in the first book of Torah, known as Genesis!

[3] As before, “false Messiahs” is used deliberately rather than the proper title of the genuine one, Y’shua the Mashiyach.

1 John 2: 22 Who is a liar at all, if not the person who denies that Yeshua is the Messiah? Such a person is an anti-Messiah - he is denying the Father and the Son. 23 Everyone who denies the Son is also without the Father, but the person who acknowledges the Son has the Father as well.

24 Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you will also remain in union with both the Son and the Father. 25 And this is what he has promised us: eternal life.26 I have written you these things about the people who are trying to deceive you.

27 As for you, the Messianic anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, as his Messianic anointing continues to teach you about all things, and is true, not a counterfeit, so, just as he taught you, remain united with him.

28 And now, children, remain united with him; so that when he appears, we may have confidence and not shrink back from him in shame at his coming. (CJB)

1 John 4: 1. My beloved, do not believe all spirits; but discriminate among spirits whether they are of Elohim: for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2. By this the Spirit of Elohim is known; every spirit that confesses that Y’shua the Mashiyach has come in the flesh[1] is of Elohim.

3. And every spirit which does not confess that Y’shua the Mashiyach has come in the flesh is not of Elohim; but he is of the false Messiah of whom you have heard that he comes and now is he already in the world. 4. But you children are of Elohim; and you have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.

5. And they are of the world: therefore they speak from the world, and the world hears them. 6. But we are of Elohim; and he that knows Elohim, hears us; and he that is not of Elohim, hears us not. By this, we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (AENT)

[1] The Spirit of Mashiyach dwells inside a person. This does not refer to Y’shua coming in his flesh to Earth; even the demons know that much (see Luke 4:41). This refers to the neshama (spirit of man) being born from the beginning into the image of Elohim, which is evidenced by living a Set Apart life unto YHWH, having Torah written upon the heart and growing in the Attributes of Mashiyach as revealed in Isaiah 11:2.

God used the Holocaust to bring about two of Isaiah’s prophecies!

DID YOU KNOW - that YHWH used what Hitler did during WWII, to bring about TWO of His end times prophecies? It's true! Two of Isaiah's prophecies came to pass because of the Holocaust:
(1) Israel would become a nation again and (2) it would happen in one day!

Bible passage: Isaiah 66:7-8
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: 1948

The woman giving birth before going into labor represents Israel. This accurately describes what happened on May 14, 1948 - when "the world" briefly felt sorry for the Jews and returned Israel to them and they were able to declare independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2,900 years.

During that same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel's sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally was born in a single day.

Isaiah said the birth would take place before there would be labor pains. And that too is precisely what happened. A movement called Zionism began in the 1800s to encourage Jews worldwide to move to Israel, which at that time was called Palestine. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

When reading Isaiah 66:7-8, keep in mind that Israel's status as a sovereign nation was established and reaffirmed during the course of a single day, and that it was born of a movement called Zionism, and that its declaration of independence was not the result of a war but rather the cause of one.

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

READER COMMENT:

Can you help me with this,I know the Bible says that blaspheming the holy spirit is unforgivable, but I saw somewhere that you CAN be forgiven for blaspheming the holy spirit. Now I am confused and would like to hear what you guys think on this matter.

OUR RESPONSE:

The Bible tells us that "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" is an unforgivable sin:

Matthew 12: 30. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever did not gather with me, scatters. 31. Because of this I say to you that all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven to the sons of men, but blasphemy that is against the Spirit will not be forgiven to the sons of men. 32. And anyone who says a word against the Son of man, he will be forgiven, But anyone who will speak against the Ruach haKodesh, he will not be forgiven - not in this world or in the world that is to come. (AENT)

YHWH is the One True Universal Authority Who chose to be represented by His Mashiyach. But man wars against Yeshua and one another to establish his own authority. Dividing and scattering, fallen man inadvertently follows the pattern of haSatan, the Adversary.

If a person committed one of the capital offenses that are mentioned in Torah, but confessed and pleaded for forgiveness, there were ways to receive atonement. But those who blaspheme against the Spirit of YHWH have no way to make atonement for themselves, nor can they make an appeal in the name of Yeshua. See also Acts 5:1-11 and Hebrews 10:28-30.

In other words, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an eternal sin, because if one rejects the evidence provided by the Holy Spirit and ascribes it to God's enemy haSatan, he rejects the only evidence upon which faith can be based.

Here's more:

Matthew 13: 32. And anyone who says a word against the Son of man, he will be forgiven, But anyone who will speak against the Ruach haKodesh,[1] he will not be forgiven – not in this world or in the world that is to come. (AENT)

Mark 3: 28. Truly I say to you, that all sins and blasphemies that the sons of man will blaspheme will be forgiven them. 29. But he who blasphemes against the Ruach haKodesh has no forgiveness ever, rather he is guilty before the eternal judgment. 30. This is because they were saying that an unclean spirit is in him. (AENT)

Acts 5: 1. And a certain man whose name was Khanan-Yah, with his wife whose name was Shapeera, sold his field. 2. And he took from its sale price and hid it while his wife knew of it. And he brought some of the money and placed it before the feet of the Shlichim. 3. And Shimon said to him, “Khanan-Yah, why is it that the Adversary has filled your heart thus that you should lie in (the presence of) the Ruach haKodesh, and that you should hide that sum of the money of the proceeds of the field?

4. Was it not yours before it was sold? And after it was sold, again you were in control over its proceeds. Why have you placed in your heart to do this spectacle? You have not lied (in the presence of) men, but in (the presence of) Elohim.” 5. And after Khanan-Yah heard these words, he fell down and died. And there was a great fear among all those who heard. 6. And those who were young among them rose up and they gathered him together and took him outside and buried him.

7. And after three hours had passed, his wife also entered while not knowing what happened. 9. Shimon said to her, “because you have deliberated to tempt the Spirit of Master YHWH, behold the feet of the grave diggers of your husband (are) at the door, and they will take you out.” 10. And at that moment, she fell before their feet and died. And those young men entered and found her dead, and they gathered (her) up, took her away, and buried her next to her husband. 11. And there was a great fear in all the assembly, and in all those who heard. (AENT)

Hebrews 10: 28. For if he who transgressed the Torah of Moshe, died without mercies at the mouth of two or three witnesses; 29. how much more, do you think, will he receive capital punishment who has trodden upon the Son of Elohim and has accounted the blood of his covenant by which he is sanctified, as the blood of all men and has treated the Spirit of grace in an insulting manner? (AENT)

Acts 5: 32 And we are witnesses of these words and the Ruach haKodesh; He Who Elohim gives to those who obey Him. (AENT)

The bottom line is:  Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is "defiant irreverence" - a term that can be applied to such sins as cursing Yahweh or willfully degrading things relating to Him, or attributing some evil to Him, or denying Him some good that should be attributed to Him.

For instance, in Matthew 12:31-32, the Pharisees, having witnessed irrefutable proof that Yeshua was working miracles in the power of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit), claimed instead that He was possessed by the demon "Beelzebub" (Matthew 12:24).

“Shacking up”–the “in thing”….

What a sad and decadent world we live in! The latest “hot” news item on the world’s scene seems to be the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who is “pregnant and in power.” She’s not married, but – according to the liberal, godless media, “that’s so cool” and “they’re a thoroughly modern couple”…. Same thing with Khloe’ Kardashian and her out-of-wedlock daughter and many other Hollyweird “power couples”....

Today, this kind of behavior is viewed as not just “normal”; but hardly anyone even bats an eye whenever they see somebody engaging in sinful behavior! Refusal to "get married" is certainly an indicator that one or both of the parties involved don't want real commitment. If anything goes askew, they are free to "just part ways" - which leaves in limbo any children involved.

Hebrews 13:4. Marriage is honorable in all and their bed undefiled: but prostitute partners and adulterers, Elohim will judge.

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds a great good; he has won the favor of ADONAI.

Proverbs 5:18 Let your fountain, the wife of your youth, be blessed; find joy in her 19 a lovely deer, a graceful fawn; let her breasts satisfy you at all times, always be infatuated with her love.

"Shacking up" is wrong on several levels, and the bottom line is, YHWH is watching - and, according to what His Word says, He is NOT happy with this lifestyle! Is it any wonder that the world is experiencing horrific turmoil of all kinds?

Matthew 24:37 For the Son of Man's coming will be just as it was in the days of Noach. 38 Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark; 39 and they didn't know what was happening until the Flood came and swept them all away. It will be just like that when the Son of Man comes. (CJB)

Two Torah portions this week! Parashah 27: Tazria (She conceives) Leviticus 12:1 through 13:59; and Parashah 28: M'tzora (Person afflicted with tzara'at) Leviticus 14:1 through 15:33.

Well, another Shabbat is around the corner – Halleluyah!  As always, a synopsis of this week’s Torah portion (there are TWO of them this week!) can be found on our website: Parashah 27: Tazria (She conceives) Leviticus 12:1 through 13:59;  and Parashah 28: M'tzora  (Person afflicted with tzara'at) Leviticus 14:1 through 15:33.

The Torah portions over the last two weeks have seemed very strange, to say the least! This week again our short parashah readings at first glance seemed to be a "turn-off" because they discussed undesirable subjects such as Leprosy, bodily discharges and disease. We must remember that YHWH's people were living in tents in the desert, subjected to all kinds of dirt, germs and disease. There were no doctors or medicines, and the people had no choice but to rely on HIM for their every need. And so, again, the underlying message of these Torah portions was obedience to YHWH's commands and the need to return to holiness once a crisis was over.

National Holocaust Remembrance Day

Israelis stood still on Thursday for a nationwide moment of silence in remembrance of the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, as a two-minute siren wailed across the country and the nation paid respects to those systematically killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators in World War II.

Putting "counter-missionaries" under a microscope

"Counter-missionaries" are Jews who are engaged in the counter-proselytization of the Jewish people by Christians, Hebrew Roots and Messianic believers known as “missionaries”. That is to say, some Jewish groups have formed counter-missionary organizations to discourage Christian missionizing via what they feel are “deceptive practices” by the missionaries.

On one hand, it’s easy to see why Jews would reject the idea of Y'shua, especially as He is known as the Christian "Jesus", because – according to Christianity, Jesus is “God in the Flesh”; a “man-god” – a completely Torah-less entity who came to bring a new religion called Christianity, and to “nail to the cross” not just our sin, but everything ADONAI ever commanded. (This, of course, includes the Seventh Day Sabbath and the Feasts, from which Christians feel they’re exempt; even though they claim to worship the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whose Torah contains mankind’s only true and legitimate rules for holy living and tells us that ALL who accept YHWH are to "do exactly as" His people do - Numbers 15:13-16.)

Be that as it may, as evidenced in the above, Jews have every right to refuse the Christian theology, and they are actually correct in doing so! YHWH commanded His people to stay away from “other gods” and idolatry and false teachings. Let's face it: Christians HAVE changed some very important things:

They refuse to keep the commanded seven Feasts (all of which foreshadow Y'shua!) and the Seventh Day Sabbath (which is a SIGN between God and His people - Exodus 31:16-17, Ezekiel 20:11-12. They've come up with their own, man-made "holy days" - both of which are steeped in paganism; and they've absolutely refused to acknowledge that Jesus came to show God's people how to properly obey the commands and walk in Torah, and do everything His Father commanded and NOT to bring any "new religion". (See Isaiah 11:1, 10; Isaiah 53; Proverbs 30:4; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Zecheriah 3:8; 6:12; Luke 4:43; 8:1; Philippians 2:5-11, etc.)

Unfortunately, the Jews (due, in part, to their own prejudices, anger and over-cautiousness; and in part, because of the skewed teachings of Christianity which tends to concentrate more on the hard-to-understand writings of Paul than on the teachings on Y’shua and the actual commands of YHWH) are completely missing out on YHWH’s “rest of the story” called Brit Chadashah, “The New Testament” (which should more aptly be referred to as “Renewed Testament” because it is an unwavering continuation of the “Old Testament).

Genesis 49:18 “I have waited for your yeshua (salvation), O YHWH.”  Well, Y'shua is foreshadowed in the moe'dim, and places like Isaiah 53, and presented in all his glory in the Gospels….

If only the Jewish counter-missionaries could set aside all their prejudices and skewed ideas about Y’shua and the NT, and realize that the God who created the universe and everything in it, is also capable of supernaturally causing His Messiah to be born of a human woman; and grow up to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and do everything he was told to do, and ultimately martyr himself on our behalf.

But they can’t seem to do that. They’re completely stuck in a rut of blindness. And they INSIST on remaining there!

Rather than to seek the Ruach to help them recognize ALL of God's Truth, they spend a ridiculous amount of time and effort to disprove and ridicule His Messiah. Much of this is due to unchained pride and arrogance over the idea that God belongs to only them and no one else … and, perhaps they feel threatened by a Messiah whose death served to tear down the barrier that allows anyone to “become a Hebrew” once they accept the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob….

So, here we have Christians on one side refusing to accept the idea of Torah; while Jews, on the other, refusing to accept Y’shua as YHWH’s divine Messiah (divine because his Father is ELOHIM; and he was/is the Word (John 1:1, 14) made Flesh, as well as the “arm” of God (Isaiah 53:1). Wouldn't it be great if both sides would simply open their eyes, push aside their limited human mindsets, and allow the Ruach to give them divine guidance? But it appears - as the old adage goes - "Never the twain shall meet." And it's all because both sides cannot and will not let go of their pride.

Because of that pride thing - certain Jewish Rabbis have long tried to counter the onslaught of Christian proselytizing by simply ignoring or arguing with, or talking back to Christians and Messianic/Hebrew Roots proselytizers. But apparently, that wasn’t working very well, so they have come up with a new tactic: They seek out those gullible people who are sick of the fluff of Christianity and convince them that “Jesus” and the New Testament are myth, and then enlist them against us.

Yes, you read correctly! They’ve decided to turn the tables against “believers in Jesus” by reaching out and teaching them (skillfully employing the Christians' lack of knowledge about Torah) that Jesus and the New Testament are myths! They gleefully present the supposed lack of evidence for “Jesus” in Torah – and then they turn loose those very gullible “converts” to go right out and teach it other Christians!

What a concept! It’s brilliant! And it’s working….

Unfortunately, these starry-eyed deluded folks, thrilled that actual Jewish RABBIS are willing to give them attention and guidance, are more than willing to join Christian and Messianic/Hebrew Roots groups for the sole purpose of “sowing counter-missionary seeds.” It works so well that these Christians (and Messianic/Hebrew Roots types) don’t realize that all they have done is to exchange one religion for another. In their hurry to leave behind ALL they once knew, these new counter-missionaries leap so quickly to the “other side of the pendulum,” that they totally overlook the fact that they’ve missed the overall picture!

The bottom line is, the Jewish counter-missionary Rabbis and their converts are busy taking “our” people away with their “ear-tickling” messages. They use any tactic available to them – and it’s working, because the evidence shows many are “rejecting Jesus” because of them. Below are some of the passages counter-missionaries will twist into oblivion … obvious Messianic passages that those with the Ruach within will easily recognize.

If you are among those who is thinking of “rejecting Jesus,” please check out our Countering the Counter-Missionaries page on our website, The Refiner’s Fire.

Proverbs 30:4 - Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has cupped the wind in the palms of his hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

Hebrews 1: 2 But now, in the acharit-hayamin (these last days) he has spoken to us through his Son, to whom he has given ownershp of everything and through whom he created the universe. 3 This Son is the readiance of the Sh'khinah (Spirit), the very expression God's essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after he had HaG'dulah BaM'romim (the Majesty on High).

Micah 5:2 - But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Y'hudah, out of you will come forth to me the future ruler of Isra'el, whose origins are far in the past, back in ancient times.

Jeremiah 23: 5 "The days are coming," says ADONAI when I will raise a righteous Branch for David. He will reign as king and succeed, he will do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Y'hudah will be saved, Isra'el will live in safety, and the name given to him will be ADONAI TZIDKENU [ADONAI our righteousness].

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore ADONAI himself will give you people a sign; the young woman will become pregnant, bear a son and name him 'Immanu El [God is with us]. (The word "Immanu El" is repeated in Isaiah 8:8.) (Jewish anti-missionaries will argue to the death about the word "alma" NOT meaning "virgin".)

Isaiah 9: 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on his shoulders, and he will be given the name Pele-Yo'etz El Gibbor Avi'Ad Sar-Shalom [Wonder of a Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace], 7 in order to extend the dominion and perpetuate the peace of the throne and kingdom of David, to secure it and sustain it through justice and righteousness henceforth and forever. The zeal of ADONAI-Tva'ot will accomplish this.

Zechariah 9: 9 Rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Tziyon! Shout out loud, daughter of Yerushalayim! Look! Your king is coming to you. He is righteous, and he is victorious. Yet he is humble - he's riding on a donkey, yes, on a lowly donkey's colt.

If both sides would set aside their bias and skewed beliefs and TRY to get along, they would, in all probability, begin to recognize that the Tanakh (Old Testament), and the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) are ONE, and that Messiah Yeshua is not what either side says he is!

A simple explanation about "the curse of the law"

Someone recently wrote to our website with this comment: "I have a question on Gal. 3:10. My grandson insists that this verse means that if we keep His commandments we are under a curse. Do you have a simple explanation to refute that servants of Torah are still under a curse?"

OUR RESPONSE:

This was a really great question that has surely plagued others, and so we sent this person our article entitled, Let’s talk for a moment about that “under a curse” thing, and offered the following as further information:

Bottom line upfront: Paul is very hard to understand. However, the answer to this "under a curse" situation is really very simple.

First, look who Paul is writing to. The congregations in Galatia, Galatians 1:2. Why is he writing to them? Because they have already fallen away from faith in the Messiah and had been confused and challenged by men who do not believe in the Messiah (1:6-7). What does Paul say about these teachers?

He says they "are men who agitated you and desired to pervert the Good News of Mashiyach" (1:7), and that these men "preach outside from what was preached to you, let them be cursed. ... Whichever man preaches to you outside of what you have received, let him be accursed" (1:8-9).

Now, read Galatians 3 with this in mind, but first, understand that Torah says: "A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice"  (Deuteronomy 27:26).

In Galatians 3, Paul is teaching (again) that righteousness does not come through "works", rather, that righteousness is through faith, and faith is demonstrated by works (Galatians 3:2-6). Then, referring to Deuteronomy 27:26, Paul says in 3:10 "For those who are servants of Torah are still under a curse, for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not act on all that is written in this book of Torah.”

Paul goes on through the rest of Galatians 3 to explain that he's talking about those very men whom he mentioned back in Galatians 1:7; that those men are cursed because they teach Torah, but they do not live by Torah!

Read the way Paul puts it in Romans 2: "13. For not the hearers of Torah are righteous before Elohim; but the doers of Torah are being made righteous. 14. For if Gentiles who have not Torah will, by their nature, do the things of Torah; they, while without Torah, become a Torah to themselves. 15. Additionally, they show the work of Torah as it is inscribed on their hearts; and their conscience bears testimony to them, their own reflections rebuking or vindicating one another." (Romans 2:13-15)

But about the Torah-teachers he says:

"17. But if you who are called a Jew, and rely yourself on Torah and glory in Elohim, 18. (And further that you think) that you know His good pleasure and discern obligations because you are instructed in Torah; 19. And (that Elohim) has confidence in yourself, that you are a guide to the blind, and a light to them who are in darkness, 20. And an instructor of those lacking knowledge, and a preceptor to the young; and you have the appearance of knowledge and of verity in Torah (then what do you all say to the following):

21. You therefore, who teach others, teach you not yourself? And you who teach that men must not steal, do you steal? 22. And you who say, “Men must not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? And you who condemn idols, do you plunder the sanctuary? 23. And you who glory in Torah, don’t you, by acting contrary to Torah, insult Elohim himself? (Romans 2:17-23)

So, there you have it. When Paul says in Galatians 3:10 that those who are servants of Torah are still under a curse  [that is, they demand serving Torah, but they are not living by Torah], it is because they, themselves, don't live by Torah as true servants for YHWH.  (Refer back to Deuteronomy 27:26, which says:  26 "'A curse on anyone who does not confirm the words of this Torah by putting them into practice.'All the people are to say, 'Amen!')

Two great little teachings in one handy-dandy passage!

(1) Have you ever encountered anyone who insists there was no such thing as fermented drink in the Bible? They'll try to tell you that, whenever Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11), it was nothing more than grape juice. Well, according to Leviticus 10:8-10, they are wrong!

(2) I've always disliked the label of "Mosaic Law." No part of the Torah was "Mosaic" - Moshe didn't have any "laws"; he simply spoke what YHWH told him to. Leviticus 10:11 proves it:

Leviticus 10:8 ADONAI said to Aharon, 9 "Don't drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, neither you nor your sons with you, when you enter the tent of meeting, so that you will not die. This is to be a permanent regulation through all your generations, 10 so that you will distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean; 11 and so that you will teach the people of Isra'el all the laws ADONAI has told them through Moshe." (CJB)

Shabbat shalom during these final days of Pesach!

Shabbat shalom, everyone! It’s a “double Shabbat” (regular Shabbat and High Holy Day/Feast of Unleavened Bread), and therefore, there is no regular Torah portion; only the following readings: Deuteronomy 15:19- 16:17, Isaiah 10:32-12:6, John 21:1-25; Exodus 33:12-34:26, Numbers 28:16-25, 2 Samuel 22:1-51, Luke 23:54-56. Halleluyah!

We are now looking forward to Shavuot (Pentecost), which this year will be on May 21^st. Shavuot was fulfilled by the coming of the promised Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) on the disciples of Yeshua in the Temple. It represents the beginning of the body of Messiah on Earth, in which ALL believers, redeemed through the blood of Messiah, are lifted up before ADONAI and set apart as holy (Acts 2, John 14:15-18, Ephesians 2:11-22 and the Book of Ruth). During Shavuot we not only read the Book of Ruth, but also Exodus 19:1 thru 20:23; Numbers 28:26-31 and Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12.

A mini-lesson on First Fruits

Not looking for an argument, but by the calendar we keep at The Refiner’s Fire, today is First Fruits, which is the beginning of the Omer count (which started at sunset last night). As always, we have received many questions about First Fruits and the Omer count. Here is just one:

QUESTION:

I have a question about how the Omer counting is done like scripture says because we are told Y'shua was the first fruits and when He was "waved" it was on the Sunday after the weekly
Sabbath, so wasn't the counting begun on Sunday?

OUR RESPONSE:

It is a common misunderstanding about First Fruits that Y'shua had to rise on Sunday to be "First Fruits", as it only serves to add to the confusion about when to begin the counting of the
Omer.

First, though, one must understand that "first fruits" don't "rise" - they are "presented".

Secondly, first fruits are presented when they are ready. Leviticus 23:10 says - "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'After you enter the land I am giving you and harvest its ripe crops, you are to bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the cohen."

True, there is a particular day, for THIS firstfruits, so one brings a sheaf - regardless of its state of ripening - (on the day after the day of rest (Leviticus 23:11), and that is a particular calendar day whether it is understood to be the 16th of Abib, or the day after the weekly Shabbat.)

But notice that the "First Fruits" are "presented" (Leviticus 23:11); they don't "rise".

Thirdly, there are "other" First Fruits besides Leviticus 23:10-11. See Leviticus 23:17 - another "First Fruits" is presented at Shavuot. (Another is in the fall - see Proverbs 3:9 and Exodus
34:22.)

So what is the meaning of "First Fruits" in regard to Y'shua? Only this: Y'shua brought us the Good News of the Kingdom of Elohim, that we have eternal life through Him - and He was
first. i.e., First Fruits. He did not have to "rise" on First Fruits, nor be "waved" (presented) on the 16th of Abib, nor "waved" on the Sunday after Passover that year. The fact that He was "first", made Him our "First Fruits".

So when was Y'shua presented?

Well, when Miryam found the tomb empty and saw Y'shua, we know He had not yet ascended! HE even says in John 20:17 "Y'shua said to her, 'Do not touch me, for I have not yet
ascended to my Father'."

In Acts 1:3 we find "to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them for forty days, speaking concerning the reign of Elohim.."

Acts 1:9 "And after these (things), he spoke while they watched him. He was taken up and a cloud received him and he was hidden from their eyes. 10. And while they were staring into
heaven as he was departing, two men were found standing near them clothed in white. 11. And they said to them, Galilean men, why are you standing and staring into heaven? This Y'shua who was taken up from you to heaven, likewise he will come just as you have seen him who ascended into heaven."

Now here is a thought: The Gospels never say exactly how many days it was from crucifxion to ascension; for example, Acts 1:3 mentions "40 days". Forty days from when? Luke 24:51 seems to say He ascended Sunday night, possibly after sunset (...a new day!)

So much for Christianity's point of view that it was "Sunday morning!" because Luke 24:29 says it was already becoming light the same day Miryam found the tomb empty that very morning, yet there they were that evening in the presence of Y'shua! Nevertheless, though Y'shua became hidden from their view that night, and the scripture says "...he was separated from them and ascended into Heaven" (Luke 24:51), and all they really knew was that "he was separated from them."

Here is our opinion on this issue: Since Acts 2 begins with the Shlichim (apostles) "assembled as one", and at that time fire appeared and descended on all present (Acts 2:3), THAT was probably when Y'shua was "presented"! The "40 days" spoken of in Acts 1:3, was merely the separation of Y'shua from the Shlichim - after all, the scripture only says "He was taken up and a cloud received him and he was hidden from their eyes." (Acts 1:9).

Scripture even says "...he [Y'shua] commanded them that, "You should not depart from Urishlim, but they should wait for the promise of the Father, He whom you have heard about
from me. For Yochanan immersed with water, and you will be immersed by the Ruach haKodesh not after many days." (Acts 1:4-5).

It seems Y'shua was saying "Hey, when I am presented to YHWH on Shavuot, you will be immersed in the Ruach!" Just a thought. Y'shua was First Fruits on Shavuot, then immediately
the Ruach descends.

What could be a better interpretation than Y'shua representing the entire Feast of Weeks from First Fruits to Shavuot by His death, burial resurrection, presence among the Shlichim for 40+ days, then being "presented" to YHWH on Shavuot, upon which the Ruach was "released" to be received by those who were ready?

Keeping the YHWH/Y’shua relationship in perspective

Over these High Holy Days of Passover, we must always remember to put the YHWH/Y'shua relationship into perspective. YHWH (the Father) gave us Y'shua, His "Son" - and that son came NOT to do his own will, but to do everything His Father commanded of him:

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!'

17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him. (CJB)

Whch other "prophet" besides Y'shua fit the bill? No one!

Yeshua admitted that he came to do HIS FATHER's will; not His own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me.

39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in Him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do His Will upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal.

It is interesting to note that Y'shua said, "I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst"? Because He redeemed those who believed! This was His message. His blood redeemed your life if you accepted it.

Be that as it may, the above is proof that Yeshua (although divine because he was God's Son) was NOT in charge; his Father was. Y'shua was a willing vessel, who allowed his Father to work through him, right unto death! (See Isaiah 9: 6-7; John 1:18; 10:22-39, 20:28; Philippians 2:5-11, etc.)

Aaron’s sons died for their disobedience…

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

In the most recent Torah portion we learned that YHWH killed the sons of Aharon (Aaron) on the spot for daring to offer "unauthorized fire before ADONAI" - something He had not ordered them to do! And "Aharon kept silent" - even though it must have been a horrific shock to him to see his sons drop dead.

This scene reveals the importance of OBEDIENCE to our Creator. YHWH is not kidding around! Take a look:

Leviticus 10:1 But Nadav and Avihu, sons of Aharon, each took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before ADONAI, something he had not ordered them to do. 2 At this, fire came forth from the presence of ADONAI and consumed them, so that they died in the presence of ADONAI.

3 Moshe said to Aharon, "This is what ADONAI said: 'Through those who are near me I will be consecrated, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" Aharon kept silent. (CJB)

Without missing a beat, Moshe (Moses) steps in to have the dead bodies removed:

Leviticus 10:4 Moshe called Misha'el and Eltzafan, sons of 'Uzi'el Aharon's uncle, and told them, "Come here, and carry your cousins away from in front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp." 5 They approached and carried them in their tunics out of the camp, as Moshe had said. 6 Then Moshe told Aharon and his sons El'azar and Itamar, "Don't unbind your hair or tear your clothes in mourning, so that you won't die and so that ADONAI won't be angry with the entire community. Rather, let your kinsmen - the whole house of Isra'el -mourn, because of the destruction ADONAI brought about with his fire.

7 Moreover, don't leave the entrance to the tent of meeting, or you will die, because ADONAI's anointing oil is on you." 8 ADONAI said to Aharon, 9 "Don't drink any wine or other intoxicating liquor, neither you nor your sons with you, when you enter the tent of meeting, so that you will not die. This is to be a permanent regulation through all your generations, 10 so that you will distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean; 11 and so that you will teach the people of Isra'el all the laws ADONAI has told them through Moshe." (CJB)

One of the thoughts to take away from the above passages is that the blood of Y'shua, who martyred himself on our behalf, to redeem each of us, is the main reason YHWH's people aren't being killed on the spot for misbehaving or disobeying HIS ways today!

Baruch haShem YHWH for sending us His Messiah to "preach the good news of the Kingdom of God, because that is why he was sent" (Luke 4:43); and to "preach and declare the Kingdom of Elohim" (Luke 8:1); and "to do everything his Father ordered him to do" (Deuteronomy 18:15-18).