Some thoughts on “Grace”

Many seem to believe that "grace" is a "get out of jail free" card, and feel that, since they “believe in Jesus,” they’re never guilty of sinning.

Well, having diligently and prayerfully studied Scripture for the last 30 years and learned who ADONAI is, and how Messiah Yeshua taught us to obey His Word, I have concluded that "grace" in modern English, has been severely misunderstood.
To me, "Grace" is only "undeserved favor". It's God’s blessing on the unworthy. I believe that when Yeshua said his words in Matthew 5:19 he was talking to the obedient, those who accept (or will accept) YHWH as their Master and Yeshua as His Divine Messiah; and live by His Torah.

Yeshua himself tells us He came NOT to abolish but to fulfill - which did NOT mean "put an end to":

Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened.

19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (CJB)

Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and Earth passed away yet? Since when does the word "complete" (or "fulfill) mean "abolished"? Why would YHWH abolish His own original divine teachings which He said were to last forever? Did Jesus come to make a liar out of His Father?

Indeed, we can see the following powerful passage, along with much more explanation in the rest of chapter 5, 6 and 7:

Matthew 7:22. Many will say to me in that day, “My master, my master. By your name, have we not prophesied? And by you name have we cast out demons? And by your name have we done many miracles?” 23. And then I will profess to them that from everlasting, I have not known you. Depart from me, you workers of iniquity! [*] (AENT)

[*] Psalm 6:8, 9 ‑ “workers of iniquity” is a common phrase in the Tanakh. Iniquity is lawlessness (without Torah). “Horror has taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake Your Torah.” Psalm 119:53. Each and every teaching of Y’shua is based on Torah. To be anti-Torah is to be anti-Mashiyach; therefore every “authority” will be judged according to whether they uphold Torah or not. According to Y’shua, Torah is “the will of My Father.” Matthew 7:21;12:50. Torah means instruction in righteousness.

We are redeemed from our sins by the blood - the undeserved favor - of Messiah. But Scripture is clear that if we continue to live in intentional sin, we risk losing that redemption (Isaiah 5:16-18 for example.)

The bottom line is: Yeshua taught "walking in the light" and so did Paul:

"Let your light shine like this in front of the sons of man that they should see your works good and they glorify your father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16); "For we are His creation who are created in Y’shua the Mashiyach for good works which Elohim has before prepared for us to walk in" (Ephesians 2:10).

Those who believe in grace but reject Torah, in my opinion, serve only themselves.

SHEESH, "ARMCHAIR EXPERTS" SO ARE TIRESOME!

Many people seem to view themselves as experts in everything concerning the Bible, and they will argue till you’re blue in the face to hang onto their own viewpoints! They don’t care to discuss or perhaps LEARN anything; they just always want to “be right.” (Honestly, I’m ashamed to admit it, but those types can truly “bring out the carnal” in me…)

I’m especially incensed by those who clearly don’t know what the heck they’re talking about; yet, will bash and trash those who do, with one of their favorite lines being, “Provide me with Book, chapter and verse for that!”

Truth is, we don't always have specific scriptures to back up certain things (such as, for instance, calendar or astronomical issues), because the Bible isn’t specific on every little thing; it doesn’t provide an explicit and complete map of the universe, or lay out indepth teachings on astrophysics, biology and other fields of science.

But, we DO have science and astronomical signs, modern equipment and technology, and, hopefully, common sense to use in our efforts to learn and grow. (Unfortunately, there are those who will rip your face off for mentioning the word “science”…)

Anyway, I’m just venting here; and have decided that, from now on, whenever I encounter these “armchair experts,” who demand “Book, Chapter and Verse” for every little thing, I am going to respond with the following:

“Dear brother and/or sister, the Bible tells us to be kind to one another. (Ephesians 4:31-32; Matthew 7:12; 1 Corinthians 13:4; Colossians 3:12; Galatians 5:22-23; etc.) While I appreciate your opinions and zeal for Truth, I would ask that you chain your sarcasm and show a little respect for my viewpoint, as well.

“If you cannot do that, then my challenge to you is to “provide Book, Chapter and Verse” for the wearing of socks or pants, employing the transportation of jets, trains, tractors, buses, cars or motorcycles, or mention the use of computers or cell phones.

“If you cannot find the pertinent Bible passages, then - unless YOU are a calendar expert or an astronomer, or a (fill in the blank); then perhaps you need to toss out of your life ALL of those things BEFORE you write another word designed to diminish my own knowledge/viewpoint/opinion/education. Thank you in advance for your understanding.”

“If you’ve broken one commandment, you’re guilty of breaking them all…”

“NO ONE CAN KEEP THE LAW PERFECTLY! And if you’ve broken one commandment, you’re guilty of breaking them all…”

How many times have you heard that from those who don’t believe in Torah obedience?  As “proof” they’ll quote James 2:10. (Perhaps these “intellects” don’t realize that the Ten Commandments originated in Torah? Shall we chuck those, too? After all, if we break one, don’t we break them all?)

People who cherry-pick Scripture instead of digging for the context, can be VERY dangerous! (It is the very reason why we have myriad “denominations” and various cults both in Christianity and Hebrew Roots. Unfortunately, there are gullible people who will follow any “ear-tickling” doctrine or “teacher,” without ever bothering to check and see what the BIBLE actually says.)

But honestly, folks - in the case of James 2:10, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the entire chapter explains itself!

Let’s examine James 2 for the context, using simple Bible hermeneutics. That way, the next time someone attempts to give you a “biblical concussion” regarding James 2:10, you can simply tell them to READ the entire chapter for context first, BEFORE making any more outrageously ignorant accusations which reveal their lack of knowledge when it comes to the Bible!

JAMES 2: 1. My Brothers, do not hold to the faith of the glory of our Master Y'shua the Mashiyach with double-minded hypocrisy. 2. For if there come into your assembly a man with rings of gold or splendid garments and there come in a poor man in ragged and stained garments; 3. and respect is shown to him who is clothed in splendid garments, and you say to him, Be honorably seated; while to the poor man, say, Stand way over there, or sit here (in low prostration) before my footstool; 4. are you not showing double mindedness among yourselves and becoming advocates of evil thoughts? (AENT)

See? Already in the first few sentences of James 2, we can see that it is a warning to guard ourselves against hypocrisy, which is an act of sinning. You’re not being a good follower of the Word if you show prejudice toward any one people group. (In this case, why would you be unkind to a poor person who enters your congregation, just because they’re poor? They may be poor, but rich in spirit, and they have just as much right to enter an assembly of God-fearing people, as anyone else. Scripture tells us to treat our brothers and sisters/fellow believers with kindness.  After all, kindness is one of the ways we show our love for God and our fellow man.)

Moving on:

JAMES 2: 5. Hear, my beloved Brothers; has not Elohim chosen the poor of the world, the rich in faith, to be heirs in the Kingdom which Elohim has promised to them that love him? 6. But you have despised the poor man. Do not rich men exalt themselves over you and drag you before the tribunals? 7. Do they not hate that worthy Name, [1] which is invoked upon you? 8. And if in this you fulfill the Torah of Elohim, as it is written, You will love your neighbor as yourself, you will do well: 9. but if you have partiality towards persons, you commit sin; and you are convicted by Torah as breakers of Torah. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE 1: The Name invoked upon you is YHWH.

Now - moving on to that pesky passage, James 2:10 that our detractors love to use against us:

JAMES 2:10. For he that will keep the whole Torah and yet fail in one aspect of it, is an enemy to the whole Torah. 11. For he who said, "You will not commit adultery," said also, "You will not kill." If then you commit no adultery, but you do murder, you have become a defiler of Torah. 12. So speak and so act as persons that are to be judged by the Torah of perfect freedom. 13. For judgment without mercy will be on him who has practiced no mercy: by mercy, you will be raised above judgment.

14. What is the use, my Brothers, if a man say, I have faith; and he has no works? Can his faith resurrect him? [2] 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? (AENT)

FOOTNOTE 2: Literally "restore life", not "save" as often translated.

Call me crazy, but doesn’t that passage plainly explain itself? If you don’t commit adultery but murder someone, you have DEFILED Torah… So what about that passage suggests we are guilty of “breaking all commandments” and shouldn’t bother to obey ANY commands at all?

Moving on:

JAMES 2:17. 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[3] 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[4] 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)

FOOTNOTES:

[3] 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.

[4] 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 (James) 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.

AND SO THERE YOU HAVE IT – James 2, in a nutshell.

Brothers and sisters, remember, we are but fallible humans and, yes, of course we can’t perfectly keep what is erroneously called “the law” (referring to YHWH’s Torah)! All we can do is try our best via our limited, human understanding of ELOHIM’s Word. That’s all YHWH is asking of us, anyway – and it is what Yeshua taught!

Our amazing ELOHIM has graciously given us the privilege of repenting and receiving forgiveness for whenever we fail (see Isaiah 54:7-10; Psalm 51:1-7; Luke 3:3; 1 Peter 3:18-22, etc.). So gracious and full of love and mercy was He that He sent us the gift of His Divine Messiah, Yeshua, whose death on the cross/stake removed our past sins! What more could we possibly ask of Him?

BOTTOM LINE: Don’t allow the detractors to lead you away from Torah with their distorted view of Scripture! The least we can do for ADONAI is to do our best to BE wholehearted in our desire for a true relationship with Him – through OBEDIENCE. Even Yeshua, the Word Made Flesh who came from, and has always been a part of YHWH, OBEYED the Father!

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." (AENT)

John 6:38 “For I came down from heaven not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me... (AENT) (See also Deuteronomy 18:15-18)

IN CLOSING, ASK YOUR DETRACTORS THIS ONE QUESTION: Since even Yeshua was obedient to his Father, what makes YOU think you don’t have to bother?

What did people see in the "Upper Room?"

 

We will never know, at least in this life, just what people saw in that upper room two thousand years ago. Was it really pieces of fire shaped like tongues that rested on the head of each individual? What did they see?

The word tongue in Aramaic is leshana which really means language. The word cloven is peleg which means separate and divide. So there appeared to them separate languages that rested upon them? What does a language look like? Then it says it was like fire. Both Greek and Aramaic uses the preposition like or as so it wasn’t real fire. Jewish sages such as Alshich taught that fire was a symbol of God’s love and passion. Moses saw a burning bush but it was not really burning in the sense of consuming the bush. He saw God’s love and consuming passion. What does love and consumming passion look like?

-Chaim Bentorah Ministries

Snippets from some of the warning prophecies from Ezekiel

Although many prefer to ignore, or take lightly, the words of what we erroneously refer to as the “Old Testament”; it’s time to realize that NOTHING Elohim has ever commanded or said will EVER, “pass away”…

The time to finally wake up and start not just reading, but actually studying and LISTENING to His Word is NOW!

Ezekiel 8:

¹⁴ He brought me to the entrance of the north gate to Adonai’s house; and there before me were women weeping for Tammuz. ¹⁵ “Human being,” he asked me, “have you seen this? You will see practices even more disgusting than these.” ¹⁶ He brought me into the inner courtyard of Adonai’s house; and there, at the entrance to the temple of Adonai, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of Adonai and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east.

¹⁷ He asked me, “Human being, have you seen this? Does the house of Y’hudah consider it a casual matter that they commit the disgusting practices they are committing here, thus filling the land with violence, provoking me still more? Look! They are even putting the branch to their nose! ¹⁸ Therefore I will act in fury, my eye will not spare, I will have no pity. Even if they cry loudly right in my ears, I will not listen to them.” (CJB)

Ezekiel 9:

1 Then he cried loudly right in my ears: “Summon the commanders of the city, each holding his weapon of destruction.” ² At once, six men approached on the path from the upper gate, to the north, each man holding his weapon of destruction. Among them was a man clothed in linen, with a scribe’s writing equipment at his waist. They entered and stood by the bronze altar. ³ Then the glory of the God of Isra’el was made to go up from over the keruv, where it had been, to the threshold of the house.

He called to the man clothed in linen, who had the scribe’s writing equipment at his waist. ⁴ Adonai said to him, “Go throughout the city, through all Yerushalayim, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and crying over all the disgusting practices that are being committed in it.”

⁵ To the others I heard him say, “Go through the city after him and strike! Don’t let your eye spare; have no pity! ⁶ Kill old men, young men, girls, little children, women — slaughter them all! But don’t go near anyone with the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” They began with the leaders in front of the house. ⁷ Then he said to them, “Defile the house! Fill the courtyards with corpses! Get going!” So they went out, spreading death in the city.

⁸ While the killing was going on, I was left alone. I fell on my face, cried, and said, “Oh, Adonai Elohim! In pouring out your fury on Yerushalayim, are you going to destroy everyone left in Isra’el?” ⁹ Then he said to me, “The wickedness of the house of Isra’el and Y’hudah is enormous, the land is full of blood, and the city is full of justice denied; because they say, ‘Adonai has left the land, Adonai doesn’t see.’ ¹⁰ But as far as I am concerned, my eye will not spare, and I will have no pity, but I will bring [the consequences of] their ways on their own heads.”

¹¹ At this point the man clothed in linen with the writing equipment at his waist returned and reported, “I have done everything you ordered me to do.” (CJB)

Ezekiel 13:

1 The word of Adonai came to me: ² “Human being, prophesy against the prophets of Isra’el who prophesy. Tell those prophesying out of their own thoughts, ‘Listen to what Adonai says! ³ Adonai Elohim says: “Woe to the vile prophets who follow their own spirits and things which they have not seen! ⁴ Isra’el, your prophets have been like jackals among ruins. ⁵ You [prophets] have not gone up to the breaks in the barricade or repaired it for the house of Isra’el, so that they can stand fast in battle on the day of Adonai. ⁶ Their visions are futile and their divination is false; they say, ‘Adonai says,’ when Adonai has not sent them; yet they hope that the word will be confirmed. ⁷ Haven’t you had a futile vision and spoken a false divination when you say, ‘Adonai says,’ and I have not spoken? ⁸ Therefore here is what Adonai Elohim does say: ‘Because you have spoken futilities and seen falsehoods, therefore I am against you,’ says Adonai Elohim.

⁹ “‘“My hand will be against the prophets who have futile visions and produce false divinations; they will not be allowed into the council of my people, or be written in the register of the house of Isra’el, or enter the land of Isra’el. Then you will know that I am Adonai Elohim. ¹⁰ They deserve this, because they have led my people astray by saying there is peace when there is no peace. (CJB)

Ezekiel 13:

¹⁷ “You, human being, turn your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own thoughts. Prophesy against them; (CJB)

Ezekiel 14:

Then certain of Isra’el’s leaders came to me; and while they were sitting with me, ² the word of Adonai came to me: ³ “Human being, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, thus setting in front of themselves the stumblingblock that leads to sin. Should I let them consult me at all? ⁴ Therefore speak to them, and tell them that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Everyone in the house of Isra’el who takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, I myself, Adonai, will answer him in a manner suited to his many idols, ⁵ in order to grab hold of the house of Isra’el in their hearts; since, through their idols, they have all fallen away from me.’

⁶ “Therefore say to the house of Isra’el that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Repent! Turn yourselves away from your idols, turn your faces away from all your disgusting practices! ⁷ For everyone, whether from the house of Isra’el or a foreigner living in Isra’el, who separates himself from me and takes his idols into his heart, thus setting in front of himself the stumblingblock that leads to sin, and then comes to the prophet, asking him to consult me for him, I myself, Adonai, will answer him. ⁸ I will set my face against that person, make him a warning sign and an example, and cut him off from my people. Then you will know that I am Adonai. (CJB)

Ezekiel 14:

¹² The word of Adonai came to me: ¹³ “Human being, when a land sins against me by dealing treacherously with me, so that I stretch out my hand over it and break off its food supply, sending it famine and eliminating both its humans and its animals; ¹⁴ even if these three men were in it — Noach, Dani’el and Iyov — they would by their righteousness save only themselves,” says Adonai Elohim.

¹⁵ “If I unleash wild beasts on the land, and they kill its children and desolate it, so that no one can pass through because of the animals; ¹⁶ even if these three men were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved, and the land would remain barren.

¹⁷ “Or if I bring the sword down on that land, saying, ‘Let the sword pass through the land,’ so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals; ¹⁸ even if these three men were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither sons nor daughters; only they themselves would be saved.

¹⁹ “Or if I bring a plague into that land and pour out my fury on it in bloodshed, so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals; ²⁰ even if Noach, Dani’el and Iyov were in it, as I live,” says Adonai Elohim, “they would save neither a son nor a daughter; they would save only themselves by their righteousness.”

²¹ For here is what Adonai Elohim says: “Even if I inflict my four dreadful judgments on Yerushalayim — sword, famine, wild animals and plagues — to eliminate both its humans and its animals; ²² there will still be left a remnant in it to be brought out, including both sons and daughters. When they come out to you, and you see their way of life and how they act, then you will be consoled over the calamity I have brought upon Yerushalayim, over everything I have done to it. ²³ Yes, they will console you when you see their way of life and how they act; and you will understand that it was not without good reason that I did what I did in [Yerushalayim],” says Adonai Elohim. (CJB)

EVERY knee will bow (Isaiah 45:23-24; Philippians 2:10-11; Romans 14:11)!

How wonderful it would be if "both sides" (Christians and Jews) were to recognize the Truth of the WHOLE Bible. Jews refuse to recognize the "rest of the story" that discusses Messiah Yeshua; and Christians ignore the first 3/4 of the Bible that outline who God is, what He expects of us, and whom He chose to be His people and presents their history.

The "whole Bible" also provides myriad prophecies (many of which are unfolding before our eyes right now); it presents God's Messiah and his short history on earth, and reveals the end of mankind's nonsense by showing how it all ends in the Book of Revelation ... and gives us a glimpse into what will happen after Yeshua's return, when EVERY knee will bow (Isaiah 45:23-24; Philippians 2:10-11; Romans 14:11).  Let’s check it out:

Isaiah 45:21 Let them stand and present their case! Indeed, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, announced it in times gone by? Wasn't it I, ADONAI? There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides me. 22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God; there is no other. 23 In the name of myself I have sworn, from my mouth has rightly gone out, a word that will not return - that to me every knee will bow and every tongue will swear 24 about me that only in ADONAI are justice and strength." All who rage against him will come to him ashamed, 25 but all the descendants of Isra'el will find justice and glory in ADONAI. (CJB)

Philippians 2:5 And think you so in yourselves, as Y'shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y'shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and very tongue will avow MarYah - that is, Yeshua the Messiah - to the glory of יְהוָֹה His Father. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: More than his literal birth name Y'shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y'shua bears the Name of YHWH, the "name above all names!" Y'shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means "YHWH is Salvation" (Matthew 1:21). (The angels, for instance, only have YHWH's title of ELOHIM within their names: GabriEL, MichaEL, RaphaEL....)

Colossians 1:15. who is the likeness of the invisible Elohim and the first-born of all creatures: 16. and by him was created everything that is in heaven and on earth, all that is visible and all that is invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; everything was through him and was created by him[1] 17. and he was prior to all, and by him every thing exists. 18. And he is the head of the body the Assembly; as he is the head and first-born from among the dead, that he might be the first in all things. 19. For it pleased (the Father) that in him all fullness should dwell; 20. and by him, to reconcile all things to himself; and through him he has pacified, with the blood of his stake, both (those) on earth and those in heaven."[2] (AENT)

[1] The literal Aramaic reading is "by him," whereas Greek and English texts have "for him." Mashiyach is the creative Word through which everything was made (Psalm 33:6, John 1:1-5, Hebrews 1:1-5). The common Aramaic idiom here and in John is "through his hands" meaning as the Word, Mashiyach crafted all things according to YHWH's blueprints. Mashiyach Yeshua emerges as the Word from YHWH's breath and command and, as such, was with Him in the beginning (John 17:1-11).

[2] More that his literal birth name Y’shua (which was and is a common Hebrew name), and more than the perfect reputation that his name represents. Y’shua bears the Name of YHWH, the “name above all names”! Y’shua has the Name and reputation of the Father YHWH in him (John 17:11) and the name means “YHWH is Salvation” (Matthew 1:21).

Romans 14:7. For there is not one of us who lives for himself: and there is not one who dies for himself. 8. Because if we live, to our Master (Y’shua) it is we live; or if we die, to our Master it is we die. Whether we live, therefore, or whether we die, we are our Master’s. 9. Moreover, for this cause Mashiyach died and revived and arose; that he might be Master YHWH of the dead and of the living.[*] 10. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or, why do you despise your brother? For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Mashiyach! 11. As it is written: As I live, says Master YHWH, to me every knee will bow; and to me every tongue will give praise. (AENT)

[*] By rising from the dead and ascending into heaven, Y’shua becomes the Word that is with Elohim and is Elohim (John 1:1-5). Y’shua is the exact reflection of YHWH’s nature (Hebrews 1:1-5) and will bear the name, “Word of Elohim” when he comes out of heaven again at the second coming (Revelation 19:13).

Believers truly need to stop being "lukewarm" (Revelation 3:16) and open their eyes to the TRUTH of Scripture. We CANNOT "straddle the fence" (with one foot in the carnal and one in the spiritual) and expect spiritual results!

End of yearly Torah cycle pondering: Why didn't Moshe get into the Promised Land?

 

AT THE END OF EVERY YEARLY STUDY, I like to ponder some of the highlights. For instance, do you all remember that YHWH gave Moshe the Ten Commandments a total of THREE times? 

 

The first time, it was verbally, with apparently "all the people" getting to experience the power of God first-hand.

 

Exodus 20: 18 All the people experienced the thunder, the lightning, the sound of the shofar, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled. Standing at a distance, 19 they said to Moshe, "You, speak with us; and we will listen. But don't let God speak with us, or we will die." 20 Moshe answered the people, "Don't be afraid, because God has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won't commit sins." 21 So the people stood at a distance, but Moshe approached the thick darkness where God was. (CJB)

 

The second time (and YHWH told them He would do this, in Exodus 24:12) was in Exodus 31:18, which says: "When he had finished speaking with Moshe on Mount Sinai, ADONAI gave him the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God."

 

Then a THIRD time, we see this happening in Exodus 31: "ADONAI said to Moshe, 'Cut yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones; and I will inscribe on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.'"

 

Wow! What patience our Creator has exhibited, time and time again! I've often wondered if our Heavenly Parent wasn't secretly thinking that dealing with humans was like trying to herd cats... 

 

First, He gave the Ten Commandments verbally; then He wrote them on two tablets of stone and basically handed them to Moshe so he could teach the people. And then He had to deal with it a THIRD time because Moshe had broken the tablets in a fit of anger (Exodus 32:19-20) when he saw that his people had made a golden calf while he was with YHWH on Mt. Sinai (when they had, in essence, broken their covenant with God!).

 

And after that, YHWH told Moshe to cut the tablets himself and bring them to Him for inscription...

POOR MOSHE! The things he had to accomplish! ...And then, in the end, he didn't even get to enter the Promised Land of Israel! (However, I'm guessing he has been relishing his "eternal body" and "forever life" in the Presence of the Holy One - which is the ULTIMATE "Promised Land!")

Taking a snapshot look at Parashah 54, the final reading of the yearly Torah cycle

PARASHAH 54, THE FINAL TORAH READING OF THE YEAR, is a very emotional one because we see Israel about to enter the Promised Land without Moshe, their precious and courageous leader who had, through direct contact with our Creator, taught them the will, desire and commands of YHWH for 40 years.

This Torah cycle closes with the blessings that Moshe spoke over the people of Isra'el just before his death (see Deuteronomy 33:1-29). It is important to note that Moshe said all those things to his people, knowing that he himself would never see the Promised Land - the place he had been looking forward to seeing, ever since he had led the Hebrews out of Egypt.

Why didn't he get to the Promised Land? Three reasons: (1) Because he had broken the first set of tablets containing the Ten Commandments; and (2) because he had failed to "speak to the rock" as commanded by YHWH; and (3) occasional pride and arrogance (which could happen to any of us … I mean, how many of US have had the privilege of speaking to YHWH “face-to-face?”…).

Let’s take a closer look:

Numbers 20: 8 "Take the staff, assemble the community, you and Aharon your brother; and before their eyes, tell the rock to produce its water. You will bring them water out of the rock and thus enable the community and their livestock to drink." 9 Moshe took the staff from the presence of ADONAI, as he had ordered him. 10 But after Moshe and Aharon had assembled the community in front of the rock, he said to them, "Listen here, you rebels! Are we supposed to bring you water from this rock?" 11 Then Moshe raised his hand and hit the rock twice with his staff. Water flowed out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank. (CJB)

Notice in verse 10 he said "WE"? …What's this WE business? By saying that, he was stealing the glory from YHWH! So, based on what Moses has just done and said, who do the people believe brought the water from the rock, YHWH or Moses? How can they tell for sure – after all, YHWH spoke with Moshe “face-to-face” (Exodus 33:10-11).

Furthermore, since humanity tends to be fickle sometimes, when everybody personally SAW water coming out of the rock after Moshe struck it, it may have been a little hard for them to NOT be awed by Moshe!

But, in the very next verse, YHWH puts the matter into crystal clear perspective:

Numbers 20: 12 But ADONAI said to Moshe and Aharon, "Because you did not trust in me, so as to cause me to be regarded as holy by the people of Isra'el, you will not bring this community into the land I have given them." (CJB)

Folks, this is why WE must remember to learn to obey YHWH’s Divine Instructions! I mean, if YHWH didn't allow Moshe to enter the Promised Land for those few infractions he was guilty of (in the midst of all the things he had done “right” for God), what do you think He will do with today's "religious" leaders who don't even bother to keep the commanded Seventh Day Sabbath (which is a SIGN between YHWH and His people: ) or the Biblical Feasts?

Can we really propose that those who purposely ignore His Torah will get “carte blanche” to enter the "Promised Land" of Heaven? (If you believe that, then please check out Proverbs 28:9 which tells us: “If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.” See also 1 Peter 3:12, Proverbs 15:29, James 5:16, Isaiah 59:2, James 4:3-8, James 1:6-7, John 15:7, Revelation 21:8, etc.)

The truth is, one cannot purposely sin and believe they’re going to get away with it because "Jesus loves me and forgives me because he knows my heart!" People like that clearly ignore the following passage:

Hebrews 10: 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, or raging fire that will consume the enemies. (CJB)

The world, for the most part, is blind to YHWH and His Word, yet there are all kinds of pastors and self-proclaimed "prophets" and their ilk on the internet who push their own doctrines - and some are making bundles of money off their "fluff." We must be VERY careful to learn His Word by reading and thoroughly STUDYING it, and truly learning to obey to the best of our abilities.

Constant Bible study leads to growth, and growth leads to a closer relationship with YHWH ELOHIM! It is impossible to truly “know Messiah Yeshua” (“the Word made flesh” – see our explanation) without first knowing his Father – the One who sent him … the One who caused him to be born as a human (with a divine nature) inside a human woman; the One who resurrected him after he willingly shed his divine blood on our behalf!

Remember what Yeshua said:

Matthew 5: 17 Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah - not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these mitzvot (words/commands) and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them and so teaches will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (CJB)

QUESTION: Has everything happened that must happen? Have heaven and Earth passed away yet? Since when does the word "complete" (or "fulfill) mean "abolished"? Why would God abolish His own original divine teachings which He said were to last forever? Did Jesus come to make a liar out of YHWH (Yahweh), his Father?

The answer, of course, is no. What I’m trying to get through here is that YHWH is VERY SERIOUS about obedience to His Instructions designed to teach and bless us, and show us how to be holy … and, best of all, prepare us to live with Him forever!

Does Hebrews 8 suggest that Torah has “become obsolete?”

LET’S EXAMINE HEBREWS 8 IN CONTEXT – especially some of the passages that suggest Torah has “become obsolete”:

I recently saw a Facebook post from a Christian who attempted to use the following passage as a “proof text” that, since God made a “new covenant,” He tossed the “old one” into the trash can:

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.

MY QUESTION IS, are you suggesting that YHWH has been busy writing a a decaying and vanishing covenant on our hearts? Why would He do that?

THE ANSWER IS: The problem lies with the Greek translations, NOT with the Word of God!

Let’s delve a little deeper:

First of all, most people are not aware the word "covenant" is nowhere to be read in Hebrews 8:7 and Hebrews 8:13 in the original Aramaic or Greek Texts!

Reading Hebrews 8 in context - specifically, verse 8:10 - one has to wonder why would YHWH write a decaying and vanishing covenant on our hearts? Hebrews 8 is definitely not informing us that the Torah is obsolete! If you read all of Chapter 8 in context, you'll see the author was implying the Levitical priesthood is being replaced by the Messiah....

Below are some more favorite Christian "proof texts" that Torah is obsolete:

Hebrews 8: 6. But now, Y'shua the Mashiyach has received a ministry which is better than that: as also the covenant of which he is made the Mediator is better, and is given with better promises than the former. 7. For, if the first (covenant) had been faultless, there would have been no place for this second (one).

8. For he rebukes them and says: Behold the days come, says Master YHWH, when I will complete with the family of the house of Israel and with the family of the house of Yehuda, a renewed covenant;[1] 9. not like the covenant which I gave to their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; (and) because they continued not in my covenant, I also rejected them, says Master YHWH.

10. But this is the covenant which I will give to the family of the house of Israel after those days, says Master YHWH: I will put my Torah in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts; and I will be to them a Elohim, and they will be to me a people. 11. And one will not teach his son of the city[2] nor his brother, nor say: You shall know your Master YHWH: because they will all know me, from the youngest of them to the oldest. 12. And I will forgive them their iniquity; and their sins will I remember no more. 13. In that he said a Renewed (Covenant), he made the first old; and that which is old and decaying, is near to disappearing.[3] (AENT)

Let’s look at some facts, using footnotes from the AENT:

[1] Most Christians seem to forget that without the first covenant, the second one is impossible! In very short order Rav Shaul will quote Jeremiah 31:31-34, indicating that the Renewed Covenant is a contingency triggered by, and deriving authority from, the first covenant. YHWH declared that the Ancient Covenant He made with Israel was good; it was to bring life, but the people of Israel chose to willfully break this Covenant and treat it as a vain thing. See Deuteronomy 32:46, 47.

[2] The phrase in Aramaic is bar medintheh, which literally means "son of his city" but idiomatically carries the meaning of "fellow citizen, neighbor" and most definitely a metaphor Greek does not have. This fact puts Peshitta well before the end of the Second Century when the mistranslated Greek texts were done. It is also important to note that this is the last book of the Eastern canon. As a result, the entire collection must have circulated prior to this very early date.

[3] The context is Jeremiah 31:31-34, what is "near to disappearing" is the sinful nature of man that breaks Torah, not the standard of Torah. Remember that we broke Torah, not YHWH! YHWH did not drop the standard of Torah because Israel chose disobedience; rather, He installed a Renewed Covenant to write Torah upon the heart through the work of the Ruach haKodesh, according to Mashiyach. The fact of the matter is that in Mashiyach, YHWH raised the bar; He magnified Torah; see Isaiah 42:21. Because mankind broke Covenant, YHWH requires complete renovation on our part, not YHWH's part of the Covenant. This verse in its twisted form, became one of the "crown jewels" of Torahless Christianity which teaches that Torah is decaying and is near to disappearing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. See 2 Peter 3:16.

Hebrews 8 refers back to Jeremiah 31:31-34:

Jeremiah 31: 31 "Here, the days are coming," says ADONAI, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra'el and with the house of Y'hudah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them," says ADONAI. 33 "For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra'el after those days," says ADONAI: "I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, 'Know ADONAI'; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more." (CJB)

…AND THERE YOU HAVE IT: The Truth becomes very clear once you start reading the Bible via a Hebrew mindset. Don’t try to make YHWH’s Word or His covenants “obsolete”; instead, do away with your Greek mindset that has served to confuse, skew and throw that proverbial “monkey wrench” into His Truth. (For more, please read our complete article explaining some “problem” passages.)

NO END IN SIGHT, YET: Zechariah 12:3 prophesied "Jerusalem would become a burdensome stone for all the peoples" and that "All nations of the earth will be gathered [for war] because of it."

JUST TO REITERATE WHY ISRAEL IS AT WAR: Because they’re constantly forced to defend themselves against the descendants of Ishmael!

It all started back in Genesis when Abraham and Sarah (then still known as Avram and Sarai) decided to “jump the gun” and have a baby by Sarah’s maid servant, Hagar, because they didn’t want to wait for YHWH’s promise that He was going to give them an heir.

Let’s take a look at the events … and the consequences of their choices that have echoed into present day!

Genesis 15: 1 Some time later the word of ADONAI came to Avram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Avram. I am your protector; your reward will be very great." 2 Avram replied, "ADONAI, God, what good will your gifts be to me if I continue childless; and Eli'ezer from Dammesek inherits my possessions? 3 You haven't given me a child," Avram continued, "so someone born in my house will be my heir."

4 But the word of ADONAI came to him: "This man will not be your heir. No, your heir will be a child from your own body." 5 Then he brought him outside and said, "Look up at the sky, and count the stars - if you can count them! Your descendants will be that many!" 6 He believed in ADONAI, and he credited it to him as righteousness. (CJB)

TIME PASSED, AND SUDDENLY, IN GENESIS 16, we see Avram and his wife Sarai panicking about not having an heir yet, and so they decided (at the urging of Sarai) to take matters into their own hands and have Abraham sleep with his wife's pagan/Egyptian servant Hagar. The result of that union was a son they named Ishmael. However, female jealousy resulted in the banning of Hagar and her child into the desert, at which point YHWH intervened:

Genesis 16: 1 Now Sarai Avram’s wife had not borne him a child. But she had an Egyptian slave-girl named Hagar; ² so Sarai said to Avram, “Here now, Adonai has kept me from having children; so go in and sleep with my slave-girl. Maybe I’ll be able to have children through her.” Avram listened to what Sarai said.

³ It was after Avram had lived ten years in the land of Kena‘an that Sarai Avram’s wife took Hagar the Egyptian, her slave-girl, and gave her to Avram her husband to be his wife. ⁴ Avram had sexual relations with Hagar, and she conceived. But when she became aware that she was pregnant, she looked on her mistress with contempt.

⁵ Sarai said to Avram, “This outrage being done to me is your fault! True, I gave my slave-girl to you to sleep with; but when she saw that she was pregnant, she began holding me in contempt. May Adonai decide who is right — I or you!” ⁶ However, Avram answered Sarai, “Look, she’s your slave-girl. Deal with her as you think fit.” Then Sarai treated her so harshly that she ran away from her. (CJB)

The angel of Adonai found her by a spring in the desert, and convinced her to return to her mistress and submit to her authority” – with the promise that he would “greatly increase your descendants; there will be so many that it will be impossible to count them.” He also went on to say:

Genesis 16: ¹¹ “Look, you are pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. You are to call him Yishma‘el [God pays attention] because Adonai has paid attention to your misery. ¹² He will be a wild donkey of a man, with his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, living his life at odds with all his kinsmen.” (CJB)

NOTE: Please re-read verse 12 above which shows what kind of a man Ishmael would be! Judging by the behavior of his descendants which the world has witnessed again and again, many (if not most) apparently inherited Yishma’el’s character traits…

Be that as it may, Genesis 16 goes on to reveal that Hagar later bore the then-86 year old Avraham a son, whom he called Yishma‘el (Ishmael).

THE STORY GOES ON THUSLY:

Genesis 17: ¹⁵ God said to Avraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are not to call her Sarai [mockery]; her name is to be Sarah [princess]. ¹⁶ I will bless her; moreover, I will give you a son by her. Truly I will bless her: she will be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” ¹⁷ At this Avraham fell on his face and laughed — he thought to himself, “Will a child be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah give birth at ninety?”

¹⁸ Avraham said to God, “If only Yishma‘el could live in your presence!” ¹⁹ God answered, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you are to call him Yitz’chak [laughter] (aka “Isaac” in English). I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. ²⁰ But as for Yishma‘el, I have heard you. I have blessed him. I will make him fruitful and give him many descendants. He will father twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. ²¹ But I will establish my covenant with Yitz’chak, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year.” ²² With that, God finished speaking with Avraham and went up from him. (CJB)

The Bible tells us that YHWH was with Ishmael as he grew up in the eastern Sinai Peninsula where he became a skillful archer, and settled in the wilderness of Pa’aran desert. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt” (Genesis 21:20–21). When Abraham died, Ishmael attended his funeral (Genesis 25:9), proving that at least occasional and civil communications were maintained between him and his father’s household.

Ishmael fathered 12 sons and a daughter who married Esau (Genesis 28:9; 36:2-3); and he lived to the ripe old age of 137 (Genesis 25:17). Scripture says Ishmael’s numerous descendants settled near the eastern border of Egypt and lived in hostility toward all of their relatives (Genesis 25:18).

This reveals that Ishmael is the father of the Arab nations, most of whom today are adherents to that so-called “religion of peace” (spawned from the mind of a murderous, epileptic, illiterate man named Mohammed who – during his epileptic fits - supposedly received his religious dogma and “prophecies” from the Angel Gabriel).  This “religion” is and has been constantly at war with others (and even with each other) – and they don’t hesitate to take drastic action against anyone they consider “infidels”)…

RETURNING TO PRESENT DAY:

Israel is constantly provoked and even attacked and, unfortunately, whenever she attempts to defend herself, her bitter enemies (Ishmael’s descendants) always “play the victim card” … and the whole world is falling for it - thanks in part, to the media which skews their reporting to make Israel appear to be the aggressor.

As I’ve been saying for the last two decades, according to Scripture, these things MUST happen – the Bible says, the whole world WILL go up against Israel one day!  Zechariah prophesied "Jerusalem would become a burdensome stone for all the peoples" and that "All nations of the earth will be gathered [for war] because of it." (Zechariah 12:3; see also Psalm 83, Isaiah 13, 17 and 21; Ezekiel 38 and 39, Joel 3:9, Matthew 24 and Revelation 16:12-16.)

BOTTOM LINE: What’s happening in Israel today was prophesied thousands of years ago, and ONLY the return of Messiah Yeshua will put an end to the nonsense!

SOMETHING TO PONDER: If the things someone is trying to teach you doesn’t line up with ALL of the Bible, then it isn't of God!

WARNING! HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF TEACHERS LEADING PEOPLE AWAY FROM BIBLICAL TRUTH!  For instance, this man R. L. Solberg - Author, directly attacks those who believe in the whole concept of YHWH/Yeshua/Torah.