Let’s all pray for ministries that teach against Torah!

One such ministry, “The Biblical Roots” belongs to Pastor R.L. Solberg, who appears to dedicate most of his energy NOT to promoting God and His Word; but rather to spend time bashing the Torah (the first five Books of the Bible that contain all of God’s original Divine Instructions in Righteousness). 

Prolific on Facebook, he’s very cunning in his posts because he pretends to be FOR the Torah, while at the same time, negating it via a lot of scripture twisting.  

Below is just one example from the mind of R.L. Solberg:

“To be clear, I do not believe or teach that God’s law (his unchanging moral will) is invalid. Rather, I believe the Bible teaches that the Law of Moses as covenantal legislation has found to its God-ordained fulfillment in Christ. ‘We have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.’

(Rom‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬). We still serve and obey God. And we do so under his new covenant.

Shalom!

MY RESPONSE:

First, I must note that I find it odd that Solberg likes to throw around Hebrew words and terms – perhaps to impress his clueless Christian audience with his “vast knowledge”…

Be that as it may, here was my response to him – and please note that you, my readers - are free to make up your own mind as to whom you wish to believe:

Pastor Solberg -  I’m truly baffled as to why you constantly insist on bashing Yahweh’s Divine Instructions, as if they are garbage. How and when were we released from obeying His Torah instructions (which you call “the law”) when the entire New Testament makes it clear that  Yeshua and all his Apostles UPHELD the law!  (Remember, Yeshua came to be our Redemption, our FINAL SIN SACRIFICE, not as someone who was sent to abolish His Father’s Divine Instructions!)

It is imperative to recognize that Yeshua was the "arm"  of Yahweh.  The arm doesn't control the "brain", and Yeshua never suggested that he came to replace Yahweh/his "Father" in any way! He even said he came to do His Father's will and NOT his own; and that he would do everything His Father commanded. Check it out for yourself:

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." (CJB)

(The “good news” Kingdom of God refers to YHWH and His Torah and everything YHWH is and does.)

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. (CJB)

Does that sound like he came to negate His Father’s Divine Instructions to mankind?

Check out some passages from both the “old” and “new” Testaments wherein Yahweh reiterates the fact that ALL are to obey His Divine Instructions, without which we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living:

Numbers 15: 13 "'Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD: 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.'" (CJB)

Deuteronomy 31: 11 when all Isra'el have come to appear in the presence of ADONAI at the place he will choose, you are to read this Torah before all Isra'el, so that they can hear it. 12 Assemble the people-the men, the women, the little ones and the foreigners (which includes ANYONE who wishes to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob) you have in your towns -so that they can hear, learn, fear ADONAI your God and take care to obey all the words of this Torah… (CJB)

Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we ESTABLISH the Law." (CJB)

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? If not, then it seems we are obliged to continue to obey Torah - our Creator's divine teachings/instruction!

Moving on, Proverbs 28:9 tells us that if one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination! The Holy One of Israel is NOT impressed with prayer if you refuse to hear and obey His Divine Instructions!

1 Samuel 15:22 tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice.

John 9:31 tells us: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”

Isaiah 1:15 says, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I won’t be listening.”

Deuteronomy 28 reveals the myriad blessings if we obey… and the curses if we don’t.

Yahweh said His law is good and perfect, so why do you and so many others hate it? Because it’s a mirror, and people smash mirrors when they don’t like what they see!

Check out and really THINK about the following passages, because they are important:

Psalm 19:8(7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect, restoring the inner person. The instruction of Adonai is sure, making wise the thoughtless. ^{9 (8)} The precepts of Adonai are right, rejoicing the heart. The mitzvah of Adonai is pure, enlightening the eyes. ^{10 (9)} The fear of Adonai is clean, enduring forever. The rulings of Adonai are true, they are righteous altogether, ^{11 (10)} more desirable than gold, than much fine gold, also sweeter than honey or drippings from the honeycomb. ^{12 (11)} Through them your servant is warned; in obeying them there is great reward. (CJB)

Romans 7:12 So the Torah is holy; that is, the commandment is holy, just and good. (CJB)

The Bible tells us that the flesh hates “the law”…

Romans 8:7 For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God’s Torah — indeed, it cannot. 8 Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God. (CJB)

The carnal mind is at war with God. It "cannot" submit to His law. The law exposes sin. Romans 7:7, “I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, ‘You shall not covet.’”

John 3:20 For everyone who does evil things hates the light and avoids it, so that his actions won’t be exposed. ²¹ But everyone who does what is true comes to the light, so that all may see that his actions are accomplished through God.” (CJB)

Messiah warns in Matthew 24:12, “And because LAWLESSNESS will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” Lawlessness equals hatred of Torah. When Torah is thrown out, love dies.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not have patience for sound teaching, but will cater to their passions and gather around themselves teachers who say whatever their ears itch to hear. ⁴ Yes, they will stop listening to the truth, but will turn aside to follow myths. (CJB)

Ask yourself this:  Why would Yahweh’s Messiah Yeshua (known in the Christian world as “Jesus”) have abolished everything his Father ever commanded, just so those who call themselves "Christians" would be exempt from following His commandments and do nothing except "believe in Jesus?"  

Why do you refuse to keep the "forever" commands, such as the Seventh Day Sabbath which is a SIGN between God and His people? (See Exodus 31:16; Ezekiel 20:11-12; Exodus 20:8-11, etc) Why do you reject His seven commanded festivals (Leviticus 23), all of which foreshadow Messiah Yeshua? Where does GOD ever say that after his Son died, people would no longer have to obey anything He commanded for our own good, or that they could make up their own holy days and ways, supposedly designed to honor Him? (Remember the sons of Aaron?)

May God open your spiritual eyes so that you can finally understand that Yeshua didn't come to abolish everything His Father ever commanded, nor to bring any "religion" or "denomination. He came to demolish the nonsense men had added to His Divine Instructions (without which we would have no blueprint for moral, holy living); and to teach the original commands – all of which are designed to keep HIS PEOPLE set apart/holy, and then to die as our Final SIN Sacrifice so that we would no longer have to kill millions of innocent animals to atone for our sins...

You would do well to remember that, according to Scripture, it is a sin to teach that God's Torah is no longer relevant ... as it WILL render you "lukewarm" and cause Yeshua to vomit you from his mouth upon his return. (Revelation 3:16)

I pray you will ponder these things before continuing the lie that Torah is irrelevant!

What was the very first thing that God called “holy”?

The following amazing message was borrowed from “Humble Disciple” on facebook.

One thing that has always fascinated me is what God first called holy.

It wasn't a mountain.

It wasn't a city.

It wasn't a temple.

It wasn't even a people.

Before Israel existed. Before there was a priesthood. Before there were sacrifices, feasts, kings, prophets, or a Tabernacle, God sanctified a day.

"The seventh day God blessed and sanctified, because in it He ceased from all His work that God created for the purpose of preparing." (Genesis 2:3 TLV)

The first thing in Scripture called holy is time. I don't think that's an accident. God could have made a holy place first. He could have marked out sacred ground. Instead, He set apart a recurring appointment woven into creation itself. Every seven days, time itself carries His signature.

Long before Sinai, the Sabbath was already there.

Long before there was a Jew or Gentile.

Long before there was a nation called Israel.

The Sabbath begins in the same chapter as marriage. Both are creation gifts. Both were established before sin entered the world. Maybe that's why the Sabbath has never felt like a burden to me.

When Friday evening arrives and the noise of the week begins to fade, it feels less like keeping a rule and more like returning to something that was always meant to be part of life. A weekly reminder that I am not defined by productivity. That the world keeps turning while I rest. That Yehovah is God and I am not.

It's interesting that when Scripture describes the coming Kingdom, the Sabbath is still there (Isaiah 66:23). What began in Genesis is still present at the end.

The first thing God called holy wasn't a building people had to travel to. It was time that came to them. Every week. Like an invitation. Waiting to be received.

Tidbits about the “Red Heifer” sacrifice

It is interesting to note the "Red Heifer" sacrifice was extremely unique, for several reasons:

• It was the only sacrifice that specifically required an animal of a particular color. This animal was extremely rare and unique of its kind (in fact, Maimonides wrote, "Nine Parot Adumot were prepared from the time the Commandment was given until the destruction of the Second Temple. Moses our Teacher prepared one, Ezra prepared one and seven more were prepared until the Destruction of the Temple. The tenth will be prepared by the Mashiach.")
  
  
• It was the only sacrifice where all the rituals were carried out outside of the camp / outside the Temple precincts.
  
  
• It was the only sacrifice that ritually contaminated the priest who offered it, but made the one who was sprinkled by it clean.
  
  
• It was the only sacrifice where the ashes were preserved and used (other sacrifices required the ashes be disposed outside of the camp).

NOTE: The Red Heifer is a mystery - a "type" of Yeshua, in that Yeshua cleanses uncleanness. The Heifer is used specifically for Temple purification and the purification of someone who has touched a dead body. According to Scripture, a Red Heifer must be found to purify the Third Temple.

What does “You are gods” refer to in Psalm 82?

QUESTION ON FACEBOOK:  Can someone help me understand Psalm 82?  When HaShem says, "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you,'" who is He speaking to?

Is HaShem referring to human judges and rulers who were given authority to judge on His behalf, or is He speaking to spiritual beings? I've heard both interpretations and I'm trying to understand which fits the context best.

Also, when the Psalm refers to "gods" (elohim), is that title being used because judging is an authority that belongs to HaShem, or is there something deeper going on in the Hebrew that I'm missing?

Jeremy Chance Springfield of Random Groovy Bible Facts responds:

You are familiar with the concept of “principalities and powers” that Paul wrote about in Ephesians 6, which were not “flesh and blood,” ie, human rulers?

That is what is being referenced in Psalm 82—the spiritual entities who are set over nations. This is mentioned in a few other places. The book of Daniel references the notion when he is greeted by the Angel Gabriel, who tells him he would have arrived sooner to speak with him, if not for the “prince” of Persia who opposed him, and who was eventually sidetracked by the coming of the angel Michael to fight and allow him to pass through to Daniel.

You see them in the first part of the book of Job, when they go to appear before the Creator, and of course the Satan goes along with them and essentially boasts of his authority to control the peoples of the world.

The end goal is stated in Psalm 82—all the spiritual powers will be judged and removed from their authoritative positions, and the Creator will once again be in full control of this earthly realm.

Something serious for Torah rejecters to contemplate

For those who don’t believe Torah pertains to you, please explain and respond to just two of many other examples that could be cited:

(1)  If you believe the Torah doesn’t pertain to you, why do you tithe?

Deuteronomy 16:17 “Every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Adonai your God has given you.”  (CJB)

(2)  Why are you bothering with the Ten Commandments, since they come straight out of Exodus 20?

Exodus 20: 1 Then God said all these words:

^{2  א} “I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery.

ב ³ “You are to have no other gods before me.

⁴ You are not to make for yourselves a carved image or any kind of representation of anything in heaven above, on the earth beneath or in the water below the shoreline.

⁵ You are not to bow down to them or serve them; for I, Adonai your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but displaying grace to the thousandth generation of those who love me and obey my mitzvot.

ג ⁷ “You are not to use lightly the name of Adonai your God, because Adonai will not leave unpunished someone who uses his name lightly.

^{8 ד} “Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God. ⁹ You have six days to labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Shabbat for Adonai your God. On it, you are not to do any kind of work — not you, your son or your daughter, not your male or female slave, not your livestock, and not the foreigner staying with you inside the gates to your property. ¹¹ For in six days, Adonai made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. This is why Adonai blessed the day, Shabbat, and separated it for himself.

ה ¹² “Honor your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land which Adonai your God is giving you.

ו ¹³ “Do not murder.

^{(14) ז} “Do not commit adultery.

^{(15)  ט} “Do not steal.

^{(16) ט} “Do not give false evidence against your neighbor.

י ^{14 (17) י} “Do not covet your neighbor’s house; do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox, his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

^{15 (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, ^{16 (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.” ^{17 (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.” ^{18 (21)} So the people stood at a distance, but Moshe approached the thick darkness where God was. (CJB)

What The Church Taught Me…

By Sue Francis

~ What The Church Taught Me ~

The church taught me

sin is missing the mark.

But here’s what nobody asked…

Whose mark?

Defined by whom?

Based on what standard?

Because the honest answer

depended entirely on which church you attended.

Which denomination.

Which pastor.

Which tradition.

And if I’m being completely honest…

the mark I was most often

trying to hit wasn’t even YHWH’s standard.

It was people’s.

The pastor’s approval.

The congregation’s expectations.

The unwritten rules of the community I belonged to.

Looking right.

Sounding right.

Being seen doing the right things

by the right people.

Pleasing the church more than seeking to actually know what pleasing YHWH looked like.

And those two things

are not always the same.

One church’s mark, looked different from another’s.

And underneath all of it…

the actual standard YHWH established was rarely the foundation.

And I felt the confusion, but never quite knowing exactly what I was failing against.

And here’s what the church didn’t teach me…

The Hebrew word for sin

is “chata”.

And chata DOES mean

missing the mark.

But SCRIPTURE doesn’t leave

the mark undefined.

IT DEFINES IT.

Precisely.

Clearly.

Without ambiguity.

1 John 3:4.

Sin IS the transgression of Torah.

That’s not a feeling.

That’s not a denomination’s standard.

That’s not a pastor’s opinion.

That’s not what the congregation expects.

That’s a definition.

Torah is the mark.

The measuring line.

The boundary marker.

The covenant instruction

that tells you exactly

where the line is.

And without Torah?

You’re trying to hit a target

that keeps moving

depending on who’s defining it.

Feeling guilty

without knowing why.

Striving to measure up

without knowing what up looks like.

That’s an exhausting way to live.

And I lived it for years.

Genuine love for Him.

Genuine desire to please Him.

But no clear foundation

beneath my feet.

Torah gives that foundation.

Not as a burden.

Not as a performance checklist.

But as a Father saying ….

here is the path.

Here is what love looks like

walked out in real life.

Here is where the line is

so you don’t have to guess anymore.

YHWH never intended

for sin to be mysterious.

He gave us Torah

so we would know

exactly what He was asking.

And exactly what

we were walking away from

when we chose our own way.

And why does this matter?

Because vague conviction

without clear direction

produces one of two things.

Either shame without solution —

always feeling like you’re falling short

but never knowing what to change.

Or license without boundaries —

deciding the standard is unclear

so anything goes.

Torah removes both traps.

It gives you the standard clearly.

And it gives you the path back

when you miss it.

That’s not legalism.

That’s clarity.

And clarity is an act of love

from a Father who never wanted you

stumbling in the dark trying to hit a target that kept moving

depending on who was defining it.

The church taught me

sin was missing the mark.

YHWH showed me

Torah is the mark.

Same story.

The REST of the story.

A great reminder about the commanded Sabbath Rest

The following article was written by a Facebook friend called “Humble Disciple.”

I struggled with this verse in the past. Not because it was difficult to understand. Because it was difficult to explain away.

The book of Hebrews spends chapter after chapter showing what has changed. The Levitical priesthood changed. The sacrificial system changed. The earthly sanctuary pointed to a greater reality. Hebrews is not afraid to tell us when something has reached its fulfillment.

Yet when the writer arrives at the Sabbath, he doesn't say it ended. He doesn't say it was replaced. He doesn't say it became Sunday. He says it remains. Remains. Not remained. Not used to exist. Not fulfilled away. Remains. Something cannot remain if it has ceased to exist.

I was told Hebrews proves the Sabbath was replaced by Jesus. That the rest is now purely spiritual. But the more I read the chapter, the more that explanation felt forced. The author never says the Sabbath ended. He never says it was abolished. He says it remains. Not because the weekly Sabbath is the final destination, but because it points forward to a greater rest still ahead.

What struck me even more was who this promise is for. "There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God." Not for the world in general. For the people of God. The people who hear His voice. The people who trust Him. The people who refuse to harden their hearts. The people who are pressing toward the Kingdom.

Hebrews is using the Sabbath as a picture of something even greater.

The weekly Sabbath reminds us that our work is not our salvation. Every seventh day we stop striving, stop chasing, stop producing, and remember that everything comes from Yehovah. And every Sabbath points beyond itself. Back to creation, where God rested. Forward to the Kingdom, where His people will finally enter the fullness of that rest.

That's why the Sabbath appears everywhere in Scripture. It begins in Genesis before there was a Jew. It is written into the covenant at Sinai. The prophets see it in the age to come. Yeshua kept it. The apostles kept it. Revelation describes a people who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Yeshua.

One story. One God. One people. One consistent witness from beginning to end.

Hebrews 4:9 is a promise:

• A promise that the gift given at creation still stands.
• A promise that the weekly Sabbath still points somewhere.
• A promise that after all the wandering, striving, suffering, and waiting...
• …there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

PS: Many comments say, "Jesus is now our Sabbath rest," so before you feel compelled making that same comment, note, I agree that our rest is found in Messiah.

The question is whether Scripture says that because Messiah is our rest, the Sabbath no longer matters. Hebrews never says that.

The author doesn't conclude, "The Sabbath has ended." He concludes, "There remains, therefore, a Sabbath rest for the people of God."

Messiah and the Sabbath are not competitors. The Sabbath points to Him. It reminds us weekly that salvation is not by our works and points forward to the greater rest still ahead.

That's why I find it difficult to believe the Sabbath was abolished. Yeshua spoke of His followers caring about the Sabbath long after His resurrection (Matthew 24:20). Isaiah sees all flesh worshipping before Yehovah from Sabbath to Sabbath in the age to come (Isaiah 66:23).

The Sabbath points to Messiah. But pointing to something greater is not the same as disappearing because of it.

Responding to one of the many supposed Christian “proof texts” against Torah keeping…

Christian argument against Torah keeping:

“If the guilt or punishment or curse of the Moses law was death and Hades and Yahshua took away the debt or punishment or curse by conquering death, then the Moses law no longer has any power and had to be canceled.No guilt or death for the transgression of the Mosaic law makes the Moses law useless.

“18. For on the one hand there is the abolition (cancellation) of the preceding commandment (the Moses law) because of its weakness and uselessness, 19. because the law made nothing perfect; but on the other hand there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19, Afr1953)

“But there is a new law where death for transgression is not taken away...”

The Refiner’s Fire Response:

Let’s look at this from the Hebrew, instead of the Greek viewpoint, using the Aramaic English New Testament:

Hebrews 7:18. And the change which was made in the first statute was on account of its powerlessness and because there was no usefullness in it. 19. For the instruction[1] (of the priests) made nothing perfect, but there has come in its place a better hope[2] by which we draw near to Elohim. 20. And he confirmed it to us by an oath. (AENT)

[1] The word Namusa may refer to Torah proper, or instruction relating to a group or people. The line of thought begins in 7:17 which would demand that namusa/instruction relates to the Aaronic priestly order, not Torah as a whole. The toggling between the two priestly lines of Melchisedec (Bereshit/Genesis) and Aaron (Vayiqra/Leviticus) is a common theme in Tanakh, which predicts that the one must give way to the other.

For those who are adamant that Paul can only be referring to Torah (the Law), then consider that Paul is writing to Jews!

If Paul were writing to Christians he might have written, “for the Bible perfected nothing” because a “Holy Book” in itself cannot bring perfection even if the Book itself were Perfect. Only the Spirit of YHWH who wrote Torah or “the Bible” can bring perfection. All religions have a “Holy Book” (or two), but imagine how different the world would be if everyone actually followed what their Holy Books teach?

Torah reveals Mashiyach who brought a better hope! Do we throw out the Book? That would be foolish theology! And this is not what Paul is teaching! The world is not lacking “holy books” but many souls are lacking in the motivation and desire to live Righteous and Sanctified lives unto YHWH.

[2] The word Sebar could be "hope" but also "Good News/Gospel." More than any other author, Shaul routinely exploits this root word “sebar” in his writings, which is as strong a signature for his writing style as could be found in the NT.

Acts 2 Reveals something amazing about the YHWH-Yeshua relationship!

What does Acts 2:36 tell us about the YHWH/Yeshua relationship?

ACTS 2:36. Truly, therefore, let all the house of Israel know that Elohim has made[1] this Y’shua the Mashiyach whom you executed on a stake both Master YHWH and Mashiyach.” 37. And when they heard these things they were touched in their hearts, and they said to Shimon and to the rest of the Shlichim, “What should we do, our brothers?” 38. Shimon said to them, “Repent and be immersed[2] each of you in the name of Master YHWH-Y’shua[3] for the forgiveness of sins, that you may receive the gift of the Ruach haKodesh. 39. For to you was the promise, and to your children, and to all those who are far away whom Elohim will call. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] “Has made” meaning from Y’shua’s birth; one of the clearest statements in the NT that Y’shua had occurrences of human and divine natures co-existing within him. The human side’s total obedience to YHWH contributed to Y’shua qualifying as haMashiyach; the fact that the Ruach haKodesh (another name for YHWH), dwelled inside Y’shua, also establishes Y’shua as the image of YHWH.

[2] Shimon was preaching from the steps of the Temple in Jerusalem. Just below him were hundreds of mikveh (immersion) baths. Both the steps he spoke from and the baths are visible today outside the Western Wall. In Peter’s day baptism wasn’t an act of conversion from one religion to another, but an act of purification from sin. A person repented of their sin, prayed, and then entered into the waters of the mikveh to symbolize atonement.

[3] MarYah and Y'shua appear next to one another! Therefore, Keefa is saying that the divine part of Y'shua and YHWH are one and the same; he is referring to Him in both ways. It is an example of how the Name of the Father and the Son is one and the same, or they could not possibly be combined in this matter.

TO BETTER GRASP THE MEANING OF ACTS 2:36-39 ABOVE, we need to refer to an explanation straight from Yeshua’s mouth in John 17:11-12:

John 17:11. Henceforth, I will not be in the world, and these are in the world. And I am coming to Your presence. Kadosh[4] Father, keep them by your Name,[5] that which you have given to me, that they may be one as We are. 12. I was with them while I was in the world. I have kept them in your Name;[6] those whom you have given to me, I have kept. And not a man of them is lost except for the son of perdition, that the Scriptures might be fulfilled. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[4] Kadosh/Set Apart means that YHWH and His Word will never change; we can put our trust in Him knowing He will keep His Word.

[5] A very key passage. Aramaic literally reads that YHWH gave His Name to Y’shua; therefore, he has the Name of his Father within him.

[6] Y’shua keeps them in YHWH’s name so when we call upon YHWH in Y’shua’s name, we are calling on YHWH for Salvation. As the Name of YHWH is in Mashiyach, so are we to have the name of Mashiyach in us, which means that as followers of Y’shua we are to walk according to his righteousness, observe Torah and walk in the anointing of the Ruach haKodesh as Mashiyach demonstrated to us.

A stark reminder that we are in the end times…

IT ALWAYS SADDENS ME TO HEAR OF ANOTHER "MASS SHOOTING"; yet that scourge seems to have become the norm in today's modern world. The most recent one happened yesterday in San Diego, California, when two teenaged perpetrators (aged 17 and 19) managed to kill three innocent people at a Muslim mosque, including a security guard, before taking their own lives.

It also saddens me to know that cities nationwide are grappling with a trend of "teen takeovers"—large, spontaneous gatherings coordinated via social media that frequently escalate into violence, looting, and vandalism. One such example is the most recent incident that occurred at a Chipotle restaurant where teens gathered for the sole purpose of entering to purposely cause damage to property and terrorize customers by overturning furniture and using chairs as weapons to deliberately hurt people.

This crazy, violent trend has been expanding for several years, as indicated in a report out of California in 2024, where teens were using fireworks to "launch off rockets at cars and people and blowing doors off of hinges, using explosives and fireworks."

In other words, these things aren’t just “childish pranks”; they are meticulously planned gatherings by teens who are certainly old enough to know right from wrong – who seek gratification by wreaking havoc, and causing fear, pain and destruction of property, not seeming to realize or care about the fact that they are catering to Satan by satisfying their carnal natures.

Authorities have only recently begun to prosecute parents of children causing violence, in hopes that it will help to stem the craziness by causing parents to become more aware of their children's actions outside the home.

I personally don't believe it will help because, from what I have been able to ascertain over the years, many parents are just as much "in the world," as their children, and won't put the blame where it belongs (on themselves); rather, they will continue to point the finger at law enforcement, accusing policemen of being "too rough" on their children (during scuffles where the kids become violent and fight policemen in their efforts to resist arrest), and then suing whenever their kids get hurt or killed.

The bottom line is, this type of behavior has become a growing concern over recent years as it demonstrates the demonic nature of mankind in a fallen world that is headed for the abyss.

We ARE “as in the days of Noah”; nothing has really changed since the day Adam and Eve committed the first deliberate sin…

Genesis 6: 5 ADONAI saw that the people on earth were very wicked, that all the imaginings of their hearts were always of evil only. 6 ADONAI regretted that he had made humankind on the earth; it grieved his heart. 7 ADONAI said, "I will wipe out humankind, whom I have created, from the whole earth; and not only human beings, but animals, creeping things and birds in the air; for I regret that I ever made them." 8 But Noach found grace in the sight of ADONAI. (CJB)

Genesis 6: 11 The earth was corrupt before God, the earth was filled with violence. 12 God saw the earth, and, yes, it was corrupt; for all living beings had corrupted their ways on the earth. 13 God said to Noach, "The end of all living beings has come before me, for because of them the earth is filled with violence. I will destroy them along with the earth. (CJB)

Jude 1:14. And of them also prophesied Enoch who was the seventh from Adam when he said: Behold, Master YHWH comes with myriads of his Set Apart believers;[1] 15 to execute judgment upon all and to convict all the wicked because of all the deeds they have wickedly committed; and because of all the hard speeches which they, sinners without Elohim, have uttered. 16. These are they who argue and complain of everything while they walk according to their lusts; and their mouth speaks shocking things; and they flatter people for the sake of gain. (AENT)

It’s exactly the same today and nothing, except the return of Yeshua, can or will stop the craziness that mankind always ends up resorting to!  The Bible tells us that Yeshua will put a swift end to ALL the evil, and bind the Destroyer for a thousand years... (See Matthew 24; Revelation 20:1-5; Jude 1:11-21; 2 Peter 2:9-21.)

Matthew 24: 27. For as the sunshine comes out from the East and is seen even in the West, thus will be the coming of the Son of man. 28. Wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles gather. 29. And immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not shine its light. And the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. 30. And then will be seen the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then all the tribes of the land mourn, when they will see the Son of man who comes upon the clouds of heaven with great power and glory. 31. And he will send his Messengers with a large trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds from one end of heaven to the other. (AENT)

Revelation 20: 11. And I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it; from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and this their place was not found. 12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life. And the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds. 13. And the sea gave up the dead in it; and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. And they were judged, each one according to his deeds. 14. And death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (namely,) this lake of fire. 15. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire. (AENT)

Returning to the reason for this article, I have to admit that, whenever I hear of evil deeds, decadence and violence in this world, I always have to fight the urge to sink into a deep depression, because I cannot understand why anyone would feel a need to secretly plan out the killing of random innocent folks, including little children and babies. It's mind-boggling! It simply doesn't make any sense!

But, whether we like it or not, the world is getting a little crazier every day, as evidenced by not only the behavior of mankind, in general, but also in the destruction being caused by ever more powerful natural disasters around the world...

All we can really do is to keep our own houses in order and remember to keep our eyes, ears and hearts stayed on Yahweh and Yeshua who amply warned us that these things MUST happen before Yeshua's return.  These events are being used to usher in the rise of the Antichrist (Revelation 12:1-10); and ultimately, the return of Yeshua (Revelation 1:7 which tells us "every eye will see him"; Revelation 22:12, and 20 which tell us, "I come quickly", and Acts 1:11 …"he will come in the same way you saw him go". Yeshua himself spoke of his return in Matthew 24:30 ("coming on the clouds of heaven") and Matthew 24:44.

God’s people must stay strong, for - as Paul told us, those who endure to the end, will be delivered (Matthew 24:13 ).  Until then, I urge you to continue to cling to passages such as this one below:

PSALM 121: If I raise my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from Adonai, the maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip — your guardian is not asleep. 4 No, the guardian of Isra’el never slumbers or sleeps. 5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand Adonai provides you with shade — 6 the sun can’t strike you during the day or even the moon at night. 7 Adonai will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life. 8 Adonai will guard your coming and going from now on and forever. (CJB)

A word about Romans 3:31

 

 

I WAS A CHRISTIAN FOR THREE WHOLE MONTHS, when this particular passage started to stick in my craw. I was 44 years old and "blinded" by "the world" and disillusioned by Life, when YHWH opened my spiritual eyes in a little Baptist church in Missouri.

Once He did, I dove into the Bible and every Bible study I could find - and I had lots of questions. However, every time I questioned the pastor about something (including things like, "If we are all ONE in Christ, WHY are we not doing the Seventh Day Sabbath and the Feasts outlined in the Old Testament?"), he immediately sent me to the writings of Paul - many of which seemed to negate what Torah said. It was maddening and downright confusing!

And then one day, Romans 3:31 caught my eye and clarified for me the fact that "something was being misunderstood in the church." But what??? What was the church missing, and what was I missing?

It was mind-boggling to think there might be contradictions in the Bible, when my pastor was so "sold" on the supposed TRUTHS in the Bible! And I couldn't figure out why God would tell mankind one thing, and then do a complete "180" two thousand years after the death of Christ.
Frustrated, I literally threw myself onto my living room floor at home one Sunday after church, and begged Him to show me WHAT ... was ... missing...

That answer didn't come until 3 1/2 years later, while living in Colorado Springs (where YHWH had caused me to move shortly after I had begged Him to "show me what was missing in church) ... when He caused me to end up in a Messianic Torah study - which FINALLY answered ALL my questions, and launched me smack-dab into the middle of my Torah walk.

The only thing I've "been missing" since those early days back in the mid-Nineties is "more knowledge!" I can't seem to get enough... and I think He plans it that way to keep us ever-hungry for more of His Word. Halleluyah! What an AWESOME ELOHIM we have the privilege of serving!

 

What to do when verbally attacked

WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE … smack-dab in the middle of a no-win argument spurred on by some mean-spirited moron who allowed him/herself to be guided by the Destroyer. (You can tell they are led by satan whenever they seem to know exactly which button to push!)

The bottom line is always about how we choose to deal with these fights, arguments or attacks, as they always end up baring and revealing our hearts and souls – not to mention that, in the end, they only serve to wear us out, and reveal "Whom are we truly serving."

Although sometimes tested to the limits - I've learned from experience that nothing is ever gained by engaging pea-brained, dim-witted and closed-minded people in verbal battles, because that is exactly what YHWH hates ... and what the Destroyer WANTS.

The best way to deal with people like that (when you realize your discussion with them has left the realm of rationality) is to hit them in their over-inflated egos where it really hurts - by turning your back and simply ignoring them. While that’s sometimes hard to do, refusing to lower yourself to their standards sends the strong message that they're worth neither your time, efforts, nor your energy.

Here’s what the Bible tells us to do:

2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before our Master (Yeshua) not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! 15 Do all you can to present yourself to Elohim as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. (CJB)

James 4:1 From where is it, that there are among you arguments and conflicts? Is it not from the lusts which war in your members? 2. You covet but do not possess; and you kill and envy, and effect nothing: and you fight and make attacks; and you do not have, because you do not ask. 3. You ask, and do not receive because you ask wickedly, that you may feed your lusts. 4. You adulterers, don’t you know that the love of the world is hatred towards Elohim? He therefore who chooses to be a lover of this world is the enemy of Elohim. (AENT)

Romans 16:17 And I plead with you, my Brothers, that you beware of them who cause divisions and stumblings apart from the doctrine which you have learned: and that you stand distant from them. 18. For they who are such do not serve our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach, but their own belly: and by bland speeches and good wishes, they deceive the hearts of the simple. (AENT)

Proverbs 4:14-17 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. (CJB)

Matthew 7:6 You should not hang earrings on dogs and you should not place your pearls before pigs that they should not trample them by their feet and they overtake and wound you. (AENT)*

NOTE:  *Tithlon (hang) was misunderstood as talon (to give); qudesha (earrings) was misunderstood as qudsha (holy). The picture of hanging earrings on dogs dovetails with giving pearls to pigs, and the symbolism of the two animal groups could not be clearer. The dogs represent apostate Jews, the pigs apostate Gentiles who are ignorant of YHWH. Either way, the lesson here is do not give what is precious to those who will not appreciate the value.

2 Timothy 4:2 Proclaim the Word and persist (in it) with diligence, in time and out of time; admonish and rebuke with all patience and instructiveness. 3. For the time will come when they will not give ear to sound teaching; but, according to their lusts, will multiply to themselves teachers in the itching of their hearing; 4. and will turn away their ears from the truth, and incline after fables. 5. But be vigilant in all things; and endure evils and do the work of a proclaimer of the Good News, and fulfill your ministry. (AENT)

2 Timothy 3:1 But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: 2. and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, 3. unloving, addicted to irreconcilable malicious gossips, ferocious, haters of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of Elohim, 5. having a form of respect for Elohim but wide from the power of Elohim. Them who are such, repel from you. (AENT)

Proverbs 13:20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

So, what can we do to thwart any impending fights and arguments?

Romans 14:19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (CJB)

Luke 6:28 Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. (CJB)

Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Ephesians 4:29  Let no harmful language come from your mouth, only good words that are helpful in meeting the need, words that will benefit those who hear them. 30 Don’t cause grief to God’s Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, violent assertiveness and slander, along with all spitefulness. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted; and forgive each other, just as in the Messiah God has also forgiven you. (CJB)

1 Peter 3:9  Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (AENT)

Yeshua warned God’s people what the “end times” would look like … and the signs are all around us!

Matthew 24 tells us that no one knows the exact day or hour of Yeshua's return -although the prophetic biblical festivals give us clues, as Yeshua has so far fulfilled the first four'; which means the next one will take place on a future Yom Teruah/Trumpets, when God calls His people together! (Please check out my article on the Biblical Feasts.)

In the meantime, we are commanded to be aware and to prepare our hearts, minds and souls. This preparation includes keeping up with what's happening in the world, because the signs are all around us (fires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, crazy and unpredictable weather patterns, wars and rumors of wars, and people generally behaving “as in the days of Noah”).

Matthew 24:3. And while Y'shua was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples drew near and were saying among themselves and to him, "Tell us when these things will be and what is the sign of your coming and the end of the world."

4. Y'shua answered and said to them, Beware, let no man deceive you. 5. For many will come in my name and will say that "I am the Mashiyach." And many they will deceive. 6. For you are bound to hear of revolutions and rumor of wars. Watch out and do not be disturbed, for it is necessary that all these things happen, but it is not yet the end.

7. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and plagues and earthquakes in different places. 8. But all these things are only the beginning of sorrows. 9. Then they will deliver to afflictions and they will kill you and you will be hated by all nations because of my name.

10. Then many will stumble and will hate one another and will betray one another. 11. And many false prophets will arise and deceive many. 12. And because of the growth of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold. 13. But whoever has patience until the end, he will have life. 14. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.... (AENT)

Matthew 24:36 “But when that day and hour will come, no one knows — not the angels in heaven, not the Son, only the Father. 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)

Zephaniah 1:18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of Adonai’s fury, the whole land will be destroyed in the fire of his jealousy. For he will make an end, a horrible end, of all those living in the land.” (CJB)

The passages above send a clear signal that it’s high time people “get themselves right with God,” because the signs are literally EVERYWHERE!

About Y'shua's birthday

Y'shua was born on the first day of Sukkot and circumcised 8 days later. Both the first and the last are "high holy days"....The answer about Yeshua's birth can be found in Scripture:

Luke 2: 1. Now it happened in those days that a decree went out from Augustus Caesar that the names of all the people of his dominion should be written down. 2. This census first happened during the governorship of Qurinius in Syria. 3. And everyone went in his own city to be registered. 4. And Yosip was also going up from Nasrath, a city of Galeela into Yehuda to the city of Dawid, which is called Beth-Lekhem, because he was from the house and from the clan of Dawid, 5. With Maryam his bride while she was pregnant, that there they might be registered. 6. And it happened that while they were there, her days of pregnancy were fulfilled. 7. And she bore him a firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room where they could lodge. 8. At this time shepherds were there in that region were they were lodging and keeping watch there at night over their flocks. (AENT)

Note that last verse:  “At this time shepherds were there in that region were they were lodging and keeping watch there at night over their flocks.”  Shepherds and their flocks aren’t out in the dead of winter in December, which knocks the “He was born on December 25^th” idea out of the water.

Miriam was forced to give birth in a stable because there was no room at the inn - because people from all over had gathered in Jerusalem for the census! Not to mention, it was also the festival of Sukkot - Tabernacles - when many pilgrims came to celebrate in Jerusalem....

Bethlehem is only about 5 miles from Jerusalem and so Y'shua was born there because was no room at the inn. The name Bethlehem means "House Of Bread", with the strong connotation of House Of Battle. And as we all know, Y'shua is the Bread of Life" (John 6:43-51).

Ever thought about who got to enter the Promised Land?

 DID YOU KNOW that, of the original ones who left Egypt, only Joshua and Caleb and their descendants were allowed into the Promised Land?

Numbers 32: 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.'

Numbers 14:20 we read: 21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, 22 not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times- 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

Joshua 14 allots Caleb and his descendants their own parcel of land: 6 Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7  I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.'

...13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.

On being debt free

 

Statistics show that most Americans are deeply in debt – but, you CAN get out IF you’re willing to make the effort and employ some real willpower!

Proverbs 21:20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. (ESV)

Scripture provides ample warnings to NOT become a slave to debt. Here is just a couple of examples:

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. (ESV)

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (ESV)

NO ONE would be in debt IF we all adhered to Torah principles. Examples:

Exodus 22:25-27 “If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am compassionate. (ESV)

Deuteronomy 15:1-2 “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor. He shall not exact it of his neighbor, his brother, because the Lord's release has been proclaimed. (ESV)

As mentioned above, getting out of debt takes some effort and willpower … the willpower to give up “credit” and manage your income so that you don’t keep spending more than you make.

That’s basically the whole key to becoming debt free. Pay off those credit cards (smallest to the largest) as fast as you can, and don’t buy unnecessary “stuff.”

Financial guru Dave Ramsey says, until you are debt free, you shouldn’t even enter a restaurant unless you work there; and in the meantime, you should basically live on beans and rice, rice and beans. Sounds harsh, but it works!

As with Torah observance, being debt-free feels GOOD and it eventually becomes a "way of life!"

Dave Ramsey’s mantra about the process of becoming debt-free is, "I didn't say it was going to be easy! I said it's going to be worth it!"

My late husband and I knew for a fact that it’s worth it, because were completely debt free beginning in  2012 - able to pay cash for everything we bought!  

It's a great feeling to owe no one!

Someone recently commented that we should not get caught up in YHWH's law and not to put so much emphasis on the Torah. Here is my response.

The Bible literally teaches us to meditate on the Torah (YHWH’s instructions). The Torah (YHWH’s Instructions) teaches love, faith, grace, and forgiveness.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗵/𝗬𝗛𝗪𝗛’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:

Joshua 1:8

“This book of the Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then, you will make your way successful, and you will act wisely.”

Psalm 1:2

“But his delight is in the Torah of YHWH, and on His Torah he meditates day and night.”

Psalm 119:15

“I meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.”

Psalm 119:97

“Oh, how I love Your Torah! It is my meditation all day.”

Psalm 119:148

“My eyes are awake before the night watches, so that I may meditate on Your word.”

Psalm 143:5

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I muse on the work of Your hands.”

1 Timothy 4:13 (Paul to Timothy)

"Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to encouragement, and to teaching."

1 Timothy 4:15

“Meditate on these things; be in them, so that your progress may be plain to all.”

𝘔𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨—𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘥𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘯, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘠𝘏𝘞𝘏’𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲, 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵, 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀:

𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆:

Deuteronomy 6:5

“And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being and with all your might.”

(𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘠e𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘢 𝘲𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘸 22.)

Leviticus 19:18

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

(𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘠e𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘢.)

When someone says, “Just focus on love, not the law,” they don’t realize the Torah defines love.

𝑭𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉:

Genesis 15:6

“And he believed in YHWH, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”

(𝘈𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘮’𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.)

Habakkuk 2:4

“The righteous shall live by his faith.”

(𝘘𝘶𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘛𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.)

Deuteronomy 32:20

“They are a perverse generation, children in whom there is no faithfulness.”

(𝘠𝘏𝘞𝘏 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘩.)

Even Paul quoted the Torah and Prophets to teach faith (see Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11).

𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒆 / 𝑴𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒚:

Exodus 34:6-7

“YHWH, YHWH, a compassionate and gracious Elohim, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…”

Numbers 14:18-19

“YHWH is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression…”

Deuteronomy 4:31

“For YHWH, your Elohim is a merciful Elohim. He will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the covenant…”

𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸—it’s in the very foundation of Torah.

𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔:

Leviticus 4 (entire chapter) Details sin offerings for unintentional sin—YHWH’s provision for forgiveness within the Torah.

Numbers 15:28

“And the priest shall make atonement before YHWH for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him so that he may be forgiven.”

Psalm 103:11-12

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”

𝘠𝘏𝘞𝘏’𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴—but it’s found within His covenant structure, not outside of it.

Rejecting the Torah in the name of grace is like rejecting the foundation of a house and expecting it to stand. Yahshua never taught us to abandon the commandments—He taught us to keep them the right way: with hearts of love, humility, and faith.

Matthew 5:17 – “Do not think I came to abolish the Torah… I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

Romans 3:31 – “Do we then nullify the Torah through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Torah.”

The 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘩 teaches 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲.

The 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘩 teaches 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵.

The 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘩 teaches 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲.

And the 𝘛𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘩 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗬e𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮.

Let’s not downplay it. Let’s 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 to it—with hearts ready to 𝗼𝗯𝗲𝘆