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.