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

 

Do we take the Torah literally?

Someone recently sent us a great question that seems to be on the minds of many - especially those who insist on believing that the earth is flat:

QUESTION:

Dear Refiner's Fire..first of all just let me say that I LOVE this site. It has been an invaluable resource in my new walk. I am starting on my second cycle of the weekly lessons. But let me get to the point. In the first lesson we read in Genesis where it is saying that YWWH created a "dome that separates the waters from the waters". The explanation of Refiner's Fire was that it was not meant to be a scientific account of creation..

With all due respect I think we have to ask ourselves some questions. Are we to take the Torah literally for what it says or explain away the meaning. Do we believe YHWH or do we believe the Jesuit and Masonic scientists. Thank you again for this incredible study and website... I anticipate your reply,

OUR RESPONSE:

You asked a perfect reasonable question: "Are we to take the Torah literally for what it says or explain away the meaning." The short answer is "both" - but it takes much more to fully understand what we mean by "both".

First, "do we take the Torah literally?" Yes, except we must realize that some is literal and some of the narrative in the Torah ... and indeed, in all parts we find some allegory. This includes the Prophets, Writings, and New Testament. For example: Take the animal sacrifices in Leviticus. The narrative literally speaks of slaughtering animals, and that the sins of the person offering the animal are "taken away."

Indeed, there is a literal, formal ritual of a substitutionary death described in the narrative of animal sacrifice. But there is also allegory. The slaughter only represents human's sins and ties the condition that our sins deserve death. Thus, for us to live, an animal, (sinless by the way), had to die. If the people had not sinned, they would not have had to kill an animal. So, the Torah was actually trying to teach people to choose NOT to sin.

Today, people get caught up in the literal description of the slaughter process. and see only the "commandment" that it "must be followed"; they don't see the greater picture in the allegory: that it was intended to represent a spiritual truth in terms a human can come to understand. Don't sin, you live; sin, and you must be redeemed from that sin.

You asked: "...or explain away the meaning?" Yes, except we are not really explaining it "away"; rather, we are trying to understand it from the original Hebrew perspective. In your example of Genesis 1:6, you are seeing the literal verse: "God said, "Let there be a dome in the middle of the water; let it divide the water from the water."

In English, that certainly paints a picture in our minds of a "dome" and becomes our literal understanding. But that's not what the Hebrew says. The Hebrew word, incorrectly translated as "dome" is "ra'kita", which means "expanse". So, the verse actually reads, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters and let it divide the waters from the waters."

You see, the English translators inadvertently changed the meaning of the scripture. Some English translations use "firmament" instead of "dome" which is a bit better. However, without understanding the deeper meaning in the Hebrew, "firmament" still does not convey the meaning of "ra'kita".

Similarly, Genesis 1:8 in English usually reads "and God called the dome Sky." But the Hebrew, properly reads, "And Elohim called the expanse, Heavens." Here, "Heavens" is from the Hebrews "ha'mayim" - it is plural and means "the lofty". So "sky" is close to correct, but in the Hebrew context the word implies not only the sky, but beyond, including the air where the clouds move, along with celestial bodies.

So, you see that we must take care in our literal reading to see beyond both what we are able to comprehend (due to the inadequacy the English); and to consider and look for the deeper meaning which the English does not convey.

Stop Freaking Out About When the Bible Was Written!

(The following teaching was written by Rich Oka at The Messianic Revolution.)

"Shlomo formed an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt by marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. He brought her into the City of David, [where she lived] until he had finished building his own palace, the house of Adonai and the wall around Yerushalayim."-1 Kings 3:1

In chapter 2, we saw how Solomon eliminated all potential rivals and rebels.

This gave him a rock-solid foundation from which to run his government.

The next step was to begin creating alliances with the surrounding nations.

Verse 1 doesn't waste any time in explaining that Solomon married the Pharaoh's daughter to establish an alliance with Egypt.

Interestingly, the author tells that after marrying the Egyptian princess, Solomon had her live in the City of David until his palace and the Temple were finished.

These are things that wouldn't happen until much later.

So what does this tell us?

It tells us the writer recorded these events much later than they actually took place.

A lot of homies get bent out of shape when they hear a particular Bible book was penned a couple of centuries or more later than the time the characters in the book lived.

They're reacting like it's some kind of heresy or something.

My response?

Calm the hell down, man.

Look, most of the books in the Bible were written a helluva long time after the events depicted in them occurred.

This doesn't reduce their credibility one iota.

In fact, the opposite is true.

Why?

Because it gave the Scripture writers a chance to dig deep into other source material in addition to working from all of the oral traditions that were handed down throughout the years.

Ya feel me here?

I've already discussed how the Book of Kings was put together by pulling from other records.

The books themselves attest to that and name three primary sources as follows

The Annals of Solomon (mentioned in 1 Kings 11).

The Annals of the Kings of Israel (mentioned actually 17 times in 1 Kings 14 and 2 Kings 15).

And the Annals of the Kings of Judah (mentioned 15 times in 1 Kings 14, 2 Kings 24, and other spots).

So again, stop popping a blood vessel every time you hear that the books of the Bible were compiled, written, and edited much later than the events depicted occurred.

The bottom line is that some of the best and most accurate history books were written in recent times.

As Tom Bradford mentioned in his awesome Torah class, modern publications about the American Civil War are perfect examples.

The authors were able to tap into a vast array of information, such as government documents and private memoirs of army generals, as well as letters written by soldiers to their families from a variety of locations in the US while the war was going on.

It’s only later, when someone gathers the info, that the full picture starts to emerge like a jigsaw puzzle that only makes sense after the pieces are gathered and put together.

Ya feel me here?

This leads to our takeaway for today.

The process I mentioned should strengthen our faith in the divine origin of the Scriptures, and not weaken it.

The Bible is unique because it was written:

Over about 1,500 years...

By 40+ different authors...

In different locations (Israel, Babylon, Egypt, Rome, etc.)...

In different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek)...

By people with very different backgrounds (kings, shepherds, prophets, fishermen)...

Yet, despite that, it tells one consistent story about one God, one moral standard, one problem (sin), and one plan of redemption, pointing to the coming of the Messiah.

If the Bible were a manmade book, it would be all over the freakin' place.

Different authors would contradict each other, and the message would shift over time.

But that ain't what we see.

From Exodus to Matthew, the message is consistent.

That's not random.

That's evidence pointing to a divine hand guiding the process.

Ya feel me?

Done.

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

"All Scripture is God-breathed ​
​and is useful for teaching, rebuking, ​
​correcting and training in righteousness,^​
​so that the servant of God may be ​
​thoroughly equipped for every good work."​
-2 Timothy 3:16-17

P.S. Click HERE (https://messianic-revolution.com/) for more teachings like this.

…And He protects it (Israel) like the pupil of his eye…

ISRAEL IS GOD’S PRIZED POSSESSION, AND HE PROTECTS IT LIKE THE PUPIL OF HIS EYE. Think about that for a moment: OUR eyes are the reflection of our soul, and our hearts are where we are to write HIS Torah. The words we speak come from what is in our heart, so if we have His Torah written there (meaning, we study, learn and memorize His Divine Instructions in Righteousness), we will automatically do, think and speak HIS holiness.

Actively engaging in sin?

A THOUGHT TO PONDER for those who actively engage in anything God calls “Sin,” because they really don’t see anything wrong with their particular sin:

Please ask yourself this: As a Believer, can you also be a practicing/active murderer, thief, liar, idolator, adulterer or prostitute?

Truth is, sin is sin, and you cannot enter the new heavens and new earth if you refuse to repent and TURN FROM your sin, whatever it may be… (Acts 3:19; 2 Peter 3:8-9; Romans 1:18-3 ...)

Let’s take a look at some of the proof texts concerning sin:

Numbers 15: 30 "'But an individual who does something wrong intentionally, whether a citizen or a foreigner, is blaspheming ADONAI. That person will be cut off from his people. (CJB)

Hebrews 6: 4. But they who have once descended to immersion and have tasted the gift from heaven and have received the Ruach haKodesh 5. and have tasted the good Word of Elohim and the power of the world to come, 6. cannot again sin and a second time be renewed to repentance; or a second time execute him on a stake and insult the Son of Elohim. 7. For the earth that drinks the rain which comes often upon it and produces the herb that is of use to those for whom it is cultivated, receives a blessing from Elohim. 8. But if it should put forth thorns and briers, it would be discarded and be approaching closely to a curse, and its end would be a conflagration. (AENT)

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 above Scripture is not referring to those unclean bondages that dwell in our flesh but to the conscious choices believers make. It refers not to our unintentional sins but to those we pursue knowingly and willingly.

2 Peter 2:19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him. 20 Indeed, if they have once escaped the pollutions of the world through knowing our Lord and Deliverer, Yeshua the Messiah, and then have again become entangled and defeated by them, their latter condition has become worse than their former. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the Way of righteousness than, fully knowing, to turn from the holy command delivered to them. (CJB)

How many of today's believers behave in a way they know is sinful and yet they go ahead and do what they feel like doing, anyway? That's because they mistakenly think Divine grace covers intentional sin. That is a huge misconception! Divine grace has made wonderful provision for unintentional sin. But there is no provision for intentional sin. The Bible tells us so.

Deliberate, premeditated sin is willful disobedience and rebellion against ELOHIM. It results in severe punishment or even loss of our salvation.

Leviticus 26: 23 If, in spite of all this, you refuse my correction and still go against me; then I too will go against you; and I, yes I, will strike you seven times over for your sins. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6: 9. Or don't you know, that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim?* Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners, nor idol-worshippers, nor adulterers, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, 10. Nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of Elohim. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE: Compare this to Matthew 5:17-20, where we are told that breaking the least commandment of Torah and teaching others to do the same makes a person "least in the kingdom" but they still get in. Y'shua implies that those with more serious sins won't make it in: "Depart from me, workers of iniquity, I never knew you"; but here, Rav Shaul gives a more specific list of what will keep them out.

The bottom line is that ongoing, deliberate sinning without any sign of repentance is NOT a good thing, for it WILL keep you from spending Eternity with the Holy One.

Just pondering God’s commanded festivals…

I’VE BEEN PONDERING GOD’S COMMANDED FESTIVALS LATELY, and – even though I’ve been a Messianic Believer since Passover of 1998, I never cease to be amazed over ADONAI’s timing.

It’s all mathematical, scientific and completely methodical. His seven commanded feast times are all based on timed events, with each one foreshadowing His Divine Messiah (who has so far fulfilled the first FOUR of the SEVEN – with the next one being the “catching up” (1 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17) on a future Fall Festival called Yom Teruah/Feast of Trumpets, which is when God will call His people together for the “marriage supper of Lamb” (the event that Christians are calling “the Rapture”).

Here’s just one of many examples of His Timing:

The Israelites were led out of Egypt and given physical liberation on 14 Nisan/Passover (Exodus 12:1-13) which foreshadowed Yeshua, the Passover Lamb whose death provided spiritual liberation [see Matthew, Mark, Luke and John].

(By the way, many of the European concentration camps were liberated on or around 14 Nisan, and Hitler committed suicide during this timeframe [April 30, 1945].)

Coincidence? NO! Yahweh ALWAYS does things in HIS TIMING!

Exodus 12: 40 The time the people of Isra'el lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of 430 years to the day, all the divisions of ADONAI left the land of Egypt. 42 This was a night when ADONAI kept vigil to bring them out of the land of Egypt, and this same night continues to be a night when ADONAI keeps vigil for all the people of Isra'el through all their generations. (CJB)

The above describes the first Pass-Over, which is one of His seven beautiful festivals for us to commemorate!

Does Hebrews 8 suggest Torah is no longer valid?

SOMEONE RECENTLY WROTE TO MY WEBSITE to inform me that Hebrews 8:13 supposedly proves that Torah is no longer valid, and he offered the following passage as proof:

Hebrews 8: 13 "In that he saith, A new "covenant", he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (KJV)

MY RESPONSE:

Good Bible students recognize that Hebrews 8 refers back to Jeremiah 31:31-34, which says the following:

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)

SO, RETURNING TO HEBREWS 8 (specifically, verse 8:10), an astute mind would begin to wonder why YHWH would write a "decaying and vanishing covenant on our hearts"... Right?

Therefore, when we knit it all together, we can see that Hebrews 8 couldn't possibly suggest 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 what is being replaced by the Messiah...

In the realization of the above, let's take a closer look at Hebrews 8 via the Hebrew mindset:

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)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Most seem to forget that without the first covenant, the second one is impossible! In very short order Rav Shaul (Paul) 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.

A note for those who don’t believe in keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath…

Folks, Scripture speaks for itself. Please take a look:

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them. 2 On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce. (CJB)

NOTE in the above that He "BLESSED the Seventh Day and separated it as holy"... (The Seventh Day on our Gregorian calendars falls on Saturday.)

Exodus 31:16 The people of Isra'el are to keep the Shabbat, to observe Shabbat through all their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the people of Isra'el forever; for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and rested.'" (CJB)

NOTE:  Since God’s people AND the “grafted-in” are “one in Messiah” ((Ephesians 2:15 and Galatians 3:28), this means ALL who accept the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are required to keep God’s Seventh Day Sabbath HOLY!

Ezekiel 20:11 I gave them my laws and showed them my rulings; if a person obeys them, he will have life through them. 12 I gave them my shabbats as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I, ADONAI, am the one who makes them holy. (CJB)

Exodus 20:8 "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. (CJB)

Isaiah 56: 2 Happy is the person who does this, anyone who grasps it firmly, who keeps Shabbat and does not profane it, and keeps himself from doing any evil. 3 A foreigner joining ADONAI should not say, "ADONAI will separate me from his people"; likewise the eunuch should not say, "I am only a dried-up tree." 4 For here is what ADONAI says: "As for the eunuchs who keep my Shabbats, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant: 5 in my house, within my walls, I will give them power and a name greater than sons and daughters; I will give him an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

6 "And the foreigners who join themselves to ADONAI to serve him, to love the name of ADONAI, and to be his workers, all who keep Shabbat and do not profane it, and hold fast to my covenant, 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples." (CJB)

Isaiah 58: 13 If you hold back your foot on Shabbat from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call Shabbat a delight, ADONAI'S holy day, worth honoring; then honor it by not doing your usual things or pursuing your interests or speaking about them. 14 If you do, you will find delight in ADONAI - I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Ya'akov, for the mouth of ADONAI has spoken." (CJB)

Isaiah 66: 23 And it shall be that from one New Moon to another New Moon and from one Sabbath to another Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before Me, says the Lord. (CJB)

Jeremiah 17: 21 Here is what ADONAI says: "If you value your lives, don't carry anything on Shabbat or bring it in through the gates of Yerushalayim; 22 don't carry anything out of your houses on Shabbat; and don't do any work. Instead, make Shabbat a holy day. I ordered your ancestors to do this, 23 but they neither listened nor paid attention; rather, they stiffened their necks, so that they wouldn't have to hear or receive instruction. 24 However, if you will pay careful heed to me," says ADONAI "and carry nothing through the gates of this city on Shabbat, but instead make Shabbat a day which is holy and not for doing work; (CJB)

THERE ARE MORE PASSAGES, but hopefully the ones I posted here will suffice. Just please remember that, when ADONAI commands something, it should never be ignored.

It is unfortunate that most people don't seem to realize that some common sense is needed when reading Scriptures. For instance, we today, cannot possibly (nor are we expected to) keep all 613 original commands.

Why? Because they didn't all pertain to "everybody!" Most were meant for the Levite Priests, while some were meant only for men and others only for women...

However, we should definitely pay attention to those that we CAN keep ... the ones that have the word "forever" or "throughout your generations" attached to them. They were never meant "just for the Jews!" (Remember, there were 12 tribes in the desert with Moshe for 40 years - along with myriad foreigners" who had followed Israel out of Egypt ... and they were told to obey "exactly as" God's people did... See Numbers 15:13-16.)

The truth is, if you believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then you are "grafted in" and required to keep God's "forever" commands. (For proof, re-read all the above mentioned passages and Numbers 15: 13-16, and Deuteronomy 31:11-12.)