TORAH FOR TODAY

Debunking Christian Myths and Traditions

Overview of this Newsletter

P.1 The Law? But that was done away with!

P.2 What does Yeshua say though?

P.2 Lets look back further.

P.3 How do we then explain the Apostles?

P.4 Have we misunderstood Paul?

P.5 What we now should do.

How Yeshua most likely looked. We see here an example of a

Jewish man, reading from Torah, wearing the commandments of God in the form of his tassels (Tzitzit) on the edge of
his garments, and Phylacteries (Tefillin) which bind us closer
to God. This is the true Hebrew Yeshua, not the GrecoRoman Jesus.

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

The Law? But that was done away with!

Contrary to the common opinion held by most of churchianity, Torah is most certainly for today. Why do we hold
this tenent so dearly? For the simple example held to us by the exemplary disciple, John Zebedee, in
1 John 2:3-6.
Misconceptions and heresies have arisen out of the multitude of years that have passed since the passing and resurrection of the Messiah. Sadly, these untruths have infiltrated the Assembly and become the mainstream understanding and doctrine. The most important deception has been that we dont have to follow Gods commands anymore or
that they were somehow superseded by grace. As well see as we go on, this is not the case at all.
It is now time to go through and correct these errors that have accumulated over the ages from mankinds own selfish desires. These are the days of the end times, bringing us to the end of this present age. The heart of stone is softening and waiting for the Torah to be engraved on our hearts, our eyes which were blind now see his Glory, and the
stopped ears are once again listening to His Truth! Blessed be He!
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What does Yeshua say though?

In the book of Matthew, chapter 5, Yeshua is quoted as saying, Dont think that I have come to abolish the Torah or
the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete. 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. So whoever disobeys the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called the least in
the Kingdom of Heaven... This is the Messiah speaking here and this point is continued all the way into verse twenty. So, two thousand odd years later, we have every teacher and pastor within mainstream churchianity telling us
that we no longer have to keep or follow the commandments. Clearly this isnt what Yeshua taught.
Another example that can be found later in the nineteenth chapter, verses 16 and 17. Yeshua states straight away that
to have eternal life, one must [sic] observe the commandments. Again, this is not a popular thought in any church
that dedicates itself to the extremist grace only position. The verses reference the thought passed to us by the wisdom of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, which state at the very end; Here is the final conclusion, now that you have heard
everything: fear God, and keep his commandments; this is what being human is all about.
Most importantly, we have to remember that Yeshua is, according to John 1:1-5, the Word and also that he was God.
This means that Yeshua was the one who gave the Commandments on the Mount Sinai. There is also the thought
that if he was to negate the commandments, he would be invalidating himself. Of this I am certain he did not, for as
James the Righteous records in James 1:17, ...with Him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning.
Moving on, we should keep in mind this last saying of Yeshua, If you love me, you will keep my commands;
John 14:15

An image of a Dead Sea Scroll known as Tehillim 11QPsa

Lets look back further.

Going back to the Old Testament, we see repeatedly the story of Israel sinning by neglecting Gods Torah and following after other gods, being punished, and then returning to His ways. To summarise, the entirety of the Scriptures show mans need to follow Gods commandments. Continuing on though, lets look at what the Scriptures and
their authors wrote on the issue and even what God has said Himself at the time of his giving them.
Lets start at the beginning and look at the admonitions and warning contained in Leviticus 26. God makes it very
clear in the verses 3 to 13 that there are wonderful blessing for keeping His Words. However in verses 14 to 43, He
makes it just as clear that to disobey will cause great hardship and troubles for ourselves.
Continuing on in the first five books, Deuteronomy 30 sets before us a choice of Life and Death. Either we follow
Him and love Him to gain Life or we disobey Him and reject His ways and choose Death. But as always, God
makes certain to assure us that He is not being unjust or harsh by asking us to do the impossible, rather that it is quite
an easy task as is read in Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
Touching briefly the books of the prophets, we again see their desire to follow Him and His ways. There is not one
that did not desire to do His will but was persecuted for doing so. I ask you to dwell on their lives and decide if they
were a proper example of what we should desire and be doing. Remember Jeremiah 6:16, Isaiah 8:20, Isaiah 42:21,
and Amos 3:7.
Lastly, the writings. There is an overabundance of scriptures extolling His wondrous grace and justice. There are
far too many verses to list, but some of my favourites have always been Psalm 19:7, Psalm 119, Proverbs 4:2, and
also Proverbs 28:9.
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How do we then explain the Apostles?

Well cover Paul in the next section, but lets look at the other Apostles. Were they observant of the commandments, during Yeshuas time on earth and after His ministry? Looking at scripture, we can certainly say that they
were. The example of being asked if they paid the temple tax in Matthew 17:24-27 shows that Simon Peter and the
other Apostles followed the commandments. The dispute is over how often the temple tax, paid with a half-shekel,
should be collected; whether annually, every 7th year, or once in each individuals lifetime.
Our next example is Stephen. A man who was certainly filled with the Spirit and doing the will of God. Unfortunately, the message that he taught with great wisdom, was unacceptable to the Hellenistic pagan-like followers of the
Synagogue of the Freedmen. They brought forth false accusations against him, to bring him low. But we always
seem to forget what they were. Reading Acts 6:11-14, we see the fabricated claims. Clearly, if they were untruths,
this means that Stephen upheld and followed the customs of Moses, the Law, and worshiped God in Spirit and truth.
Jumping right back to the beginning of the tales of the Apostles after the resurrection of the Messiah, we should look
at Acts 1:12. Often overlooked, we see that they only travelled a Sabbaths day journey. Why is this included, if not
to give an example? How would we know the distance of a Sabbaths day journey, if we ourselves did not keep such
a tradition?
Coming to the favourite of anyone who loves to the see the Holy Spirit move among men, we remember the tongues
of flame and tongues spoken in Acts 2:1-41. But why were they all gathered together for the feast high holy day of
Pentecost? Could it be that they were actually celebrating the feast days as they had been commanded to, a reminder
for all generations? I certainly believe so.
Peter and John are recorded in Acts 3:1 as having been going up to the Temple for the afternoon sacrifices, which
also corresponds with the time that they would have been saying the afternoon prayers, roughly 3pm. This is important to realise that it is recorded for the fact that we should also be doing so. Unfortunately, there is no longer a
temple to go up to, but we can certainly follow the example of the set prayers; Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.
Peter and John, sacrificed at the Altar, said the prayers, and kept the commandments.
Second last, the statement of Peter during his confusion from the vision given to him by God in Acts 10 sums up his
position on keeping the commandments. In verse 14, he makes abundantly clear that he had never eaten anything
unholy and unclean. This happened three times, so we know that there is a pretty significant message being sent
here. This is the point that Peter realises in verse 28. There is no breaking of the Commandments, but a breaking
down of traditions that prevent mankind from reaching the Torah.
As the final example, Acts 15:19-21 is the requirement
given by the Council of Jerusalem for teaching converts
and bringing them up in the Faith. What are the requirements?
1.

Abstain from things contaminated by idols.

2.

[Abstain] from fornication.

3.

[Abstain] from what is strangled.

4.

[Abstain] from blood.

And lastly the usually overlooked 5th point: Moses

from ancient generations has in every city those who
preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every
Sabbath. This means that it was expected that the gentiles who were coming to Faith would be introduced
and expected to attend a place of worship on every 7th
day and to learn and apply the commandments to their
life as they were read each week. Remember that this
was what was decided to be mandatory by the Apostles.
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Have we misunderstood Paul?

Weve read the proof that Yeshua and his Apostles followed and lived Torah, but what about Paul? Paul seems to be
the universal go to point for anyone who doesnt believe that Torah is for today. Certainly the books that are his letters could be interpreted that way, but is that what is actually written and meant by him. I believe not, as we will
soon see, Paul was definitely the most zealous of followers of the commandments!
The Apostle Paul was raised a Torah
observant Jew, who studied under the
famous Rabbi Gamaliel in Jerusalem
(Acts 22:3). Rabbi Shaul (as he would
have been called) was well-established
in the Jewish leadership of his day, and
even had a relationship with the Sanhedrin and High Priest of Israel (Acts
9:1-2). But even after his conversion on
the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-21), he
still identified himself a Jew. In Acts
23:6 he confessed, I am (not was) a
Pharisee. He even declared that concerning the observance of the Torah he
was blameless, which indicates that
he observed the commandments to his
dying day (Philippians 3:6). Paul testified that he kept the Torah throughout
his life (Acts 25:7-8, see also Acts
28:17).
Paul took the Nazirite vow (Acts 18:18, see also Numbers 6:1-21, Mishnah tractate Nazir), lived in observance of
the Torah (Acts 21:23-24), and even offered sacrifices in the Temple (Acts 21:26). Notice that Paul not only paid
for his own sacrifices in order to be released from his Nazirite vow, but also paid for the sacrifices for four other
Jewish believers! Notice also that this was performed at the explicit request of James, the head of the Jerusalem
Council (and half-brother of Yeshua).
Paul regularly attended synagogue. He came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul, as his
manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures (Acts 17:1-2).
When Paul wrote to the assemblies in the gentile regions, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent,
equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17), he was of course referring what we call the Old Testament,
since the New Testament had not yet been compiled for the assembly.
Indeed, in order to understand Pauls writings, we need to remember his training as a Rabbi when he quotes the
Scriptures in his writings. For example, when he wrote, And all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Messiah (1 Corinthians 10:4), he was quoting from
a story later written in the Talmud (i.e., that from the time that Moses struck the rock at Horeb and brought forth water until the death of Miriam (Exodus 20:1), this water-giving rock followed the children of Israel through the desert
and provided water for them each day (Taanit, 9a and Bava Metizia, 86b).
As we saw with Stephen, Paul was very often falsely accused and misunderstood. Peter states the Pauls writings
were hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15-16) and even Paul knew of his teachings being twisted, as there are several
sections devoted to correcting those that were mislead in thinking that because we were under grace that we should
no longer observe Torah (Romans 3:8, 6:1-2, and 6:15). So, yes, let us stop misunderstanding Paul and do what he
suggests in 2 Timothy 2:15.
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