Covenant 103

The Law and the prophets.

I hope to continue this series by pointing out some of the implications of what we have learned so far. I believe these truths are self evident once one has ripped away the deceptions and false teachings that have been allowed to corrupt the true words of the Tanakh (the Jewish scriptures of the law and prophets.) and the words of Yeshua himself. So, let’s establish a few truths.

Keep in mind that the words of YHVH are eternal. YHVH’s Covenant is eternal. Not one jot or tittle of The Law (YHVH’s instructions) will pass away until ALL things are fulfilled. 

Keep in mind that “The Prophet” of Deuteronomy chapter 18 is Yeshua and every word that he spoke was directly from YHWH. So, his every word was also eternal.

Keep in mind that since these words are eternal no one can come along at some later date and change them, nullify them or otherwise supersede them. They are the words of God.

Deuteronomy 28:15 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to be careful to follow all His commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:

Daniel 9:10 we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His teachings which He set before us through His servants the prophets. 11 Indeed, all Israel has violated Your Law and turned aside, not obeying Your voice; so the curse has gushed forth on us, along with the oath which is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him. 

If YHWH did not spare His chosen people Israel because of their disobedience, He will not spare you.

John 12:49 For I have not spoken from my own authority, but the Father himself who sent me has commanded me what I should say and what I should speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. Thus the things I say, I say just as the Father has told me.”

John 14: 24 The person who does not love me does not obey my words. And the word you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Yeshua never intended to start a new religion. He was brought up and lived  his life as an observant Jewish man. He taught repentance and obedience to the Laws of Moses. He was opposed to the addition of human traditions to those Laws.

Deuteronomy 12:32 You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it!

Yeshua never taught against the law. But, against man made traditions that either nullified or added to YHWH’s Law.

After his resurrection he gave a commission to his disciples.

Matthew 26:18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

There are a few very important things to notice here.

Yeshua was given all authority in heaven and earth (Because YHVH’s Spirit was upon him).

He instructed his disciples to go unto all nations, not just Israel.

He told them to teach the world to obey HIS commands. Not anyone else’s commands. His commands were also the commands of YHWH.

Therefore he requires all of us to obey the commandments of YHWH.

He also promised to send the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he resides with you and will be in you 

Notice Yeshua did not promise to send another person to correct his teachings but promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide his followers.

He also appointed one of the Apostles to carry his Gospel to the gentiles (non Israelite nations). That Apostle was Peter.

Acts 15:7 After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them.

Paul was not the Apostle to the gentiles, in fact he was no Apostle at all. He was not qualified to be an Apostle. This is evident from Acts 1

Acts 1:21 Thus one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time the Lord Jesus associated with us, 22 beginning from his baptism by John until the day he was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness of his resurrection together with us.” 23 So they proposed two candidates: Joseph called Barsabbas (also called Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know the hearts of all. Show us which one of these two you have chosen 25 to assume the task of this service and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 Then they cast lots for them, and the one chosen was Matthias; so he was counted with the eleven apostles.

It had to be someone that had accompanied Yeshua from his baptism by John until his ascension. Matthias was chosen as the twelfth Apostle. Paul wasn’t there. In fact he was a persecutor of the early church. He was also a self admitted Chameleon not totally honest with people.

1 Corinthians 9:20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law. 21 To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

There are only twelve Apostles of Yeshua, not thirteen. 

Revelation 21:10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 shining with the glory of God. Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper, as clear as crystal. 12 The city had a great and high wall with twelve gates inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve angels at the gates. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Paul taught against the Law of YHWH.

Romans 14:5 One person regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. 

Colossians 2:14 having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 15 And having disarmed the pow23Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.ers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come,

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. 6 But now, having died to what bound us, 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.

Galatians 3:23 Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Corinthians 8:4 (Paul says) So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. 7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that they eat such food as if it were sacrificed to an idol. And since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8 But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

Revelation 2:12(Yeshua says) To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live, where the throne of Satan sits, yet you hold fast to My name. You did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of My faithful witness Antipas, who was killed among you where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

By abrogating YHVH’s eternal Law Paul proved himself a false apostle and false teacher. For that reason we must disregard his teachings. Just as Yeshua taught us. In the Christian Church the words of Paul are held in higher esteem and quoted more often than the words of Yeshua. The Christian religion is built on the teachings of Paul not on the teachings of Yeshua and they are not compatible.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Luke 6:46 Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”

Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Paulus which is Paul’s name in Latin happens to mean small, or least. Is this a coincidence?).

John 5:43 I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only Go

Matthew 24:4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

 It is a sad truth. To the Christian Church, Paul has become the Anointed messenger of God and Yeshua has become a figurehead who’s words take a backseat to Paul’s words. 

So, what would it look like if instead of following Paul people followed Yeshua? First, in following Yeshua they would also follow the Law of Moses and the prophets just as Yeshua did. They would obey the all the commandments including the seventh day sabbath. They would obey the dietary commandments. They would celebrate the holy days that YHVH commanded us to celebrate. They would not follow man made traditions that have been added to the Torah. Yeshua condemned them. Yeshua was an observant Jew. Simply put, Yeshua did not start a new religion. The religion of Yeshua is Torah centric Judaism without the man made traditions of the Talmud, which was not written by YHVH but by the Rabbis. Having said all that not every Law in the Torah applies to you. Some laws were given to the Levitical priesthood. Some laws were concerning the sacrifices in the Temple. Some laws were for the governing of the nation of Israel. Some laws applied to men only and some to women. Some are specific to the people that are not of the descendants of Abraham that choose to join themselves to Israel and worship YHVH. As an example, Gentile men are not required to be circumcised unless they wish to enter the Temple or attend a passover seder.

Exodus 12: 48 If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it. 49 The same law shall apply to both the native and the foreigner who resides among you.”

Ezekiel 44:9 This is what the sovereign Lord says: No foreigner, who is uncircumcised in heart and flesh among all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, will enter into my sanctuary.

If you are not familiar with the Law of Moses or you are a new convert it can be difficult to figure out what commands you need to follow. This problem came up in the early church also. 

Acts 15: 5 But some from the religious party of the Pharisees who had believed stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise the Gentiles and to order them to observe the law of Moses.”

Acts 15: 13 James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has explained how God first concerned himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,

16‘ After this I will return,

and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David;

I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,

17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord,

namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be my own,’ says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from long ago.

19 “Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, 20 but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. 21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Verse 21 is often overlooked. From it we can see that it was expected that the new converts were going to attend the synagog and hear Moses proclaimed. In other words they had a few preliminary important rules and the rest of the Law they would learn gradually in the synagog. This was the plan.

The religion of Yeshua is Judaism. It is not the paganize Christianity of Paul.