Do I see Treasure or silliness? Do I seek or do I ignore?

From childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2Ti 3:15

Many people, including Bible scholars that I respect, object to following the instructions of our Heavenly Father by acting like it’s silly to take Him seriously. “Are you really not going to eat pork?” “How silly are you?” Are you going to wear fringes?”  You really think God doesn’t want you to wear something of wool and linen or stone rebellious children or Sabbath breakers? Or even stronger, some think God’s instructions on how to live in this world represent bondage and slavery.

Did Yahweh and His prophets and His Messiah not know they were going to get rid of the Torah? Did He not care to give a hint about it nor even mention it. Did Paul, with practically no discussion, just decide the Fourth Commandment, the Sabbath, was not valid, and that circumcision was useless and that God was being silly and should have never told us what food His creation should and should not eat. Did Paul abruptly and unceremonious abolish all of God’s instructions and declare His Torah was no longer useful or needed in a few offhanded remarks?

Does God say things He really does not mean? Like when He says His commands (dabar/words) will last forever. Or did Jesus not mean it when he said that nothing in the Torah would change until heaven and earth pass away or that He did not come to abolish the Torah? YAHWEH was very careful to let us know that there would be changes in the Temple and the Priesthood and that there would be a New Covenant. All of that was prophesied. As it says in Amos 3:7 “For the Lord YAHWEH does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.” But there are no prophecies that YAHWEH’s commandments and precepts found in His Torah (Instructions) would be done away with. In fact, the prophecies about the New Covenant say the New Covenant will give us a new heart and a new spirit so that His people will want to and can keep His commands and precepts. (Eze 36:26-27; Jer 31:31-33)

I don’t have an answer for what all these commands mean, I know some, but still meditating on others. But just because I cannot understand some things does not mean God’s instructions are silly or capricious or to be ignored. Because His Words were given thousands of years ago, in an ancient language, we can’t take at face value what our modern English translations say, it requires study, prayer, meditation and community to understand. In fact, just about everything that God has made valuable in this world, is covered up and hard to see or find.

For example:

1. Where can you find diamonds? • In the ground, covered and protected.

2. Where are the pearls? • Deep in the ocean, covered and protected in a beautiful shell.

3. Where can you find gold? • Underground, covered with layers of rock, and to get there you have to work very hard and dig deep.

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom; Incline your heart to understanding. For if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of YAHWEH, And discover the knowledge of God. For YAHWEH gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice, and He watches over the way of His godly ones. Then you will discern righteousness, justice, and integrity, and every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be delightful to your soul; Prov 2:1-10

Have I searched for God’s wisdom in His words and commands with as much effort as it takes to find hidden treasure?

For all practical purposes Christianity has cut itself off from the wisdom that comes from YAHWEH by not taking the time to test a few words of Paul but instead, automatically with little thought or research, twist and take out of historical or narrative context a few of his sentences and end up abolishing and negating the sacred writings.

How can unsaved Gentiles or Jews take Christianity seriously when we casually dismiss or even contradict the words of our own God and Savior.

There has never been as many resources so readily available to any previous generation that makes searching, digging, gathering the treasures in God’s sacred writings than what is available to us. But the enemy has effectively caused us to quit looking for God’s treasure.

One of YAHWEH’s instructions says to celebrate Shavuot. Over years of meditation Shavuot became associated with not just the first harvest but also the time when fire came down on Mt. Sinai and God gave Moses the Torah. It became an annual celebration of God giving His Word. Interestingly, it was also at Shavuot that the Holy Spirit was given, inauguration of the New Covenant and fire came down in the upper room. These first followers in the New Covenant only had what we call the Old Testament. This was their only sacred writings. They used those scriptures for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, and it equipped them for every good work. They followed the Torah, its commands, precepts, festivals and Sabbath. They saw no contradiction between the prophesied New Covenant and the Torah. In the beginning was the Word (dabar), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. For the Torah was given through Moses; and grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:1, 17.  It was only in the generations after the Apostles died out; when in 70 Ad and especially 135 AD the Romans destroyed and burned every fortified city in Israel, killed over 1 Million and sold into slavery over 100,000, prohibited people from following the Torah and the Biblical Hebrew calendar, executed all Torah scholars, burned the sacred scrolls of  Scripture at the large Temple complex for Jupiter which they built on the Temple Mount and banned all Jews from living in Israel and renamed it Syria Palestina; then Greek philosophy infiltrated and interpreted the New Covenant as getting rid of the Torah. From there, an ongoing effort to distance Gentile Christianity from any connection to the Torah. There was a reinterpretation of Scriptures to get rid of any influence of the Torah and excommunication of any Christians who followed it. Eventually Gentile Christianity merged with Rome and adopted Greek philosophy as its heritage and got rid of the Hebrew heritage of the Torah.

"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves’ men will arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” Act 20:29-30

Father, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word (dabar) is truth.  John 17:17

It is challenging at this time in history because it is rare to find a fellowship of believers dedicated to following all of YAHWEH’s words. It’s comforting knowing it’s in God’s hands and His timing. I have attached a large video I just found this week that has to be downloaded to watch. It’s encouraging to see people in it from all over the world wrestling with some of the same questions I have. I personally do not ascribe to everything that comes up in the video but that will always be the case with all of us. On Sundays I go to a Christian fellowship that, because of their incorrect view of the Torah, believes following the Torah is bondage. However, in their preaching they are very rules oriented. It would be scary for them to decide they had found 600+ more rules to follow. I do not believe God’s Words are a rule book. They are wisdom given to us by God to know how to act towards one another and towards Him. Words to give us wisdom of how to live in this fallen world and teach us about Him. Do I believe God wants us to honor His 7^th day Sabbath and rest from work? Yes, because He said so. But I am still figuring out what all that means. I know some of it, but I am still plumbing the depths of that instruction from YAHWEH. Pretty certain it’s a journey that never ends and only gets deeper and better. I want to learn and understand all His commands and precepts. I am not trying to follow His commands to be saved, any more than I got baptized to be saved. I am saved through faith in the atoning work of the Messiah. I got baptized because I got saved, I want to follow God's Torah, because I got saved. Also, would I be happier if I had a fellowship to share this treasure hunt with, of course I would. But I am still incredibly excited every time I start a treasure hunt for what is in YAHWEH’s Torah. 

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares YAHWEH, 'plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 'And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jer 29:11-13

My prayer is that when people are searching for YAHWEH, they will not close off their heart to the treasures found in His Word.

 

May YAHWEH bless you and keep you.

Shalom

(copy and paste the link below in your browser to get to the page to download the video) 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HHrjLQfPzzqbWWgLVo3ss7KpiNSZ4C3E/view?usp=sharing

 What Mitzvot has God prepared for you today?

After standing in crowded lines it was now my turn at the concession stand. (Went to see the movie "The Sound of Freedom" which I highly recommend!). As I started to order this lady skipped past the line, walked up and interrupted and said they forgot to give her a drink she ordered. The guy said he was sorry but he missed that and did not charge her. She was going to have to get back in line. I thought "I can order and pay for her drink". Which I did. It moved the line along with no real delay and she was very happy. And so was I. It's amazing that God has made it so that we feel good when we do good. Biblical Hebrew thought feels that way about all of God's commands (mitzvot) 

Paul, a trained Rabbi, wrote the Ephesians that we are created to do mitzvot (good works) . The New Testament is Biblical Hebrew thought brought to us in the Greek language.

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (mitzvot), which God prepared in advance for us to do. Eph 2:10 

That's an amazing thought, that God prepared long ago, for me to be able to buy that woman her drink. And He has prepared many good works (mitzvot) for me to do in this life.

Mitzvot is the plural form of mitzvah, a Biblical Hebrew word that roughly translates to “commandment.” (מִצְוָה mitsvâh, mits-vaw'; from H6680; a command)  It appears in various forms with that meaning about 300 times in the Five Books of Moses. It generally refers to the Divine commandments, things He wants us to do or not do. It is also commonly interpreted  as “a good deed.” The term mitzvah comes from the root word tzavta, which means “connection.”  In this sense, a mitzvah bundles up the person who is commanded and the Commander, creating a relationship and essential bond. The three meanings can themselves be bundled together. “Good” is defined as that which the Creator of the Universe wants done with His universe, and by doing that which the Creator wants done, we are bound up with Him in body, mind and soul.What makes a mitzvah a mitzvah is its emphasis on action. 

The  Hebrew word mitzvah is commandment, but as noted, the general Hebrew understanding is that of a good deed. The emphasis is on deeds—not on positive thoughts or wishes, but on conscious acts of empathy and kindness. A mitzvah is a decisive act that embodies empathy and kindness while bringing us closer to others. Positive thoughts and wishes, while always welcome, are not mitzvot. Mitzvot are more than a creed—they’re about doing deeds. As James (Yakov/Jacob)  wrote "a true faith has actions" (James 2:17-26)

Biblical Hebrew thought, see's God's commands as bringing us life. As we do as He instructed us, we enjoy life and bring life. 

Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will find life through them. I am YAHWEH. Lev 18:5 . 

Jesus also reiterated that we find life through every word that comes out of the mouth of YAHWEH.  (Math 4:4)

God did not give us arbitrary “make-work” schemes. Mitzvot have a practical benefit for the person who does them as well as for the entire world.

Mitzvot are integral to serving God. The Torah, for example, references 613 mitzvot. Several of these could only be done in very ancient times under very specific circumstances, such as worshipping at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. However, most mitzvot are relevant throughout the ages, and continue provide a compass for life—yes, even today.

The Bible says to  celebrate the holiday of Shavuot on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan,  During this holiday, we celebrate the moment that God, through Moses, gave the Israelites the gift of the Ten Commandments and the Torah—and in doing so, bringing YAHWEH's mitzvot into the world. Thousands of years later, many  people continue to practice mitzvot (good deeds), such as observing Shabbat, eating clean, and celebrating YAHWEH's feasts. And other very important mitzvot like being honest, treating others respectfully, honoring parents, visiting the sick, and caring for animals.

The enemy has twisted western thought into thinking that God's Law (Words/Instruction) brings bondage and is a burden. The enemy has taught western Christianity that getting rid of God's commands brings freedom. It's the same lie he told Adam and Eve - "Don't be in bondage to what God tells you. Get rid of that kind of thinking. Be free and eat of any tree, especially the forbidden one." Western Christianity has interpreted the Freedom Christ has given to mean we are free to ignore God's instructions for life. 

We have indeed been set free - from the curse of the Law, which is death and separation from God. We have been freed from sin so that we might use our freedom to do good. Peter and Paul say we were freed so that we could become servants/slaves to God. (Rom 6:15-18; 1 Pet 2:16) Paul tells us that God's commands are holy, just and good and he quotes directly from Lev 19 to illustrate that the purpose of the Law is to teach us how to love one another. (Rom 7:16 ; Gal 5:14)

All good things come from God (James 1:17). We must go to God to find out what is good. Our own judgment of what is good will fail us.  How do we know what good deeds God has prepared for us to do? We must meditate on His Torah and then we will know. As Jesus said, find life from every word that proceeds out of the mouth of YAHWEH. 

So, what good works (mitzvot) has God prepared for you this month? (Eph 2:10)

Shalom

May YAHWEH bless you and keep you!

Resources for Mitzvot with Children
One of YAHWEH's most important charges to us is to make sure we teach our children and grandchildren His mitzvot. Deut 6:1-2 I have been looking for material to help do that and of course there is not much in modern Christian publishing geared towards learning YAHWEH's words. So I have been looking at some resources from Jewish websites to help me know how to actively and meaningfully perform them with the children in our care. Every child is different, and so is every family. Therefore, this journey is unique to you—age, interests, culture, and personality all come into play. Nevertheless, children of all ages can (and should) participate even toddlers show kindness to others, read body language, and know when someone’s seeking affection. For them, even something simple like giving a hug, a flower, or saying kind words all count. ( I credit my daughter for helping me understand this) 

Older preschoolers and elementary-age kids can help create a list of important values for your family and find mitzvot they can do to reflect those values. Letting the children choose a task they enjoy can help make doing good feel more natural. If a child likes to draw or write, they can send a card to brighten a friend’s day. Children who love animals can walk a neighbor’s dog. Every action, no matter how small, helps make the world a better place.

Below are some of the books I found. I have not had the chance to use them myself, but will give feedback as I do. Would love to hear from you in the comment section about how you are doing this with your children and any resources you find useful.

• Giving food or clothing to those in need: Respecting those in need, in Bagels from Benny
• Passing along cherished toys or games: Do not covet, in One Good Deed
• Recycling or composting: Do not destroy needlessly, in Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
• Cleaning up a public park: Care for our planet, in It’s a Mitzvah, Grover!
• Reuniting a lost game: Returning lost objects, in Sara Finds a Mitzva
• Sharing toys or food with a friend or sibling: Peace in the home, in The Mitzvah Magician, and Esti the Mensch
• Making soup for a neighbor with a cold: Visiting the sick, in The Bagel King. Caring for the sick, in Bear Feels Sick
• Inviting a new classmate over for a playdate: Welcoming guests, in The Mitten String
• Walking a dog or feeding a cat: Being kind to animals, in The Cats on Ben Yehuda Street

When one person does a good deed, others can see and be inspired to do the same. Creating these ripple effects of kindness can build and sustain communities over time, and showing children how we can all make Jesus' world a little better is profoundly empowering—for them and for you!

 

Have I made Paul greater than Jesus?

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers through the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us through His Son “Paul”  Hebrews 1:1-2

"Jesus said: Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine “Paul” and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine “Paul” and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Mat 7:24,26

In my journey to understand why I and mainstream Christianity have jettisoned the Torah I discovered that I was clinging to my understanding of the words of Paul even if they contradicted the clear words of Jesus, the clear word of YAHWEH or Paul himself. Whenever I read the words of Paul and they seem to contradict the Torah, the Prophets and Jesus who are all in agreement, I always chose to believe the contradicting words of Paul and ignore or reinterpret everything else. I simply believed that Paul had some kind of direct revelation, that Jesus chose not to teach, and it changed everything. The details and effect of this direct revelation were codified later in Christianity from cross referencing writings of Paul. At its most basic, it goes like this. If I accept Jesus, If I love others, I have fulfilled the Law and if the Law is fulfilled I do not need to really know, really understand or really follow God’s Law as long as I love others. The problem is, that is not how God described His plan, or how the Prophets presented it nor how Jesus presented it.

Jesus says:

Man shall live by every word that comes out of the mouth of YAHWEH.  Mat 4:4

Whoever nullifies one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:19

Nothing in the Torah will pass away until heaven and earth pass away Mat 5:18

He specifically says He did not come to abolish the Torah. Mat 5:17

Pay special attention to the more important parts of the Torah but do not neglect the smallest parts Mat 23:23

He will reject those who are Lawless. Mat 7:23

If you love me, you will keep My commandments and I always have the same words (commands) that my Father has. John 14:10,15

The Torah of YHWH is perfect, restoring the soul; Psalms 19:7

Forever, YHWH, Your word stands in heaven.  I will never forget Your commandments;  How I love Your Torah! It is my meditation all day. Psa 119:89,93,97

You are near, YHWH, and all Your commandments are truth. From long ago I have known from Your testimonies That You have founded them forever Psa 119:151-152

The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting. Psa 119:160

"God is not a man, that He would lie, Nor a human, that He would change His mind; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Num 23:19

Certainly, YWHW GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret plan to His servants the prophets. Amo 3:7

The Prophets say.

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.” Eze 11:19-20

"This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares YHWH. I will put my Torah in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Jer 31:33

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the commandments (word) of our God endures forever. Isa 40:8

The other Apostles say.

By this we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments. 1John 2:3

The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 1John 2:4

Those who obey God's commandments remain in fellowship with Him, and He with them. 1 John 3:24

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 1John 5:3

To this you were called, because the Messiah suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth. 1Pe 2:22

Many times, the Apostles, including Paul, quote the Torah when they want to show that they have authority to say what they are saying. There are about 342 OT quotes in the NT. They appeal to the Torah’s authority to validate what they were writing. Paul quotes the Torah as authoritative, but does Paul then say the Torah is no longer needed, fading out of sight, been abolished, replaced, or set aside? Especially when the Torah he is quoting says it will not be abolished, replaced, or set aside. That would be contradicting the very thing he says is his authority.

Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 1Co​r.​ 9:8 

Peter warns against taking Paul's words and making them mean lawlessness. 

There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 2 Peter 3:15-17

 So, was Paul a hypocrite in what he taught compared to what he lived?

Are my Christian teachers and preachers correct that Paul had revelations that overrule YAHWEH’s words and contradict Jesus and even Paul himself. 

Luke records how noble people received Paul’s teachings.

Now these Jews (Bereans) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Acts 17:11

What were the “Scriptures” that the Bereans examined to compare Paul’s teachings to?

The only Scriptures the first Christians had was the Old Testament.

So, for the Bereans, everything Paul said HAD to be in 100% agreement with the Old Testament. Such as...

You shall walk after the YHWH your God and fear Him and keep His commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. Deut 13:4

Otherwise, they would have considered Paul a false prophet.

The Bereans show me that Paul preached in agreement to the Law of God. As mentioned in Acts 17.

The New Testament scriptures testify that Paul lived in accordance to the Law of God.

take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus, all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. Acts 21:24

Paul lived God’s Law and he taught God’s Law.

Why does my pastor interpret Paul’s teachings as doing away with the Law of God? ... even though the Bereans proved he was in agreement with it?

Is my pastor making Paul out to be a hypocrite by implying that Paul was saying “Do as I say and not as I do”. Paul told the Church in Corinth, those who were born as gentiles, to ..

Be imitators of me, as I am of the Messiah. 1 Cor 11:1

Paul also says:

You know what God wants; you know what is right because you have been taught His Law. You are so proud of knowing the ​Torah, but you dishonor God by breaking it.​  Rom 2:18,23

through the Torah comes knowledge of sin.​ Romans 3:20​

Is there any value in the ceremony of circumcision?  Yes, there are great benefits!​ ​ Rom 3:1-2

​Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.​ Rom 3:3​1​

What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?​ ​ Rom 6:1-2

What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the Law. Rom 7:7

​Paul said “I love God's Law with all my heart.”​  Rom 7:22

So then, I myself, in my mind am a servant to God's Law, but in my sinful nature a servant to the law of sin.​​ Rom 7:25 

The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's Law, nor can it do so. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  Rom 8:7,13,14

(OT prophesied that God would give us new hearts and new spirit that would want to obey his Laws Eze 11:19)

The Bereans show in Acts 17, that Paul taught in accordance with the Old Testament. And Acts 24 testifies he lived by God’s Law and Paul’s own testimony was that he loves and follows God’s Law.

Maybe people who take Paul’s letters and interpret them that God no longer wants us to follow His instructions (Torah), have become those of who Peter warned me. If I listen to them Peter says “I will lose my own stability”

Which do I follow? The Eternal word of God or the excerpted words of Paul? Words quoted many times devoid of any historical or narrative context but repeated so much they seem normal to me. Even though, they contradict the rest of the Bible.

The whole of God’s word does not teach that, If we love God, we do not and will not obey His commandments. God’s Word constantly says “IF I truly love, Then I will truly keep His commandments”. It does not say, IF I keep His commandments, Then I will love. It says, only when I truly love God first will I want to obey His commandments. Obedience does not bring Love. Love brings obedience. God loves me and when I accept His free love and forgiveness and love Him in return, I want to obey my loving parent. Not out of fear, not to win acceptance, but out of love and respect, trusting what He tells me to do (even if I do not understand) is for my best interest.

 

Blessed is the one whose delight is in the Torah of YAHWEH, and who meditates on His Torah day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers. Psalms 1:1-3

Those who love Your Law have great peace (shalom), And nothing causes them to stumble. Psa 119:165

I hope for Your salvation (Yeshua), YHWH, and do Your commandments. Psa 119:166

 

May YAHWEH bless you and keep you!