Tag: Law

Categories
Faith Torah

The Ten Commandments (they are not suggestions) – #10 (Do Not Covet)

Artwork by Alex Levin

This is an excerpt from my book, GRAFTED: Embracing Torah, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Enjoy!

The Ten Commandments (The Big Ones)

And God (Elohim) spake all these words, saying, (Exodus 20:1)

Exodus 19:25 states, “So Moses went down unto the people,
and spake unto them.” This is the third time Moses came down from
Mount Sinai (between Exodus 19:3 and Exodus 34:29, Moses goes
up to meet Elohim atop Mount Sinai and comes back down seven
times – not bad for an eighty-year-old guy).

The verse following Exodus 19:25 (Exodus 20:1) states, “God
spake all these words…” so it appears Elohim audibly spoke to all the Israelites.

This seems to be confirmed in verses 18–22:

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

The people in the valley were so shaken by the experience that
they did not want Elohim to speak to them again (I’m sure there was
a lot of reverb and pyrotechnics). The word Elohim is used because
His Message was for more than just the Israelites. This tells me that
what we refer to as the Ten Commandments are so important that
Elohim felt the need to personally tell them to His people. This is
why I wanted to start with them.

10. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt
not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor
his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing
that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17).

Envy is like a gateway drug: left unchecked, it can lead to any number of sins. King David comes to mind again. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Uriah. But it started with David watching Bathsheba from afar and desiring her greatly. As king, he could have had any woman in the kingdom he desired, but envy caused him to covet his neighbor’s wife.

Cain murdered his brother, Abel, because he was envious that God preferred Abel’s sacrifice over his own. The murder did not take place at the sacrifice, but the seeds of vengeance were planted at that time.

Wanting what your neighbor has is not necessarily a sin. If they have a riding mower and you are still pushing a mower over your two-acre lot, then you are naturally going to want what they have or something similar. If you go about doing the right things to get your own riding mower, then it is a good thing. In this case, desire sets a goal for you to achieve. You don’t want their actual mower but something similar.

If you sneak over and steal their mower and then paint it so that you can claim it is not theirs, then you have crossed an ugly line that used to be a barrier to you, but is now only a minor obstacle that you can readily cross again in the future. In the same way, if you sneak over and sabotage their riding mower so that they will be as equally miserable as you are pushing a mower over their lot, then you have let envy begin to tear down the fabric of your society.

The story of the two families driving past a mansion is illustrative. One family drives past the mansion, and the parents tell their children, “Look at that big house. It’s much too big for what they need. They should not be allowed to waste money so frivolously.” The second family drives past the same house, and the parents tell their children, “Look at that big house. If you work hard and save your money, then you will be able to afford a big house someday.”

The story is oversimplified and not very realistic (lots of people work hard and save their money but cannot afford a mansion), but it does demonstrate the two mindsets.

Socialism is the ideology of envy. “Don’t think it’s fair that others have more than you?” Your leaders will take what the rich have (this class of people will eventually include the not-so-rich, the “doing okay,” and finally the “barely scraping by” as the leaders drain more and more wealth from its citizens) and give it to others (the “poor”).

Socialism breaks down the entrepreneurial spirit because no one will want to work harder for more because it will be taken away. In the end, people stop working because they know that someone else’s labor will provide for them. At this point, people must be forced to work, and those who cannot produce must be eradicated because they are a drain on the economy (the Nazis referred to them as “useless eaters”).

This is why socialism always fails, and the results are devastatingly deadly. Everyone becomes equally miserable, except for the leaders who impose socialism but exempt themselves from its deprivations. The only way to maintain the system is through force and murder.

The Greatest Commandment?

Jesus was asked which is the greatest Commandment (Mark 12:28–34):

28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Yeshua was quoting from Deuteronomy 6:4-5, so we know that the Commandments given in Exodus are still relevant today. The Word differentiates between the “works of the flesh”

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Galatians 5:19–21)

and the “fruit of the Spirit”

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking
one another, envying one another.

(Galatians 5:22–26)

Our walk, based on keeping the Commandments and the rest of the Torah, helps us to manifest the Spirit.

[1st Commandment – No Other Gods]

[2d Commandment – No Graven Images]

[3d Commandment – Taking the Name of Yahweh in Vain]

[4th Commandment – Keep the Sabbath Holy]

The first four Commandments are considered to be vital to our relationship with Elohim. The last six Commandments concern our relationship with others. This is why, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Yeshua is able to embody all ten in his short answer:

37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(Matthew 22:37–39)

[5th Commandment – Honor Your Father and Mother]

[6th Commandment – Do Not Murder]

[7th Commandment – No Adultery]

[8th Commandment – Do Not Steal]

[9th Commandment – Do Not Swear Falsely]

[10th Commandment – Do Not Covet]

Categories
Faith Torah

The Ten Commandments (they are not suggestions) – #9 (Do Not Swear Falsely)

This is an excerpt from my book, GRAFTED: Embracing Torah, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Enjoy!

The Ten Commandments (The Big Ones)

And God (Elohim) spake all these words, saying, (Exodus 20:1)

Exodus 19:25 states, “So Moses went down unto the people,
and spake unto them.” This is the third time Moses came down from
Mount Sinai (between Exodus 19:3 and Exodus 34:29, Moses goes
up to meet Elohim atop Mount Sinai and comes back down seven
times – not bad for an eighty-year-old guy).

The verse following Exodus 19:25 (Exodus 20:1) states, “God
spake all these words…” so it appears Elohim audibly spoke to all the Israelites.

This seems to be confirmed in verses 18–22:

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

The people in the valley were so shaken by the experience that
they did not want Elohim to speak to them again (I’m sure there was
a lot of reverb and pyrotechnics). The word Elohim is used because
His Message was for more than just the Israelites. This tells me that
what we refer to as the Ten Commandments are so important that
Elohim felt the need to personally tell them to His people. This is
why I wanted to start with them.

9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” (Exodus 20:16).

Don’t lie about anyone – in or outside of an official proceeding (the Word does not specify a place where we should not lie). Don’t embellish the truth either. In a February 3, 1996 Esquire magazine interview, Bob Kerrey (Democratic senator from Nebraska) spoke admiringly of the president when he said, “Clinton’s an unusually good liar. Unusually good.” This is not a skill someone should put on their résumé, nor something one should admire in someone.

We all know people like this, but the size of the lie nor the quantity of the lies is the standard. Lying is not acceptable even if it is just a fib, a white lie, a tall tale, a fiction, an aspersion, or any other cute title given for falsehoods.

I love a good “yarn,” and as a soldier, I learned the fine art of telling a story. The stories generally began with “There I was . . . .” Soldiers generally sit around eating or cleaning their weapon while waiting for something to happen or someone higher up to make a decision. It is common to pass the time telling jokes or sharing stories – and they better be good, or else.

The interesting thing about soldier stories is that they get better every time they are told. I like to tell people that if I share my exploits in Desert Storm one more time, my actions will have become so impressive that I will have won the war all by myself! I got to where I would start telling people about my achievements in the Korean War (fought seven years before my birth), and in the middle of it, I would stop and exclaim, “Oh my god, I’m having someone else’s flashback!” This is embellishment for the sake of entertainment, not to speak falsely against another person.

Today, we would refer to “bearing false witness against your neighbor” as the crime of committing perjury. Black’s Law defines perjury as this:

The willful assertion as to a matter of fact, opinion, belief, or knowledge, made by a witness in a judicial proceeding as part of his evidence, either upon oath or in any form allowed by law to be substituted for an oath, whether such evidence is given in open court, or in an affidavit, or otherwise, such assertion being known to such witness to be false, and being intended by him to mislead the court, jury, or person holding the proceeding.

This is so serious it is included in the seven things God hates:

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

(Proverbs 6:16–19)

Forms of lying are mentioned four times in the seven things (“lying tongue,” “wicked imaginations,” “false witness,” and “he that soweth discord”). Justice can never be achieved if witnesses in a matter are allowed to lie and no punishment is exacted for the falsehoods. We cannot live civilly among each other without justice.

The Word demands that we do unto false witnesses as they had intended to do against the innocent.


18 And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. (Deuteronomy 19:18–19)

[continue to the 10th Commandment – Do Not Covet]

[1st Commandment – No Other Gods]

[2d Commandment – No Graven Images]

[3d Commandment – Taking the Name of Yahweh in Vain]

[4th Commandment – Keep the Sabbath Holy]

The first four Commandments are considered to be vital to our relationship with Elohim. The last six Commandments concern our relationship with others. This is why, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Yeshua is able to embody all ten in his short answer:

37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(Matthew 22:37–39)

[5th Commandment – Honor Your Father and Mother]

[6th Commandment – Do Not Murder]

[7th Commandment – No Adultery]

[8th Commandment – Do Not Steal]

[9th Commandment – Do Not Swear Falsely]

[10th Commandment – Do Not Covet]

Categories
Faith Torah

The Ten Commandments (they are not suggestions) – #8 (Do Not Steal)

This is an excerpt from my book, GRAFTED: Embracing Torah, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Enjoy!

The Ten Commandments (The Big Ones)

And God (Elohim) spake all these words, saying, (Exodus 20:1)

Exodus 19:25 states, “So Moses went down unto the people,
and spake unto them.” This is the third time Moses came down from
Mount Sinai (between Exodus 19:3 and Exodus 34:29, Moses goes
up to meet Elohim atop Mount Sinai and comes back down seven
times – not bad for an eighty-year-old guy).

The verse following Exodus 19:25 (Exodus 20:1) states, “God
spake all these words…” so it appears Elohim audibly spoke to all the Israelites.

This seems to be confirmed in verses 18–22:

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

The people in the valley were so shaken by the experience that
they did not want Elohim to speak to them again (I’m sure there was
a lot of reverb and pyrotechnics). The word Elohim is used because
His Message was for more than just the Israelites. This tells me that
what we refer to as the Ten Commandments are so important that
Elohim felt the need to personally tell them to His people. This is
why I wanted to start with them.

8. “Thou shalt not steal” (Exodus 20:15).

Steal (Hebrew ganab. To take away by stealth or to deceive the heart or mind of any one). This is not just the physical taking of someone else’s property (surely, I do not have to explain why this is bad) but stealing also involves emotional and spiritual harm through deceit.

Have you ever known a person who was very innocent and trusting? If you act badly and the other person loses their innocence, it can be said that you stole their innocence. They will never be able to get it back.

2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend [be a stumbling block / impede] one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

(Matthew 18:2, 5–6)

We can steal someone’s reputation (their good name) through libel, slander, gossip, or humiliation – it is a particularly destructive form of theft. Unlike money or property, once a person’s good name has been stolen, it can almost never be fully restored. [Dennis Prager]

     Raymond Donovan was Secretary of Labor in the administration of Ronald Reagan.  He (and other executives of Schiavone Construction) was accused of defrauding the NYC Transit Authority on work done on the NYC subway. Donovan resigned his cabinet position and faced criminal charges lasting over two years – he was not only found not guilty by a jury, but the jurors gave him a standing ovation at the trial.  Donovan famously remarked, “Which office do I go to get my reputation back?”

     Governmental corruption is legalized theft, but it is still theft. The obvious example involves officials taking bribes to pass favorable legislation or grant exclusive privileges, but less obvious theft undermines stability and trust. Officials awarding costly grants to entities that then reward the officials with kickbacks or gifts are stealing from taxpayers to enrich the officials and their friends. Spending more than is reasonably budgeted is theft through inflation – devaluing the currency steals purchasing power from the taxpayers who find that the higher, inflated prices mean their dollars do not buy as much as the previous year.

Since jails were not as plentiful as they are today, one convicted of theft often became an indentured servant (slave) of the victim until they paid off the debt (Exodus 22:3).  The victim (unlike today’s victims) was not required to suffer loss and to also pay for the room and board of the thief while they loitered in prison.

We can even steal from Yahweh:

“Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you”

(Deuteronomy 4:2)

The traditions of men steal from the integrity of the Word. Taking away (purposely ignoring) from Yahweh’s commandments is stealing the truth.

That is exactly what the devil tries to do to us: “The thief cometh
not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10).

[continue to the 9th Commandment – Do Not Swear Falsely]

[1st Commandment – No Other Gods]

[2d Commandment – No Graven Images]

[3d Commandment – Taking the Name of Yahweh in Vain]

[4th Commandment – Keep the Sabbath Holy]

The first four Commandments are considered to be vital to our relationship with Elohim. The last six Commandments concern our relationship with others. This is why, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Yeshua is able to embody all ten in his short answer:

37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(Matthew 22:37–39)

[5th Commandment – Honor Your Father and Mother]

[6th Commandment – Do Not Murder]

[7th Commandment – No Adultery]

[8th Commandment – Do Not Steal]

[9th Commandment – Do Not Swear Falsely]

[10th Commandment – Do Not Covet]

Categories
Faith Torah

The Ten Commandments (they are not suggestions) – #7 (No Adultery)

This is an excerpt from my book, GRAFTED: Embracing Torah, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Enjoy!

The Ten Commandments (The Big Ones)

And God (Elohim) spake all these words, saying, (Exodus 20:1)

Exodus 19:25 states, “So Moses went down unto the people,
and spake unto them.” This is the third time Moses came down from
Mount Sinai (between Exodus 19:3 and Exodus 34:29, Moses goes
up to meet Elohim atop Mount Sinai and comes back down seven
times – not bad for an eighty-year-old guy).

The verse following Exodus 19:25 (Exodus 20:1) states, “God
spake all these words…” so it appears Elohim audibly spoke to all the Israelites.

This seems to be confirmed in verses 18–22:

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

The people in the valley were so shaken by the experience that
they did not want Elohim to speak to them again (I’m sure there was
a lot of reverb and pyrotechnics). The word Elohim is used because
His Message was for more than just the Israelites. This tells me that
what we refer to as the Ten Commandments are so important that
Elohim felt the need to personally tell them to His people. This is
why I wanted to start with them.

7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14).

This one is especially hurtful to Yahweh, as well as to the cheaters and the cheaters’ spouses (and the children  . . . and the relatives of the couple . . . and the friends of the couple – are you picking up on the far-reaching destructive nature of this sin?). This breaking of a solemn commitment is not necessarily sexual, though that is normally the manifestation of it and the easiest way for Satan to tempt people into ignoring an oath. Worship of Ba’al often included sex acts and temple prostitutes, so their services were much more “hip” than the rabbi reading from the Torah down at the local synagogue. Forgiveness of a genuinely contrite sinner is available, but it is not an easy thing and generally takes much time.

6 The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon
every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot. 7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou
unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her
whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

(Jeremiah 3:6–9; emphasis added)

Yahweh equates adultery with idolatry (Commandment number 1), and the Israelites generally suffered catastrophic results by condoning adultery. King David was a “man after God’s own Heart,” yet he committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then he had her husband (Uriah) murdered to hide the adultery. The result was the death of their first child (the result of the adultery) and the prophecy that “the sword shall never depart from thine house” (2 Samuel 11–12). Violence was rampant among David’s children, even to the point where his son Absalom attempted to overthrow David’s kingdom – and he nearly succeeded.

The houses of Israel and of Judah were repeatedly warned of the consequences of idolatry and adultery, yet they continued to defy Yahweh. Even after the house of Israel was conquered and carried away into Assyria (which was prophesied), the house of Judah continued whoring after Ba’al until the Babylonians later conquered them and carried them away from the land and made them slaves for 70 years.

This is a bad one.

Yeshua confirmed that this sin is not just committed by a physical act:

“27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”

(Matthew 5:27–28).

Men are much more passionate than women and much more willing to act on that passion, but when they fail to observe restraint in inappropriate situations, it can be troublesome for their relationship with a wife and with the Father.  

Proper sex evokes intimacy, not power or lewdness.  Intimacy is what Yahweh desires to have with us and what we should strive to have with Him.  Satan tries to corrupt men by making sex nothing more important than an urge that needs to be gratified or a tool to subordinate others.

The sex act should be an intimate display of the love the couple have for each other that has no equal among the couple’s many other relationships.  Denigration of the act (e.g., adultery, incest, pedophilia) is not loving – it is not a legitimate display of our physical and emotional love that is to be reserved for only the one we have committed ourselves to.

     Intimacy with Yahweh also demands that we do not degrade ourselves by giving ourselves to Him and to embracing other gods, doctrines, and/or rituals (see Chapter 7 of GRAFTED: Embracing Torah for more detail on adultery and idolatry). Because my revisions have not been completed by the publisher, I provide much of this information at my website in a blog entitled “Why Sex?“

In the new Covenant, the Law will be written in our hearts. It appears wickedness tries to take up residence there also. Avoid this one at all costs.

[continue to the 8th Commandment – Do Not Steal]

[1st Commandment – No Other Gods]

[2d Commandment – No Graven Images]

[3d Commandment – Taking the Name of Yahweh in Vain]

[4th Commandment – Keep the Sabbath Holy]

The first four Commandments are considered to be vital to our relationship with Elohim. The last six Commandments concern our relationship with others. This is why, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Yeshua is able to embody all ten in his short answer:

37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(Matthew 22:37–39)

[5th Commandment – Honor Your Father and Mother]

[6th Commandment – Do Not Murder]

[7th Commandment – No Adultery]

[8th Commandment – Do Not Steal]

[9th Commandment – Do Not Swear Falsely]

[10th Commandment – Do Not Covet]

Categories
Faith Torah

The Ten Commandments (they are not suggestions) – #6 (Do Not Murder)

This is an excerpt from my book, GRAFTED: Embracing Torah, which can be purchased on Amazon.

Enjoy!

The Ten Commandments (The Big Ones)

And God (Elohim) spake all these words, saying, (Exodus 20:1)

Exodus 19:25 states, “So Moses went down unto the people,
and spake unto them.” This is the third time Moses came down from
Mount Sinai (between Exodus 19:3 and Exodus 34:29, Moses goes
up to meet Elohim atop Mount Sinai and comes back down seven
times – not bad for an eighty-year-old guy).

The verse following Exodus 19:25 (Exodus 20:1) states, “God
spake all these words…” so it appears Elohim audibly spoke to all the Israelites.

This seems to be confirmed in verses 18–22:

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

The people in the valley were so shaken by the experience that
they did not want Elohim to speak to them again (I’m sure there was
a lot of reverb and pyrotechnics). The word Elohim is used because
His Message was for more than just the Israelites. This tells me that
what we refer to as the Ten Commandments are so important that
Elohim felt the need to personally tell them to His people. This is
why I wanted to start with them.

6. “Thou shalt not kill [murder]” (Exodus 20:12).

My soldiers asked me about this before we deployed to Desert Storm because it appears to be rather cut and dry and they were being ordered to violate it. It also appears to be a huge contradiction because the Israelites were being told to “not kill”, but later, Yahweh orders them to “utterly destroy” everyone in the land they are possessing, including the cattle and burning all the spoils (Deuteronomy 13:15).

The easy answer is that the word kill is mistranslated from the Hebrew. It is the Hebrew word ratsach that is defined as “murder.” All murder is killing, but not all killing is murder.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines murder as:

The crime committed where a person of sound mind and discretion (that is, of sufficient age to form and execute a criminal design and not legally “insane”) kills any human creature in being (excluding quick but unborn children) and in the peace of the state or nation (including all persons except the military forces of the public enemy in time of war or battle) without any warrant, justification, or excuse in law with malice aforethought, express or implied, that is, with a deliberate purpose or a design or determination distinctly formed in the mind before the commission of the act, provided that death results from the injury Inflicted within one year and a day after its infliction.

Murder requires motive and planning. It entails a cold-blooded determination to end a life and a methodical plan to achieve that end. Manslaughter is not murder because the requisite motive is not present; there was no plan to kill someone even if there was a plan to commit a crime.

Crimes of passion or negligence are normally considered manslaughter, and Yahweh provides for these by establishing “cities of refuge” (Numbers 35), where people could go to escape the revenge of the victim’s family and/or friends while they waited on the judicial system to assess the facts and render judgment.

Fighting in combat in defense of your nation is not murder (it may be expedient to take the battle to the enemy rather than wait for them to attack you on your land), unless you are doing it wrong. Oftentimes, the wrong people may get killed as part of the collateral damage of waging war. This is going to happen when people are in or near a battlefield. If someone surrenders, then they are no longer a hostile and deserve protection if it can be provided. If you target people who have surrendered, then that would be murder.

Civilians are considered combatants in most cases because they support the military of their nation. Their taxes, food, and moral support make them an active participant, and if it becomes necessary to bomb civilian areas to keep them from supporting the enemy armed forces, then this is not murder.

Yahweh destroyed the entire earth because His creation had become so irreparably corrupted. “Sons of God” (angels or devils) cohabitated with human women and created the mighty men (giants – Nephilim) of Genesis 6.

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually”

(Genesis 6:5).

There was no way to redeem this corruption, which would have ultimately destroyed the entire creation, so Yahweh decided to start over with the sole man who was “just and perfect and walked with God” (Genesis 6:9) – Noah. The Flood was necessary to save mankind and what was left of His Creation.

This corruption made it onto the Ark in the DNA of many of the survivors. It appears that the effects manifested themselves almost immediately in the offspring of Noah’s son Ham (see the notes at Genesis 9:25-26 in my commentary on Genesis, In the Beginning).

The “Noahide Laws” address the taking of life, also (Genesis 9:6).

The Nephilim (malevolent giants) and their legacy is a fascinating study, and there are many good videos about it on YouTube. Doug Hamp has written a book entitled Corrupting the Image that goes into great detail of how the Nephilim corruption could have passed into the general population after the Flood, even though all the original Nephilim died before the Flood.

Self-defense is not murder, which is why Yahweh commands His people to “utterly destroy” the people in Canaan. The Word tells us that giants inhabited the land (Numbers 13:33), meaning that the descendants of the Nephilim were still present. Eight of the ten spies (the eight fearful ones) who went into Canaan reported this:

31We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

(Numbers 13:31–33)

Joshua and Caleb did not dispute the size of the giants (estimated at thirty-six feet!). They believed they could defeat these brutes (Goliath was one, and he was only nine feet tall) with the assistance of Yahweh.

The punishment for murder is death (Exodus 21:12-15 and Numbers 35:16–19) which is to be administered by man, so Elohim could not have meant generalized killing in this verse. States that have abolished the death penalty are heaping an unfair burden on the families of the victims. Not only have they been unfairly deprived of a loved one, but they also must sacrifice their tax dollars to keep the murderer alive. It is difficult to get a state government to change their minds on the death penalty but not impossible. There are many victims’ rights groups and other organizations that you can join to effect change to a biblical standard.

[continue to the 7th Commandment – No Adultery]

[1st Commandment – No Other Gods]

[2d Commandment – No Graven Images]

[3d Commandment – Taking the Name of Yahweh in Vain]

[4th Commandment – Keep the Sabbath Holy]

The first four Commandments are considered to be vital to our relationship with Elohim. The last six Commandments concern our relationship with others. This is why, when asked what the greatest commandment is, Yeshua is able to embody all ten in his short answer:

37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

(Matthew 22:37–39)

[5th Commandment – Honor Your Father and Mother]

[6th Commandment – Do Not Murder]

[7th Commandment – No Adultery]

[8th Commandment – Do Not Steal]

[9th Commandment – Do Not Swear Falsely]

[10th Commandment – Do Not Covet]

Categories
Faith History Salvation Torah

Exodus – the Next Chapter

I started the next commentary last year. Though I am still early in the project, I wanted to post what I have.

I am very happy with the Genesis project and hope it blesses you, also.

Leave comments about either book and if they are thoughtful and scripture based, I will work them in. Feel free to ask questions, also. Being the writer does not make one a great proof-reader. There may be errors or something that is not explained as clear as I think it is. I want to publish the best work I can so your help is welcome.

This has been a slow slog, recently, because of the nature of the Tabernacle. There is significance behind everything the Father tells us to do, but I’m finding it difficult to recognize and communicate that significance. He spent a lot of ink on it, so it means much more than I am seeing. I’m praying revelation will help me around this obstacle,

Enjoy!

Enjoy!

20260207 – Exodus (PB)cDownload

Categories
Faith Salvation

Free From Tribulation?

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:14

Most Churches teach that believing Christians will be “raptured” off the planet before the Great Tribulation begins – A teaching I believed and taught for many years.

No one wants to go through affliction, especially a “great” affliction. A majority of our lives and our income are spent making our lives a tribulation-free zone. We endeavor to have nice homes with running water, flushing toilets, comfy beds, thermostats, and hot-water heaters.

Grocery stores have so much food that we plant flower gardens rather than food gardens.

I’m all for comfort – I spend much on the amenities of life, but I am preparing myself for the discomfort the Word says is coming.

Jacob suffered affliction; Joseph suffered affliction; Job suffered affliction; David suffered affliction. Nearly all the prophets are reported to have suffered affliction. All the Apostles suffered torture and death for their beliefs, except for John, who was given a comfy Roman prison to live out the rest of his life.

Christ was unjustly persecuted, tortured, and assassinated.

Comfort tends to make us believe we are our own savior, to forget that we have a purpose. Affliction brings us back to a heavenly savior.

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Psalm 119:67, 71

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent

Revelation 3:17, 19

Because comfort is universally desired over affliction, we bend the Scriptures to appease our desires, even though Christ specially told his disciples (which applies to us, also, if we seek to be his disciples) that they would face persecution.

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

John 15:18-20 (see also, Matthew 10:22)

When everyone in the Bible is facing affliction for their deeply held belief in the Father and His son, why would we assume that there is an option for us to avoid pain and suffering – especially when Satan is committing his last great act of defiance?

Christ faced unjust persecution and torture. We are told to be like Christ:

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1Peter 2:21

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1John 2:6

We are not called to seek out affliction and suffering, but if we follow the example of Christ, it will find us.

Christ taught the multitudes (at the sermon on the mount):

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Matthew 7:13

Why would many chose a path that leads to destruction?

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:14

Why is this way hidden? It is hidden because we seek to “bend God’s Word to fit our lives.”

What did Christ tell them:

      Because strait (stenos / sten-os’ [G4728] narrow – from obstacles standing close about – strait) is the gate,

The gate is narrow, not the path:

and narrow (thlibo / thlee’-bo [G2346] akin to the base of 5147; to crowd (literally or figuratively):–afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble) is the way, which leadeth unto life,

The path is linked to suffering and affliction. Who chooses such a path?

and few (oligos / ol-ee’-gos [G3641] of uncertain affinity; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat:–+ almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while) there be that find it.

“few” refers to both the number of people and the time available. Few will enter in salvation and the time to repent and change is diminishing.

Faith in the Father is declining rapidly.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/22/us-churches-closing-religion-covid-christianity

In an appeal to dwindling attendance, the churches are competing to be the most inclusive, and must therefore repudiate the Word that makes its new parishioners uncomfortable.

The younger generations are not being taught the Father’s directions. Faith is unintelligible, obedience is unimportant, and doctrine is changed at the whim of man. It is no wonder the youth of today are unimpressed by the churches. Who would want to stand with a group that stands for nothing . . . and that nothing becomes less nothing with each new influencer and each new government mandate.

Telling people that “God loves them just the way they are” does not promote self-improvement and hides the fact that Christ will return as a judge. Any guesses as to the standard he will use to judge us?

He ate with sinners, but he did not condone their sinful behavior. He told the woman caught in the act of adultery, “go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

What is “sin”? Is there a universal standard?

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1John 2:4

Maybe we should stop thinking and teaching that it is something we can decide for ourselves (which is a major reason for the rise in lawlessness in our land).

Tribulation is coming. You are not going to be sucked up into the air to escape it. You need to decide whether you will bend yourself to the truth of the Word of God or whether you will join the many that are distorting the Word and promoting lawlessness.

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Revelation 22:14, 18-19
Categories
Faith Prescribed Holy Days Salvation Torah

Sabbath, No More?

Is Paul telling us that Torah observance is done away with because of Christ’s death and resurrection?

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17

Dispensational preachers are teaching this view.  John MacArthur is a good example of this type of preacher:

Don’t let anybody hold you to a Sabbath. And that’s referring to the weekly Sabbath, because the other festival Sabbaths are covered under the term “festival and new moon.” Don’t let anybody hold you to the Sabbath. It was part of the system that included the temple, the priesthood, the sacrifices. It’s gone. It was only the shadow, not the substance [ …] Paul is saying, you no longer need the shadow, you have the substance.

John MacArthur, “Understanding the Sabbath.” Grace to You. www.gty.org

Though this is the view of a vast majority of today’s churches, what was Paul’s witness when he wrote this letter?

  • Throughout the New Testament, we see that Paul regularly attended and participated in the synagogue services on the Sabbath 16:13; 17:2 18:4)

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Acts 13:14. 44

13 And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.

Acts 16:13

2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

Acts 17:2
  • Luke records that Paul’s “custom” was to worship on the Sabbath (Acts 17:2) – why was it his custom if Sabbath was done away with.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

Acts 18:4
  • We see Paul expressing a desire to be in Jerusalem for the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

Acts 20:16

     Shavuot was one of the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Pentecost, and Sukkot) that the Hebrews were instructed to attend in the place where “the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name” (Initially, the Tabernacle, then later, Solomon’s Temple).

14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. 15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) 16 And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.

Exodus 23:14-17

5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee: 6 But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt.

10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks [Pentecost – seven weeks after Passover] unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.

13 Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

Deuteronomy 16:5-6, 10-11, 13-15

      Why is Paul diligently trying to get to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost, if Christ did away with the Law with his death and resurrection?        

Paul admonishes the Colossians to walk as Christ did and beware of the “traditions of men”, which are not according to Christ:

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him [see also, 1John 2:6] 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:6-8

The Pharisees (the sect that Paul had been a prominent member of) and the Sadducees taught the ‘oral law’ (Talmud) which was based on the Torah, but it had many additions and other changes that were not from Yahweh. 

2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32)

Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32

This Talmudic tradition became an evil substitute for salvation through faith and focused on Talmudic works.

18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head [Christ], from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Colossians 2:18-22
  • That description does not apply to the Sabbath, festivals, and dietary laws. Those things were not human teachings; they were commanded by Yahweh.
  •   But we know that Christ affirmed every iota and dot of the Torah as having enduring authority in the lives of his followers (Matthew 5:18).

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17-19

“Fulfilled” – pleroo / play-ro’-o [G4137] to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:–accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.

Strong’s Greek Concordance; James Strong

Christ came to “fully preach” the Law, as opposed to the Talmud, which was separating believers from faith.  Those that teach against the Law, “shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven”.

He also proclaimed, “till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law” – heaven and earth have not passed, so the Law still applies or Christ was wrong (if so, was he wrong about anything, else?)

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Colossians 2:8

Man’s philosophy and traditions are deceitful – those of Yahweh, as practiced by Yeshua are not.

You scoff at our philosophy as though living by it were irrational, but it teaches us self-control, so that we master all pleasures and desires, and it also trains us in courage, so that we endure any suffering willingly.

4Maccabees 5:22-23, RSV

The Colossian Heresy:  The doctrine influencing the Colossian believers could be considered a type of philosophy, but according to Paul it is “empty deceit.” It doesn’t actually deliver what it promises.

  •   Paul says it is ‘of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh’ (Colossians 2:23).
  •   Another problem with this false teaching is that it is “according to human tradition and from Paul’s perspective, mere human teachings are useless in overcoming the power of sin (Colossians 2:22-23).
  •   It appears that the false teachers at Colossae were enamored with cosmic authorities, supernatural powers over nature, and angels (Colossians 2:8, 15, 18, 20).  They exalted and feared these spiritual entities, believing them to have control over the universe and their destinies.  These superstitions were also combined with religious practices, including biblical holy days.
  •   In practice, this false philosophy strictly regulated foods, drinks, and festivals (2:16) and involved ascetic rituals and worship of angels (2:18-23).  By adhering to the practices and regulations of these false teachers, people believed they could attain wisdom and be protected from the evil spirits that troubled them.

At the end of the first century, during the time of Trajan (A.D. 98-117), a Christian leader named Elchasai combined aspects of Jewish nomism (circumcision and law observance) with astrological beliefs; magical practices; and pagan cult traditions. The resultant syncretistic teaching emphasized the hostility of the stars (viewed as angels) and the need to regulate one’s life according to the calendar (especially the Sabbath and the courses of the moon) […] Colossae was certainly not afflicted by the teaching of Elchasai, but “the philosophy” bore many similarities. At the minimum, the example of Elchasai points to emerging forms of localized syncretistic Christianity at an early stage. The Elchasaite teaching also demonstrates how a magical/astrological interpretation of sabbaths could surface in early Christianity.

Clinton E. Arnold, The Colossian Syncretism: The Interface between Christianity and Folk Belief at Colossae (Grand Rapids, Ml: Baker Books, 1996), pp. 217-218

A big problem with this mystical false teaching is that it ultimately resulted in minimizing the Messiah’s exalted position as the head from whom the body derives its life (Colossians 2:18-19).

The preeminence of the Messiah:

  •   Paul teaches that the Messiah is the real embodiment of wisdom and knowledge (Co1ossians 2:2-3).
  •   Messiah is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). That is, God’s full character is embodied in Messiah (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:3).
  •   Messiah is “the firstborn of all creation” {Colossians 1:15), which is an Old Testament title expressing royal status and authority (Psalm 89:27).
  •   It was by, through, and for Messiah that “all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (Colossians 1:16). Importantly, the invisible creations in heaven would include angelic beings. Paul’s point is that Messiah, the one by whom, through whom, and for whom all things were created, has authority and power over all created things in heaven and on earth.
  •   Messiah is “before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1 :17). That is, Messiah has priority in terms of time and rank, and he is the sustainer of the universe (cf. Hebrews 1:3). Paul hopes to encourage the Colossian believers not to try to find coherence in the universe by turning to angels. Messiah is the one who holds all things together.
  •   Messiah is also “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18; 2:10, 18-19). That is, he is the lord over the church as well as its source of life: ” … the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God” (Colossians 2:19).
  •   Messiah is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1 :18). The Messiah’s resurrection has inaugurated the kingdom – his resurrection being the “firstfruits,” assuring us of the full harvest to come at the end of the age (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23). In the meantime, the Messiah exercises his rule through his body, the church.
  •   The Messiah is one in whom “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Colossians 1:19; 2:9).

For Israel the keeping of these holy days was evidence of obedience to God’s law and a sign of her election among the nations. At Colossae, however, the sacred days were to be kept for the sake of the “elemental spirits of the universe,” those astral powers who directed the course of the stars and relegated the order of the calendar. So Paul is not condemning the use of sacred days or seasons as such; it is the wrong motive involved when the observance of these days is bound up with the recognition of the elemental spirits.

Peter T. O’Brien, Word Biblical Commentary: Colossians, Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1982), p. 139

In conclusion:

  •   A contextual understanding of these verses implies that Paul does not regard things like the Sabbath and festivals as unimportant.  He condemns only an improper observance of these laws in connection with mystical false teachings that downplay Messiah and his work.
  •   Once again, the problem was with human precepts and teachings, not God’s commandments themselves (Colossians 2:8, 22).
  •   But when we observe these parts of the Torah appropriately, with a focus on the Messiah and his work of redemption, there’s no problem.
  • Verse 16 declares the opposite of what is taught, today.  He was telling the Colossians not to let people falsely judge them for keeping the ordinances of the Torah (without the mystical rituals the leaders were adding).

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Colossians 2:16-17

If Christ did away with Torah, they would not be a “shadow of things to come”, because Christ already came.  They were still to look forward to the things that are to come (after the Millineal Kingdom, when the present heaven and earth pass away).  Recognizing the substance that these “shadows” point to ought to make us value them that much more!

Torah will still be kept in the Millineal Kingdom. Does it make sense that the Law would be kept for 4000 years, done away with for 2000 years, and then reinstituted again for 1000? Especially when Yahweh and Yeshua both affirmed the Law is forever?

Just Do It and find a preacher who is not changing the Law to fit their values. The Law was given to change us!

Categories
Faith Salvation

Slow to Anger, Quick to Judge

Why does Yahweh drown the world, destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and swallow up large groups of Israelites during the wilderness wanderings?  Were these incidents worse than what the Nazis and Communists committed in the last century?

What was it that inflamed the anger of Yahweh to personally extinguish these ancient miscreants and why doesn’t He act accordingly, today?  Is He different, today?

If Yahweh is righteous, then He must judge.  A judge may have mercy, but if they exercise only mercy, then there is no justice.

Elohim judges Adam and Eve and evicts them from the Garden.  He does not do this in anger, rather He judges it is better for man to die and be resurrected in a new body than to live eternally in a sinful body.  Adam and Eve must be separated from the Tree of Life for their own good (see my blog Tree of Life vs Everlasting Life).

Righteous judgment can only be made from an established standard and the equal and uniform enforcement of the standard is a measure of justice.  We enter into contracts and treaties – demanding that the conditions of these instrument be adhered to, but not all standards are agreed upon arrangements.

A child does not ask to be born and it is not consulted when the parents decide upon the guidelines that must be followed in their home.  When a parent judges that a child has broken the rules, then the parent disciplines the child to re-enforce them to the standard to be obeyed.

When a child plays in the street or with an electric socket, the parent may scold the child. Repetition of the offense may require more stern measures be taken – not out of anger, but out of a desire to ensure the child does not suffer serious injury or death.

Yahweh created life and set a standard for living it.  We were not consulted, but as adults we are given the opportunity to embrace a covenant with the Creator.  He has set a standard for life and for salvation and there is a consequence for refusing to follow those standards.

Not every bad thing that happens is Yahweh’s ‘righteous repercussion’.  Many falsely blame the Father for the consequences of their own actions.

It was often said (and is probably still repeated) that, “HIV is God’s judgment on homosexuals”.  This claim is ridiculous for several reasons:

  • Some people who have never committed homosexuality have gotten HIV,
  • Not all homosexuals get HIV, and
  • Not all who get HIV die of AIDs.

If HIV is ‘god’s judgment’, then He is a poor and arbitrary judge.

Some desire an adrenaline rush by parachuting from a plane.  To others, that’s not enough of a rush, so they BASE (Buildings, Antennas, Spans [bridges], and Earth) jump.  BASE jumping is forty-three times more likely to result in death than is jumping from a plane (most-dangerous-sports-in-the-world).  We have the freedom of our actions, but not of the consequences of them.

In the same way, promiscuous, homosexual behavior is the largest contributing factor to getting HIV, so the disease is largely conditional on human behavior rather than a heavenly transmitted judgment.

Driving a car has perils associated with it . . . driving drunk has numerous additional hazards.  Our bad behavior has consequences, but not every time and not always to the same level.

When Yahweh destroyed the world by flood, the consequence was the same for all.  He didn’t, however, decide one day that He needed to destroy the Earth and start over.

5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Genesis 6:5-7

The Word tells us, in Genesis 6:3, that Yahweh will flood the Earth 120 years after He has rendered His judgment.  Yes, time was needed for an ark to be built (estimated at 70 – 75 years), but it was also a time for mankind to repent of their wickedness if they so desired . . . which they did not.

Abram was promised that the land of Canaan would be given to his ancestors, but not for many hundreds of years.  Why so long?

13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

Genesis 15:13-16

Yahweh did not condemn the Amorites to extinction, yet.  They were given time to repent, which they did not do.

The same verses speak to the judging of Egypt (which is not named here).  Yahweh decreed numerous plagues before he stuck down the first born.  They had numerous opportunities to repent and did not.

One nation that did repent was Nineveh.  Jonah was commanded by Yahweh to preach in Nineveh, but he didn’t want to because he knew of the prophecy that in the future, Nineveh would become great and defeat Israel.

Jonah boarded a ship that would take him away from Nineveh, believing he could hide from Yahweh and Nineveh would be destroyed because of their wickedness.  When the ship he was on was besieged by a huge storm, Jonah convinced the folks onboard that he was the reason for the storm and that it would end if they threw him overboard – so they did.

The storm ceased and Jonah was swallowed by a whale that swam to Nineveh and vomited him up unto the beach three days later.  Unlike the story of Pinocchio, it is impossible to survive even fifteen minutes inside a huge fish.  Yeshua alludes to this when he refers to Jonah in Matthew 12:40.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. 5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

Jonah 3:4-5, 10

The consequence of sin is everlasting death, but, if you are still alive (hard for you to be reading this if you weren’t), then your sentence has not been finalized, yet.  There is time, but no one knows how much time they have.

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

Ezekiel 18:21-23

Sin (lawlessness) hurts the sinner and, collaterally, the believers.  This is why Paul tells the believers to excommunicate unrepentant sinners in their community (1Corinthians 5).  Failure to judge signals that the community acquiesces to the sin, making it more likely to be repeated by others.

His anger against those that violate His Law will not be restrained indefinitely.  Repent while there is time (see my blogs, Born Again? and Born Again, Part 2).

If you love people, do not encourage them to sin.  It is not “courageous” to commit sin.  It is not okay to premeditatedly kill ‘a clump of tissue’.  It is not praiseworthy to celebrate pagan festivals by claiming they are somehow linked to Jesus (see my blog, Really Awful Worship).

We are to judge each other (anyone who tells you, “only God can judge me”, is ignoring the numerous scriptures that command us to judge and is probably doing something they know is wrong) to the standard of the Word – not for condemnation, but to reclaim a lost soul.

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. 25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. 27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Ezekiel 18:24-28, 32

Turn – live.

If you are unaware of Yahweh’s standards (unfortunately, an overwhelming number of Christian churches do not teach the Torah in favor of a blasphemy called “dispensationalism”), I have written an easy reference guide that you may find useful. 

GRAFTED: Embracing Torah is not a substitute for you delving into the Word for yourself, but it can kick-start your studies.

Categories
Faith History Torah

Peter Warned Us

Christians claim that Paul ‘clearly writes that the Law is done away with through Yeshua.’  If fact all of Christianity is based on the ‘clear’ understanding that Paul taught there is a new doctrine and a new covenant.

Yet Peter (who got the same revelations) tells us that Paul’s letters are “hard to understand” and that ignorant and unstable people twist his words to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-17).  Peter lived at the same time as Paul – they shared the same language, customs, and faith, so we can assume that he knew Paul better than we do, so if Peter said that Paul’s words on the law of God were difficult to understand, then his words on the law of God are indeed difficult to understand.

We have no reason to doubt Peter’s first hand testimony about Paul’s letters in the first century.  Peter obviously read those letters and knew the subject matter intimately.  Who are we to say anything different 2,000 years of history and culture removed?  Paul certainly did not become any easier to understand.  So using Paul to say that “we are not under the law of God” is nothing new . . . Peter already warned us some 2,000 years ago about that error, and in fact, he called it the error of lawless people.  So let us begin examining some of the reasons Paul is so difficult to understand.

We should want to be very careful in understanding Paul in matters of the law of God. It is very easy to make Paul appear as though he is contradicting himself. Thus, there are at least six problems we all should attempt to avoid in our reading of Paul.  Meaning anytime we read Paul, to take Peter’s warning into consideration, we want to make sure that we do the following to avoid the six common problems in understanding him.

1) We need to examine the back of the Bible in light of the front of the Book. The Bible constantly reuses Biblical terms that are already defined for us if we are willing to seek them out. We need to examine the Bible holistically, and not ignore what was already written in the Word.  Remember, there was no “New Testament” in the time of Paul.

2) We need to make sure that we are not verse plucking out of Paul’s letters. Paul’s teachings bring in the wealth of knowledge he acquired over decades of learning – he did not dabble in sound-bites.  We also need to remember that a letter is a letter and is intended to be read from front to back. We also need to recognize that the letters are not to us, but to a specific group of people with specific problems.

3) We also need to not place so much trust in man. Just because our favorite teacher, pastor, etc., gives their own opinion on how to understand Paul, that does not mean you should not challenge that perspective and Test Everything. Even in the first century, Peter mentioned that self-proclaimed teachers and experts were making the same mistake of using Paul to teach against the Law of God. We do not want to fall into the same trap, especially since Peter specifically warned us beforehand.

4) We also need to realize, that just like there are popular debates today, there were popular debates that were occurring in the first century. There were Jewish sects and denominations each with their own corrupted views of the Scriptures. Many times, Paul is teaching against a particular Jewish sect, and their doctrine, not the Law of God. This is revealed using historical evidence, and even Paul’s own letters.

5) All of us have a past, preconceived ideas and glasses that we use to read the Scriptures. We need to be aware of those glasses, and be willing to take them off to see the Scriptures with our own eyes, to understand what the Bible really says. Sometimes this involves goings slow and taking a deep breath. Sometimes the best approach is to assume nothing, and Test Everything.

6) Lastly, we need to understand that Paul uses the word “law” in many different contexts and ways, at least six different ways:

(1) the Law of Sin (Romans 7:23-25)

(2) the Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:12)

(3) the Law of Faith (Romans 3:27)

(4) the Law of Righteousness (Romans 9:31)

(5) the Law of God (Romans 3:31; 7:22-25; 8:17)

(6) the Law of Christ (Romans 8:2; 1Corinthians 9:21)

       We need to understand which “law” Paul is writing about; use context to define these laws; and understand how they relate, or don’t relate to us in the faith.

119 Ministries has a wonderful, multi-video, in-depth examination of Paul and his writing entitled, “The Pauline Paradox”.  Make the time.

https://www.119ministries.com/teachings/video-teachings/