Paul the pharisee vs. YAHUSHA On YHWH's Torah
Paul’s letters are viewed by the overwhelming majority of those in the religion of Christianity as the primary Scriptural justification for abandoning the Torah of our Heavenly Father. In Messianic Judaism, it is affirmed that YAHUSHA is the Messiah, & that we must keep our Heavenly Father’s Torah. Unfortunately even in the Messianic movement, Paul’s letters are largely seen as amazing rabbinical Torah commentary which is simply horribly misunderstood by pretty much everyone else in Christianity. Is that really the case? Did Paul really teach that our Heavenly Father’s Torah should be kept?
It is true that Paul did say positive things about the Torah. Romans 3:31, Romans 6:15, & Romans 7:12 are all examples of positive things Paul specifically said about our Heavenly Father’s Torah; yet, they are all written in the context of subtle or blatant attacks on our Heavenly Father’s Torah. Prior to Paul claiming to “establish the law” in Romans 3:31; Paul claimed in Romans 3:28 that a man is “justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” In Romans 6:14-15, Paul claims that we should eschew sin, even though he states twice in those very same verses that we “are not under the law”.
Romans 3:31
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 6:15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Romans 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Romans 7:12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Romans 7:6
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Galatians 3:23-25
But before faith came, we were kept under the Law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 5:18
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law.
Similarly, Paul proclaims our Heavenly Father’s law & commandment(s) as being holy, just, & good in Romans 7:12. Yet he had just previously claimed in Romans 7:6 that, “now we are delivered from the law... that we should serve in newness of spirit, & not in the oldness of the letter.”
Yes, Paul did occasionally say positive things about the Torah. However the general theme of his letters overall is that while the Torah may be good, holy, & just; our Heavenly Father’s Torah is simply not applicable to, or authoritative over gentile believers. The following verses are also all examples of Paul’s teachings against the Torah of our Heavenly Father.
In 2 Corinthians 3:6-11, Paul identifies two things as being glorious; Moses’ face & “the ministration of death, written & engraven stones”, which is clearly a blasphemous reference to the Ten Commandments of our Heavenly Father’s Torah. He immediately states that the glory of Moses’ face was to be done away; so the glory of Moses’ face is dealt with, dismissed, & done. Paul then refers to the Torah again as the “ministration of condemnation”, once more acknowledging it as glorious; but claiming that the ministration of the spirit & righteousness was exceeding it in glory. He concludes, “if that which is done away” was glorious, referring to the “ministration of death & condemnation”; “much more that which remaineth is glorious”, referring to the ministration of spirit & righteousness. Thus Paul in his typically serpentine & circuitous fashion claims that YHWH’s Ten Commandments/Torah have been done away.
2 Corinthians 3:6-11
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
In regards to Paul’s characterization of our Heavenly Father’s Torah as a “ministration of death”; in Deuteronomy 4:1-2, Moses tells us that we are to keep our Heavenly Father’s instructions that we may live. Furthermore, we are prohibited from adding to or taking away from our Heavenly Father’s instructions in this same passage! In Deuteronomy 5:33, we are again advised to observe & do all the instructions of our Heavenly Father, that we may live. In Leviticus 18:5, our Heavenly Father tells us very plainly that we are to keep His instructions, that we may live! Isn’t it extremely arrogant, insolent, & deceptive of Paul the Pharisee to refer to our Heavenly Father’s Torah as a “ministration of death” when our Heavenly Father repeatedly tells us that we are to keep His Torah that we may live?
Deuteronomy 4:1-2
Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which YHWH Elohim of your fathers giveth you. 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 YHWH your Elohim which I command you.
Deuteronomy 5:33
Ye shall walk in all the ways which YHWH your Elohim hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.
Leviticus 18:5
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am YHWH.
In 2 Corinthians 3:6-11, Paul is clearly implying & insinuating that our Heavenly Father’s Torah is “done away”. Nevertheless, Paul was forced to maintain some degree of ambiguity when attacking the Torah of our Heavenly Father for fear of being dragged outside & stoned to death as a false prophet. Deuteronomy 13:5 specifically identifies anyone who tries to “thrust you out of the way” from which YHWH our Elohim commanded us to walk in as a false prophet. In repeatedly writing, insinuating, & implying that our Heavenly Father’s Torah is done away, Paul the Pharisee is definitely in violation of Deuteronomy 13:5.
Deuteronomy 13:5
And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from YHWH your Elohim, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which YHWH thy Elohim commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
Similarly in Galatians 3:23-25, Paul claims that the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ for justification by faith. Once that faith is arrived, Paul claims we are “no longer under” the schoolmaster of our Heavenly Father’s law, or Torah! In Galatians 5:18, Paul claims that "if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the Law", or Torah of our Heavenly Father! Again in Romans 6:14-15, even while Paul appears to be warning against sin; he nevertheless twice repeats his claim that we are not under the law, but under grace!
While Messianic Paulinists may deny, debate, & obfuscate over the clear meaning of these shocking passages, the fact of the matter is that Paul clearly taught that the Torah of our Heavenly Father has no authority over believers in Master YAHUSHA. The absolutely irrefutable proof texts of Paul’s antinomian position are found in 1 Corinthians 6:12 & 1 Corinthians 10:23. In these passages, Paul claims four times that all things are lawful for him, & by extension for all of us. These are clearly false claims regardless of whether one considers them from spiritual or civil/secular perspectives. From a spiritual perspective, the only way all things could be lawful for Paul is for the Torah of our Heavenly Father to have been abolished or destroyed.
1 Corinthians 6:12
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
The clear message of the Pauline passages above is that while perhaps the Torah may be good, holy, & just; our Heavenly Father’s Torah is simply not applicable to, or authoritative over believers in YAHUSHA. Messianic Paulinists will undoubtedly strain at gnats & swallow camels all day every day to deny the plain meaning of the above verses & others like it, in which Paul clearly tells gentile believers that they are “not under the law”, & that as a result, “all things are lawful”.
In regard to Paul’s false teachings that we are not “under the law”, & that “all things are lawful”, the Scriptures are very clear that our Heavenly Father’s Torah is for everyone that loves our Creator, & wants to serve Him. When our Heavenly Father led the children of Israel out of bondage in the land of Egypt, the Scriptures tell us in Exodus 12:38 that He brought a “mixed multitude” out with the children of Israel. This mixed multitude were not physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. They were not part of the Abrahamic covenant that the children of Israel were a party to. As a result, they were considered strangers. Yet, they were still expected to keep the same instructions & Torah as the children of Israel.
Exodus 12:38
And a mixed multitude went up also with them...
This mixed multitude ultimately became grafted into the children of Israel. Nevertheless, the Scriptures continue to instruct us that strangers or gentiles who seek to serve our Heavenly Father must keep the exact same instructions & Torah as the children of Israel.
Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 24:22, & Numbers 15:16 all clearly specify that the same Torah is for the children of Israel & for the “strangers” that seek to serve our Heavenly Father. In other words, any gentile that seeks to serve our Heavenly Father must keep His instructions, law, or Torah. In addition, the Scriptures warn us repeatedly that we are not to try to add to or take away from the instructions of our Heavenly Father in Deuteronomy 4:2, & Deuteronomy 12:32.
Exodus 12:49
One Law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Leviticus 24:22
Ye shall have one manner of Law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am YHWH your Elohim.
Numbers 15:15-16
One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before YHWH. One Law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
Deuteronomy 4:2
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 YHWH your Elohim which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Many in the religion of Christianity are taught that our Heavenly Father’s Torah is no longer binding in the New Covenant, as a result of Paul’s false teachings. Yet the Scriptural definition of the New Covenant is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34. In this passage, our Heavenly Father tells us that He is making a New Covenant with the Houses of Israel & of Yahudah. In this New Covenant, He will write His Torah on our hearts! Our Heavenly Father’s Torah is literally at the heart of the New Covenant He is making with the Houses of Israel & Yahudah. For someone to insist that he or she is not under the authority of our Heavenly Father’s Torah, that person is effectively rejecting their part in YHWH’s New Covenant!
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel & with the house of Yahudah: Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My Covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YHWH: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YHWH, I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YHWH: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Paul’s teachings that we are “not under the law” & that “all things are lawful” are absolutely false. Yet Paulinists will get into such a frenzy trying to save their favorite pharisee from any critical examination of his letters, that they will even go so far as attacking our Savior YAHUSHA’s teachings in extremely misguided attempts to save their beloved pharisee Paul. They will even claim that YAHUSHA taught against aspects of the Torah, just like pharisee Paul did. To attack YAHUSHA’s teachings by claiming that He taught against our Heavenly Father’s Torah, is really attacking YAHUSHA!
Although Paulinists can only cite three or four passages in this regard, all of them are deliberately misconstrued. In regards to the Sabbath, John 5:1-18, Matthew 12:10-21, Mark 3:1-7, & Luke 6:6-11 are often cited. In these passages, YAHUSHA healed someone on the Sabbath day. The religious leaders hated YAHUSHA because they were jealous of Him, & were basically searching for any excuse to bring false accusations against Him.
The simple fact of the matter is that there is simply not one instruction, statute, ordinance, or Commandment in our Heavenly Father’s Torah that prohibits either healing or being healed on the Sabbath! Consequently, it is extremely clear that Adonai YAHUSHA absolutely did not break the Fourth Commandment by healing on the Sabbath!!!!!
Just as the religious leaders of YAHUSHA's time sought to falsely accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath Commandment by healing on the Sabbath, Paulinists to this very day falsely accuse Him of the same thing. However, in Matthew 12:11-12, YAHUSHA makes it very clear that to heal on the Sabbath day is perfectly lawful. Consequently, anyone today who accuses YAHUSHA on breaking the Sabbath is making a false accusation against Him, which is most unfortunate for the false accusers!
Matthew 12:11-12
And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.
In John 5:1-18, YAHUSHA did instruct the impotent man he healed to take up his “bed” & walk. This is clearly a mistranslation as it is extremely unlikely that the “impotent man” had moved a mattress, box springs, & bed frame with its linens, sheets, & pillows all out by the pool as he waited for the waters to be stirred for his healing. It is much more likely that his “bed” was just a sleeping mat made of bamboo or fabric. Such a mat would weigh probably less than a few ounces, & carrying it would certainly not violate the prohibition against bearing a burden or working on the Sabbath. To accuse YAHUSHA of breaking the Sabbath by advising the “impotent man” to take up his “mat” & walk, is like accusing everyone of breaking the Sabbath by simply lifting up their Scriptures or Torah scrolls on the Sabbath!
Paulinists similarly point to Matthew 12:1-9, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5 as verses in which the pharisees accused His disciples of breaking the Sabbath day. YAHUSHA refuted their false accusations by reminding them how David & his companions entered the house of Elohim to eat the shewbread; which was not lawful for them to eat, but was only meant for the priests. He also reminded them that priests in the temple work on the Sabbath, or profane the Sabbath; & are blameless. He continued with the the remarkable statement that the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. In concluding, He then identified Himself as the Master of the Sabbath! The scribes & pharisees subsequently dropped their false accusation!
YAHUSHA refuted the false accusation that his disciples had broken the Sabbath day. Matthew 26:59-61, Mark 14:1, Mark 14:55-59, & John 11:53 all indicate that the scribes & Pharisees were conspiring & seeking false witnesses to justify putting YAHUSHA to death. Had the Pharisees ever witnessed YAHUSHA breaking the Sabbath, they could have very simply accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. They could subsequently have Him put to death; as the penalty for violating or profaning the Sabbath is death(Exodus 31:14-15, Exodus 35:2). The very fact that they were seeking witnesses to make false accusations against Him indicates that even those seeking to accuse Him falsely all basically acknowledged that YAHUSHA never broke the Sabbath!
Exodus 31:14-15
Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is kodesh unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, kodesh to YHWH: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
Exodus 35:2
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a kodesh day, a Sabbath of rest to YHWH: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.
Matthew 26:59-61
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Yahusha, to put Him to death; But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
Mark 14:1
After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by craft, and put Him to death.
Mark 14:55-59
And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against YAHUSHA to put him to death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, -- We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did their witness agree together.
John 11:53
Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
Paulinists also cite Matthew 15:1-20 & Mark 7:1-23 to falsely claim that YAHUSHA taught against the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11. Specifically, they stress Matthew 15:16-18 & Mark 7:18-23 to show that YAHUSHA taught that it isn’t what a person eats that defiles them, as whatever we eat is broken down with the wastes being expelled by the digestive tract. Rather, it is the evil thoughts that come out of a person’s heart that makes the person unclean. Of course what YAHUSHA is saying in these verses absolutely true & one hundred percent correct, yet in no way did He dispute or refute the dietary restrictions or guidelines of Leviticus 11.
Matthew 15:16-20
And YAHUSHA said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Mark 7:18-23
And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, -- That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
It must be remembered that YAHUSHA was speaking to a crowd of ultra-orthodox scribes & pharisees who hopefully would never have dreamt of violating the instructions of Leviticus 11. YAHUSHA told them that it’s the wicked thoughts that come from out of our hearts that defiles us. They understood that even though someone may only eat foods that were acceptable according to Leviticus 11; if that person entertained wicked thoughts, that person would still be defiling themselves by their wicked thoughts.
Also, the scribes & pharisees didn’t accuse YAHUSHA’s disciples of violating the Torah’s dietary instructions of Leviticus 11. Instead, the disciples were only accused of eating with unwashed hands, in violation of the “tradition of the elders”. This of course prompted YAHUSHA to rebuke them for violating the Commandments of Elohim with their traditions. His criticism of the religious authorities of His day remains 100% valid for the religious authorities of today in Christianity. From a discussion about why His disciples were eating with unwashed hands, Paulinists take YAHUSHA’s words of Matthew 15:16-18 & Mark 7:18-23 out of context, in order to bolster their false Paulinist belief that the dietary instructions of Leviticus 11 are no longer in effect.
Furthermore, Peter’s vision of Acts 10 reveals that His disciples also completely understood that YAHUSHA never taught against the dietary restrictions or guidelines of Leviticus 11. The sheet from Heaven descended with all manner of beasts & creeping things; then the voice from Heaven told Peter to rise, kill, & eat. Peter responded that he had never eaten anything common or unclean! This illustrates perfectly that YAHUSHA never condoned the eating of anything prohibited by Leviticus 11!
Paulinists will even shamelessly try to twist the meaning of Matthew 22:34-40 to try to support their paulinist beliefs. When asked by a lawyer which is the great(est) Commandment, YAHUSHA identifies the Command that we are to love YHWH our Elohim with all our heart, soul, & mind as the greatest Commandment. He said the second is similar. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. YAHUSHA concludes his reponse by saying that on these two Commandments hang all the Torah & the prophets.
Matthew 22:34-40
But when the Pharisees had heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? -- Yahusha said unto him, Thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Paulinists attempt to fashion Matthew 22:40 into a "Law of Christ" substitution of “Love God, & love your neighbor as yourself” for the entire Torah; thereby attempting to do away with the Sabbath, the dietary guidelines of Leviticus 11, YHWH’s feasts, etc. all in one fell swoop!
However, the lawyer’s question was, “Master, which is the great commandment in the Torah/Law?”. YAHUSHA’s response that we are to love YHWH & our neighbors, are instructions already contained in YHWH’s Torah! The Command to love YHWH is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5; & the Command to love our neighbors as ourselves comes from Leviticus 19:18. YAHUSHA was simply highlighting these two Torah commandments as the foundational goals of the entire Torah & Prophets. Any attempt to substitute “Love God & love your neighbor” for the entire Torah is simply not correct.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, O Israel: YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is One: And thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am YHWH.
Deuteronomy 4:2
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 YHWH your Elohim which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Deuteronomy 4:2 & Deuteronomy 12:32 repeatedly warns us that we are not to add to or take away from the Torah of our Heavenly Father! Clearly, the Paulinist attempt to use YAHUSHA’s words in Matthew 22:34-40 as a way of doing away with YHWH’s Torah is a most unfortunate & cynical twisting of Scripture to suit their own false Paulinist doctrines!
Paulinists attempt to twist YAHUSHA’s words into supporting the false teachings of Paul’s; yet they are simply taking YAHUSHA’s words out of context, & forcefully misinterpreting His words in an attempt to try to bolster Paul’s false teachings. The reality is that YAHUSHA’s teachings are extremely clear in regard to His expectation that all His followers will keep the Torah of our Heavenly Father. The following passages will illustrate that perfectly.
In Ephesians 2:14-17, Paul claims that in His flesh, YAHUSHA abolished the “law of commandments” contained in ordinances. The original greek word for ordinances, Strongs G1378 δόγμα- dogma, carries as its Strong’s definition, the rules & requirements of the Torah (law) of Moses! Despite the awkward wording of the passage, one clear implication of these verses is that Paul is claiming that YAHUSHA abolished YHWH’s Torah.
Ephesians 2:14-17
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
In contrast to Paul’s false claim, YAHUSHA’s eternal words of Matthew 5:17-18 are extremely clear in declaring the opposite. In this passage, YAHUSHA warns us to not even think that He came to abolish the Torah or the prophets! He goes on to say that one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah till two conditions are met;
-till heaven & earth pass,
& -till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17-18
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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.
Paulinists like to pretend that YAHUSHA has already fulfilled everything; however that is simply not the case. YAHUSHA taught us to pray to our Father in Heaven, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” We are still waiting for YAHUSHA to return, to put an end to this wicked system of things, & to establish His Kingdom on Earth, as it is in Heaven. All the prophecies regarding YAHUSHA & His Kingdom have simply not yet been fulfilled. See Isaiah 11:6-9, Isaiah 65:24-25, Isaiah 66:23, & Revelation 21:3-4. Similarly, heaven & earth have not yet passed away!
Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my kodesh mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of YHWH, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 65:24-25
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith YHWH.
Isaiah 66:23
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YHWH.
Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Elohim is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and Elohim Himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim. And Elohim shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away!
Neither of the conditions given in Mattthew 5:17-20 have been met; so all human beings who love our Creator & Savior should be keeping His Torah to the best of our abilities! YAHUSHA goes on to conclude that passage with the warning that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes & Pharisees, we will by no means even enter into His Kingdom! Righteousness is defined in Deuteronomy 6:25, as zealously keeping every aspect of YHWH’s Torah!
Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Deuteronomy 6:25
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before YHWH our Elohim, as He hath commanded us.
Paulinists will frequently cite Luke 16:16 to show that YAHUSHA indicated that the Law & the prophets were only until the time of John. However this is clearly a forced misinterpretation of the passage since in the very next verse of Luke 16:17, YAHUSHA indicates that it is easier for heaven & earth to pass away than for even the tiniest aspect of YHWH’s Torah to be diminished! Since heaven & earth clearly have not yet passed away, every requirement of YHWH’s Torah is still in full effect according to YAHUSHA our Messiah!
Luke 16:16-17
The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of Elohim is preached, and every man presseth into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
YHWH’s temple was destroyed thousands of years ago, & the Levitical priesthood no longer exists. Consequently, the sacrificial system outlined in the Torah can no longer be practiced. Similarly, the punishments outlined in the Torah for various sins or transgressions can no longer be carried out as there is no longer any Torah based judicial system that has such authority. Nevertheless, the prophets Daniel, Ezra, & Nehemiah all lived after the destruction of the temple. Their examples show that we can still be zealous for YHWH’s Torah, & try to keep His Torah to the best of our abilities even in a post-Temple age.
There are many verses in which Paul the pharisee attacks the Torah, either blatantly or in his typical serpentine fashion. In contrast, there are many passages in which YAHUSHA is clearly instructing us to all repent & keep our Heavenly Father’s Commandments. For example, Mark 1:15, Mark 2:16, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 9:13, Mark 6:12 are all verses in which YAHUSHA is preaching His Good News message that all men should repent for the Kingdom of Heaven/Elohim was at hand. In Mark 6:12, he sent His twelve disciples out to preach His message of repentance. YAHUSHA’s very Gospel message of repentance implies that we should all turn away from our sins (transgressions of YHWH’s Torah), & return to our Heavenly Father in obedience to His Torah.
Mark 1: 14-15
Now after that John was put in prison, YAHUSHA came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Elohim, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of Elohim is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 2:16
When YAHUSHA heard it, He saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 4:17
From that time YAHUSHA began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Matthew 9:13
But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mark 6:12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
In Mark 7:5-13 & Matthew 15:1-9, YAHUSHA warns us that if our religious traditions are causing us to break YHWH’s Commandments, then our worship of Him is in vain! These should be very sobering passages for the modern Christian believer. The Catholic & Protestant Christian tradition of church on sunday generally causes us to disregard & disobey YHWH’s Commandment to keep the Sabbath (which occurs from Friday evening at sunset till saturday evening at sunset, according to the witness of the Jewish people who have been keeping it the past several thousand years.) Similarly, the Catholic/Protestant Christian traditions of Christmas & Easter (both of which have very idolatrous origins), have been substituted for YHWH’s feasts of Leviticus 23. Paul’s letters similarly cause us to disregard YHWH’s dietary guidelines of Leviticus 11, YHWH’s instructions regarding circumcision, etc.
Mark 7:5-13
Then the Pharisees & scribes asked Him, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?” He answered and said unto them, Well hath YeshaYahu prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of Elohim, ye hold the traditions of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandments of Elohim, that ye may keep your own traditions. For Moses said, Honor thy father & thy mother; and Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, (It is) Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; (he shall be free). And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or mother; Making the Word of Elohim of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Matthew 15:1-9
Then came to YAHUSHA, scribes & Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of Elohim by your tradition? For Elohim commanded, saying Honour thy father & mother: and He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or mother, It is a gift by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of Elohim of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did YeshaYahu prophecy of you saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It bears repeating that in Mark 7:5-13 & Matthew 15:1-9, YAHUSHA warns us that if our religious traditions cause us to break our Heavenly Father’s Commandments, then our worship of Him is in vain! The religious tradition of church on sunday must be completely abandoned, & we must return to zealously keeping & guarding YHWH’s Sabbaths. We sincerely need to collectively repent from all of Christianity’s false & idolatrous traditions, & return in submission to the authority of our Heavenly Father’s Words, Instructions, & Torah!
YAHUSHA warns us very explicitly in Matthew 7:21-23 that we are to be obedient to our Heavenly Father; otherwise the consequences we will have to face will be quite disastrous. In this passage, YAHUSHA warns us that it is not enough for us to call Him, “Lord, Lord”; we have to do the will of our Father in Heaven! He states that in the day He returns to establish His Kingdom, many would expound on how they prophesied, cast out devils, & did many other wonderful works in His Name. Yet YAHUSHA rejects them with, “I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity!” The word used for iniquity in that verse is, Strong’s G0458: ἀνομία, anomia. Anomia means essentially lawlessness, or the state of being without the Torah of our Heavenly Father!
Matthew 7:21-23
Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the Will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity(Anomia/Lawlessness).
YAHUSHA restates His intention that we all do the Will of our Heavenly Father in Matthew 12:46-50 & Mark 3:31-35. When someone from the crowd informs Him that His mother & brothers were wanting to speak with Him, He responds that anyone who does the Will of our Heavenly Father He considers to be part of His Family!
Matthew 12:46-50
While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him. Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee. But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is My mother? and who are My brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the Will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Mark 3:31-35
There came then His brethren and His mother, and, standing without, sent unto Him, calling Him. And the multitude sat about Him, and they said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren without seek for Thee. And He answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And He looked round about on them which sat about Him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the Will of Elohim, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother.
What is the will of our Heavenly Father?
It is definitely the will of our Heavenly Father that we keep His Sabbaths, as Exodus 20:8-11, Exodus 31:12-17, Leviticus 19:3, Leviticus 19:30, Leviticus 26:2, Isaiah 56:6-7, & Deuteronomy 5:12-15 all indicate.
Few Verses Indicating It is The Will, intention, or desire of YHWH that we Keep His Sabbaths!
Exodus 20:8-11
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it kadosh. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YHWH thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and separated it.
Exodus 31:12-17
And YHWH spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am YHWH that doth separate you. Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is kadosh unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, kadosh to YHWH: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Leviticus 19:3
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my Sabbaths: I am YHWH your Elohim.
Leviticus 19:30
Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am YHWH.
Leviticus 26:2
Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am YHWH.
Isaiah 56:6-7
Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to YHWH, to serve Him, and to love the Name of YHWH,to be His servants, every one that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My covenant; Even them will I bring to My kodesh mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Keep the Sabbath day to make it kodesh, as YHWH thy Elohim hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YHWH thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that YHWH thy Elohim brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore YHWH thy Elohim commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.
Similarly, it is the will of our Heavenly Father is that we love Him, & zealously keep His Torah as the following verses all indicate...
Few Verses Indicating It is The Will of YHWH that we Keep His Commandments!
Exodus 20:6
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My Commandments.
Leviticus 22:31
Therefore shall ye keep my Commandments, and do them: I am YHWH.
Numbers 15:39-40
And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the Commandments of YHWH, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my Commandments, and be kadosh unto your Elohim.
Deuteronomy 4:2
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 YHWH your Elohim which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:39-40
Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that YHWH he is Elohim in Heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. Thou shalt keep therefore His statutes, and His Commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which YHWH thy Elohim giveth thee, for ever.
Deuteronomy 5:29
O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my Commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Deuteronomy 6:17
Ye shall diligently keep the Commandments of YHWH your Elohim, and His testimonies, and His statutes, which He hath commanded thee.
Deuteronomy 6:25
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these Commandments before YHWH our Elohim, as He hath Commanded us.
Deuteronomy 7:9-11
Know therefore that YHWH thy Elohim, he is Elohim, the faithful El, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His Commandments to a thousand generations; And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. Thou shalt therefore keep the Commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.
Deuteronomy 8:1
All the Commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which YHWH sware unto your fathers.
Deuteronomy 8:6
Therefore thou shalt keep the Commandments of YHWH thy Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him.
Deuteronomy 8:11
Beware that thou forget not YHWH thy Elohim, in not keeping His Commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command thee this day:
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what doth YHWH thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear YHWH thy Elohim, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the Commandments of YHWH, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Deuteronomy 11:1
Therefore thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and his judgments, and His Commandments, alway.
Deuteronomy 13:4
Ye shall walk after YHWH your Elohim, and fear Him, and keep His Commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him.
Deuteronomy 26:17
Thou hast avouched YHWH this day to be thy Elohim, and to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His Commandments, and His judgments, and to hearken unto His Voice:
Deuteronomy 27:10
Thou shalt therefore obey the Voice of YHWH thy Elohim, and do His Commandments and His statutes, which I command thee this day.
Deuteronomy 30:16
In that I command thee this day to love YHWH thy Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to keep His Commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and YHWH thy Elohim shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
Yahusha 22:5
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the Torah, which Moses the servant of YHWH charged you, to love YHWH your Elohim, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His Commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of YHWH thy Elohim, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, and His Commandments, and His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Torah of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:
1Kings 8:60-61
That all the people of the earth may know that YHWH is Elohim, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with YHWH our Elohim, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His Commandments, as at this day.
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Isaiah 8:20
To the Torah and to the testimony:
if they speak not according to this Word,
it is because there is no light in them.
Unfortunately, our modern religious tax free corporations(churches) for the most part choose to ignore our Heavenly Father’s Sabbaths, & His Torah. Any religious organization that fails to encourage or teach the keeping of YHWH’s commandments (beginning at the very least with keeping YHWH’s Sabbaths)should be avoided like the plague! Instead of teaching obedience to YHWH’s commandments, most modern religious tax free corporations (churches) cling to vain, idolatrous traditions such as church on sunday, christmas, easter, etc, which our Heavenly Father has already explicitly forbidden(Deuteronomy 4:2, & Deuteronomy 12:32)!
Deuteronomy 4:2
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 YHWH your Elohim which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32
What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
According to Matthew 12:46-50 & Mark 3:31-35 (above), if we repent & keep our Heavenly Father’s Torah; not only will YAHUSHA acknowledge knowing us, He will even consider us as His family! Consider this in contrast to Matthew 7:21-23. In that passage, He told the people who were calling Him Lord & doing wonderful works that He never knew them since they were workers of lawlessness. Being called workers of lawlessness clearly implies that they weren’t keeping our Heavenly Father’s Law/Torah.
Luke 11:27-28 is an incident similar to what occurred in Matthew 12:46-50 & Mark 3:31-35. When a woman in the crowd cries out how blessed His mother must be, He responds that blessed rather are those who hear our Heavenly Father’s Word & keep it! Our Heavenly Father’s Word is also known as His Torah.
Luke 11:27-28
And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But He said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Similarly in Matthew 19:16-22, YAHUSHA again stresses that we are to keep the Commandments of our Heavenly Father if we desire to have eternal life in His Kingdom. When the young man asked YAHUSHA what he should do to have eternal life, YAHUSHA answered that he should, “keep the Commandments.” The young man inquired as to which Commandments he should keep; & YAHUSHA referred to the six of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17 & Deuteronomy 5:6-21) & Leviticus 19:18. Of the Ten Commandments, YAHUSHA referred specifically to the Commandments that have to do with loving our neighbor. The young man replied that he had kept all of those Commandments from his youth, as YAHUSHA probably already knew he would. YAHUSHA then advised the young man to go & sell all his possessions, & give the proceeds to the poor in order to have treasure in heaven. He would then be welcome to follow YAHUSHA, which would enable him to fully keep the first four Commandments. The first four Commandments have to do with loving our Heavenly Father. Unfortunately, the young man declined & left. Nevertheless according to YAHUSHA, to have eternal life we must keep the Ten Commandments (which of course includes the first four Commandments, & the keeping of YHWH’s Sabbaths).
Matthew 19:16-22
And, behold, one came and said unto Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And He said unto him... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the Commandments. He saith unto him, Which? YAHUSHA said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? YAHUSHA said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
In Matthew 23:1-3, YAHUSHA instructs the multitude that since the Scribes & Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, all that Moses bids you to observe; that we are to observe & do. This is the clarification given to this passage by the Hebrew scholar, Nehemiah Gordon.(1) Michael Rood asked Nehemiah Gordon to clarify this passage, as the KJV has YAHUSHA instructing us to do whatever the scribes & Pharisees tell us in Matthew 23:3; yet He spends the rest of Matthew 23 in an epic polemic rebuke of the scribes & Pharisees!
Matthew 23:1-3
Then spake YAHUSHA to the multitude, and to His disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever he bids you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Gordon studied the Hebrew manuscripts of Matthew, & found that actually Matthew 23:2-3 says that since the scribes & Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, all that he (Moses) bids us, we are to observe & do; but we shouldn’t follow the example of the scribes & Pharisees. So again in Matthew 23:3, YAHUSHA is telling us to observe & do whatever Moses, the Law of Moses, or the Torah, tells us to observe & do.
YAHUSHA’s parable of Lazarus & the rich man of Luke 16:19-31 is the ultimate cautionary tale for all of us who would decline to keep the Torah of our Heavenly Father. Tormented in the flames of hell, The rich man asks Abraham to send Lazarus to his father’s house to warn his five brothers to repent. Abraham replies that his brothers should hear Moses & the prophets. The rich man responds that if one rose from the dead to warn them then they would repent. YAHUSHA’s conclusion to the parable is that those who won’t hear Moses & the prophets would not repent even if someone rose from the dead to warn them! The clear teaching of this parable is that to avoid being tormented in the flames of hell; we should all repent & keep the Torah of our Heavenly Father!
Luke 16:19-31
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they (repent) be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
A very common defence employed by Paulinists & Christian apologists as an excuse to disregard YHWH's Sabbaths is to claim that YHWH's command to keep His Sabbath was never repeated in any New Testament Scriptures. Therefore they claim that the Sabbath is no longer binding on Christians in the "New Testament" era. However, this is a completely false assertion as YAHUSHA repeatedly taught that we must repent & Keep YHWH's Commandments, we must do YHWH's Will, Keep YHWH's Word & do it, etc.
Another passage that must not be forgotten in this context is that of Matthew 4:1-4. After fasting 40 days & 40 nights in the wilderness, the devil tempted YAHUSHA to turn the stones into bread in order to prove that He was the Son of Elohim. YAHUSHA quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, & said that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of YHWH.” YAHUSHA’s amazing response when tempted of the devil indicates that all human beings (regardless of our ethnic background or lineage) should be living by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH!
Matthew 4:1-4
Then was YAHUSHA led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If thou be the Son of Elohim, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHWH.
Deuteronomy 8:3
And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHWH doth man live.
If we were to live by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHWH, then we should all be keeping YHWH's Sabbaths, following His dietary instructions of Leviticus 11, & His Torah.
It is true that YHWH originally gave His Commandments to the Children of Israel. Nevertheless, Exodus 12:49, Leviticus 24:22, & Numbers 15:16 all indicate that YHWH’s Torah or law is for all people who wish to serve Him. The Law of the land in YAHUSHA’s Kingdom will be YHWH’s Torah. If we wish to be in YAHUSHA’s Kingdom, then it naturally follows that we should repent & live by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of YHWH, according to YAHUSHA's own instructions!
Exodus 12:49
One Law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
Leviticus 24:22
Ye shall have one manner of Law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am YHWH your Elohim.
Numbers 15:16
One Law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
While Paul’s letters may be full of religious & sanctimonious language, the general gist of Paul’s New Testament letters is against our Heavenly Father’s Torah. Consequently Paul’s letters are the only Scriptural justification that catholic & protestant christianity have for failing to be obedient to our Heavenly Father’s Torah. This explains why the pharisee Paul is so highly beloved in catholic & protestant christianity alike. Unfortunately, catholic & protestant christianity view Paul’s letters as more authoritative than YHWH’s Torah & YAHUSHA’s teachings from the Gospels! Consequently, catholic & protestant christianity both appear to follow the teachings of Paul, rather than the teachings of Adonai YAHUSHA, & YHWH.
Thus, the religion of Christianity prefers Paul's letters over YHWH’s Torah & YAHUSHA’s teachings despite the fact that Paul himself repeatedly admitted that his letters contained foolishness (2 Corinthians 11:23 & 2 Corinthians 12:11) & lies or dishonesty (Romans 3:7 & 2 Corinthians 12:16). In addition, since Paul was not one of YAHUSHA’s actual Twelve Apostles, Paul never had any real Apostolic Authority. This is clear from Matthew 19:28. Furthermore, since Paul repeatedly wrote & implied that "we are not under the Law" & that "all things are lawful", Paul's letters have been instrumental in causing billions of Christians to disobey the Commandments or Torah of YHWH our Creator for thousands of years. Consequently, Paul's letters could never have been inspired by the the Spirit of YHWH since YHWH said that His Spirit would cause us to be obedient to Him in Ezekiel 36:27.
Matthew 19:28
And YAHUSHA said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
YAHUSHA taught that we should repent & keep the Torah or commandments of our Heavenly Father! The tax free religious corporations of catholic & protestant christianity are failing miserably in teaching all people to repent & keep YHWH’s commandments. Instead these tax free corporations are deceiving people into keeping man-made traditions that our Heavenly Father repeatedly warned us against.YAHUSHA even warned us that if our traditions are causing us to break our Heavenly Father’s commandments, then our worship of Him is in vain!
We are all guilty of violating YHWH’s commandments. According to YAHUSHA, we must all repent & return in submission to the Authority of our Heavenly Father by keeping His Commandments & Torah!
Sources
(1) Nehemiah Gordon, Hebrew Yeshua vs. Greek Jesus, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tddCNY6U77Y&pbjreload=10
Passages Referred to in Above Text
John 5:1-18
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Yahusha went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When YAHUSHA saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. YAHUSHA saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath.
The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Yahusha had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
Afterward YAHUSHA findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was YAHUSHA, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute YAHUSHA, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But YAHUSHA answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Matthew 12:10-21
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And He said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. Then saith He to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy Him. But when YAHUSHA knew it, He withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all; And charged them that they should not make Him known:
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Behold my Servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory. And in His name shall the Gentiles trust.
Mark 3:1-7
And He entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched Him, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse Him. And He saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And He saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when He had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy Him. But YAHUSHA withdrew Himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judaea,
Luke 6:6-11
And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that He entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether He would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against Him. But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said YAHUSHA unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And looking round about upon them all, He said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Yahusha.
Matthew 12:1-9
At that time YAHUSHA went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto Him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not Lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. But He said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of Elohim, and did eat the shewbread, which was not Lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the Law, how that on the Sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? But I say unto you, That in this place is One greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day. And when He was departed thence, He went into their synagogue:
Mark 2:23-28
And it came to pass, that He went through the corn fields on the Sabbath day; and His disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not Lawful? And He said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of Elohim in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not Lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And He said unto them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.
Luke 6:1-5
And it came to pass on the second Sabbath after the first, that He went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not Lawful to do on the Sabbath days? And YAHUSHA answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of Elohim, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not Lawful to eat but for the priests alone? And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.
Matthew 15:1-20
Then came to YAHUSHA scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the Commandment of Elohim by your tradition? For Elohim commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, he that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the Commandment of Elohim of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
And He called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came His disciples, and said unto Him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But He answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Yahusha said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
Mark 7:1-23
Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, -- Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the Commandment of Elohim, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And He said unto them, Full well ye reject the Commandment of Elohim, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the Word of Elohim of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, -- That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Exodus 20:1-17
And Elohim spake all these words, saying, I am YHWH thy Elohim, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy Elohim am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain; for YHWH will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Kadosh. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YHWH thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days YHWH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YHWH blessed the Sabbath day, and separated it.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which YHWH thy Elohim giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 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.
Deuteronomy 5:6-21
I am YHWH thy Elohim, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy Elohim am a jealous El, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the Name of YHWH thy Elohim in vain: for YHWH will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. Keep the Sabbath day to separate it, as YHWH thy Elohim hath commanded thee. Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of YHWH thy Elohim: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou. And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and that YHWH thy Elohim brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore YHWH thy Elohim commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day.
Honour thy father and thy mother, as YHWH thy Elohim hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which YHWH thy Elohim giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Neither shalt thou commit adultery. Neither shalt thou steal. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour. Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Leviticus 19:18
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am YHWH