[Note: YHVH: This is the transliteration form in English for the “Four letter” Set apart Name of the Creator which is the four Hebrew letters Yod Hey Vav Hey (יהוה). One of the pronunciations can be "Yahveh". It is this Name of the Mighty One of Israel that most English Bible Versions translated as “the LORD” (all capital letters.)
ELOHIM / Eloha / El : This is the transliteration form in English for the Hebrew title name for the Eternal One and means “Mighty one”. It is this title name of the Eternal that most English Bible Versions translated as “God”
Yahoshua, Yahushua, Yahshua Yehoshua, Yeshua, or Y’shua: all of these are the Hebrew pronunciation of the Son of Elohim, known from Greek transliteration as "Jesus". In a certain context they are all correct, although in a stricter sense one might be more correct than the others, but let’s just leave it there for now. The Greek word "Christ" means "anointed one" and the original Hebrew is Maschiach (Messiah in English).]
A well-known Torah teacher once described the Messianic movement as the “Messy-anic” movement. This makes a little more sense when we think of how our father Yakov owned a flock of many speckled and black sheep and many of us “Messianics” today see ourselves as descendants of Yakov’s family. We “aint” arrived yet and we are no better or worse than anyone else because “we have all sinned and have fallen short of the esteem of Elohim”.
Our understanding of this Messianic restoration has come through an intensive search of the Scriptures over the past nine to ten years. We believe all those who call upon the name of the Eternal One should diligently search the Scriptures as did the Bereans. (Acts 17:11)
The key to understanding and becoming part of this end time messianic restoration lies in observance of the Torah and not the belief that crept in since the early "Church fathers" that the Torah has been abrogated through Yahshua. Yahshua very clearly tells us that the Torah has not passed away and He himself walked and taught his disciples how to live according to the Torah. In fact when Yahshua promised his disciples that to them was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, we understand that this was a rabbinic expression of those who had authority to rightly walk (halacha) and understand how to live the Torah (YHVH’s instruction).
Mat 16:19“And I shall give you the keys of the reign of the heavens, and whatever you bind1 on earth shall be having been bound1 in the heavens, and whatever you loosen1 on earth shall be having been loosened1 in the heavens.” Footnote: 1Binding and loosening is Heḇrew idiom for exercising authority (to prohibit and permit).
Yahshua also said in Mat 5:17“Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete." Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures.
In this context of Matt 5, the word “Torah” is referring to the five books of Moshe (Moses). The Messiah did not come to do away with any of what Moshe wrote, but on the contrary, to confirm it and explain it so that we can fulfill it in the right way. The word “fulfill” in this context is a rabbinical term that has to do with the “right way of applying the commandments”. To fulfill does absolutely not mean to end or remove, but to bring something to its fullest practical application in daily life. This is what Yahshua did.
Mat 5:18“For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17.
Mat 5:19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.
The Torah itself tells us that there is ONE TORAH for both the “natural” as well as the “grafted in” branches of the Olive tree.
Num 15:16‘One Torah and one right-ruling is for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.’
Speaking of the non-Jewish believers the apostle Paul writes:
Rom 11:24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree, how much more shall these who are the natural branches,(Jews) be grafted into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I do not wish you to be ignorant of this secret, brothers, lest you should be wise in your own estimation, that hardening in part has come over Yisra’ĕl, until the completeness of the gentiles1 has come in. Footnote: 1Gen. 48:19.
Rom 11:26 And so all Yisra’ĕl shall be saved, as it has been written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Tsiyon, and He shall turn away wickedness from Yaʽaqoḇ,
Rom 11:27 and this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”1 Footnote: 1Isa. 59:20-21. (The Scriptures)
Much of the following explanation has been adapted from
a “definition of the Messianic movement” given by “Wikipedia”
Christian Torah-submission or Christian Torah-observance refers to the pursuit of a lifestyle that is both fully dedicated to Yahshua Maschiah/Messiah (Jesus Christ) and also obedient to YHVH’s commands found in the Torah, given to Moshe/Moses on Mount Sinai. Torah-submission stems from the view that all the commands contained in the Torah are applicable as valid instruction of YHVH, intended to be obeyed. This view largely sources from the view that Yahshua, as the Son of YHVH and Messiah, could not and did not change the standard of the obedience for His set apart (holy) people, but rather affirmed both the "weightier" and "lesser" matters of Torah for those who have put their faith in Him (Matt 23:23). There are now both ethnically Jewish and Non-Jewish Torah-submissive believers in Messiah.
The term “Torah” can refer to several things, but most often refers to the first five books (Pentateuch) of the Hebrew Bible (TeNaCH) ("Old Testament"), which also contain the Law (Torah) of YHVH given to Moshe/Moses on Mount Sinai. The word “Torah” itself translates from Hebrew literally as “teaching” or “instruction.”
Observances
Most of what traditional Christianity upholds as moral behaviour, including worship of One Elohim, loving one’s neighbour and avoiding sexual immorality are concepts found in the Torah and are highly emphasized by Torah-submissive believers, both because of their view of Torah and their faith in Yahshua.
However, because of the view that the whole Torah applies, there are also several other observances that have not popularly been observed by traditional Christianity. As with Judaism and Christianity as a whole, there are various interpretations on how specific details of these commands should be observed.
Seventh-day Sabbath (Shabbat)
Torah-submissive Christians honour the Sabbath (Shabbat) as the day of rest commanded by YHVH, with most of them currently regarding it as being invariably from sundown Friday to dusk Saturday. In accordance with the Torah, they try not to work at all on this day and try not to make others work for them, which prohibits most forms of commerce. Many assemble together as a community, some reading and studying the weekly Torah-portion (parsha) together. The other specifics mentioned in the Torah are also upheld, such as refraining from kindling a fire or carrying a heavy load.
Dietary laws
Dietary laws are upheld by Torah-submissive believers, who abstain from unclean flesh (the flesh that are not "food" according to the Torah), such as pork, shellfish, catfish, and anything else prohibited in the Torah (Lev 11, Deut 14). Many Messianic believers hold to "kashrut" kosher standards (the right way of slaughtering the animal etc), while others allow thorough cooking to suffice as fulfilling this command. Some do not adhere to the separation of meat and dairy prescribed by Jewish tradition; others choose this Jewish “halacha” or practice.
While dietary instructions are upheld by Torah-submissive believers solely because of their status as Torah commands and because YHVH said so, there is also medical evidence that living a lifestyle according to Torah is generally healthier and prevents various kinds of diseases and disease symptoms. This is cited as evidence that YHVH still intends this lifestyle for his followers.
Festivals
In the Torah, YHVH describes seven Appointments ("moadim"), also called “feasts,” or festivals ("Chaggim") to be celebrated each year, each festival having its own observances (Lev 23). The festivals are:
• Passover (Pesach)
• The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot)
• (The Feast of First Fruits (Omer Reisheet)- falls in the week of Unleavened bread)
• The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost)
• The Feast of Trumpets/Day of the great awakening blast (Yom Teruah)
• The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - no feasting- day of fasting
• The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
• The Eighth day assembly (Shemini Atzereth)
Some are counting Omer Reisheet separately and put Shemeni Atzereth together, depending on certain interpretations and ends up still with seven main Appointments/Festivals.
Many of the specific commands regarding the festivals cannot be observed today. For example, one cannot go visit the Temple in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim), because there is no Temple in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). However, the days are still honored, and an attempt is made to follow those commands which can be observed.
These Torah-commanded festivals, calculated according to the Hebrew calendar (the Biblical calendar) and not according to the Gregorian calendar, are portraying the wonderful seven thousand year plan of redemption that YHVH has for mankind. It has significant dates on which several closely related events have taken place repeatedly. For example, Israel was redeemed from the bondage of Egypt and YHVH redeemed humanity from bondage of sin on the festival of Passover (Pesach). All of these Festivals or Appointed times (the meaning of the Hebrew word "moadim") are seen as powerful teaching tools about the character and Redemptive plan of YHVH, about the identity and validity of Yahshua as the Messiah.
The Spring feasts (Spring according to Israel’s season) of YHVH (Pesach/Passover, Chag HaMatzot/Unleavened Bread (Omer Resheet during this week), and Shavuot/Pentecost) point to Yahshua’s first coming and the salvific work accomplished at that time, while the Fall feasts (Fall as when in Israel) (Yom Teruah/Trumpets, Yom HaKippurim/Atonement, Sukkot/Tabernacles, and Shemeni Atzereth/the Eighth Day) all point to the events surrounding his second coming and the work he will accomplish at that time during the Millennium reign culminating in the creation of the New (renewed) Heaven and New (renewed) Earth and the descent from heaven of New (renewed) Jerusalem at the end of the 1000-year Millennium.
Obviously, the fall feasts have not been fulfilled, for they are yet future events! Has the resurrection of Believers occurred? Have Believers received their immortal bodies? Has Yahshua/Yeshua returned to rule on this earth for 1000 years as King of kings and Master of master? Has the devil been cast into the bottomless pit? Has Babylon the Great fallen along with the demise of the Beast and False Prophet?
Other observances
Other Torah observances may include, but are not limited to the following:
• Tzitzit (Tzitziyot-plural) – Tassels worn on garments with the intention of reminding one of
YHVH’s commands. (Num 15:37-41)
• Mixing – The abstention from various kinds of mixing, including cloths and plants (Lev 19:19)
• Facial hair – The abstention from shaving the "corners" of one's beard or one's temple (Lev 19:27)
• Mezuzot - Seen as a fulfillment of the command to write YHVH's commands on one's doorposts (Deut 6:1-9)
• Niddah - The abstention from sexual relations for seven days following a woman's monthly cycle. (Lev 15:19-30)
• Tattooing - The abstention from having tattoos placed on one's body (Lev 19:28)
• Circumcision
History of Christian Torah-submission
Throughout Christian history, there have been followers of Yahshua who have sought to obey the commands of the Torah even while fully affirming the salvation by favour (grace) through faith that is described in the Second Writings (New Testament) (Eph 2). These Christians base their views, among other things, on their understanding of the teaching and actions of the earliest church.
Early History
There is evidence that the "church" (the correct translation for Qahal or Ekklesia is not "church" but "assembly", "congregation", "called out ones"), from the earliest times (the early believers), upheld the commands of the Torah as applicable, even to Gentile Believers. Acts 10:14 records that the apostle Peter, well after the events recorded in Mark 7 (in which some have interpreted that Yahshua permitted the consumption of any kind of meat), still had not eaten of anything unclean and still considered unclean flesh unclean. It is also never recorded that he considered such meat clean after his vision. At the Council of Jerusalem, the apostles present decided upon three dietary prohibitions for non-Jews: food offered (sacrificed) to idols, things strangled, and blood. This decision does not claim to be comprehensive of all commands that Gentiles are expected to follow, nor does it specifically give reasons for this decision (though some have been hypothesized), but it does prescribe dietary limitations for Gentile believers and has been interpreted to imply that they will go to synagogues in order to learn more about the Torah (Acts 15:21).
Furthermore, Acts 21:17-26 records that the apostle Paul participated in a purification rite at the Temple in Jerusalem, which would have required animal offering (sacrifice). In doing so, he observed what is often called a "ceremonial" command. This passage records that he did this act specifically in order to show that he did not teach against Torah. In fact, there is evidence that he taught this concept to the many congregations which he visited. For example, Paul expressly stated that he upheld the Torah several times in his letter to the Roman congregation (Rom. 3:31, 7:12, 7:22, e.g.), which consisted of many Gentiles.
Author James Carroll (a Catholic) further affirms that the early church valued Torah, including the seventh-day Sabbath:
"The departure from Torah began slowly, but was later legislated. In the first century AD, even before the Romans persecuted the Christians as Christians, the Romans persecuted the Jews as a result of Jewish rebellions against the empire. At that time, even the Gentile Christians were persecuted along with Jews because they worshipped with Jews and like Jews. Then, largely because Christians refused to rally behind a false Messiah named Bar-Kochba in a new rebellion, non-believing Jews expelled all believers in Yahshua from their synagogues for their dis-loyalty, (see also Council of Jamnia). Ironically, now the believers who had been persecuted by the Romans for being viewed as Jewish had been rejected by the Jewish establishment. Despite the fact that believers in Yahshua was a sect of Judaism that believed Yahshua to be the Jewish Messiah, this turn of events forced these believers to view themselves as separate from the mainstream Jewish establishment for the first time. Some Gentile factions in the church used this expulsion to make it easier to justify distancing themselves from Torah-related practice, which identified them with Jews, in order to avoid Roman persecution for being Jewish.
"The departure from Torah began slowly, but was later legislated. In the first century AD, even before the Romans persecuted the Christians as Christians, the Romans persecuted the Jews as a result of Jewish rebellions against the empire. At that time, even the Gentile Christians were persecuted along with Jews because they worshipped with Jews and like Jews. Then, largely because Christians refused to rally behind a false Messiah named Bar-Kochba in a new rebellion, non-believing Jews expelled all believers in Yahshua from their synagogues for their dis-loyalty, (see also Council of Jamnia). Ironically, now the believers who had been persecuted by the Romans for being viewed as Jewish had been rejected by the Jewish establishment. Despite the fact that believers in Yahshua was a sect of Judaism that believed Yahshua to be the Jewish Messiah, this turn of events forced these believers to view themselves as separate from the mainstream Jewish establishment for the first time. Some Gentile factions in the church used this expulsion to make it easier to justify distancing themselves from Torah-related practice, which identified them with Jews, in order to avoid Roman persecution for being Jewish.
Eventually, the seeds of this rejection of “Jewishness” took root when the Roman emperor Constantine became the first Christian emperor in the early 4th century AD. He embraced some elements of Christianity early in his reign, although his views evolved throughout his life and he was ever tolerant to paganism. Under Constantine, the Roman church officially decreed that all Christians should observe Jesus’ resurrection separately from Passover /Pesach (which the Latins called Quartodeciman) and that Jewish customs (i.e, anything Passover-related) should not be followed in regard to this festival. At the First Nicean Council, at which this was determined, Constantine declared, “It is unbecoming that on the holiest of festivals we should follow the customs of the Jews; henceforth let us have nothing in common with this odious people.” Shortly afterward, under the Christian empire, the church Council of Laodicea strictly prohibited Christians from observing the Sabbath as described in the Torah and Constantine made Sunday a civil holiday and "Christian Sabbath."
Carroll summarizes these events:
It took the order of Constantine and decrees of the fourth-century Church councils to draw fast distinctions between Jewish and Christian observances, but the purpose of such decrees was to clarify the minds of Christians, who continued to think of themselves as Jewish.
The momentum and natural inclination of Christians had been to observe the festivals (Appointed times) that Yahshua and the apostles had observed. Historical evidence strongly suggests that the change in Passover to Easter and the re-definition of Sabbath were not based on the teaching of the apostles, but rather were motivated by other non-Biblical rationale. Quotes of Constantine and other early church fathers reveal that anti-Semitism played a major role in these changes. The motivation to conform Christianity to paganism to make it more palatable to the Roman public was also strongly promoted.
Late History
After this church legislation, there were large sects, such as the disciples of James (including Ebionites and Nazarenes), that resisted this official change, continuing for hundreds of years longer to celebrate commands such as Passover and Sabbath as the early congregation had.
During the time of the Renaissance, in the late 1400s and into the early 1500s, a movement of Christian humanists including Johann Reuchlin and Desiderius Erasmus advocated liberty of thought, speech, and press. As scholars of the Renaissance rediscovered classic Greek and Latin texts and Christian Scholastics sought to explain and rationally justify the decisions of Church history, Christian humanists rediscovered and studied Biblical and Jewish texts in their original languages, questioning the dominance and doctrine of the Catholic Church. Reuchlin, among others, studied the Hebrew language and Jewish literature and a wide interest was revived in the Jewish (Hebraic) roots of Christianity and the relevance of Jewish texts to Biblical interpretation; a movement later called Christian Hebraism. (When the Holy Roman Emperor ordered Reuchlin to help burn Jewish literature including the Talmud, Reuchlin resisted and authored a series of tracts defending such literature.)
The philosophy and literature of Christian humanists helped to set the stage for the Protestant Reformation which began in 1517. This movement, sparked primarily by Martin Luther sought to rid the Church of non-Biblical trappings, returning to a purer, Biblical, worship of God (Elohim). During this time, there were many Christians who returned to the Jewish (Hebrew or Hebraic) roots of the Christian faith, building on the foundation of the Christian humanists. While Martin Luther was a primary influence in this reformation, he also authored some pieces of literature which were hostile towards Jews and towards Christians who did things he considered Jewish, effectively quelling much of the momentum to return to the Jewish roots of Christianity.
Despite these events, historical documents describe a continuation of Christian Torah-submission in certain areas and religious movements. One sect of Christianity in Transylvania (modern-day Hungary and Romania) retained its Torah-submissive practices from the 1500s at least through World War II. They observed the Sabbath on the Seventh day (Saturday), fasted from leaven at Passover, and adhered to the dietary restrictions. They even translated Jewish prayer books and wrote their own hymnals. Male leaders also wore beards out of regard for the Torah. While they were persecuted (even imprisoned) by the Catholic and Protestant churches of the region, they took measures to retain what they saw as Scriptural (Biblical) and set apart (holy) practices. Some cite historical evidence that Sabbatarianism (with adherence to dietary prohibitions) also emerged and continued from the Reformation in England in the 16th century.
It is reckoned that the modern Messianic Movement evolved in the 1970s out of Jewish Christian organizations which had existed since the early 1800s, when the Holy Roman Emperor legalized Judaism as a religion within the empire. While purely Jewish in origin, increasing numbers of non-Jews have become a part of the Messianic movement. (Whether the "modern Messianic Movement evolved in the 1970s" out of these "Jewish Christian" organizations is debatable, but one thing we like thousands of believers all over the world do know and believe is: "that He (YHVH) sends יהושע Messiah, pre-appointed for you, whom heaven needs to receive until the times of restoration of all matters, of which Elohim spoke through the mouth of all His set-apart prophets since of old." (Acts 3:20,21- The Scriptures). Christians all over the world who discovered the return to the Hebraic roots of their faith are convinced that this is now the beginning of this time of restoration, spoken of in Acts 3.)
Torah-submissive groups
Today, there are Christians in many facets of the Christian church that consider the Torah applicable and attempt to honor its commands, but are not part of a distinct group that, as a whole, holds this view. There are also several Christian groups today that can be generally characterized by Torah-submission, or at least major elements of this practice. Others have come out of the systems of the organized church with its practices and beliefs influenced by the early church fathers, Constantine and Rome and are forming small congregations of believers whose heart's desire is to become Torah submissive followers of their Master Yahshua HaMaschiach.
Scriptural Understanding
Some Christian theology holds that the Torah is fundamentally eternal and valid under the new covenant, but certain parts have "expired" and are not applicable now. Other Christian theology holds that the Torah is inseparable, but has been "terminated" or "abrogated" and replaced by YHVH with a different, but similar Law. Torah-submissive Christians uphold what they view as the most scripturally sound points of each of these widely accepted views. They interpret the Scriptures to say that the Torah is an inseparable whole and that as a whole, it fundamentally continues under the new (renewed) covenant.
The Torah-submissive view affirms that, as Paul wrote; spiritual salvation is by grace through faith in Messiah. It does not hold that any works are a way to achieve justification and hence salvation, so-called Legalism theology, but rather a way of more fully obeying and imitating Yahshua as His Father YHVH intended. They see the Torah as a way of more fully showing love to a merciful Elohim that deserves to be served.
The Torah is viewed as a source of blessing and as an instruction manual on every aspect of life, written by the Creator of life and everything that is in it. Not only is it understood to help YHVH's people to avert physical and emotional harm, but it is also seen as a way to constantly turn His followers' hearts and minds back towards Him as they are reminded by their actions. In the same way, the Torah is seen as a teaching tool to understanding Yahshua the Messiah, also scripturally called "Master". Yahshua is seen not only to have taught and interpreted the Torah, but also to have lived it perfectly. Therefore, it is understood in this movement that living the Torah teaches believers more fully about the things Yahshua said and did, and considering the things that Yahshua said and did teaches believers more about the things in the Torah.
Torah under the New (renewed) Covenant
The “New Testament” or Apostolic Writings indicate that Yahshua established a renewed covenant relationship between YHVH and his people (Jer 31:31-34, Luke 22:20, 2Cor 2-3, Heb 8-9). Christianity, almost without exception, understands this new covenant to be the instrument through which YHVH offers mercy and atonement that is necessary for all mankind. Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua hold that a major function of the new covenant is also to write the Torah - by the same Scriptural definition it has always held - upon the heart of anyone who trusts in Yahshua (Jer 31:31-33, Ez 36:26,27).
Therefore, while there is variance in individual interpretations and the way commands are followed; Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua share these fundamental views regarding the applicability of Torah.
• The Torah is applicable to all followers of YHVH, even under the new covenant
• The Torah is a blessing, it is useful, and it is enlightening
• Yahshua and the Apostolic (New Testament) writers reaffirmed the Torah as a whole
They derive these views from the Scriptures, citing passages in which the Scripture that call YHVH's commands as everlasting and good.
• Psalm 119:152 NIV: “Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.”
• Psalm 119:160 NIV: “All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.”
• Exodus 12:24 NIV: “Obey these instructions [re: Passover] as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.”
• Exodus 29:9b NIV: “The priesthood is theirs by a lasting ordinance. In this way you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.”
• Leviticus 16:29 NIV: "This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or an alien living among you.”
• Deuteronomy 4:5-6 NIV: “See, I have taught you decrees and laws as YHVH my Elohim commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'"
• Nehemiah 9:13 NIV: “You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good."
• Psalm 19:7 NIV: "The law of YHVH is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of YHVH are trustworthy, making wise the simple."
• Psalm 19:8 NIV: "The precepts of YHVH are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of YHVH are radiant, giving light to the eyes."
• Psalm 119:39 NIV: “Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good.”
• Proverbs 28:7 NIV: "He who keeps the law [Torah] is a discerning son."
While there are New Testament passages that can seem hostile towards the Mosaic Law, Torah-submissive Christians find insufficient evidence in the New Testament to invalidate this weight of evidence that the Law is both eternal and good and that an unchanging YHVH (Num 23:19) would change his standard for humanity. They hold different interpretations of the New Testament passages that have traditionally been understood to say that the Law has changed, and they consider these interpretations to be accurate, based on the whole of scripture, sensitive to literary and historical contexts, and understanding of the original languages.
They see these interpretations strengthened by the evidence in the Apostolic Writings (New Testament scriptures) that the Mosaic Law is, in fact, upheld under the new covenant.
• Matthew 5:17-19 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets.
I did not come to destroy but to complete.
Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the pre-Messianic Scriptures
"For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17.
“Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.
• Matthew 23:1-3 : Then יהושע spoke to the crowds and to His taught ones, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Mosheh."Therefore, whatever they say to you to guard, guard and do. But do not do according to their works, for they say, and do not do."
• Matthew 23:23 : “"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you tithe the mint and the anise and the cumin [1], and have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah: the right-ruling and the compassion and the belief. These need to have been done, without neglecting the others. Footnote:1The wording in Lk. 11:42 is somewhat different.1
Even Paul, some of whose statements have been interpreted to nullify the Law (the Torah), specifically says that he upholds the Law (the Torah) and other statements from his writing are seen to express that same idea:
• Romans 3:31 Do we then nullify the Torah through the belief? Let it not be!
On the contrary, we establish the Torah.1 Footnote: 1See 7:12.
• Romans 7:7 : What, then, shall we say? Is the Torah sin? Let it not be! However, I did not know sin except through the Torah. For also the covetousness I knew not if the Torah had not said, "You shall not covet."
• Romans 7:12: So that the Torah truly is set-apart, and the command set-apart, and righteous, and good.
• Romans 6:1,2: What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin, to let favour increase. Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin1 still live in it? Footnote: 1See Rom. 8:13, Col. 3:3, 1 Peter 2:24.
• Romans 6:15 : What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Torah but under favour? Let it not be!
• Romans 7:22: For I delight in the Torah of Elohim1 according to the inward man, Footnote: 1Ps. 119:16.
• Romans 8:7: Because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards Elohim, for it does not subject itself1 to the Torah of Elohim2, neither indeed is it able Footnotes: 1Or does not obey.2John 15:5, 1 John 4:4, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:18.
Added to this Second Writings (New Testament) validation of Torah, many Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua interpret prophecy to predict that this same Torah will be fully applicable in the future, once Yahshua returns:
• Zechariah 14:3-4,16-17: And יהוה shall go forth, and He shall fight against those gentiles, as He fights in the day of battle.
And in that day His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, which faces Yerushalayim on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, a very great valley, and half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.
And it shall be that all who are left from all the gentiles which came up against Yerushalayim, shall go up from year to year to bow themselves to the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts, and to observe the Festival of Booths (feast of Tabernacles- Sukkot in Hebrew). And it shall be, that if anyone of the clans of the earth does not come up to Yerushalayim to bow himself to the Sovereign, יהוה of hosts, on them there is to be no rain.
Isaiah 66:15-17 as commentary on Rev 19:11-15
"For look, יהוה comes with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His displeasure with burning, and His rebuke with flames of fire."For by fire and by His sword יהוה shall judge all flesh, and the slain of יהוה shall be many – those who set themselves apart and cleanse themselves at the gardens after ‘One’ in the midst, eating flesh of pigs and the abomination and the mouse, are snatched away , together declares YHVH.
• And I saw the heaven opened, and there was a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Trustworthy and True, and in righteousness He judges and fights. And His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns, having a Name that had been written, which no one had perceived except Himself (Rev 19:11-15)
• Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall be in the latter days that the mountain of the House of יהוה is established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. And all nations shall flow to it. And many peoples shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of יהוה, to the House of the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ, and let Him teach[1] us His ways [1], and let us walk in His paths [1] for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah [1], and the Word [1] of YHVH from Yerushalayim. Footnote: 1His ways, His paths, the teaching and the Word of יהוה are used synonymously.
• Ezekiel 40-48 describes the festival, Sabbath, and New Moon observance and a revived Temple with its Levitical priesthood and practices.
Understanding of "Israel"
Some traditional Christian theologies have seen aspects of the Torah as irrelevant because of their understanding of who "Israel" is. Some hold that Christians are under a different "theological covenant" than Israel, who was given the Torah, and through the new covenant have become a "spiritual Israel." Others hold that YHVH deals with the world in very distinct "dispensations" and that the era of the church (now) is a "parentheses" or "intercalation" in history, where YHVH has suspended his dealing with the Jewish people for a time. This issue is still widely debated among Biblical scholars today. (See Supersessionism and Dispensationalism.)
Most Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua hold to what some have called "Olive-tree Theology" with regards to Israel, based on Romans 11. According to this analogy that Paul used in Rom 11, Non-Jewish believers in Yahshua are grafted into the root of this tree, which is Israel, as "wild-olive branches" when they come to faith in Messiah. In doing so, they join believing Jews who are the natural branches. The view holds that this tree in Paul's analogy is the Israel that has faith in YHVH, fulfilling YHVH’s truest intention for his set apart nation.
In this view, the fact that everyone in this olive tree has faith in Yahshua and "branches" that do not have faith are removed, however, does not nullify the status of non-believing Jews as "Israel" as well. In other places, Paul continues to call ethnic Jews, "Jews" or "Israel" and about physical Jews, Paul says, "YHVH's gifts and his call are irrevocable" (Rom 11:29). Therefore, in this view, physical Jews who do not have faith in Yahshua retain their identity as Israel and YHVH's promises to Israel (the return to the land of Israel, e.g.) still very much apply to them. The promises which do not apply are those which are spiritual and conditional upon faith in Messiah, namely spiritual salvation (John 14:6).
Because believers in Messiah Yahshua, in this view, have become a part of Israel, they find their identity in Yahshua within the identity of Israel and YHVH's revelation to and through Israel; this includes the Torah. This view understands believers in Yahshua following the pattern of David, who the Scriptures (the Bible) describe as both loving the Torah (Psalm 119) and finding forgiveness through faith and repentance (Rom 4:1-8). Many Torah observant believers in Yahshua reject what has been called “replacement theology” For them the "church" has not replaced Israel nor ever will.
Understanding of “Judaizers”
Some have considered Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua “Judaizers,” after those mentioned by Paul in book of Galatians and elsewhere, because they believe that Judaizers are those that taught that the Law of Moses is applicable to Christians. However, Torah-submissive Christians uphold all writings of Paul, and yet do not consider themselves guilty of Judaizing.
Tim Hegg, in his book, "Fellow Heirs", explains the issue of the Judaizers that Paul condemned. He writes that the Jewish tradition at the time (and now) taught that anyone who was to enter into the covenant promises of Abraham, which the Apostolic Writings (New Testament) equates with salvation (Rom 4:13-16, Gal 3:26-29) had to convert to Judaism by becoming Jewish. However, Paul taught that Gentiles coming to faith do not have to convert formally to Judaism by traditional standards in order to be ‘’saved’’, but rather have to be circumcised of heart (Rom 2:28-29) by the Set Apart Spirit (Holy Spirit) of YHVH, which signifies their acceptance by YHVH. Once saved, circumcision becomes simply a matter of obedience – not a requirement for salvation. There are several Messianic believers who believe strongly that circumcision as with all other commandments in Torah have not been done away with and should still be obeyed as evidence of our faith in YHVH.
Understanding of “Legalism”
Some critics of Torah-submission believers in Yahshua, have accused Torah-submissive believers (Christians) of legalism. However, Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua hold that all of YHVH's commands are good and that heart's motivation alone determines if one obeys any Scriptural command (even those traditionally accepted) out of a sense of self-righteous entitlement or out of a sense of obedient humility and gratitude to Elohim.
In his book, "Restoration", Bible teacher Daniel Thomas Lancaster, gives the theological definition of legalism (derived from scripture): "One who attempts to earn salvation through obedience to the law." Torah-submissive believers in Yahshua Messiah, fundamentally and emphatically reject been guilty of “legalism”, affirming that the acceptance of YHVH’s - salvation - is based only on YHVH's favour (grace) through faith. In fact many Torah submissive believers believe that the true evidence of been filled with Spirit of YHVH is walking in obedience to the Torah.
Rom 8:4 "so that the righteousness of the Torah should be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
Objections to Christian Torah-submission
There are several other theological systems that seek to explain how the Torah applies under the new covenant, such as Dispensationalism and Reformed theology that do not advocate obedience to the entire Torah. Their objections to Torah-submission are that Yahshua terminated the Mosaic law, replacing it with the "Law of Christ", or that only the “moral” portions of the Mosaic law continue "after the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection". Often, Apostolic or Second Writings (New Testament) verses are used to show that the applicability of the Torah in the old covenant has been modified or abrogated by the new (renewed) covenant. Such verses include Mark 7:14-19, Acts 10:9-13, Rom 10:4, Eph 2:14-15, and Col 2:13-14. See also Mark 2.
Objecting views can also vary from the belief that being Torah-submissive is beneficial, but not intended by YHVH, to the belief that anyone who continues to follow the “ceremonial” law is committing “mortal sin.”
Finally it is a very sobering thought that Yahshua was never instructed by his Father to start a new religion called “Christianity” He came to restore the ancient paths of his fathers.
Jer 6:16 Thus said יהוה, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves. But they said, ‘We do not walk in it.’
Jer 6:17 “And I raised up watchmen over you, and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the ram’s horn!’ But they said, ‘We do not listen.’
Jer 6:18 “Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is upon them!
Jer 6:19 “Hear, O earth! See, I am bringing evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to My words, nor My Torah – and they rejected it.
The ancient hatefulness towards Jews was expressed by some of the church fathers and sadly still exists in the hearts of many today. Strong anti-semitic statements were made by some of the church fathers such as John Chrystostom, who was quoted as saying: “I know that many people hold a high regard for the Jew, and consider their way of life worthy of respect at the present time. This is why I am hurrying to pull up this fatal notion by the roots…A place where a whore stands on display is a whorehouse. What is more, the synagogue is not only a whorehouse and a theater; it is also a den of thieves and a haunt of wild animals…No better disposed than pigs or goats, [the Jews] live by the rule of debauchery and inordinate gluttony. Only one thing they understand: to gorge themselves and to get drunk.” (Carroll, p. 213)
Let us take to heart the words of the Moshe/Moses and the prophets:
Gen 12:3 “And I shall bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you. And in you all the clans of the earth shall be blessed.”
Jer 16:19 O YHVH, my strength and my stronghold and my refuge, in the day of distress the gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth and say, “Our fathers have inherited only falsehood, futility, and there is no value in them.”1 Footnote: 1See Ps. 147:19, Isa. 2:3, Isa. 60:2-3, John 4:22, Rom. 2:20, Rom. 3:2, Rom. 9:4.
Torah submissive believers in the Messiah Yahshua are grateful for the wonderful privilege of coming to the saving knowledge of YHVH through His Son Yahshua and have learned many other valuable lessons from our fellow brothers and sisters in Messiah who still remain in the church, however let us take to heart the Scripture:
Act 17:30“Truly, then, having overlooked these times of ignorance, Elohim now commands all men everywhere to repent."
All Scripture quotations were from "The Scripture" Version except the few quotations from the NIV (with corrected name of YHVH where "the LORD" appeared).