We challenge you to read the scripture references. They are eye openers! The questions regarding "legalistic" guilt trips such as "You must celebrate Sabbath, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Passover, Tabernacles, you must eat Rabbinical Kosher, etc, etc, etc are being shoved down Christians’ throats contrary to the Word of God. See Romans 4:4; 6:14-15; 11:6; Galatians 1:6-14; 2:1; 5:4; Ephesians 2:8-9. Hebrews 13:9 warns about preoccupation with food rituals.
Let me begin with the Torah. Deuteronomy 4:44 specifically quotes "and this is the Law (Torah) which Moshe (Moses) set BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. Verse 45 qualifies the testimonies, statutes and the accompanying judgements spoken by God, through Moses at the time of the Exodus. Remember – this to National Israel!
Deuteronomy 31:11 When ALL ISRAEL comes to appear before the Lord they God in the place which He shall choose. You shall read this Torah before ALL ISRAEL in their hearing. Verse 12 tells my Jewish people (not the nations) to observe and do all the words of this Torah. To teach contrary to God’s Holy Word is blasphemy. This is serious! Romans 11:5-6 …there is a remnant all to the election of Grace and if grace – no longer works.
The word used for teaching/instruction from the Hebrew "Torah" is often translated as "Law"; this is used in general. Other Hebrew words used are:
- "Mitzvah" – relates to direct commandments.
- Established concepts of "Law" are CHOK = established sometimes as a recent stipulation or statute.
- "Mishpat" has a large repertoire, usually a Royal decree.
- So we see "Devarim" = usually God’s commands, or
- DUT = legal sphere (of law) etc.
We need to understand what we are getting into regarding these "concepts" which are often false concepts due to assuming that we understand "God’s Commands." The Old Testament does belong to Israel AND to all nations. How? To Israel as God’s Covenant. To the believer in the New Testament through grace as pointing to a BRIT CHADASHA = explicitly – A NEW COVENANT or REnewed Testament. Now – let’s look at the NEW!
John 1:17 Torah was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Yeshua often made reference to the Torah = Law and the Neviim = prophets. The specific Greek word for Torah is Nomos. The Messiah as a Jewish man especially cited Torah. All New Testament references to being without Torah (in Hebrew = Lo Torah; in Greek A-Nomos) are in contradiction to Judicial Law. The term Torah/Nomos includes the Pentateuch = five books of Moses, plus the prophets, see John 1:45; Acts 28:23. Sometimes it refers to the Mosaic Covenant at Sinai, see Romans 5:13-20; Galatians 3:17, 19-20. "Under the Law" I Corinthians 9:20; Galatians 3:23, 4:4-5, 21; etc. meaning Torah legal, not secular Judicial. Torah legal in the scriptures means "moral". If you break the moral law that is considered Torah illegal. The law of Torah is different than the secular law of men. There are ritual laws but they are tied to the morality of the people.
For many centuries one of the most misunderstood and yet most prominent New Testament Jewish author is Rav Shaul – Rabbi Saul/Paul. He seems so often to be contemptuous and at other times to be favorable to Torah. He also seems to be anti, sometimes pro-Israel. He though calling himself the shaliach/envoy –(Greek – apostle) to the Gentiles – is NEVER anti Torah or anti Israel. He DOES NOT discard His People by REPLACING them with the predominantly Gentile church. He insists under God’s inspiration "God has not cast away His People" Rom 11:1-2. Let’s refer back to Yeshua’s words, "Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled"/– then – all Israel will be saved, Rom 11:26. He emphasizes blindness has happened IN PART to Israel – until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, Rom 11:25-26. And so shall all (remnant) Israel be saved, Rom 9:27. For those scholars who argue for Paul bringing Jesus only to the Gentiles as Savior and the Jewish salvation being separated – look at Genesis 12:1-3 and Romans 1:16. The power of salvation TO THE JUDEAN (JEW) FIRST and TO THE GREEK/GENTILE. Paul as the protégé of the great Rabban Gamaliel, going to Damascus to arrest believers has a profound revelation of Yeshua ha Notsri – Jesus of Nazareth, and becomes a redeemed – saved – born again servant. Now, as a new creature, old things have passed away, he can become envoy/apostle to the previously despised goyim/Gentiles as did Jonah to the Ninevites; Peter to the Roman soldiers and their servants.
Some brilliant scholars in Israel are concluding that Paul was NOT discouraging Jews from their own God-given customs, traditions and rites. Clearly his distinctive background was Pharisaic – very legalistic until Yeshua’s revelation to him. But – IS he also putting the new Gentile believers under the cultural rules, rituals, Holy Days? These Gentiles – believers – couldn’t enter into the Herodian "Court of Israel" because the BAR YONIM = Zealots would fiercely defend their Covenant as JEWS with God. Many who PLAYED at being "Jewish" i.e. putting on fringes = tzitzit, eating ritually acceptable food, keeping Shabbat, Holy Days, etc WERE ENDANDERING THEIR LIVES. The ORTHODOX JEWS TODAY, FEEL THE SAME i.e. get circumcised, prove your Torah grasp and apply Torah or you are in dangerous water/thin ice in their opinion.
We need to distance/disassociate from careless pseudo scholars, see I Timothy 2:14; James 3:1 and Ephesians 5:9-11; I John 1:6. Please read these and you will know from GOD’S OWN WORD why we need to cautious of what our ears hear. II Timothy 4:3 is very explicit. This teaching of the Kingdom concept is NOT a contest or a frivolous game! II Peter 2:1 warns about false prophets and false teachers who will infiltrate with damnable heresies resulting in their own swift destruction.
Many scholars have begun to realize that Paul’s writings have been long misunderstood. Some professors in well respected seminaries and universities have courageously spoken out. An article in "Bible Review" December 1998 issue, John G. Gager author of the topic, "Paul’s Contradictions, Can they be resolved?" discusses this awakening and names the academics who have spoken out. The issue at hand is "does Paul contradict and oppose his own statements." The conclusion of the article is summarized with this – Paul’s seeming diatribe against Torah IS NOT AIMED AT JEWISH OBSERVANCE – BUT IS AIMED AT JUDAIZING OF GENTILE BELIEVERS IN YESHUA! Remember he is the APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES – Rom 11:13.
Acts 15: 1-31 At the first council of apostles and elders of the body of believers :1… to vs: 19 We are NOT to trouble the Gentile who have turned to God! … i.e. NOT TO JUDAIZE. :20 known as the NOACHIDE LAWS. Verse 24: NO SUCH COMMANDMENTS ( MOSAIC MITZVOT/MOSAIC COMMANDS) GIVEN to the Nations ONLY TO ISRAEL. Verse 28: The Holy Spirit and we (hereby) decree that no greater burden be laid on you than these NECESSARY THINGS. Verse 29 describes some of the Noachide Laws namely "Abstain from meat offered to idols, from blood, things strangled and from fornication." Let me close this portion with this. You DON’T HAVE to observe Jewish days, but you are permitted to. Law says you MUST/MUST NOT – GRACE ALLOWS. I Cor 6:12 All things are lawful, but not all are expedient (beneficial). Keeping kosher is HEALTHY – animals not to suffer, blood is properly removed Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17, 7:26, 17:12, 14; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23. Life is in the blood. However, Gentiles are NOT obligated. This is under Rabbinic control. You SHOULD read I Corinthians 10:25, 27-33. This will alleviate any doubts you may have regarding observance and grace.
In seeming contradiction the New Testament does refer to "eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the SON OF MAN." This was to be understood as NOT physical participation of actual flesh and blood. Yeshua referred to the matzah (unleavened) bread and the fruit of the (grape) vine as the emblems. More will be discussed at Passover on this vital topic. See also I Corinthians 11:25-27.
So summarily, we are NOT being "kosher" by eating food. Romans 14:17 clarifies this. Ephesians 2:8-9 expresses the concern that we NOT think mixing grace and "Law" will "merit us points." Interesting note: Food as ritually acceptable depended upon the active presence of the altar of sacrifice. After the destruction of the Temple, "kosher" was strictly a symbolic of HOPE of Redemption.
Leviticus 26:13-16 describes the necessity to KEEP COVENANT. If we don’t keep ALL (this is impossible anyway) curses will result, Galatians 3:10. The New Covenant/Testament says Galatians 6:2 "Bear one another burdens and SO FULFIL THE TORAH (i.e. NOMOS) OF MESSIAH" – NOT MOSES! Verse 7 warns "Be not deceived, God is not mocked!" - "for whatsoever a man sows, that also shall he reap." This is a word from God’s Law. See Nehemiah 10:29; Daniel 9:11-14. IMPORTANT – please now read Galatians 3:10-14.
