It looks like we will have to treat the extra-biblical books as secondary after all. Here is a disturbing verse I came across in Yobelim/Jubilees 2: 31 :
And the Creator of all matters barak it, but He did not qadosh all peoples and nations to guard the Shabbath on it, but Yisra'el alone - they alone He permitted to eat and drink and to guard the Shabbath thereon on the earth.
FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION - TZAV:
“A law forever for the sons of Yisrael”
There are many followers of Yehoshua nowadays who claim to be “Torah-Observant.” Some are. Many will tell you they stand on the words of Yehoshua who said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete.” Some do. I believe most of these people mean to be sincere when they make this claim. However many of them, when confronted with the whole of the Torah, will still tell you that certain parts of it have been “changed” or have been “done away with.” They will claim that these parts were “only for Israel,” or were only valid until the coming of Messiah and the institution of the “New Covenant.” They tend to leave out or ignore the rest of what Yehoshua said on this subject:
“For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of the heavens.”
The Torah agrees, saying, “Man(kind) does not live by bread alone, but EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of YHWH.”
If the claims of these people who say any part of Torah has changed or has been done away with are true, then both YHWH and Yehoshua must be liars (heaven forbid!).
Of change, YHWH says, “For I am YHWH, I shall not change, and you, O sons of Ya’aqov, shall not come to an end.” Of Yehoshua, it is written, “Yehoshua Messiah is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
Concerning the applicability of the Torah to those from the nations who join Yisrael, it is written, “There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you.” And, “Therefore, remember that you, once nations in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands, that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the Commonwealth of Yisrael and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world. But now in Messiah Yehoshua you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who has made both one.”
The New Covenant says, “See, the days are coming,” declares YHWH, “when I shall make a New covenant with the house of Yisrael and with the house of Yehudah, not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I strengthened their hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares YHWH. “For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisrael after those days,” declares YHWH: “I shall put My Torah in their inward parts and write it on their hearts.”
Every yod and tittle of it.
This week’s Torah portion again concerns itself with the sacrifices commanded to be done in the Mishkan, or “Tabernacle.” Those people who claim some parts of the Torah have changed or been done away with usually point to these as their primary example of what has now been altered in or removed from the Torah. If that were true, then ten entire chapters of the book of Va’yiqra (Leviticus) alone have been made null and void by the sacrifice of the same person who promised nothing of the sort would ever happen. This is absurd. It is also far more than a yod or a tittle. It has long been my experience that, if one part of the scriptures seems to conflict with another, it my understanding and level of learning that is deficient, not the Word of the Most-High. Such is the case here.
Consider:
Not one of the sacrifices listed in this portion, nor in all of the Torah, has to do with or atones for sins which carry a death-penalty. None. These sacrifices only apply to sin which is done by mistake or in weakness, and all have a remedy that YHWH guarantees will cover them. Therefore, they are not about issues of salvation. Why would Yehoshua need to die for them?
The Shelamim (Peace) sacrifices have nothing to do with sin at all, but are voluntary offerings brought in thanksgiving for YHWH’s providence. The meat from this sacrifice is shared with the family of the offerer in a festive meal dedicated to the Most-High. Why would Yehoshua’s death and resurrection do away with these?
In the book of Luqas (Luke), Yehoshua healed a leper and told him, “Go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a witness to them, as Moshe commanded.” If animal sacrifice were being done away with, why would Yehoshua command and teach such a thing publicly and needlessly?
Over twenty years after the death and resurrection of Messiah, Paul of Tarsos was told by the Council at Jerusalem and the Apostles, “We have four men who have taken a vow. “Take them and be cleansed with them, then pay their expenses so that they shave their heads. And all shall know that what they have been informed about you is not so, but that you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah,” which Paul promptly did - “Then Sha’ul took the men on the next day, and having been cleansed with them, went into the Temple to announce the completion of the days of separation, until the sacrifice should be presented for each one of them.” If animal sacrifice had bee done away with at Yehoshua’s death and resurrection, then why would the Apostles still instruct him thus? And if Paul thought such a sacrifice was wrong, why did he still go and do it? For it is written, “You shall not follow after a multitude to do evil.”
These are but a few brief examples showing why, when a Temple is standing in Jerusalem, animal sacrifices have not been “done away with” and are still applicable to the Commonwealth of Yisrael. There are many more. For you who disagree with this assessment, remember that under Torah law it only takes two witnesses to establish a matter, and more than that have been provided for you here. Nothing you can say or show will change that fact.
I know that some of you will say that the New Covenant changes these things. But remember Paul said, “Brothers, as a man I say it: a covenant, even though it is man’s, yet if it is confirmed, no one sets it aside, or adds to it.” YHWH has said, “Do not add to the Word which I command you, and do not take away from it, so as to guard the commands of YHWH your Elohim which I am commanding you.” Yehoshua himself said, “For I witness to everyone hearing the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, Elohim shall add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohim shall take away his part from the Book of Life, and out of the set-apart city, which are written in this Book.” It is a fearsome thing to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.
Rather than continuing to debate or argue these things from the viewpoint of your old religion, why not learn what is deficient in your current perceptions that causes these passages of scripture to seemingly conflict with others? We were all once wrong in our understanding of scripture; why not embrace the Truth as it is written – all of it - as we did before, and give further growth in our faith a chance? Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have to go to such great lengths, twisting and convoluting so many verses in scripture (and ignoring others) to fit our views? Wouldn’t it be nice if there were no more apparent conflicts in the Word and every piece fit perfectly together as we believe and say it should? It can. And, when it does, it will enhance and glorify both our Father in heaven and the sacrifice His blessed son made for us when he made the ultimate sacrifice to save us all.
Now, go and learn the difference between a sin which carries the death-penalty (a pesha) and one which does not (a chattah), between an accidental sin and a deliberate willful transgression, between those sacrifices which can bring atonement on the earthly altar and were prescribed by the Torah, and those which never were and can only be cleansed by the blood of a perfect man in the heavenly Mishkan – Yehoshua Hamashiach.
FROM THIS WEEK’S TORAH PORTION – TZAV:
“And YHWH spoke to Moshe, saying, ‘Command Aharon and his sons, saying, “This is the Torah of the ascending offering: This is the ascending offering, because it is burned on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar is kept burning on it. And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and put his linen trousers on his body, and shall take up the ashes of the ascending offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and shall put them beside the altar. And he shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and shall bring the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. And the fire on the altar is kept burning on it, it is not put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and arrange the ascending offering on it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings – fire is continually kept burning on the altar, it is not put out.’”
The Torah does not repeat itself for no reason. In this single passage from parshath Tzav, the command to keep the fire burning “continually” (תָּמִ֛יד – tamid) is repeated no less than three times. What are we to make of this?
Some scholars say that this repetition simply indicates stress and importance. Others say that each instance has it’s own distinct purpose. It is opined that the distinct purpose for the repetition in this instant passage is:
1. The first instance is literal, that the fire on the bronze altar itself must never be allowed to go out.
2. The second instance is figurative, the fire of faith and obedience in the hearts of the children of Yisrael must never be allowed to go out.
3. The third instance is reciprocal, that the fire of love and faithfulness that YHWH has for His people Yisrael will never go out.
Whichever opinion is correct, it is a beautiful symbology and a command we should strive always to keep – continually.
https://www.youtube.com/live/2....H3kUOwSP7Q?si=WfCu1U
Sabbath Keepers Fellowship Weekly Torah Study
Join us on Zoom for prayer, fellowship and discussion of the weekly Torah portion, the Haftarah, the Writings of the Disciples, and the Min Hazaqen Torah Commentary.
Our small, friendly group welcomes beginners and those who are learned in the scriptures, and we always take time for questions and answers.
We begin at 7pm Central Time on the 5th day of each week. Here is the link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4731209848
Join Us!
What were you doing at the age of 8? That’s the age Morgan Phelps was when she started her first business! Now in her 20s, she not only continues to operate her own businesses, she also advises others who would like to go into business or manage their family farms. Morgan and her family are no strangers to adversity – even some of the worst kinds of loss. Nevertheless, they have found ways to survive and thrive through every trial. Our visit with her is both encouraging and informative, and will inspire you to find out what more you might do according to fulfill our God’s purposes for your life!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/229....2194/episodes/164447
What were you doing at the age of 8? That’s the age Morgan Phelps was when she started her first business! Now in her 20s, she not only continues to operate her own businesses, she also advises others who would like to go into business or manage their family farms. Morgan and her family are no strangers to adversity – even some of the worst kinds of loss. Nevertheless, they have found ways to survive and thrive through every trial. Our visit with her is both encouraging and informative, and will inspire you to find out what more you might do according to fulfill our God’s purposes for your life!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/229....2194/episodes/164447
CFM House Church Bible discussion meeting tonight led by First Fruits Ministries Pastor Andrew J. Manuse. This is at 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET. Here's the link to use ONLY for meeting time (7 p.m. CST/8 p.m. EST) to join the meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87212812688
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