261 Belief in Yahshua the Messiah | nazareneisrael2house

Belief in Yahshua the Messiah.

Do you think it is possible to believe in Yahshua the Messiah and somehow be associated with Rabbinical Judaism? Many in Churchianity think this to be unthinkable and that the two belief-systems are exact opposites. However, we should not forget that Yahshua the Messiah was a Rabbi and most scholars agree from the topics of His discussions with the various religious groups of His day that He was closely associated with the Pharisaic group. Of the religious sect of the second Temple period the Pharisees are the first to be mentioned around 160 BCE.

But, there were various groups in the days of Yahshua; amongst other the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes. There were also smaller groups within these major groups; one being the Nazarenes as a sect of the Pharisees. The name Pharisees means ‘the separated ones’ and they were scrupulous in their observance of the written and oral Law. They also taught in the synagogues and their beliefs, particularly in the resurrection of the dead and the coming of Messiah, influenced the majority of the Jewish nation. At times they came into conflict with the Sadducees and at one stage were excluded from the Sanhedrin. After the destruction of the Temple around 70 CE, the sacrificial system came to an end and the Pharisees became the dominant group in the Jewish community. The question is: which of the two groups did Yahshua authenticate? We read what He said about the Sadducees when some of them questioned Him in Matthew 22: 23 - 28, about the resurrection in which they did not believe, as recorded in verse 29, like this: ‘But Yahshua answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures, or the power of Elohim.”’If we follow Yahshua, we should not believe what the Sadducees teach, as they do not understand the Scriptures. What did Yahshua say about the Pharisees? We read from Matthew 23: 1 - 3, ‘Then Yahshua spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, (2) saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; (3) therefore all they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.”’ So, we should listen and believe what the Pharisees tell us, but should not do what they do, as they tell us to keep the Torah, but do not always do as they teach. Their problem was hypocrisy, in that they wanted to appear better than what they really were, as we read from Matthew 23: 27 & 28, as follows: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. (28) Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”This is a typical problem with many ‘pious religious’ people, even today. Matthew 23 is a chapter often quoted to condemn the scribes and the Pharisees. However, Messiah’s warnings in Matthew 23 are in agreement with Judaism and absolutely in agreement with Torah. But, what is overlooked by the Church is the way this chapter begins, upholding the authority of the scribes and Pharisees to rule on the Law.

The passage is a clear endorsement of the authority of Rabbinical Judaism and their Pharisaic traditions. Most Christian scholars, as well as some Nazarene/Messianic Jews/Israelites and like-minded believers have not taken Messiah’s advice seriously, because it militates against their entire culture and will definitely upset the status quo at this stage. To make matters worse in a book by the current Karaite leader, entitled: ‘The Hebrew Yeshua vs the Greek Jesus’,Nehemiah Gordon uses ‘The Shem Tob Matthew’ a 14th century work written by a Rabbi by that name, as an argument against Christianity. However, a number of factors revealed the dubious nature of The Shem Tob version of Matthew. It contains many revisions and later insertions and is not older than the year 1500 CE, whereas, scholars have Greek manuscripts that originated as long ago as 250 CE. In addition not a single Greek manuscript supports the reading of the Shem Tob version of Matthew, where the words of Messiah in Matthew 23: 3 have been altered to read he meaning Moses instead of they meaning the Pharisees. The foundation of Gordon’s Karaite argument is that two Shem Tob manuscripts read he instead of they, however, 6 of the surviving 9 copies of the Shem Tob manuscripts read they and not he. In fact one fragment copy does not even contain Matthew 23: 2 & 3. In addition the book of Matthew contained in the ‘Gospel of the Ebionites’ and the’Gospel of the Nazarenes’ – both ancient Hebrew versions of Matthew do not agree with these Shem Tob versions. In other words, only 2 manuscripts of a very dubious manuscript support the single reading he meaning Moses. But what is more revealing, is that one of these two manuscripts is clearly a copy of the other, so the textual support reduces to only a single copy out of almost 500 Greek copies of Matthew with the correct reading. But that is not all – the difference between the word they (אמרו) and he (אמר) in Hebrew is simply a matter of a single letter that was left out by a scribe. The single manuscript that reads he instead of they is obviously a scribal mistake, which would have as a result been destroyed, but somehow survived to help Satan and his agents in their role to contradict what Yahshua taught, as witnessed by Rav Jude in Jude 4, as follows: ‘For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our Elohim into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Yahshua Messiah.’

We also need to understand that the Renewed Covenant was written specifically for the lost ten tribes and not for the Jews. If therefore we see the warnings of Yahshua in the Scriptures and specifically in Matthew 23 as against Jews only, we are missing the point totally. Yahshua’s warnings against the scribes and Pharisees in these verses are aimed at those who think themselves to be religious amongst us. Yahshua was warning that our religion should not only be an outward show in which we try to make as if we are better than everyone else, no, we should truly strife to be better. The Jewish faith is generally known as a non-proselyte faith, in that they do not go out to find converts, but will allow converts who come to them with the intention to convert to Judaism. It is for this reason also that Yahshua came to specifically bring the lostten tribes back to Judaism, as He said to His twelve disciples upon sending them out after instructing them in Matthew 10: 5 – 7, saying: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; (6) but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (7) And as you go, preach (or proclaim), saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” This does not mean that we should go about converting people, no, it means that we simply witness to them the facts about the coming kingdom of Elohim, as Yahshua also prophesied in Matthew 24: 14, saying: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a witness to all the nations (into which the lost ten tribes were scattered because of idolatry), and then the end shall come.”

The Pharisees were most closely associated with Nazarene believers in Yahshua and when He spoke to the scribes and the Pharisees of His time, He was essentially talking to some who eventually came to believe in Him, but also to those of us today, who like those so-called religious people of His day were hypocrites as witnessed in Acts 15: 5, as follows:‘But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.’ We read accordingly from Matthew 23: 13 - 15, where Yahshua said: “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees (and other pious religious leaders), hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men (in that you try to convert them to half-truths which cannot bring about salvation and immerse them without making sure that you do so in accordance with the Scriptural requirements to ensure that they truly receive the Set-apart Spirit); for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.(14) Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses (how many modern day religious leaders have stolen the properties of widows mourning for their husbands?), even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. (15) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte (convert); and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Our job function is not to convert anyone, but to proclaim the good news about the coming Kingdom of Elohim as a witness into the entire world, since the lost ten tribes were scattered throughout the earth and not a kernel will be lost. However, only a remnant will be saved as Rav Shaul quoting Isaiah wrote in Romans 9: 27, saying: “And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, ‘THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED.’”

We also see from Philippians 3: 2 - 5, that Rav Shaul was also a Pharisee, before Yahshua met him on his way to Damascus, saying: ‘Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; (3) for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of Elohim and the glory in Messiah Yahshua and put no confidence in the flesh, (4) although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: (5) circumcised the eighth day of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee.’ The scribes were not only those who wrote the Torah scrolls and mezuzat for the door posts and gates (as they continue to this day); they are also authorities as far as Torah is concerned. In most cases when Yahshua mentioned the Pharisees, He also mentioned the scribes and it is therefore clear that the scribes were also from the Pharisaic sect.Rulings of the rabbis regarding the proclaiming of Elohim’s Set-apart Days and Kosher Laws are based upon both the oral and written Torah. They stand on the shoulders of authority reaching back to Moses and as Yahshua indicated, they ‘sit in the seat of Moses’, as approved and commanded by Elohim in Deuteronomy 17: 8 – 12, as follows: ‘If any case is too difficult for you to decide, between one kind of homicide or another, between one kind of lawsuit or another, and between one kind of assault or another, being cases of dispute in your courts, then you shall arise and go up to the place which YHVH your Elohim chooses. (9) So you shall come to the Levitical priest or the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall inquire of them, and they will declare to you the verdict in the case. (10) And you shall do according to the terms of the verdict which they declare to you from that place which YHVH chooses; and you shall be careful to observe according to all that they teach you. (11) According to the terms of the law which they teach you, and according to the verdict which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside from the word which they declare to you, to the right or the left. (12) And the man who acts presumptuously by not listening to the priest who stands there to serve YHVH your Elohim, nor to the judge, that man shall die; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.’ There is a general misunderstanding about Messiah’s view of Torah, when He says in Matthew 5 that he did not come to change it concluding in verses 19 & 20, saying: ‘Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (20) For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.’

We read further from John 1: 1 – 3: ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. (2) He was in the beginning with Elohim. (3) All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.’ Yahshua wanted and still wants His disciples to follow the Torah from the heart. But how does one follow Torah from the heart? We are told that there is no reward for not breaking a negative command. For example, no one is going to congratulate you for not killing your neighbor or for not stealing his property. If you and I want to be congratulated for that, there is something wrong with our characters. As much as such things are considered normal behavior in life, the positive command should be as well. Obviously you act kindly; obviously you pray; obviously you love Elohim and your neighbor with all your heart. That is living by the spirit of the law. It is simply a way of life and that was the essence of what Yahshua was teaching His disciples in Matthew 5. According to Torah and therefore also according to the scribes and the Pharisees, sinners were those whose lifestyles were contrary to Torah, which some in Churchianity refer to as a yoke. What is the purpose of a yoke? It tames wild animals and makes them useful to their masters. The sinning nature of a person is also referred to as his animal nature; sinners were therefore like wild animals that do not want to be tamed by Torah. Since we are told not to sit in the seat of scoffers (in Psalm 1), this was a valid concern by the Pharisees when they criticized Yahshua’s behavior. However, Messiah’s way of walking Torah for His followers is stricter than that of the Pharisees and He also told them in Matthew 11: 28 – 30, saying: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (during His millennial rule). (29) Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. (30) For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.” Rav Yochanan confirmed Messiah’s teaching in 1 John 5: 2 & 3, saying: ‘By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and observe His commandments. (3) For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.’It was for this reason that Yahshua told the scribes and the Pharisees when they grumbled about Him receiving sinners and eating with them in Luke 15: 4 – 10, saying to them: ‘What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? (5) And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. (6) And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (7) I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (8) Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? (9) And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!” (10) In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of Elohim over one sinner who repents.’This tells us that Yahshua did not come to call Jews who obey Torah with their whole being, such as the modern day scribes and Pharisees (or Levites from ancient times), but to get those whose forebears were with the Jews at Mount Sinai, but who were scattered throughout the world for their disobedience to return to the covenant that YHVH made with all Israel.

To this end Yahshua continued explaining in more detail in Luke 15: 11 – 32, what has started happening from the previous century, when those who went far away from YHVH our Elohim, are being called back to return to Him as well as to Brother Judah, saying: “A certain man had two sons; (12) and the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.” And he divided his wealth between them. (13) And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. (14) Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be in need. (15) And he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. (16) And he was longing to fill his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. (17)But when he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread(spiritual bread meaning Torah), but I am dying here with hunger!” (18) I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; (19) I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” (20) And he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him, and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him, and kissed him. (21) And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (22) But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; (23) and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) for this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.” And they began to be merry. (25) Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. (26) And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things might be. (27) And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.” (28) But he became angry, and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began entreating him. (29) But he answered and said to his father, “Look! For so many years I have been serving you, and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a kid, that I might be merry with my friends; (30) but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with harlots, you killed the fattened calf for him.” (31) And he said to him, “My child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. (32)But we had to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’

When Yahshua spoke to the scribes and the Pharisees when they criticized His association with ‘sinners’ whose lifestyles were contrary to Torah, He showed them as the elder brother in the parable in Luke 15, who protested when their father celebrated the return of his younger son, that since they remained with Him throughout the ages, even after the destruction of the temple, all that He had belongs to them anyway. It was the rabbis or Levites among the Jewish people who preserved Torah and the Hebrew language for those of us who are returning to the Father at this time, after having been absent for more than 2,000 years. What is important, is that the youngest son had to return to the Father’s house, where his elder brother remained faithful to the Father.Those who sit in Moses’ seat today are the Rabbinical Jews. They are the ones who have the authority to teach returning Israelites how to obey Elohim’s Torah. During the time Yahshua was teaching His original disciples, there were two opposing schools; Shammai, who were very strict, and Hillel, who advocated mercy. Yahshua’s opinions leaned toward the school of Hillel and similarly do the majority of the rulings by today’s Rabbinical Jews tend toward the rulings of Hillel. Yes, we as the lost ten tribes will have to accept Brother Judah’s role as Elohim’s Lawgiver, as much as they will eventually have to accept Yahshua as their Messiah; but also us as part of the United Israel, with whom Yahshua will enter into a New marriage Covenant at His return. In fact Rav Yaa’cov told those of us whom YHVH has called out of the religions of the world, as first fruits among His creatures, saying in James 1: 21 – 25: ‘Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls (lives). (22) But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. (23) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in the mirror; (24) for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. (25)But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty (Torah), and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does.’ Far from promoting breaking Torah commands, Messiah’s followers, similar to Him, urged people to obey Torah. During the past two thousand years Scriptural Set-apart Days, including the Sabbath were changed for holidays more familiar with pagans. As prophesied by Daniel in Daniel 7: 25 Jewish traditions were exchanged for pagan traditions, as follows: ‘And he will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.’ We read two references from the final book of the Scriptures in Revelation 12: 17 and 14: 12, in this way: ‘And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandmentsof Elohim and hold to the testimony of Yahshua.’ (14: 12) Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of Elohim and their faith in Yahshua.’ What are the ‘commandments of Elohim’ other than Torah? These two passages show clearly that faith in Yahshua and obedience of Elohim’s commandments are not two opposites, but rather belong together for those considered to be saints. The anti-Semitic attitudes of Churchianity, demeaning Elohim’s Torah and denouncing the authority of the Levites (or rabbis) among the Jews, are in contrast with what Messiah taught and definitely alien to the spirit of Messiah. Are those who are not even aware of Messiah’s imminent future return in for a major surprise, when He will restore all things, or not?Nevertheless, there is a great misunderstanding about Yahshua’s position regarding Torah. In the two scriptural references given above, He clearly indicated that He did not come to change it in any way.

Those returning lost sheep of the house of Israel, who believe that the Oral Torah was the main reason for criticizing the Pharisees, need to understand that the Oral Torah of Messiah’s day became the Talmud of today. In addition, these discussions were typical of the interactions between equals debating the truth, even sometimes criticizing and getting close to insulting one another. But, it is a mistake to believe or think that the Oral Torah was ever discarded by Yahshua. Few realize that Yahshua’s interpretation of Torah is within the parameters of the teachings of traditional Judaism of His time. Let’s consider Messiah’s teachings in Matthew 5 with parallel teachings in the Tanach and the Talmud. Note that only the comparative Scriptures from the Tanach and the Talmud are indicated below:

Matthew 5: 3, “Blessed are the poor (or humble) in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” - Proverbs 29: 23, “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.”
Matthew 5: 4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” - Psalm 147: 3.
Matthew 5: 5, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.”- Psalm 37: 11.
Matthew 5: 6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” - Psalm 5: 12.
Matthew 5: 7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” - Talmud Shabbat 151b.
Matthew 5: 8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see Elohim.”- Psalm 24: 3 – 4.
Matthew 5: 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of Elohim.” - Psalm 34: 15.
Matthew 5: 10, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 5: 11, “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.” - Talmud, Baba Kamma 93a.
Matthew 5: 23 & 24, “If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, (24) leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”- Talmud, Avot 5: 14.
Matthew5: 27 & 28, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTARY’; (28) but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.’ - Exodus 20: 14 and Talmud, Kallah 1.
Matthew 5: 31 & 32, “And it was said, ‘WHOEVER DIVORCES HIS WIFE, LET HIM GIVE HER A CERTIFICATE OF DISMISSAL’; (32) but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of un-chastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”- Talmud, Gitten 90a.
Matthew 5: 42, “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.’ - Psalm 37: 21 & 26.
Matthew 5: 43 & 44, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and hate your enemy.’ (44) But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” - Proverbs 25: 21.
Matthew 5: 48, “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” - Leviticus 19: 2 and Talmud Shabbat 133b.

Yahshua’s teachings developed a systematic interpretation for sanctification of everyday life for His disciples, but also for us His modern day disciples. It is a practical system demanding a very high standard of personal self-discipline and commitment to Him as their/our Master. Yahshua taught that there must be a purification of inward motives for Torah observance – we obey Torah because we know and therefore love Elohim. The spiritual condition of a person is reflected by outward actions.

Most of us who have been around for a number of years know that there are certain festivals kept by most Jews that are not directly commanded in Torah. One such festival is Chanukah, celebrated by Rabbinical Jews, but was also celebrated by Yahshua as witnessed in John 10: 22 & 23, as follows: (23) What was Yahshua doing in the Temple for the festival of Chanukah or the Feast of Dedication of the Temple? Obviously, as a Jew He kept Chanukah with His fellow Jews and as the perfect example sent by YHVH, we who claim to follow Him should do likewise.Yahshua admonished believers to continue to obey the Torah of Elohim, which in their day included the Oral Torah. We have to understand that when Churchianity broke with its Jewish roots and became predominantly a Gentile religion, false doctrines became the order of the day. Rav Shaul warned the congregation in Thessalonica about the man of sin in 2 Thessalonians 2: 6 & 7, saying: (7) What was restraining this man of sin? The Torah observant Jew – he who now restrains – would be taken out of the way. After Yahshua’s ascension to heaven, a whole new religion started, devoid of the restraint of Elohim’s will expressed through Torah. When the break came, all that Rav Shaul was warning them would happen – was the establishment of Christianity by Constantine the Great. Jews who taught Gentiles Torah was outlawed. Scriptural Set-apart Days, including the Sabbath, were changed to holidays more familiar to the pagan traditions and Jewish traditions were changed for Gentile ones. It is clear that the anti-Jewish attitude of Churchianity to degrade the Torah and the authority of the Rabbinical rabbis is definitely in conflict with true believers in Yahshua the Messiah, but also foreign to the spirit of Messiah! Think carefully about it!