Nazarene Israelite Two House Congregation of Port Elizabeth

Does Romans 7: 1 – 6 set us free from Torah?

Because Romans 7: 1 – 6 has been misinterpreted by the religious teachers in thenations of Israel scattered throughout the world, because of idolatry, most of Churchianity came to believe that they have been released from obeying Torah and if we read these verses without understanding, that might also be the conclusion we will come to. It is for that, that Ezekiel wrote about the religious leaders in Israel in Ezekiel 22: 26, saying: “Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”

But, Rav Shaul who wrote the book of Romans to returning Israelites from the lost ten tribes, through Abraham’s one seed, namely Yahshua, was actually addressing the judgments of a specific subject here; namely the Law of divorce and remarriage (discussed in Deuteronomy 24: 1 - 4[1]), in this section saying clearly in verses 1 – 4 of Romans 7: ‘Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law (concerning marriage and divorce) has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? (2) For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. (3) So then if, while her husband is living, she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress, though she is joined to another man. (4)Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Messiah, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, that we might bear fruit for Elohim.’ Yahshua our Messiah died as the Lamb of Elohim to reconcile those of us from the lost sheep of the house of Israel, who are now coming back to the covenant relationship our forefathers made with Elohim at Mount Sinai, together with those of the house of Judah who remained Torah observant since their return to the promised land, when Ezra and Nehemiah went there with Zerubbabel to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, as well as the Temple of Elohim.

When we are immersed in Messiah’s name, we have been immersed into His death, as Rav Shaul explains in Romans 6: 4 - 7, saying: ‘Therefore we have been buried with Him through immersion into death, in order that as Messiah was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, (6) knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin; (7) for he who has died is freed from sin.’And now that Messiah died and was raised from the dead, and we died with Him in immersion, He is now free to remarry us,His bride whom He divorced because of Idolatry, again. Continuing in verses 5 & 6 of Romans 7, we now understand that Rav Shaul was not discussing the entire Torah in this section, but purely the Law concerning marriage and divorce, in order to explain how we together with Brother Judah will now remarry Messiah at His return, (as the Prophet Jeremiah prophesied in Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33[2]), saying: ‘For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law (of divorce and remarriage), were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.(6) But now we have been released from the Law (of marriage and divorce), having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.’ We conclude this section in Romans 7: 7, in this way: ‘What shall we say then? Is the Law (of divorce and remarriage) sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET(your neighbor’s wife.)”

By reading the Scripture under discussion with understanding, we can clearly see how Churchianity came to twist or misinterpret what Rav Shaul wrote to their own destruction. YHVH clearly told us in Deuteronomy 28 that we will be blessed by obeying Torah, but will be severely cursed for not obeying it. The point is that only a few Christians today will disagree with the death penalty, and most hold to the extremely liberal theology what ‘sin’ is. Those of us, who are more traditional with what we believe the Scriptures tell us, are of the belief that the basic premise of the ‘death penalty’ has been instilled forever; and accordingly murderers and terrorist in society should be brought to justice and rooted out by execution. But what about other Scriptural matters that have been instilled for eternity, such as the seventh-day Sabbath, the appointed times in Leviticus 23, the dietary laws, and in fact, even the entire Torah?It was for this reason that King David wrote in Psalm 119: 142, saying: ‘Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is truth.’ If Elohim’s law or Torah is truth, then logically those who teach against Torah are liars. The point is; as many ‘believers’ in Messiah are rightfully seeking to enforce the death penalty on terrorists and murderers, who kill other human beings in cold blood; why then are these same people unwilling to accept the other Scriptural principles obligatory for themselves? Does Churchianity understand that the Torah written by the hand of Moses is for the good of all those who apply it in their lives? Can Churchianity who claims toapply the writings of Paul (Rav Shaul) in their daily living, understand that he upheld the Torah, and never abolished it as they believe and as He also testifies in Romans 7: 8 – 14, saying: ‘But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. (9) And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came; sin became alive, and I died; (10) and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; (11) for sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. (12) So then, the Law (the entire Torah) is holy, and the commandment (not to covet your neighbor’s wife) is holy and righteous and good. (13) Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. (14)For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.”’ As much as the single command is spiritual or eternal, so is the entire Torah spiritual and therefore eternal, meaning it cannot ever be abolished.

It is unfortunate that many who claim to have faith in Messiah (or C*h*r*i*s*t* as they refer to Him) do not even know that without an in-depth knowledge of Torah which includes the promises made to our fathers in the faith, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but also to King David; and trusting so much that Elohim will give us what was promised, that we obey Him with all our heart (belief system) and all our soul (the way we live our lives), they do not have an inkling what faith is. In this category, I do not include knowing about Biblical accounts which any believer should be familiar with, such as Noah and the Flood, Joseph’s coat of many colors, and the ancient Israelite’s exodus from Egypt – accounts that are usually taught at Sunday school. I am talking about the specifics of the 613 commandments contained in Torah. This is the knowledge which Elohim decreed for His people to keep holy unto Him and be Set-apart from the world and its ways. It was for this reason that Elohim told us in Deuteronomy 7: 6, saying: “For you are a holy people to YHVH your Elohim; YHVH your Elohim has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”This is also what Rav Kepha testified about when he spoke about Elohim’s grace in first Peter 1: 10 – 16, saying: ‘As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful search and inquiry, (11) seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Messiah within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Messiah and the glories to follow. (12) It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Set-apart Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. (13) Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Yahshua Messiah. (14) As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,  (15) but like the Set-apart One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; (16) because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”’

Ignorance of Torah commandments is quite commonplace in today’s Churchianity. A forceful example of this occurs when a Nazarene Israelite or like-minded believer tells people that he/she eats a Scripturally kosher diet. Very few Christians have read enough of the Torah to even know what it means. Some might know that it means a believer should abstain from eating pork (Leviticus 11: 7 & Deuteronomy 14: 8), but they do not know that it also means that he does not eat shellfish, such as crab, lobsters, clams, and oysters (Leviticus 11: 9 – 12 & Deuteronomy 14: 9 - 10). Furthermore they do not know that Scripturally Kosher means that you do not eat any fat or blood (Leviticus 3: 17) and that you do not mix meat and milk products together (Exodus 23: 19; 34: 26 & Deuteronomy 14: 21). There is an old saying that tells us to ‘know your enemy’, meaning before you confront someone or something, know what you are coming up against. Put differently do not attack something which you know very little about. Unfortunately, this is the case with many in Churchianity who attack the correctness of Elohim’s Torah, since they have no idea what they are attacking and that they should be both afraid and ashamed for what they are doing. But, if they truly realize it, those in Churchianity who are coming against what we Nazarene Jews and all Jews stand for, are coming against the very heart and soul of the faith of Messiah, namely Judaism! What most people who confess faith in Messiah do not understand is that His overriding purpose for coming to earth was to bring the lost sheep of the house of Israel back to the commonwealth of Israel consisting of the house of Israel and the house of Judah in order to re-establish the Kingdom of Elohim over Israel at His return to earth in the near future (Matthew 10: 5 – 8; Matthew 15: 24; John 10: 14 – 16; Acts 15: 15 – 18 & Ezekiel 37: 15 -25). Many in Churchianity will not come out and say: ‘I do not believe that Torah does not serve a purpose”, but rather in their walk with ‘the Lord’ it is clear that they want to do as little as possible in regard to obedience. This despite the fact that the ‘so-called Christian Bible’ informs us in James 2: 22 - 24, saying: ‘You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; (23) and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED ELOHIM, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of Elohim. (24) You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone”

In order for us to have a proper understanding of Torah, we must first realize that love and grace, concepts which many in Churchianity take for granted, have always been character traits of YHVH our Elohim. Love and grace existed in the wilderness when YHVH gave the united nation of Israel His Torah, as their loving husband, and it did not only start at the ‘cross’ as they believe. We read accordingly from Revelation 13: 8 (KJV): ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.’ Yes, Elohim planned to bring salvation to His creation from the foundation of the world. Many in Churchianity readily quote Matthew 22: 36 – 40 as ‘proof’ that they ‘obey the Law’, as follows: “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law? (37) ‘And He said to him, “YOU SHALL LOVE YHVH YOUR ELOHIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ (38) This is the great and foremost commandment. (39) The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’(40) On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” The problem with viewing these two commandments in the strict ‘New Testament’ context is that these principles are resonated throughout Torah, as may be seen from Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9 and Leviticus 19: 18, in this way: “Hear, O Israel! YHVH is our Elohim, YHVH is one! (5) And you shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6)  And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; (7) and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (8) And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. (9) And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Leviticus 19: 18, “You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am YHVH.”

What Churchianity don’t seem to understand, is what they often expect their children to do  - yes, most want their children to obey what they teach them, as a sign of their love and respect to them, without realizing that this is exactly what YHVH expects of us as witnessed in firstly the ‘New Testament’ in first John 5: 2 & 3, as follows: ‘By this we know that we love the children of Elohim (meaning the Jews as well as those from the house of Israel, including some Gentiles who have returned to the covenant relationship they made with Elohim at Mount Sinai, through Abraham’s one seed, namely Yahshua), 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.’ But, secondly in the Tanach (meaning the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings)in Deuteronomy 10: 12& 13, in this way: “And now, Israel, what does YHVH your Elohim require from you, but to fear YHVH your Elohim, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve YHVH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul, (13) and to keep (YHVH)’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” This is virtually repeated by Micah in Micah 6: 8, saying: ‘He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does YHVH require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?’ What most in Churchianity do not understand is that Elohim’s commandments are for our benefit as safeguards!

Churchianity also like to quote John 13: 34 to make as if Yahshua gave us a ’new set of commandments’  different to the commandments given all Israel at Mount Sinai, as follows: “A New commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” However,  Rav Yochanan the author of the gospel of John, in writing to the congregation in 2 John 1: 1 – 6, clears up the confusion saying: ‘The elder to the chosen lady (the congregation) and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, (2) for the sake of then truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: (3) Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from Elohim the Father and from Yahshua Messiah, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.  (4) I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father. (5)And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.(6) And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.’ The most common refutation directed at us as Nazarene Jews/Israelites concerning the honoring of Torah is simply, ‘We are not Jewish and we do not feel that those laws apply to us.’ This is essentially the argument many Christians use saying: “J*e*s*u*swas speaking to Jews in this passage, so it does not apply to believers in Him.” If that is our logic when following Messiah’s words, before long we will not have very much that applies to us. As mentioned before Yahshua came mainly for the lost sheep of the house of Israel and not for the Jews, as He showed in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15: 11 – 32 and as He said to the Canaanite woman who asked Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter in Matthew 15: 24, saying: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

The problem is that not many who profess to be Christians understand that the house of Israel and the house of Judah are at present two separate entities, and that the Renewed Covenant was never aimed at Jews, but to teach us from the lost ten tribes of Israel, which Yahshua came specifically to reconcile to the Father as Rav Shaul explained in Ephesians 2: 11 – 16, saying:‘Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Un-circumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—(12) remember that you were at that time separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel (consisting of both the house of Israel and the house of Judah), and strangers to the covenants of promise (made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that they and their offspring will eventually dwell in the promised land eternally – meaning as resurrected spiritual children of Elohim, but also to David that He will rule eternally on his throne over the commonwealth of Israel, as confirmed in Ezekiel 37: 25), having no hope and without Elohim in the world. (13) But now in Messiah Yahshua you who were formerly far off (the prodigal son or the house of Israel whom YHVH divorced because of Idolatry) have been brought near by the blood of Messiah. (14) For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into on, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, (15) by abolishing in His flesh the enmity (the punishment due to us for disobeying Elohim’s commandments), which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances[3], that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, (16) and might reconcile them both in one body ( meaning the body of Messiah – His congregation into which He will eventually bring a remnant of the lost sheep of the house of Israel as He explained in John  10: 16[4]) to Elohim through (dying  on our behalf on) the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.’

It should be emphasized that most Christian doctrines is contingent on the false premise that Elohim has two groups of elect or chosen ones, namely Israel and the ‘church’. The so-called church is considered to comprise all those who have put their faith in Messiah from the Pentecost after Messiah’s resurrection and ascension to heaven until the present, and likewise Israel is considered to be the Jewish people. But let’s make one thing clear – Israel was subdivided into Two Houses, namely Judah and Israel or Ephraim, two kingdoms which split after the reign of King Solomon and two groups of people whom the Father has planned to re-unite when Yahshua our Messiah returns. Israel is not only composed of those of the house of Judah or the Jewish people, so it is incorrect to say that Israel is all Jews and those of us who are not Jewish at present, should not obey the ‘so-called Jewish Laws’, as they are commonly referred to.  It is totally correct to say that there are Israelite commandments in the Scriptures that apply to the children of Elohim; for as Torah says in Leviticus 27: 34, ‘These are the commandments, which YHVH commanded Moses for the sons of Israel at Mount Sinai.’But what about the entity commonly referred to as ‘the Church’ in numerous references in the Scriptures. There is no reference in the Scriptures whatsoever to our heavenly Father ever making a covenant with an entity known as ‘the church’, but there are numerous references to Him making  a covenant with the people of Israel. The concept of ‘the church’ as a second group of elect is un-Scriptural and is contrived only in a few passages such as Matthew 16: 18, where Yahshua tells Peter that He will build his congregation of believers from the lost sheep of the house of Israel,called out of the churches of the world, on Himself, saying:  ‘I will build My church.’ Nevertheless the Greek verb ‘oikodomeo’ could just as well be translated ‘rebuilt or restore’ a direct reference to Messiah’s re-establishing the divided Kingdom of Israel as per Jeremiah 33: 7, translated from the Septuagint, and ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, that reads: “And I will turn the captivity of Judah, and the captivity of Israel, and will build (oikodomeo) them as before.”  The Hebrew verb ‘banah’ meaning build in Jeremiah 33: 7 reads: “And I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild (banah)them as they were at first.”

The understanding of ‘Church’ as it is understood among many Christians today is based on an inaccurate translation of the Greek term ‘ekklesia’ which literally means an assembly of called out believers. But our understanding of the word ‘ekklesia’ is that it is composed of all the Israelite believers who were dispersed into the world because of idolatry, and are now called out of the churches or religions of the world to join up with their Jewish Brothers to marry Messiah as His bride, when He returns to earth in the near future, as per Jeremiah 31: 31 – 33. This usage of ‘ekklesia’ was known to the apostolic writers when they wrote under inspiration of the Set-apart Spirit in reference to the people of Israel, not the ‘Church.’ This should end all confusion of ‘the church’ being a viable entity of elect outside those who are called and immersed into Yahshua’s name and become part of the ‘ekklesia’ or congregation of Israel once again.  But what about the principles that govern Israel?  Have they been dispensed with? If as believers we are part of Israel as opposed to the ‘church’, are we not then obliged to obey Torah? The answer is a resounding, Yes! In these last days Yahshua is reuniting the people of Judah with the people of Israel (or Ephraim) as is prophesied in Ezekiel 37: 24, as follows: “And My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd (Yahshua the good shepherd); and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them.” Here we are told when the two houses are re-united once again, they will be honoring Torah. We as returning Israelites from the lost ten tribes need to understand that Yahshua did not come for the Jews the first time, and consequently that the Renewed Covenant was never supposed to be for their understanding, as Rav Shaul also explains in Romans 11: 5 – 11, saying: ‘In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to Elohim’s gracious choice. (6) But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. (7) What then? That which Israel (meaning Jewish Israel) is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest (of non-Jewish Israel) were hardened;  (8) just as it is written, “ELOHIM GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” (9) And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.(10) ‘LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.” (11) I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles (or those who came to believe that they are Gentiles), to make them jealous.’ Here we are given one of the reasons for our calling; being to make Jewish Israel jealous by keeping the same Feast Days and Kosher rules that they keep, so that they may become jealous when we do it as well and sometimes even better than they.

However Rav Shaul goes on to warn us whom YHVH is now busy calling from the lost sheep of the house of Israel, not to become arrogant towards our Jewish Brothers in Romans 11: 25 – 29, saying: ‘For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to (Jewish) Israel until the fullness(or total number of Israelites who believed that they were Gentiles, plus a few real Gentiles) of the Gentiles has come in; (26) and thus all Israel (from the house of Israel and from the house of Judah – clearly showing that we are definitely not Gentiles) will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION (meaning Yahshua the Messiah was Jewish), HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. (27) AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.” (28) From the standpoint of the gospel they (Jewish Israel)are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of Elohim’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; (29) for the gifts and the calling of Elohim are irrevocable.” Isaiah 8: 14 & 15 tells us concerning Yahshua:“Then He shall become a sanctuary; but to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, and a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. (15) And many will stumble over them, then they will fall and become broken; they will even be snared and caught.” Yes, even though the house of Judah have been blinded to the identity of Yahshua to allow those of us from the lost ten tribes whom YHVH is busy calling back to the covenant relationship we made with Him, together with the house of Judah, most in the house of Israel is also blinded, because Elohim has appointed it so, as Rav Kepha explains in 1 Peter 2: 6 – 10, saying: ‘For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE CORNER STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” (7) This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” (8) and,“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;  for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. (9) But you are ACHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR Elohim’s OWN POSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10)for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF ELOHIM; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.’

YHVH told ancient Israel in Deuteronomy 25: 13 - 15, saying: “You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a large and a small. (14) You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. (15) You shall have a full and just weight; you shall have a full and just measure, that your days may be prolonged in the land which YHVH your Elohim gives you.”  Has this basic premise changed? Man might see it necessary to sift through what he likes and does not like in Torah, or what is applicable to the ‘church’, but Scripturally, we do not have that luxury. We must take the entire Scriptures including the Torah as being a believer in YHVH, and this includes honoring the seventh day Sabbath, the appointed times, dietary and all the other Laws applicable to the house of Judah. If Judah and Ephraim are to be reunited In Messiah and us from the lost ten tribes are supposed to make the house of Judah jealous by keeping the same Torah commands that they do, we better do so with all our might. It is as YHVH said through Moses in Deuteronomy 7: 9 & 10: “Know therefore that YHVH your Elohim, He is Elohim, the faithful Elohim, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindnessess to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (10) but repays those who hate Him to their faces, to destroy them; He will not delay with him who hates Him, He will repay him face to face. Think very carefully about it!

 

[1] Deuteronomy 24: 1- 4: ‘When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house, and she leaves his house and goes and becomes another man’s wife, and if the latter husband turns against her and writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out of  his house, or if the latter husband dies who took her to be his wife, then her former husband who sent her away is not allowed to take her again to be his wife, since she has been defiled; for that is an abomination before YHVH, and you shall not bring sin on the land which YHVH your Elohim gives you as an inheritance.’

[2] Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34: “Behold, days are coming,” declares YHVH, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares YHVH. “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares YHVH, “I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people. “And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know YHVH,’ for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,”declares YHVH, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

[3]Elohim’s commandments consist of three basic elements, namely commandments, statutes and judgments. The commandments usually give an overview, i.e. the commandment against adultery. The statutes give more details about specific commandments by telling us not to sleep with a neighbor’s wife, nor with your sister, your mother, your daughter, but also not to lie with another man as with a woman and not to have sexual relations with animals. The judgment part of the Law or ordinances, specify the punishment due to us for breaking any of the specified statutes, i.e. that a man who sleeps with his neighbor’s wife should be stoned to death, and so should the sinning wife be stoned to death. 

[4]In John 10: 16 Yahshua is telling His Jewish audience, saying: “And I have other sheep which are not of this fold (or synagogue); I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.” Yes, in the end we will have returned to the Jewish synagogue through Yahshua and will become one in Elohim’s hand as mentioned in Ezekiel 37: 15 – 25.