Category: Torah Is

Torah Is Old, Torah Is New

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Draw closer. Dig deeper.

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

I John 2:7

At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

I John 2:8

How can it be old and new? Well, simply, a new law can be the same as an old one but may contain more context for your present life. Through deeper study, we can uncover more detail in order to bring newness to the word.

Messiah did this when He taught on the mount.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matt. 5:21-22

The Savior did not destroy the old law against murder. He explained how we can break that law inwardly. The old law became new, if you understand more. The level of obedience was expanded.

Most people don’t realize that New Covenant laws can be actually harder to obey.

For most of us, it’s easy to refrain from doing fatal violence to another. But, most likely, all of us have experienced hatred in our hearts and minds. That’s harder to address, if you ask me. As we draw closer to His righteousness, we become more righteous.

Is it both?

Covenant or Torah?

I want to bring something to mind in regards to the idea of a new covenant. That is that a covenant is not a commandment or law. A covenant is an agreement. The Hebrew word Beriyth (covenant) is not the same as the word Torah (instruction). There are laws or commandments inside an agreement known as covenant. There are even conditions in covenants.

When there is a fault in a covenant, it does not mean that a covenant is faulty or poorly thought out. It simply means it is broken. Someone didn’t keep their part of the bargain.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Hebrews 8:7

The drawing board did not happen because the first was silly, or poorly thought out. There was a divorce, of sorts. In order to bring the bride back in, she needs to be married again. Some theologians point out that the term “new” can be seen as “renewed,” as in “renewed mind.”

my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:32

I actually believe Torah always was. That, at least at the beginning of earthly time, it was established. Many people would argue with this but the I John 2:7 seem to support this idea. After all, John is the one who gave us, “In the beginning was the Word.”


an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

I John 2:7

It appears that Torah was here and given to God’s children before and after the stone tablets. At different times the Father brought it forth in an agreement with key prophets.

I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,

Jeremiah 31:31

As for me and my house, we don’t only run to Torah (rather than away), we embrace our identity as grafted and adopted into Israel. The New Covenant, which the church embraces in name, is given to Israel and Judah. I figure I must be one of those (or both) if I am to have Torah implanted in my heart and an inheritance called Jerusalem – New Jerusalem.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, may your name be blessed. You are almighty king forever. I thank you Father that there is nothing that can separate me from your love. Thank you that I have been adopted by you. I love your Kingdom. May I always be doing kingdom ministry. Keep me in the ancient way. Let me hear the sound of your voice in the morning and the evening. Let me welcome your instruction. Thank you for Messiah’s teaching to better clarify to me your word and your way. Amen.

Will you be in New Jerusalem? …Old Jerusalem will be there too.

Torah Is a Testimony

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According to the apostle John, obeying the commandments of God is proof that we know Him.

Do you know God?

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

I John 2:3 ESV

Today, I start our journey down the road with our tour guide, John, The Beloved Disciple. He has been considered by theologians as a close friend of Jesus as well as a disciple. He was given watch over Miriam, Jesus’ mother, by the Savior as He was on the cross.

The NASB states it in this way, “This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him…” So, seeking to follow Torah is actually a confirmation or an outward sign that we know the Messiah.

Think About It

whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

I John 2:6 ESV

This is how He walked. He followed Torah perfectly. It only makes sense that a disciple at least tries to be like his teacher, his rabbi. Put your earthly relationship in an illustration of how to behave with God. I know dads are not perfect (see a picture of me in the dictionary next to the word “flawed.”) but ideally we seek obedience from our children. We don’t preach to them that they are going to mess up so I want them to stop listening to our instructions. Can you imagine, “Don’t worry about walking across the street. Looking both ways is legalism?”

Who benefits from the testimony of our Torah Testimony?

  • Others
  • Ourselves

John (through the breath of God) says that we are liars if we say that we know God without keeping His commandments. Wow. “Them’s strong words.”

Very simply, we will know them by their fruit.

that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

Matt. 5:16 ABIPE

The love of God is perfected in us if…

We KEEP His Word.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven. Your name is Holy. Your Word is holy and true. I want to know you more. Let me not fall away into lawlessness. Let me not lean on grace without leaning into your commands. I want to testify to the world and I want my prayers to be heard. Bless my brothers and sisters with the knowledge of your Word and the knowledge of You. May your Ruach bear fruit in us and may we not bring your name low.

In the mighty Name of Yeshua, Amen.

Thank you for reading. Come back tomorrow for another word from God.

If you can help this ministry by sponsoring through “Buy Me A Coffee” we would be honored. If you choose to support us by buying a few stickers from our sticker store, I think you would benefit as well. Who doesn’t like stickers (besides my wife)?

Torah Is From God

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Today we finish our series on the instances of the word Torah in Psalm 119. In the future, we will go further and list within the Psalm.

In Psalm 119, we have 176 verses which explicitly support the gift of Torah. With all this, I lived much of my life with a soft disdain of Torah. These are the myths which I believed, and are still taught as mainstream Christian doctrine.

  • Torah was made by Moses.
  • Torah was done away with by Jesus.
  • Torah keeps us from following Jesus.
  • Grace did not come until Jesus died.
  • The Torah was only meant for people who were Jewish.
  • Seeking Torah is legalism.
  • Legalism is among the worst of sins.
  • Not an exhaustive list.

There’s just something about that name.

This verse would be a good T-Shirt or plaque. How cool to see the actual name of our savior (Yeshua) in the same old testament scripture with the word Torah (law).

He is the great shepherd. He is our Rabbi. He kept Torah and was the only perfect man. He taught individuals to go forth and teach the world His words.

Nowhere in the Gospels is the Torah smeared or cancelled. It is fulfilled by Jesus. It is upheld by His followers. I am one of His followers. As for me and my house, we choose life. We choose blessings.

This book of the Torah shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may guard to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

Yahoshua (Joshua) 1:8

Yes, Moses delivered and taught the Torah.

He walked down the mountain with the Torah. He did not invent it. He did not inscribe into stone. He did break the tablets after his people broke the Torah with the vile golden idol.

God gave Torah to you.

Not sure about rock and roll, but I am 100 % convinced that

  • Torah is from God.
  • Yeshua/Jesus is God.
  • Grace is from God.
  • Torah and grace are for me.

If there were no Torah, there’s no need for grace.

If we did not break something, we would not need repair. If we did not sin, we would have no need for forgiveness. Torah is the measure of what is sin. Sin is the breaking of the law. The life that we receive through the blood of Messiah and the grace of God, is due to the death curse that was pronounced over our lives within the Torah.

Without Torah nothing is sin. Without Torah there is no wage of sin – which we know is death. Without Torah there is no underserved gift in the blood of Messiah.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Hacketh thy KJV – law/grace

Our KJV bibles have implied that there is an antonymous relationship between God’s law and His grace. This is seen in the following scripture.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17 KJV

Notice the italics on the word “but.”

This verse is used by many preachers to somehow assert that the law and grace are the cosmic cage match enemies. No. It’s more like disobedience and obedience. Here’s a better translation of the popular bible verse.

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:7 ESV

No but

Very simple. Moses was a mighty prophet. He delivered the instructions of YHWH. Jesus was a greater prophet (he is God). He delivered grace through His great sacrifice. Praise Yah! Halleluyah!

Prayer

Yes, Father. I long for your Salvation. I long for your Yeshua. Yes, Father, your Torah is my delight. Please forgive me for missing the mark. Guide me with your very Breath to follow the Way of Messiah. I receive your instructions into my heart, as you have promised in the New Covenant. I receive the blessings over my life proclaimed in your Word. I receive the grace which you gave to me in the shed blood of Yeshua. Teach me each day to walk in your Way. Show me the truth of your love. Grant me the life in your future renewed earth and New Jerusalem with Messiah on the throne. Halleluyah!

This sticker, plus others, is available at my Torah Is Sticker Shop: https://torahisshop.com/

Torah Is Shalom

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A person who lives in harmony with God and His creation, doesn’t just feel peace, but experiences it completely.

The person who kicks against His Heavenly Father’s will, experiences a wide variety of peace stealing forces.

Broken Record

I’m like a broken record here. But I guess repeating certain things is important, because the Bible does it. Over and over we see the results of obedience and of disobedience.

When I was convicted and convinced that honoring Torah is for me, I went from turmoil to peace. Turmoil is, in fact, what dropped me to my knees.

Of course I haven’t been perfect. Pharisees and Roman priests have tried to codify perfection by building up zillions (according to my last count) of man made rules and regulations in an attempt to perfect the pious ones. Still hasn’t worked.

Give me 613

The average person does not know that the pharisees were loading up the people with their cement mixer of minutiae… Even though the Bible tells me so.

You leave the commandment of 

God and hold to the

tradition of men.

Mark 7:8

Then He emphasizes,

But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God) then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.

Mark 7:11-13

We generally don’t think of Pharisees as being particularly peaceful.

We mistakenly attribute this grumpy nature to the fact that they were too busy following Moses’ law.

News alert: To anyone who believes the Law was done away with at the Cross; Jesus was still alive.

The Pharisees clearly were following an accumulation of laws that were not so called “laws of Moses.” They were making stuff up and calling it “oral Torah.” How convenient is that? I’m writing this on the day after Reformation Day. If you remember, Martin Luther (not King) hung up his points which addressed 95 new laws made up by man. He realized that tyrants could just make it up. The church that was called Catholic, was under roman authority. The Pharisees were in authority under roman rule as well. Why do we miss this stuff? That’s why I’m here, I guess.

It is so important to know that our Joy comes from God. He says that His Torah brings Shalom. Peter said to seek Shalom, referencing Psalm 34.

I don’t think it’s an accident that the Psalm relates obedience to peace.

Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.

Psalm 34:14

Shalom in adversity

When we are walking in God’s will, we walk in peace, even in the presence of enemies.

Now, who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,

I Peter 3:13-14 ESV

Shalom means more than peace, my friend.

The shalom of YHWH is complete. It means wholeness. It includes what we call “wellness.”

This is the kind of peace that passes all understanding. This is the type that is hard to measure, but you’ll know it when you’re there. This shalom is only truly found in Messiah. He is the prince of Shalom.

May He keep you in His perfect peace.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, I lift up your Name. I lift up my prayer in the name of Yeshua. Please keep my brothers and sisters in your perfect peace. Please shield us from evil and let us rest in your shalom. Help us walk in your Way and shelter under your tabernacle. You are the wise and loving Father, but you always were. You have always shown us more grace than we deserve. Help us to show grace on our neighbors. Amen.

Torah Is Favorable

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Do you like it when people do good things? Do you like to do good things for people? In some ways, Torah is that simple.

We can be favored by God. This is the opposite of many ill-advised instructions to “stop trying to please God.” It’s not futile. You CAN please God, and you should please God.

Inclining our ears

I have really thought about the Biblical concept of inclining the ears. We are told to incline our ears toward God.

Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Isaiah 55:3

I see this as a way to tune our ears into the voice of the Master. His sheep know His voice but people are not always like sheep and we can purposely tune out our Master’s words.

So it takes an act of will. A tilt in the right direction of sorts.

He intends for us to obey.

When we do so, His purpose can be fulfilled. His purpose of blessings follows willful obedience. It’s as natural as rain and sunshine.

so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

Isaiah 55:11

He doesn’t always hear our prayer.

Why do we say that God always answers prayer? To be honest, we have to hear the Word of God about that.

And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Isaiah 1:15 – Cepher

Walking in lawless disobedience brings crickets… Literally in the case of a plague, and figuratively when we try to pray and hear from God.

The Word goes further in that same chapter to give the basic outline for favor with God.

From bookend to bookend, from open to close, disobedience brings consequences. And when we disobey, yes, we should feel some remorse. We should even weep, if we have hurt people with our strong-neck lawlessness.

The good news is always Good.

We can be forgiven and atoned for. We can be blessed. We can please our Heavenly Father. If for no other reason, an argument for keeping biblical Torah is out of sheer thankfulness for what He did for us in providing the sacrifice of His son in our place. But He gives more. He gives riches and honor to His beloved.

If, as many songs claim, we cannot “win” His favor, then we can’t “win” His disfavor by disobedience. While it sounds re-assuring in a song… Maybe reassurance is not what we need. Maybe we need Holy Spirit conviction when we sin. Maybe we need our own conscience to be tuned to the Torah (instructions) of our King.

Trouble awaits

Like David, we have trouble. Sometimes it is from outside, like an earthly king throwing a spear at his face. Sometimes it is from within, like the agony from knowing he committed hurtful sins, and people died.

When we incline our ear to God’s will, to His Torah for our lives, He inclines His ear to us. He hears us in our time of trial. He overturns even earthly decrees against us.

Draw near to your King. Yes, He loves you more than you know. He wants the very best for you. Do not forget that. But seek to walk in obedience. The blessings are worth more than any earthly coin by more than a bit.

Prayer

Father, I love you and I know you love me. Help me to hear your voice through the noise. Help me to hunger for the bread of life and the living water that lasts forever. Forgive me, I ask, for straying from your path. Thank you for welcoming me back when I have come home. Let my obedience with you be about me and you and not a part of a public display of piety. Keep me. Do not let the evil overtake me. Halleluyah. Bless your name. Amen.

Torah Is Nearby

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Do you ever feel like evil is closing in like the bad guys in a 70’s Karate movie?

When Trouble Surrounds…

We must remember two things from today’s scripture in Psalm 119:150-151.

  • God is near.
  • The evil ones are far from God and His law.

God Is Near.

“The word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it”

Deuteronomy 30:14

“The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach)”

Romans 10:8

When the evil people of your community come against you… When your trusted institutions (media, government, medicine) seek your harm… When mythical levels of secret forces mock your way of life and attempt to round you up and push you away…

Your Father is near. He is with you and He is in you. Hear His words, feel His breath (spirit) in your very lungs. Read His Word (living and powerful) out loud to draw near and to provide a barrier, an offence to the lawless ones. Remember His angels are here to. He commissions them to stand for our cause. Halleluyah.

Though they threaten, they are lost

The evil ones are the walking dead, slowly encroaching upon your space. Do not give them your mind, your soul, your strength. Those belong to your King (Deut. 6). They are focused but they are lost.

Jerks will be jerks. Without God’s ways in their hearts, the sinners will do sinner’s stuff. They will be trusted, in a way, to be untrustworthy. Don’t take your eyes off your God. Don’t let your heart cheer for their demise.

Pray for those who persecute you.

Do it now. It is super important to take every available moment to use your weapon. The time is short. You may see that Cruella DeVille turn into a meek child of God. Pray salvation, pray Deliverance. Pray the revival will come. You and I were outside God’s will and Kingdom, outside His rescuing grace. Now we need to serve as a lifeguard.

Using wisdom, of course. Let’s love our neighbors.

Prayer

Father in Heaven, sometimes I feel that I’ve known you forever. Sometimes I forget that I lived in a state of being unsaved from my sin. Let me have compassion on the very people who come after me. Bring them to mind in my prayer closet. Hear me when I pray. I pray for my protection and favor in all interactions. Keep us from their evil and their games. If they can be saved, let them turn to you. Amen.

Torah Is Eternal Truth

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So do you ever look truth in the eye, and turn away because it is uncomfortable? Have you ever seen people all around turn to a lie in the presence of loads of evidence? This happens every day. This was foretold.

But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also. For some of these are people who creep into houses, and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

II Timothy 3:1-7

Still Truth

Check back with this website in one thousand years and… Truth will still be Truth.

We have already seen scriptures within Psalm 119 which state Torah is truth, but this time, we look at the truth that lasts forever. This is the truth that never changes. This is etched in stone, as they say. (Think about where that catch phrase likely started.)

If Torah was done away with, was truth done away with?

Torah is eternal truth.

According to the Word of Jesus/Yeshua, Torah did not die. It is still true. Covenants can be broken and they need to be renewed or re-entered. Torah can be broken. I’ve done it. You’ve done it. But there is hope.

God does not lie. He holds fast to His word, to His Promise.

Think not that I am come to destroy the Torah, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Matthew 5:17 – Cepher

God doesn’t give up on you.

He is faithful to His covenant and He is faithful to you. The Savior gave himself to bring us back into righteousness through His blood.

Reading through Psalm 119 connects to the words of the Messiah in that it praises Torah over and over. There must be a reason for that, right? There must be a reason why Yeshua said that we should not even think that He did away with one tiny bit of Torah.

Torah did not die.

  • Our relationship did not die.
  • Our dependence did not die.
  • Our obedience did not die.
  • Our inheritance did not die.
  • Our blessing did not die.
  • Our promise did not die.
  • Our Savior DID.

Torah – Broken By Me. Messiah – Broken For Me.

Click image to order >

The concept is simple, but the walk is detailed enough to take a lifetime of pursuit.

Do not turn from Torah!

It is profitable. It is given to us for our well-being. Let Torah serve as our teacher – as an unsaved one, to lead us to the need of a Savior. As a redeemed believer, it can continue to teach us about the will of God.

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

II Timothy 3:16

Keep in mind, when Paul wrote this to Timothy, the only scripture was the Tanakh, commonly known as the Old Testament. If it was truth before Messiah died, and true after He died (when II Timothy was written), it makes sense that it is true today.

…And Forever.

Have you been told that we should turn away from Torah? After you have been saved from sin, have you been taught to repent from God’s law? Do you think that’s a turn in the wrong “way?”

Jesus/Yeshua is the way, the truth, and the life.

Prayer:

Father in Heaven, we worship you and lift up our praise to you. Hear our prayer as a sweet scent before your throne. Blessed be your Name. Help us to understand your Torah. Help us to understand your sacrifice. Help us to understand your Holy Breath (spirit) inside our lungs and to hear your guidance. Let me not add, let me not take away from your forever Word. Thank you for the living Word in our lives. Let us glorify You as we seek to do your good deeds before you and the nations who are watching us so closely. AMEN.