I am making this post simply to discuss a comment on a previous post. The only reasons I have for doing this are because my reply is very lengthy for a “comment” and it (the comment) reflects a very common view of Law (Torah). It is not in any way meant to “expose” someone or embarrass, as the comment is viewable by anyone on this site. It’s a good topic and lengthy, discussion; these are my reasons for making a new post. To view all the comments go here.

Comment:

Shane, the word fulfill does not mean abolish. Fulfill means “to bring to accomplishment.” The Law has been fulfilled. We are not bound to the Law or bound by the Law. We are saved by grace. The Law corresponds with living a moral life in many cases, but we live out a moral life not out of obligation to keep the Law, but out of gratitude for the gift of salvation given to us. The feasts were all pointing to Messiah and were fulfilled in Him. Ceremonial law was structured to be fulfilled in Christ. Jesus didn’t abolish anything, but He did fulfill. Thus the feasts and sacrifices are no longer necessary because they were merely shadows of the reality which was to come, and has now come. Certainly much can be learned from their study, and celebrating Passover is certainly not wrong, but to ignore the crucifixion and resurrection allows one to miss the point.

My (long) reply:
Please forgive that I am very confused by several statements, though we do agree that fufill does not mean to abolish. Praise God! My concerns are of broad Hellenized (Greek) views of the Law. I fear these views do not account for the negative statements they make of God’s Law and Character. Moreover they do not account for the Hebraic view with which they were written.

Fulfill means “to bring to accomplishment.” The Law has been fulfilled. We are not bound to the Law or bound by the Law. We are saved by grace.

I agree that is a definition, but not necessarily the definition. However, I do not view this as a dividing issue. The issue becomes Sola Scriptura. I do not believe that I should possess a view that would have Scripture contradicting itself. Many people make a statement that we are not bound by the Law (Torah). Usually they are trying to distance themselves from the legalism brought on by some of the Pharisees (Paul was a Pharisee); they mean that we are not bound by the Law (Torah) for our salvation. This is of course correct, but they tend to miss the “flip-side” of what they are saying by making such sweeping statements. Why does bondage for salvation only come into the discussion when speaking of the whole Law (Torah)? It never seems to apply to the Decalogue (Decalogue comes from ten logos; from Greek meaning sayings, thoughts, words the same logos (Word) that became flesh in the opening verses of John ). When we speak testimony our first concerns should always be truth as well as how we represent God’s character.

No person was ever saved by works of the Law (Torah). To subscribe to the notion that the “old” covenant was of works is not only opposed to Scripture but it says “God gave legalism”. This is very dangerous.

to the extent that we propagate this view in our preaching and our teaching, we are guilty of bearing false witness.Carl D. Evans, The Church’s False Witness Against the Jews

The Law has always been a tutor and leads to Messiah. The “Old covenant” looked forward to Messiah and the “New covenant” looks back on Messiah. Please take time to reflect on this, we (any of mankind) were never “bound for salvation”; we were never condemned by the Torah. God gave salvation not condemnation. Paul’s writing tells us clearly that we are not under the condemnation of sin by being saved. Whether you choose to accept it or not, when you accept Messiah (at least) three things occur. You become a Jew and of the same history, you are circumcised (in your heart) and you receive the Law, all of it, in your heart. We will examine becoming a Jew later in this article, but it will be proven through Scripture, so rest assured.

To say that God ever gave legalism or condemnation not only is a mislabeling, but it applies to the person saying it! Before I explain, let’s examine something logically. If I believe that there are 10 sayings (commandments) or if I believe there are two great commandments, I am not guilty of legalism. But, if I believe that the Law (Torah) is the first five books of the OT (Tanakh), then I am “bound” or legalistic? If you have one or one thousands commands, the only problem is when you believe it is your salvation that your perception of the Law becomes a problem.

Somehow man has decided that you are free to do whatever you want as a Christian. It becomes apparent quickly that this makes no sense, so we then decide to say that we “should” do His will out of love. While I agree completely and I ask, where is the line is drawn? Nine laws we should obey (Sabbath abrogation)? It gets confusing because it is contrary to Scripture. Man cannot decide to change God’s laws. Only God can do this and He would be blatantly clear. (not hidden or implied) If you look at Jesus’ (Yeshua) teaching on murder, He was quite, crystal clear on His interpretation (fulfillment) of the commandment. It went beyond physical murder and brought it into ours hearts. That is a clear teaching. God gave His Law (Torah) clearly and He is not looking to get you on a technicality. The point I am making is the example of Sabbath. He was very clear when He gave it and yet we try to find single verses that refer to things, we claim are examples of service. (i.e. breaking bread is not service, it is eating otherwise we would have Sabbath everyday; see Acts) If the Sabbath Law were ever abrogated it would be directly stated by God alone and it would be very clear. (Thou shalt now obey the Sabbath of Rome) To think otherwise creates an inconsistency in Jesus’ (Yeshua) teaching: here He is clear; there He is silent and sneaky.

Make no mistake; man will try to change God’s laws and his calendar. It all came from Rome.

He will speak against the Supreme God and oppress God’s people. He will try to change their religious laws and festivals GNB

He will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws HCSB

This king will speak evil of God Most High, and he will be cruel to God’s chosen ones. He will try to change God’s Law and the sacred seasons. CEV

– Daniel 7:25

God’s Sabbaths, Festivals, and Holy days are filled with times and laws (note plural). We are on a Roman week cycle/names, month cycle/names, Roman clock, etc. The teachings of the Law(Torah) being removed do not come from Judaism, which includes Jesus (Yeshua), Peter, Paul, etc. –they come from Rome.

“Until Heaven and earth pass away not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

Messiah could not have been clearer. Not the least stroke of a pen shall disappear. The tiniest part of the Law (Torah) will remain until all is accomplished. Are Heaven and earth still here? Yes, then the Law remains. Has all been accomplished? No! Then the Law (Torah) remains. That may shock some, because people view His death and ascension as accomplishment in full. But remember, He said He came to fulfill the prophets. So, it honestly does not matter what anyone’s interpretation of fulfill is, since the prophecies in the OT run clear through to His second advent and IN the new Heaven and new earth. Nothing will disappear until ALL is accomplished. He came to fulfill the Law and the prophets… many prophecies were fulfilled, but not all. There are many more to be accomplished. “… not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished”

I said I would explain how mislabeling God’s Law (Torah) legalism or condemnation applies to us. As we read many scriptures, it is obvious that the Law remains intact, no matter how many statues you believe that means, it simply moves! It ceases being external pieces of stone and is written in your heart. If the Law it is legalism, then God is putting legalism in your heart.

I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart.
I will put my spirit in you and will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you. – Ezek. 36:26 GNB, emphasis added

We must always ask ourselves: What are we saying of God and His Law? If we believe that people were ever “bound” to the Law (of God) for salvation then we are stating that God gave bondage as a means of salvation. That, my brothers and sisters, cannot be of our Lord. Just as Avraham believed (faith) before he was circumcised (works), God’s Law has been and always will be about faith, love, and His will for us. It points out our sin and brings us to the One (Yeshua) we need in our life to keep us on the narrow path. It is about internalizing His law out of love.

I mentioned earlier that I believe we cannot have theologies that cause contradictions in Scripture. The belief that the Law (Torah) is intact does not create contradictions. Paul does state many things that seem ambiguous but by examining context, they become clear. To believe that all or part of the Law (Torah) is null and void, as I once did, leaves us with Scriptures that cannot be explained and creates a contradiction. When this happens, we must examine the validity of our theology. It is scary and we can feel threatened. We must not harden our hearts because of a fear of leaving/losing what is comfortable. The more we choose to follow Jesus (Yeshua), the more holy (set apart) we will become and we will not resemble the world.

The following is a list of a few “contradictions” that exist when we believe that all or part of the Law is done away with.

start of list . . .

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matt. 7:21, ESV

What is the will of God, The Father? His Law (Torah). Doing the will of God is something we will do AFTER we are saved by grace. His whole will shall be done and we should not be partial in obeying His Laws. The Law (Torah) leads us to The Messiah (HaMashiach) so that through Him, we may keep it. (Revisit Ezek 36:26 above)

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe–and shudder!
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”–and he was called a friend of God.
You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.James 2:19-24, ESV

We may know Jesus (Yeshua) but how do we testify of Him, with our belief? Even the demons believe in Him. We testify with our actions rather than our words. Note that “God is one” is from the Sh’ma in the Torah (Duet. 6:4).

Of all the clean beasts take with you seven pairs, a male and his female; and of the beasts that are unclean two, a male and his female;
Gen 7:2, The Scriptures

Noah was instructed to load clean and unclean into the ark. How did he know what was unclean since this was before the “Levitical Laws”. (It is worth noting that “Ceremonial”, “Levitical”, “Ten Commandments”, etc., are manmade delineations and titles in/of the Law (Torah). The complete Law is the first five books of the Old Testament (Tanakh) )

“But concerning the gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should keep themselves from what is offered to idols, and blood, and what is strangled, and whoring.” – Acts 21:25, The Scriptures

Amazingly nearly all of mainstream Christianity misses some things in the verse; “blood, and what is strangled”. Oddly, one of the Apostolic teaching given here (after the cross) is not to eat blood, a part of the “Levitical” laws. Trying to find a verse that supports eating anything is not only out of context, but would create a contradiction with this verse. Both must co-exist. This is a “New Testament”, Apostolic teaching, yet how many Christians buy Kosher meat? Would Mad Cow Disease (carried in the blood) be of great concern for Christians if they abstained from blood as they were instructed? Some twist this Scripture into an all inclusive list. This would conflict then with the Sermon on the Mount and we would be free to murder and commit adultery. Obviously this does not make any sense.

A note for those that teach vegetarianism as doctrine: this is well and good and I do not disagree with consuming much less meat. But, should we not take comfort that Jesus (Yeshua) ate fish and lamb (He kept the Torah, thus Passover all His life)? Even after His resurrection, he ate fish. No doubt that God’s first choice was no meat and we will not eat meat in Heaven, but to follow the example of Jesus is not most accurately described as “second best”.

But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” Acts 10:14, ESV

Peter’s dream in fact had nothing to do with meat, but with men. What is odd is Peter’s declaration that after the cross he was still not eating “unclean” foods. If the “Levitical” Law had been “nailed to the cross”, why would Peter refer to something that was no longer “binding”?

Now when the day of Shavu`ot had come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1, HNV

Today the Christian churches have a holiday handed down from Rome called Pentecost that claims to be this day. The only problem is, Pentecost is figured fifty days from Easter! Shavu`ot (pentecost) would be figured from Passover (Nisan 14); which this year is April 23rd, not in March (Easter). Thus my own confusion when I saw signs this Easter Sunday stating “He is risen” or services claiming “the Lord rose today”; it’s actually an entire month too early. Obviously the calculation of Pentecost has no Biblical foundation, but there is another “weird” thing happening in Acts 2:1. A “Ceremonial Law” festival is being observed after the cross! Some quickly will say that these were Jews. While that is true, it is also true that gentile converts were there: “both Jews and Gentiles converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia—yet all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that God has done!” Acts 2:11

On every New Moon Festival and every Sabbath people of every nation will come to worship me here in Jerusalem,” says the LORD — Isaiah 66:23, GNB

This is a prophecy about Heaven where we will still be observing Sabbath (His, not Rome’s) and New Moon festivals. Earlier in the same chapter we see an interesting reference to unclean meat as the Lord returns: “Those who sanctify and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh and the abomination and mice, shall come to an end together, declares the LORD.” Isaiah 66:17

Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths. – Zech 14:16, ESV

A prophecy of yet another “Ceremonial” festival that will be kept in Heaven.

For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Romans 2:13, ESV

Paul is talking in his letter to Rome believers about doing the Law (Torah), after the cross.

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” — Romans 13:9, ESV

Notice the “Decalogue” commandments mixed with other commandments? “but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:18) This is not a “new” commandment but an old one from the Law (Torah)

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. — Romans 13:10, ESV

Notice the word fulfill here? It seems that in this after-cross-definition of “fulfill”; it does not mean to do away with or complete a contract. If Jesus fulfilled the law meaning to complete it once and for all as a contract, Paul would not write to Gentiles or Jews about fulfilling it through love.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. — Rev 22:14, KJVR

If the Law (Torah) or observing the full Law is legalism or wrong, then the question becomes: Does God’s Word tell us, in the New Testament that we will be cursed or blessed by doing His commandments? Revelation 22:14 gave us the answer.

Jesus (Yeshua) gave many commandments at The Sermon on The Mount; were they legalism? He also gave two great commandments:

“Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus answered, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
This is the greatest and the most important commandment.
The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’
The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.” — Matt 22:36-40, GNB

Notice that on these commandments hang ALL the Law (Torah). These commandments that Jesus (Yeshua) speaks of are not new but are found in the Old Testament Law (Torah). (Duet. 6:4; Leviticus 19:18)

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. — James 2:18, ESV

Since I do not want to quote the entire book of James, I would suggest that the entire book would be a contradiction to the Law (Torah) being nailed to the cross or the observance of the Law as legalism.

Lastly, it is important to note that for Paul the Law is and remains God’s Law (Rom 7:22, 25). The Law was given by God (Rom 9:4; 3:2), written by God (1 Cor 9:9; 14:21; 14:34), contains the will of God (Rom 2:17, 18), bears witness to the righteousness of God (Rom 3:21), and is in accord with the promises of God (Gal 3:21). Repeatedly and explicitly Paul speaks of “the Law of God.” “I delight in the Law of God in my inmost self” (Rom 7:22); “I of myself serve the Law of God with my mind” (Rom 7:25); the carnal mind “does not submit to God’s Law” (Rom 8:7). Elsewhere he speaks of “keeping the commandments of God” (1 Cor 7:19) as being a Christian imperative. Since God is the author of the Law, “the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good” (Rom 7:12).

. . . end of list

The concern of many is being able to give a verse to support their beliefs. This is, I believe, an incomplete methodology. All of Scripture must agree with your theology. An example of this is clean and unclean meats. Although people provide verses that seem to support their ideas to eat whatever they want, there are other verses that directly contradict (as shown above). Our understanding of Scripture should weave a single flowing garment, not bits and pieces sewn into a patchwork quilt.

SHADOWS

Thus the feasts and sacrifices are no longer necessary because they were merely shadows of the reality which was to come, and has now come.

I am assuming that this part of the comment is based in the following verse:

…which are a shadow of what is to come – but the Body of the Messiah.
— Col 2:17, The Scriptures

The first point often missed here is tense. These things are a shadow of things to come. The Greek (esti) here means are as opposed to Greek elsewhere in the NT which means were. (see below)

Greek word esti meaning ARE
Greek ane = WERE

Some English translations deprecate the Jewish holidays by gratuitously adding the word “only” or “merely” as stated in the comment. However, this is not in the original Greek and is easily verified.

With that understood, the rest of the verse falls into place: but, nevertheless, of even greater importance and value than the shadow is the body which casts the shadow, the reality behind it, because if is of the Messiah. — David Stern’s commentary on the Jewish New Testament

We should not think slightingly of the shadow… no less the divine promise of all Heavenly realities about to arrive. For only an actual body and one that is not far away casts a shadow.
– R.C.H. Lenksi

Because a shadow is of its substance does this make the shadow worthless and removable? Or rather, does it point us to the substance: Messiah? Remembering that all things have not yet been accomplished and that God’s will is done in Heaven (”Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”), is the shadow removed? We have seen above that we will observe Sabbaths and Festivals in Heaven. Does it make more sense that the Law would be given, removed and then reinstated in Heaven; or that God’s law is eternal and the shadow points to this?

Passover is certainly not wrong, but to ignore the crucifixion and resurrection allows one to miss the point

I am unsure of the commenter’s understanding of Passover symbolisms (for Messiah, not the Exodus). The “but” in this statement implies that the latter part of the sentence refers to things that are lacking from Passover, the first part of the sentence. Moreover, the words “to ignore” seem to imply that it is almost purposeful. In my own experience, this comes from the ideology that Easter “added” something to Passover that it does not already have. (This is of course not the case for the “Christian” Passover.) Even so, I suspect most churches do not celebrate Passover and then “add-on” Easter. Additionally Easter, this year, is a month before the time of Jesus’ (Yeshua) actual crucifixion and resurrection. Passover is not just a worthy “tag-along” to Easter but it is the Biblical superior.

Olive trees

Worthy of note is that no covenant was ever made with the Gentiles. The covenants were made with Avraham (Abraham) and the new covenant was made with the House of Israel. This is the point of Romans 11. Paul’s epistle is about the Gentiles being grafted into the tree. After all, Jesus (Yeshua) was a Jew, not a Christian of gentile origin.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, – Jer 31:31

… Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel …– Heb 8:8

In Romans 11, Paul is clear in his warning to the gentiles that are grafted in out of faith not to “boast” (v. 18) or to become “arrogant” (v. 20). The gentiles were but wild branches grafted into the olive tree (Israel, v.24), by God’s goodness to “share in the nourishing sap from the olive root” (v. 17). Paul speaks of the unity of Israel (the tree) and the Gentiles (grafted branches). He uses the Hebraic Old Testament (Tanakh) metaphors to explain this.

The LORD called you a thriving olive tree, with fruit beautiful in form– Jer. 11:16

His splendor will be like an olive tree.–Hos. 14:6

I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God– Ps. 52:8

Paul uses this symbol of the living and growing olive tree to show that the Jews and Gentiles are bound together into one tree. This is how the Church, firmly planted in Hebraic soil, finds its true identity.

Paul teaches that the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, “member of one body” (Eph.2:6b). Therefore the Gentiles have a new history – the history of Israel is now their history as well. When writing to the predominantly Gentile church of Corinth Paul states that the ancient Israelites were the forebears of the Corinthians:

… our forefathers were all under the cloud, and… they all passed through the sea(1 Cor. 10:1).

In the early Church then it is clear, the Jews and Gentiles claimed a common spiritual ancestry with the Hebrews of old.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants and heirs according to the promise. – Gal 3:29, ISV

You Samaritans do not really know whom you worship; but we Jews know whom we worship, because it is from the Jews that salvation comes. – John 4:22 GNB, emphasis added

It is a Jewish Messiah and Jewish religion to which we are grafted. We must not look on a eastern book and religion with western eyes.

…the stronger a man’s Christian faith, the more Jewish will he regard himself
— Stuart Rosenberg, The Christian Problem: A Jewish View

The Bible… is a Jewish book. It cannot read and understood and expounded unless we are prepared to become Jews with the Jews
— Karl Barth, Church Dogmas

There is a grafting in that exists for us that are “far away”. We shall be brought together into one body. That body is Jewish, not Gentile and we will be brought into this one body. We will not create our own two thousand year old “non-Jewish” religion. This is the meaning of Jesus’ (Yeshua) words and the meaning of Paul’s Spiritual Israel.

… he was prophesying that Jesus was going to die for the Jewish people, and not only for them, but also to bring together into one body all the scattered people of God.
— John 11:51-52, GNB

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold – I have to bring them as well, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one shepherd
— John 10:16, The Scriptures

Shalom u’vrakah(Peace and Blessings)