NIHOP Teaching on Torah

1. TORAH (the LAW) AND GRACE,
THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS:
re-appreciating the BIBLE
from the JEWISH BELIEVER’S PERSPECTIVE
Negros Island House Of Prayer
May 2015

2. WHY ARE WE MAKING THIS STUDY?
1. There are IDEAS and NOTIONS THAT THE “OLD
TESTAMENT” is “FOR THE JEWS” and the New
Testament is for the Christians
2. … that the “OLD” Testament is “old” and
therefore quite useless or inapplicable, except
for inspirational or instructional principles
3. … that the “Old” Testament is associated with
“law” and the New Testament is associated
with “grace” and since we are “not under the
law but under grace”, we need to focus more on
the New Testament….

3. The CONSEQUENCES of this
perspective:
1. We have developed a “wrong hatred” for “the
law” (in our love for and amazement with
grace), that many Christians live such “lawless”
lives, committing sins that even “unbelievers”
would be ashamed of
2. We were unwittingly prevented from seeing
the fullness of how it is to live like Christ lived
3. We missed MANY OF GOD’S BLESSINGS
established in the law
4. We also have also developed a low regard for
the Old Testament

4. Common notions of law versus grace

5. SO THE QUESTION NOW IS:
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Our answer to this question WILL AFFECT OUR ATTITUDE
TOWARDS THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, AND
CONSEQUENTLY ON THE WHOLE BIBLE.

6. WE ARE IN THE SEASON OF
RESTORATION
• ACTS 3:20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ
appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the
period of restoration of all things about which God spoke
by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient
time. 22"Moses said, 'THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR
YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM
YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you.…
• MATTTHEW 17:10And His disciples asked Him, "Why then
do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"11And He
answered and said, "Elijah is coming and will restore all
things; 12but I say to you that Elijah already came, and
they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they
wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their
hands."…

7. EXAMPLE OF JEWISH UNDERSTANDING
OF SCRIPTURES:
Matthew 1:21 (angel Gabriel to Mary)…
“… and you are to call his name Yeshua (Jesus in Greek), for
(or BECAUSE) HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS..”
JESUS in Greek (adopted in the English Bible) “IESOUS”
(literally “son of Zeus” because “Zeus” is the Greek “god”, so
Jesus is “the son of God [Zeus]) HAS ABSOLUTELY NO
REDEMPTIVE OR SALVATION MEANING. “Salvation” in Greek
is “soter” which is so far from “Iesous”.
However, in Hebrew, Yeshuah means “salvation” from the root
word “yoshia” which means “he will save”. SO YESHUA MEANS
SAVIOUR, but “Jesus” means “son of Zeus”!!!!
(NOTE: GOD IN HIS MERCY ALLOWED the Greek language to
be used to reach out to the Gentiles)

8. WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE IN THIS
STUDY:
We hope to realize that:
1. That the “Old” Testament is not EXACTLY “old and
useless”
2. The Old Testament is the FOUNDATION of the NEW
Testament
3. That to the JEWISH BELIEVER (Messianic Jew), the
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT IS JUST ONE unified whole,
one CONTINOUS BOOK
4. And that the proper understanding of all these things,
has TREMENDOUS PRACTICAL BENEFITS TO OUR LIFE

9. WHY ARE WE APPROACHING OUR
STUDY THIS WAY?
1. Because ALL BOOKS OF THE BIBLE are written by
JEWISH AUTHORS
2. The “Scriptures” that they had was THE OLD
TESTAMENT (before the New testament was codified)
3. BECAUSE JESUS WAS A JEW, who FULFILLED ALL THE
LAW
4. BECAUSE THE GREAT TENETS OF THE CHRISTIAN
FAITH ARE JEWISH CONCEPTS – righteousness,
justification, sacrifice, sanctify, glorify, covenant, faith,
grace
WE ARE NOT TRYING TO BE JEWISH, WE ARE GETTING A
JEWISH, and therefore, a more correct, more accurate,
and much better UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIBLE.

10. FIRST POINT:
GOD DID NOT GIVE A BIBLE IN THE BEGINNING.
HE GAVE HIS WORD FIRST. AND MANY WORDS
THEREAFTER…
GOD IS A SPEAKING GOD, HE IS CALLED THE WORD
(NOT THE BOOK)…
“In the beginning was the WORD, and
the WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE
WORD WAS GOD.”
(John 1:1)

11. THE SHEMA ISRAEL
• "HEAR, O Israel: the LORD our God, the
LORD is one", found in Deuteronomy 6:4,
sometime alternately translated as "The
LORD is our God, the LORD alone."
• Hear – shema – means HEED, PAY ATTENTION,
OBEY, FOLLOW, AGREE… TO GOD’S WORD

12. THEN GOD RESORTED TO HAVING
THINGS WRITTEN DOWN:
• Exodus 24:4 ”Moses then wrote down
everything the LORD had said. He got up early
the next morning and built an altar at the foot of
the mountain and set up twelve stone
pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ”
• Exodus 24:12 The LORD said to Moses, "Come up
to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will
give you the tablets of stone, with the law and
commands I have written for their
INSTRUCTION."

13. NOW, we speak of “ALL SCRIPTURE…”
that is, ALL THAT IS WRITTEN DOWN
2 TIMOTHY 3:
14 ”But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become
convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,
15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 ALL SCRIPTURE is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good
work.”
AT THE TIME THIS WAS WRITTEN, THE SCRIPTURES WAS JUST THE
OLD TESTAMENT. THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS NOT YET CODIFIED. Yet
the Old Testament was able to make us wise for SALVATION.

14. SO BEFORE JESUS CAME, GOD’S WORD
was THE SO-CALLED “OLD TESTAMENT”
The OLD TESTAMENT is called the “TANAKH”.
TANAKH is the compilation of the THREE
CLASSIFICATIONS OF THE JEWISH OLD
TESTAMENT:
TORAH – Pentateuch
NEVI’IM – the PROPHETS
KITUVIM – the WRITINGS
LET US START WITH THE TORAH….

15. TORAH – WHAT IT REALLY MEANS
TORAH – means “instruction,
direction, way”.
Composed of the letters yod-resh-
hey the pictorial representation of
which is an arrow hitting the mark
SIN – is the CHATTAAH in Hebrew
and HAMARTHIA in Greek– which
means to MISS THE MARK
(meaning: WHAT IS RIGHT AND
WHAT IS NOT RIGHT IS
DETERMINED BY THE TORAH)

16. “HIS WAYS”
• to fear Him, walk in His ways, to love Him and to
serve Him with all your heart and
soul (Deuteronomy 10:12) -- "His ways" were
given in the Torah. (TORAH means “direction” –
His ways)
• Question: IS THE TORAH OLD
TESTAMENT, OLD TESTAMENT ONLY,
OR SO “OLD” TESTAMENT as in “useless,
discarded”, “obsolete”, IN VIEW OF THE FACT
TTHAT WE ARE ALREADY UNDER THE NEW
TESTAMENT?

17. NEW TESTAMENT RIGHTEOUSNESS IS
INDICATED BY OBEYING THE TORAH
Luke 1:
5 “In the days of Herod king of Judea there was a priest
named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division
of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of
Aaron;
6 Both of them were righteous (upright – NIV) in the
sight of God, observing all the Lord’s
commandments (statutes – Torah) and regulations
blamelessly.”
NOTE: THE ASSESMENT OF THEIR BEING RIGHTEOUS
WAS ALSO INDICATED BY THEIR OBSERVING THE TORAH.

18. TORAH OVER TIME:
Basically and foundationally, the TORAH is the TEN
COMMANDMENTS.
Over time, Torah became understood as:
1. SHEBIKTAV (Pentateuch) – the first five books of
Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy,
Numbers) -- which contain the Ten Commandments
2. Then it became to include the AMPLIFICATIONS or
commentaries (THE MISNAH AND THE TALMUD)
3. Then soon it included the CASE LAW (A TOTAL OF 613
SPECIFIC RULES, REGULATIONS, etc.) - HALAKHAH

19. ATTEMPTS TO REDUCE AND
SIMPLIFY THE TORAH
1. To only 11 basic precepts (by David in Psalm 15) –
2. To only 6 by Isaiah in Isa. 33:15-16
3. To only 3 by Micah (Micah 6:8) – LOVE MERCY, DO JUSTLY,
WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
4. To 2 by Isaiah again in Isa. 56:1
5. To only one liner by Habakkuk (Hab. 2:4 – “The righteous
shall live by faith”)
BUT FINALLY BY JESUS IN ONE BEAUTIFUL COMPREHENSIVE
SUMMARY “You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, soul, and strength, and… you shall love your
neighbour as you love yourself. Thus is summed up all the
law and the prophets.” MATTHEW 22:37-40

20. WHY HAVE WE A “BAD VIEW” OF THE
LAW (the TORAH)?
• For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for
it is written, "Cursed be every one who does not abide by all
things written in the book of the law, and do
them." (Galatians 3:10)
• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having
become a curse for us -- for it is written, "Cursed be every
one who hangs on a tree." (Galatians 3:13)
• Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that
was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has
taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the
cross. (Colossians 2:14)
• Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of
food and drink or with regard to a festival or a new moon
or a Sabbath. These are only a shadow of what is to come;
but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)

21. WE ALL KNOW THIS TOO WELL!!
1. No one can be saved by the works of the law
2. If we do all the law but offend in one point, we
are getting of breaking all (James 2:10)
3. There is a righteousness APART FROM THE LAW,
which is from God and which is by faith in Jesus
Christ (Romans 3:21, 22 ff.)
4. WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, NOT
BY OURSELVES OR BY WORKS. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“SOLA GRATIA, SOLA FIDE!!”

22. NO “MIXTURE” OF LAW WITH GRACE!
YES, THAT IS VERY
TRUE FOR
SALVATION.
However, AFTER
YOUR HAVE
RECEIVED
SALVATION, IS THE
LAW NO MORE?
IS THE LAW DEAD
AND USELESS?

23. THE GALATIAN HERESY:
Is when YOU ADD LAW TO GRACE FOR SALVATION. PAUL
CONDEMNS THIS IN GALATIANS:
2: 15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners'
• 16know that a man is not justified by observing the
law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our
faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in
Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing
the law no one will be justified.
3: 1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before
your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.
• 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you
receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what
you heard?
• 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are
you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

24. SO DO WE SMASH THE LAW BECAUSE
THE LAW IS USELESS, BAD?

25. WAIT: THE LAW (TORAH) IS GOOD!!!
• Paul wrote that “the Law is holy, and the
commandment is holy righteous and
good” (Romans 7:12).
• Paul says “We know that the Law
is spiritual” (Romans 7:14).
• Paul said that he himself ”IN THE INNER MAN,
I delight in God’s Law” (Romans 7:22-25).
SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE LAW???

26. HOW CAN IT BE – FOR THE LAW TO BE A
CURSE AND GOOD AT THE SAME TIME?
• Deuteronomy 30:15-17a -- "See, I have set
before you today life and good, death and
evil, in that I command you today to love the
Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to
keep His commandments, His statutes, and His
judgements, that you may live and multiply;
and the Lord your God will bless you in the
land which you go to possess. But if your
hearts turn away so that you do not hear, you
shall surely perish ..."

27. HOW MANY LAWS – ONE OR TWO?
• Romans 7:1-6: "Freed from the Law"
• Romans 14:1-13: "The Law of Liberty"
• Galatians 3:10-14: "The Law Brings a Curse“
SOME SAY TWO BECAUSE OF ROMANS 8:1-2
• 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those
who are in Christ Jesus,
• 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of
life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
(SOME SAY “THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE” IS
GRACE/NEW TESTAMENT, WHILE “LAW OF SIN IS
DEATH” IS LAW/OLD TESTAMENT, SO TWO LAWS)
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT PAUL IS SAYING!! READ ON:

28. THE LAW – was it REPLACED,
or REINFORCED!!...
ROMANS 8:
• 1 ”Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus,
• 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of
life set me free from the law of sin and death.
• 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was
weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin
offering. And SO HE CONDEMNED SIN (not the law!!) in
sinful man,
• 4 IN ORDER THAT THE RIGHTEOUS
REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE
FULLY MET IN US, (the righteousness of the law might
be fulfilled in us - KJV) who do not live according to the
sinful nature but according to the Spirit.”

29. IT IS VERY CLEAR!!!!
• The law cannot save us;
BUT ONLY JESUS, BY
GRACE THROUGH FAITH;
• BUT AFTER JESUS SAVES
US, HE GIVES US HIS
SPIRIT TO WORK SO
POWERFULLY IN US SO
THAT “THE RIGHTEOUS
REQUIREMENTS OF THE
LAW (or righteousness
of the law) MIGHT BE
FULLY MET IN US WHO
LIVE NOT AFTER THE
FLESH BUT AFTER THS
SPIRIT”
• (Romans 8:5)

30. HOW ABOUT OUR BEING “DEAD TO
THE LAW”?
ROMANS 7
An Illustration From Marriage
• 1 Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to men who know
the law--that the law has authority over a man only as long as he
lives?
• 2 For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as
long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the
law of marriage.
• 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still
alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is
released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she
marries another man.
• 4 So, my brothers, YOU ALSO DIED TO THE LAW THROUGH THE
BODY OF CHRIST, that you might belong to another, to him who
was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.

31. AND THE FACT THAT “WE ARE NOT
UNDER LAW, BUT UNDER GRACE”?
• For Christ is the
end of the Law
for
righteousness
for everyone
who believes.
• (Romans 10:4)

32. So by being under grace, DO WE HAVE
NOTHING ELSE TO DO WITH THE LAW?
REFLECT UPON THESE VERSES. THESE ARE
INJUNCTIONS OR COMMANDS TO A PEOPLE WHO
ARELADY SAVED:
1. HEBREWS 12:14 – “MAKE EVERY EFFORT to live in
peace with all men AND TO BE HOLY; WITHOUT
HOLINESS NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.”
(QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT
IS HOLY WITHOUT THE GUIDE OF THE TORAH?)
(Note: what is holy and common is defined in
the Torah)

33. IF THE LAW IS “NO MORE”, THEN
WHAT IS OUR GUIDE FOR THIS?...
2. HEBREWS 13:20 – “My the God of peace who through the blood
of the eternal covenant brought Jesus from the dead…EQUIP YOU
WITH EVERYTHING GOOD FOR DOING HIS WILL (MAKE YOU
PERFECT IN EVERY GOOD WORK – KJV) AND MAY HE WORK IN US
WHAT IS PLEASING TO HIM, through Jesus Christ to whom be
glory for ever and ever amen!”
(QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT IS PERFECT
WITHOUT THE GUIDE OF THE TORAH?)
3. MATTHEW 5:48 – “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
who is in heaven is perfect.”
(QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT IS PERFECT
WITHOUT THE GUIDE OF THE TORAH?)

34. THE TORAH-KEEPING IS A MARK OF
THE END-TIME BRIDE OF CHRIST
REVELATION 12:17 (KJV)
• “And the dragon was wroth (ANGRY) with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which
keep the commandments of God (the torah), and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ.”
THE REMANT OF THE SEED HAD TWO THINGS:
1. THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS
I JOHN 5:10-11
The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in
himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a
liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God
has given concerning His Son. 11And the testimony is this,
that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.…
2. THEY KEPT THE COMMANDMENTS (TORAH)

35. FUNDAMENTAL TENETS OF
CHRISTIANITY ARE FOUND IN THE LAW
“YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.”
• Christians tout this as a preeminent "faith teaching of Jesus."
Notice however, what the Messiah says to Nicodemus when
the latter asks, "How can these things be?“ (John 3:1 ff)
• Yeshua replies to him: "Are you the teacher of Israel and do
not know these things?"
• Nicodemus is criticized by the Messiah, who says that as
a "teacher of Israel," he should have known about being
"born again." Now how would Nicodemus know about this if
it was a new teaching of Yeshua?
• The answer is that "being born again" is not an original
teaching from Yeshua and the launching point for some new
Christian faith. Being born again was and is fundamental to
the Torah,
• This can be seen in the book of Deuteronomy:

36. NEW BIRTH IN THE TORAH
• Deuteronomy 10:16 -- "Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your
heart, and be stiffnecked no longer."
The term "stiffnecked" is equivalent to not having faith. God called the
generation in the wilderness stiffnecked because they failed to trust (have
faith) in Him. (See Exodus 32:9; 33:3,5; 34:9, Deut. 9:6,13; 2 Chron. 30:8; Acts
7:51)
Hebrews 3:7-4:2, commenting on these same stiffnecked people, said they
received the Gospel but failed as they did not "mix it with faith," and "went
astray in their hearts."
• Deuteronomy 30:6 -- "And the Lord your God will circumcise your
heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul, that you may live."
Here the word "live" is used in a spiritual sense and is equivalent to salvation.
The epistles show that "CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART" IS THE EQUIVALENT
OF "BEING BORN AGAIN":
• Romans 2:29 -- "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and CIRCUMCISION
IS THAT OF THE HEART ..."
• Colossians 2:11 -- "In whom also ye are circumcised with THE
CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS ..."

37. ‘RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH AND NOT
BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW” IS NOT A
NEW TESTAMENT CONCEPT, IT IS
ALREADY IN THE TORAH
• God's Covenant with Abram
GENESIS 15:5-7
• And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the
heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count
them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants
be." 6Then Abraham believed in the LORD; and God
reckoned (counted) it to him as righteousness. 7And He
said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of
the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.“
• Paul merely reiterates this, but did not create this
teaching, in Romans 3:21 ff

38. The case of DAVID…
• Psalm 119:22 -- "Take away from me reproach
and contempt, for I have kept your testimonies."
Psalm 119:51 -- "... yet have I not declined in my
interest or turned aside from your Law."
Psalm 119:56 -- "I have kept your precepts ..."
Psalm 119:102 -- "I have not turned aside from
your ordinances ..."
Psalm 119:121 -- "I have done justice and
righteousness ..."
• Is this the same David that committed adultery
with Bathsheba and had Uriah murdered? Not to
mention a number of other documented
violations of the Torah. According to Christian
theology, David is clearly a liar. How can he claim
to have followed "the Law," when we all know
how he broke it in some terrible ways? To add to
the "confusion," God Himself calls David, "a man
after His own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14)

39. HOW COULD IT BE? For David to be
such a law-breaker, but still accepted
by God?
• Psalm 119:159 -- "Consider how I love your
precepts (torah); revive me and give life to me, O
Lord, according to your loving kindness."
• The term "loving kindness" is hesed in Hebrew,
and is the equivalent of the word grace in the
"New Testament."
• David knew he was saved by God's grace – HESED
-- NOT by keeping all the commandments
perfectly, but rather by what he says at the
beginning of the verse; "Consider how I love your
precepts ..."

40. IS THE TORAH HARD?
• Deuteronomy 30:11-14 -- "For this
commandment which I command you today is not
too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in
heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend
into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may
hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that
you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us
and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it.'
But the word is very near to you, in your mouth
and in your heart, that you may do it."

41. SO NOW WE GO BACK TO THE “OLD TESTAMENT”
AND HOW WE SHOULD REGARD IT

42. Remember:
1. The WHOLE BIBLE (Old and New Testament) is a
JEWISH BOOK – it must be approached with a
Jewish MIND SET
2. ALL THE AUTHORS OF THE BIBLE are JEWISH,
without exception
3. THE “NEW TESTAMENT”, although written in
GREEK and MEANT MAINLY FOR GENTILES, still
EXPRESS THOUGHTS IN THE JEWISH MIND SET,
EXPRESSED IN A GENTILE MANNER

43. THE “FLOW” OF THE TANAKH
1. TORAH – INSTRUCTIONS (general principles, truths,
foundational precepts)
2. NEVI’IM – PROPHECIES/PROPHETS – are the
FULFILMENTS OF THE INSTRUCTIONS, its blessings
and punishments, as God’s people lived their lives
either in obedience or disobedience of the Torah
3. Then followed by the KITUVIM – WRITINGS, which
are the reflections, learnings, journals, musings, etc.
of God’s people of their experiences (Tehillim –
songs/psalms, Mishlei – proverbs, Job –
meditations/musings, Eikkah – lamentations, Ezra-
Nehemia – records of rebuilding, Esther –
Purim/records of redemption, etc…)

44. THIS FLOW IS OBSERVED IN THE
PUBLIC READINGS
1. FIRST READING – TORAH PORTIONS
2. THE “SECOND READING” – called THE
HAFTARAH (meaning “completion”, or
“completer” is the READING OF THE
PROPHETS/PROPHECIES
3. “THIRD READING” – OPTIONAL is reading of the
WRITINGS
NOTE: THERE ARE USUALLY 7 TORAH PORTIONS
BEING READ. The SEVENTH READER reads the LAST
TORAH PORTION and the FIRST READING OF THE
PROPHETS to underscore CONTINUITY.

45. The objective and the logic
THE OBJECTIVE of the PUBLIC READING OF
SCRIPTURES is “TIKKUN-HA-OLAM” (“to fix the
world”).
LOGIC:
You cannot “fix the world” (“fix your life”) if YOU
DO NOT READ (HEAR) THE WORD – the GENERAL
INSTRUCTIONS AND THE PROPHETS/PROPHECIES
NOTE: THE GENTILE/WESTERN TREATMENT OF THE
BOOKS OF THE “TANAKH” SOMEHOW
“DESTROYED” THE FLOW OF THIS LOGIC:

46. Notice the
CONTRAST
Number of Books THE SAME, but
treatment DIFFERENT:
A: What western classification
treats as “history”, the Jews
classify as “prophets/prophecies”
B: the Jewish Bible reveals a
MIND FRAME of the TORAH and
THE PROPHETS AS THE
FOUNDATION of Scriptures
c. The Jews therefore EXPECT
HISTORY TO FULFILL PROPHECY,
AND CONFIRM THE TORAH
D. NOTE “FORMER” AND
“LATTER” PROPHETS in contrast
to “major” and “minor”; to the
jews there are no “maor” and
“minor” prophets; they were all
prophets

47. THE DAMAGE INFLICTED TO THE
MODERN-DAY CHRISTIAN:
1. We have LOST our understanding and appreciation of
the GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS (torah) as ALSO
PROPHETIC
2. WE HAVE A VERY LOW IF NO MORE RESPECT FOR
PROPHETS AND PROPHESYINGS
3. OF THE FIVE MAJOR OFFICE GIFTS GIVEN BY JESUS
TO THE CHURCH (Eph. 4: 11) – apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors, and teachers, WE HAVE
ACCEPTED ONLY THREE AND REJECTED THE FIRST
TWO
4. Churches HAVE LITTLE OR NO PROPHETIC
CONSCIOUSNESS AND DO NOT OPERATE
PROPHETICALLY (we just operate “historically”
because that is how we classified the prophets)

48. The manner of public reading:
1. PRAYER OF BLESSING
2. Torah reading
3. Prophetic reading
4. (Writings)
5. PRAYER OF BLESSING
THE READER GOES UP TO A PODIUM
“GOING UP” ALIYAH (going to the temple to worship and
singing songs is called “songs of ascent”)
The PODIUM IS CALLED – BIMAH, which point to the
BIMAH (BEMA) JUDGMENT

49. THE BEMA JUDGMENT
2 Corinthians 5:10,
• "For we must all appear before the judgment
seat (BEMA) of Christ, that each one may receive
what is due him for the things done while in the
body, whether good or bad.“
• STRONGLY IMPLIES THAT:
Believers/Christians will be “JUDGED” (NOT FOR
SALVATION BUT FOR REWARDS) BASED ON THE
TORAH (general instructions) AND NEVI’IM (the
prophecies), WHICH IS READ AT THE BIMAH

50. So if this seems okay, why did God
have to make a “new” covenant?
• Jeremiah 31:
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I WILL
MAKE A NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel, and with
the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their
fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring
them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they
brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the
LORD:
33 But THIS SHALL BE THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE
WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL; After those days, saith the
LORD, I WILL PUT MY LAW IN THEIR INWARD PARTS, AND
WRITE IT IN THEIR HEARTS; AND WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND
THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.”

51. THE “NEW COVENANT” IS NOT A “NEW
LAW” THAT WILL REPLACE THE OLD;
RATHER IT IS A…
• Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and
a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take
away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will
give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put My
spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My
statutes, and ye shall keep Mine ordinances, and
do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I
gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people,
and I will be your God.

52. “BUT WE ARE
GENTILES!!!
Why force this Jewish
thing on us???”
ROMANS 11:
13 I AM TALKING TO YOU GENTILES. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the
Gentiles, I make much of my ministry
14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and
save some of them.
15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch
is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild
olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the
nourishing sap from the olive root,
18 DO NOT BOAST OVER THOSE BRANCHES. IF YOU DO, CONSIDER THIS:
YOU DO NOT SUPPORT THE ROOT, BUT THE ROOT SUPPORTS YOU.”

53. GENTILES – REMEMBER!!!!
• “Therefore, remember, that formerly you, the
Gentiles in the flesh, . . . remember that you
were at that time separate from Christ, excluded
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers
to the covenants of promise, having no hope
and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11-12).
Romans 11:18 Do not boast over those branches. IF
YOU DO, CONSIDER THIS: YOU DO NOT SUPPORT
THE ROOT, BUT THE ROOT SUPPORTS YOU.”

54. THE ROOT THAT SUPPORTS US IS THE
JEWISH ROOTS OF OUR FAITH!!
God's Sovereign Choice
ROMANS 9:
1 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience
confirms it in the Holy Spirit--
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from
Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,
4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs
the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the
temple worship and the promises.
5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the
human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever
praised! Amen.

55. PROOF OF THE “ROOTS” BEING THE
JEWS
ROMANS 1:16 – I am not shamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the
power of God unto salvation, TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO TO THE
GREEK (Gentile)…
ROMANS 2:9 – Tribulation and anguish upon every soul that doeth
evil, of the JEW FIRST AND ALSO OF THE GENTILE
ROMANS 2:10 – But glory and honour and peace to every man that
worketh good, TO THE JEW FIRST AND ALSO THE GENTILE
ROMANS 10:12 – “For there is no difference between the Jew and the
Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
GALATIANS 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or
female, for we are all one in Christ.”

56. BACK TO THE COVENANT – THE FAULT IS
NOT WITH THE LAW, BUT WITH THE
PEOPLE (THE JEWS)
Hebrews 8
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of
the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my
covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of
Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into
their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to
them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

57. THE problem is with the HEART –
NOT with THE LAW!
• Yahweh promises, “I will give them a heart to
know me, for I am the LORD; and they will be
My people, and I will be their God, for they
will return to me with their whole heart” (Jer.
24:7).
• This will be possible ONLY IF THE HOLY SPIRIT
LIVES IN OUR HEARTS WHEN WE RECEIVE
JESUS CHRIST AS LORD!! (Ephesians 1:12-14)

58. BUT IS THIS NOT FOR JEWS ONLY?
EXODUS 12:49
“ONE LAW shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the
stranger that sojourneth with you” (NUMBERS 15:16, NUMBERS 15:29)
LEVITICUS 22:44 “You shall have ONE MANNER OF LAW, as well
as for the stranger, as for one of your own country, for I am the Lord
your God.”
ISAIAH 56:6-8.
Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to
Him, and to love the name of the LORD to be His servants, everyone
who keeps from profaning the sabbath, And holds fast My covenant;
even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in
My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be
acceptable on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer
for all the peoples

59. SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW TO THE LAW
THAT WERE FORMERLY GIVEN TO THE
JEWS ALONE?
JOHN 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the
Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with
you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept
him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him,
for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 21 Whoever has my
commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who
loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show
myself to them.”
• 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My
Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our
home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my
teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the
Father who sent me.
• 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the
Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you
all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

60. WAS THE LAW “IMPOSED” ON THE
GENTILE BELIEVERS IN THE EARLY
CHURCH?
ACTS 15:19-21
“It is my judgment therefore that we should not
make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to
God.
Instead, we should write to them, telling them to
abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual
immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and
from blood.
For Moses has been preached in every city from the
earliest times and is read in the synagogues on
every Sabbath.”

61. AFFIRMATIONS:
1. There are some parts of the law that are not to be imposed on
the Gentiles (“WE SHOULD NOT MAKE IT HARD FOR THE
Gentiles) – EXAMPLE: CIRCUMCISION, NAZIRITE VOW, WEDDING
RITES,
2. BUT THERE ARE STILL PARTS OF THE TORAH THAT CONTINUE TO
RULE THE CONDUCT OF GENTILE BELIEVERS:
a. ABSTAINING FROM FOOD POLLUTED BY IDOLS - V. 20A
(this AFFIRMS THE PRINCIPLES OF THE WORSHIP LAWS)
ACTS 24:12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the
temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in
the city. 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now
making against me. 14HOWEVER, I ADMIT THAT I WORSHIP THE GOD
OF OUR ANCESTORS AS A FOLLOWER OF THE WAY, WHICH THEY CALL
A SECT. I BELIEVE EVERYTHING THAT IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
LAW AND THAT IS WRITTEN IN THE PROPHETS,

62. AFFIRMATIONS (Acts 15) :
b. Abstain From sexual immorality – v. 20b
(these are ALL MORAL LAWS)
c. Abstain from meat of strangled animals and cooked in its
own blood v- 20c
(THIS IS ALL KOSHER LAWS)
d. the SABBATH (implied in verse 21 – they expected the
Gentiles to join the synagogues/assembly on the Sabbath)
– THIS AFFIRMS THE HOLY DAYS AND FEASTS DAYS
ACTS 15:20-21
Instead, we should write to them, telling them to abstain from
food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat
of strangled animals and from blood.
For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest
times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

63. AFFIRMATIONS:
3. The GENTILE BELIEVER HAS A CHANCE TO
EVALUATE THE REST OF THE LAW OF MOSES AS
THE TORAH IS READ EVERY SABBATH AT THE
SYNAGOGUE (Acts 15:21)
4. REMEMBER THE POOR (GALATIANS 2:10) –
SOCIAL JUSTICE ASPECT OF THE TORAH
3. TITHES

64. Examples of law (halachah, the 613
commands) that we cannot enforce
• Lev 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he
that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the
adulteress shall surely be put to death.
• De 21:
18 ¶ If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of
his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will
not hearken unto them:
19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the
elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and
rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt
thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
22 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to
death, and thou hang him on a tree:
23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury
him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not
defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
• Lev 21:9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the
whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

65. Jesus castigated the human additions
added by the Pharisees to the Torah
• Mark 7:8, 10
“For laying aside the commandment of God, you
hold the tradition of men, as the washing of
pots and cups and many other things like this
you do…
You reject the commandments of God that you
may keep your tradition.”

66. We don’t do the Levitical offerings
anymoreNumbers 28:
1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices
made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the
LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin
of beaten oil.
6 It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice
made by fire unto the LORD.
7 And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy
place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.
8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the
drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the
LORD.
In the New Covenant, we don't need to sacrifice every day burnt offering to the Lord. This
command is not valid anymore. Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah is one sacrifice for sins for ever.

67. NO MORE ANIMAL SACRIFICES
Leviticus 4:
27 ¶ And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance,
while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the
LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;
28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he
shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for
his sin which he hath sinned.
29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay
the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.
We can't obey this command, because then we would despise offering
of Yeshua the Messiah. Also this command is not valid in the New
Covenant.

68. HALAKHAH NO LONGER IMPOSED
• Judaism affected also in Early Church, which demanded
circumcision of Gentiles and keeping of the law of Moses. When
there has been much disputing about those things in Acts 15, so
was decided that Gentile believers don't need circumcision and
keeping of the law (613 commands). This decision indicates that
also 613 commands were rejected from Gentiles. Peter said that
God didn't make difference between Jews and Gentiles, and He has
purified both of their hearts by faith (to Yeshua), not by the law.
Peter also said that they (Jews) can't put a yoke on the neck of the
disciples (Gentiles), which Jewish forefathers had not strength to
bear. That yoke was 613 commands. Peter said that both Jews and
Gentiles are saved by believing and by keeping of the law. This
means that Messianic Jews don't have to keep 613 commands as
also we have noticed earlier in this writing.

69. BUT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW LIVES ON
• Circumcision of the New Covenant
• Ro 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not
in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Php 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship
God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have
no confidence in the flesh.
HERE WE SEE THAT EVEN UNDER GRACE, THE
REFERENCE POINT FOR HOLY LIFE ARE THE STANDARDS
AND PRINCIPLES OF THE LAW (TORAH).

70. The holy days and feasts are kept
• 1 Corintihians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the
feast, not with old leaven, neither with the
leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth
• To the New Covenant believers must live and
keep the feast with the unleavened bread of
sincerity and truth, which happens in the New
Covenant by the power of the Holy Spirit.

71. The TORAH in the millennial reign
• Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of
his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 51:4 ¶ Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a
law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the
people.
Mic 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the
word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
• These Bible verses teach about the time in millennial kingdom where the law and
word of God comes out from Jerusalem, because Jesus (Yeshua) rules there as the
Prince of Peace. However, in the time of New Covenant the word and teaching
come by the Holy Spirit and not according to any geological area, where some
congregation would have leading position.

72. THE KEY OR STANDARD:
THE MIND OF CHRIST
• 1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the
mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
• IF CHRIST WERE HERE, HOW WOULD HAVE HE
DECIDED ABOUT HOW HE PRAYED, HOW HE
ATE, HOW HE WORSHIPPED?...
• LETS US ALL SEEK THE MIND OF CHRIST AND
NOT THE DOGMA OF OUR DENOMINATION

73. NO MORE RABBIS!!!
• Matthew 23:8 BUT BE NOT YE CALLED RABBI: for
one is your Master, even Christ; and ALL YE ARE
BRETHREN.
1 CorInthians 12:28
• And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues.

74. SO NOW, WITH ALL THESE, HOW DO WE
TAKE THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS?
WHO CALLED IT THE “OLD TESTAMENT”
AND WHY IS IT CALLED THE “OLD
TESTAMENT”?
They got it BY IMPLICATION from the words of
Jesus, and in the Book of Hebrews, in its ENGLISH
TRANSLATION, taken from the GREEK :
“For this is THE BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
which is shed for many for the remission of sins
(matt. 26:28, Mark 14:24, Luke 22:20) I Cor. 11:25, 2
Cor. 3:6)

75. WHERE DID WE GET THE IDEA THAT
OLD IS OLD and IS PASSING AWAY?
• Hebrews 8:13 By calling this covenant new, he has
made the first one old (“obselete” – NIV), and what is
obsolete and aging will soon disappear – NIV) Now
that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish
away.
• Hebrews 7:
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of
necessity a change also of the law.
• Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent
ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a
better covenant, which was established upon better
promises.

76. What is OLD?
OLD in Hebrew is “olam”, which means, depending on
usage or context:
Long duration, antiquity, ancient, “always” (“has always
been there” – old), everlasting, unending, forever, former
OLD COVENANT CAN THEREFORE be understood or taken
as “former” covenant, “ancient”, “always been there”,
antiquated.
THE MESSIANIC JEWS ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY TAKE THE
TORAH in the sense of “always been there”, “former”,
WHICH HAS BECOME, the NEW COVENANT.
“NEW” – “CHADASH” – MEANS “NEW THING”, “FRESH”,
“NOW”. It is NOT REPAIRED, NOT RESTORED. It is NEW.

77. TESTAMENT, OR COVENANT?
If there is a “new”, there must be an “old”.
And why Testament? Why not covenant?
The “NEW TESTAMENT” in Hebrew is “B’rit
Hadasha”.
“Hadasha” is NEW.
“B’rit” is translated in Hebrew as EITHER
COVENANT OR TESTAMENT.
The Greek “diatheke” means ONLY TESTAMENT.

78. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO:
COVENANT IS “BERIYTH”, shortened into “BR’IT”, means a
solemn contract.
It is effective immediately, when the two parties are alive.
BUT IT IS SOLEMNIZED BY DEATH – the death of the sacrificial
animals.
The covenant is negotiated by a MEDIATOR.
Testament (last will) is made by a TESTATOR, who is stipulating
benefits for a BENEFICIARY to be effected UPON THE DEATH
of a testator.
A last will and testament requires an EXECUTOR who is not
the testator, who by the time the will is effected, is already
dead.

79. PROBLEMS WITH “TESTAMENT”:
1. If Jesus is the “testator” whose death benefits
us, then what is the testament that is being
implemented, the Old or the New?
2. If Jesus blood is the blood of the “new
testament” (and the animals’ blood is the blood
of the “old testament”), does that mean that
Jesus has to die again so that the NEW
TESTAMENT can be put into effect?
CLEARLY, THE WORD “TESTAMENT” PRESENTS
PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.

80. If we use “COVENANT”:
1. The “old covenant” is built upon, solemnized
by the blood (death) of the animal sacrifices
2. The “new covenant” is built upon,
solemnized by the blood of Jesus.
This is better and easier to understand.
NOW CONNECT WITH THE MEANING OF THE
WORD “OLD” AND “NEW”.
One word for “old” is “old” as in obsolete.
Another word for “old” is FORMER, OR BEFORE,
IN CONTRAST TO CURRENT, OR NOW.

81. EXAMPLE:
The caterpillar is BEFORE OR FORMER (“OLD”).
NOW (“NEW”) IS THE BUTTERFLY.
The OLD (“former” – the caterpillar is VANISHING AND
DISAPPEARING). IT HAS “BECOME” A BUTTERFLY.
This is the messianic Jew’s understanding of the “OLD”
AND “NEW COVENANTS”. The old is FORMER, it is
VANISHING, BECAUSE IT IS BECOMING INTO THE NEW
COVENANT.
They call the NEW COVENANT the “ALREADY NOT YET.”

82. How about HEBREWS 9:15-17
• Hebrew 9:15–17 (NIV)
• 15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promised eternal
inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them
free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
• 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of
the one who made it,
• 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died;
it never takes effect while the one who made it is
living.
THIS IS THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE “TESTAMENT”
UNDERSTANDING OF BERIYTH.

83. HEBREWS 9
IF TESTAMENT:
• 15 For this reason Christ is the
mediator of a new covenant, that
those who are called may receive
the promised eternal
inheritance—now that he has
died as a ransom to set them free
from the sins committed under
the first covenant.
• 16 In the case of a will, it is
necessary to prove the death of
the one who made it,
• 17 because a will is in force only
when somebody has died; it
never takes effect while the one
who made it i living.
IF COVENANT:
• 15 For this reason Christ is the
mediator of a new covenant, that
those who are called may receive
the promised eternal
inheritance—now that he has
died as a ransom to set them free
from the sins committed under
the first covenant.
• 16 In the case of a COVENANT, it
is necessary for one who
presents it that it is based on
death,
• 17 because a covenant is in force
only when it is based on death; it
never takes effect while the one
who presents it cannot prove
that it is based on death.

84. EXIGETICAL EXPLANATION:
• However, in our English Bibles, verse 16 of our text reads as though the one
making the covenant must himself die. But this is because the Greek is not
faithfully represented in our English translations. The Greek does not say that the
one making the covenant must die, but rather that “death must be borne” by the
one who ratifies the covenant. The meaning of the Greek verb phero used in this
phrase is “to bear, carry, bring forward,” and in our text perfectly conveys the
ancient covenant ceremony, showing that our author is well aware of covenant
enactment ceremony in the Tanakh. For in using this word, the author of Hebrews
means to convey the fact that in taking the covenant oath, the reality of the death
of the one making the covenant is demonstrated, represented or brought into the
picture when he walks between the slain parts of the slaughtered animals. Indeed,
in the Lxx the verb phero (“to bear, carry, bring forward”) is regularly associated
with the representative act of offering sacrifices, which may have also influenced
our author’s choice of the word in our text. The one ratifying a covenant must
offer (“bear”) the death of sacrificial animals as representative of his own death if
he failed to honor the covenant. Verse 17 explains why it is necessary to bring
forward the death of the one making the covenant, and further explains the
method of covenant enactment. In our English Bibles, the opening phrase reads:
“For a covenant is valid only when men are dead” (NASB). Literally, the Greek
reads “For a covenant is confirmed over the dead,”15 where the word “dead” is
plural (thus the NASB has “when men are dead”). Why does our author use the
plural form of the word “dead?” Once again, the best explanation is that he has in
mind the sacrificial animals slain at the covenant ratification ceremony.

85. So WHAT WAS BETTERED BY THE
“NEW COVENANT”?
1. Change of PARTIES – instead of us, CHRIST STOOD FOR US
(because WE CANNOT COMPLY WITH THE COVENANT)
2. Change of sacrifice - CHRIST DIED FOR US (who should be killed
under the “old covenant” because we did not and could not keep
its terms)
3. Change of priesthood – CHRIST BECAME OUR HIGH PRIEST
because under the “old”, the animal sacrifices had to be
repeatedly offered, and the high priest had to offer sacrifices for
his sins first; WITH CHRIST, THE SACRIFICE IS OFFERED ONCE AND
FOR ALL BY A HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS NO SIN
BUT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OR THE SUBSTANCE, OF THE LAW
(THE TORAH) OF THE “FORMER COVENANT” DID NOT CHANGE – THE
BLESSINGS AND CURSES. IT REMAINED THE SAME!

86. The SUBSTANCE of THE LAW (THE
“FORMER COVENANT”) NEVER CHANGED!!
MATTHEW 5:17-18
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets (the words he used here are TORAH and
KEVI’IM – THE DIVISIONS OF THE JEWISH TANAKH – THE
“OLD COVENANT”); I have not come to abolish them
BUT TO FULFILL THEM (this is where the Messianic Jew
got the concept of “becoming” rather than “replacing”); I
tell you, UNTIL HEAVEN EARTH DISAPPEAR, NOT THE
SMALLEST LETTER, NOT THE LEAST STROKE OF A PEN,
WILL BY ANY MEANS DISAPPEAR FROM THE LAW UNTIL
EVERYTHING IS FULFILLED (OR ACCOMLISHED.)

87. LISTEN TO YESHUA AS HE SPEAKS ON:
Matthew 5:17-20
“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these
commandments (Torah) AND TEACHES OTHERS TO
DO THE SAME (break the Torah) will be called
LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (notice not
“Kingdom of God”), BUT WHOEVER PRACTICES
AND TEACHES THESE COMMANDS will be GREAT
IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. For I tell you that
unless your righteousness surpasses that of the
Pharisees and teachers of the law, YOU WILL
CERTAINLY NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN.”

88. CAN WE EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF THE PHARISEES AND THE
TEACHERS OF THE LAW?
Of course!!!
1. BY RECEIVING THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS
2. AND BY FULFILLING THE RIGHTEOUS
REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW IN US BY THE
POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN US!!
(Romans 8:5)

89. How about 2 CORINTHIANS 3:7-11?
• 7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was
engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that
the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of
Moses because of its glory, transitory though it
was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more
glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation
was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry
that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has
no glory now in comparison with the surpassing
glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory,
how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

90. CONCLUSION:
1. The TORAH is not lost or repudiated (we did away
with the parties, the sacrifice, the priesthood, the
ceremonial aspects), BUT THE MORAL AND ESSENTIAL
PRECEPTS REMAIN
2. THE FORMER COVENANT IS JUST AS ESSENTIAL AS
THE NEW OR CURRENT COVENANT, SIMPLY BECAUSE
THE FORMER BECAME THE CURRENT OR NEW.
3. WE HAVE NOT LEFT OUR JEWISH ROOTS. IT IS THE
ROOTS THAT SUSTAIN THE ENGRAFTED BRANCHES
4. GRACE IS SAVES US FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW.
GRACE ENABLES US TO AVAIL OF THE BLESSINGS OF
THE LAW.

91. Beautiful summations:
EPHESIANS 2:8, 9, AND 10
• 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through
faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of
God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For
we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do.
YESHUA’S WORDS:
JOHN 10:10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it
abundantly (OR TO THE FULL).

92. In one word:
THE TORAH IS NOT ESSENTIAL
TO SALVATION.
BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO AN
ABUNDANT LIFE AND LIFE TO
THE FULLEST.
IT’S YOUR CHOICE.