What is Torah?

Read Part I of This Series

The word “Torah” in Hebrew is derived from the root ירה which in the hifil (classification) conjugation means “to guide/teach” (see. Lev. 10:11). The meaning of the word is therefore “teaching,” “doctrine,” or “instruction”; the commonly accepted word “law” gives a wrong impression. [Rabinowitz, Louis Isaac and Harvey, Warren. “Torah.” Encyclopaedia Judaica. Ed. Michael Berenbaum and Fred Skolnik. Vol. 20. 2nd ed. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. pp 39–46.]

We see that Torah has been translated as ‘instruction’, ‘direction’ and ‘law’. In 2 Kings 14:6 we see it can refer to the Mosaic law as the word here is being used to refer to the Laws of Moses and is translated as such. Still […]

Do Christians Need to Observe the Sabbath?

Old Covenant versus New Covenant
Before I answer that you need to understand that there are two Covenants, an Old Covenant (Also known as the Mosaic Law) and a New Covenant. We who profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior are under the New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 describes this New Covenant and it was established when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. (See Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 9:14-17, New Covenant or is it Renewed?). Now why is this important? Because without a clear understanding of when the New Covenant started and what it means to us we could easily get confused when reading the Bible. So we see from the above scriptures that the New Covenant has begun and if […]

2020-04-13T16:22:25+00:00August 9th, 2013|Categories: Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library, Sabbath|Tags: , , , , , |

Justified Before God as Righteous

“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law,
for ‘The righteous shall live by faith'”

This is found in Galations 3:11 and quotes Habakkuk 2:4. I have been told by HRM followers this proves we are saved by faith in Jesus, but we need to live by obeying the law. See also verses Romans 1:16-17, Romans 3:26-30, Romans 4:13-17, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:24. What does God mean by “the righteous shall live by faith”?

jus•ti•fy \ˈjəs-tə-ˌfī\ verb -fied; -fy•ing [Middle English justifien, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French justifier, from Late Latin justificare, from Latin justus] verb transitive 14th century

  • 1       a : to prove or show to be just, right, or reasonable
    b       (1) : to show to […]
2020-04-13T16:22:48+00:00August 9th, 2013|Categories: Hebrew Roots Movement, Languages, Library, Word Definitions|Tags: , , , , , , |

The Law Makes Us Righteous?

A friend involved with the HRM movement shared with me, “Justification (salvation) is through faith by grace. Sanctification (holy living) is through the Mosaic Law.” Further, he explained, that although they acknowledge salvation is through Jesus alone, one must obey the Mosaic Law through the power of the Holy Spirit in order to continue in the faith so as to be considered righteous before God. He shared how in the Old Testament it was impossible to obey all the Law because they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling within them. But now it is.

This explanation seems to be logical, until you really think about what Jesus accomplished on the cross and in His resurrection. 1 Peter 3:18-22 shares the power […]

2020-04-13T16:23:10+00:00August 2nd, 2013|Categories: Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Obey God’s Commandment

We read in John 14:21 that Jesus is telling us if we love Him, we will obey Him. This is used by the HRM to prove we are to obey the Mosaic Law. Let’s look at this verse and surrounding Scriptures a bit closer.

John 4:15-31 is a beautiful discourse from our Lord Jesus about His relationship to those who believe in Him. He also shares with us a greater truth, the love and relationship the Father has with His children because they follow Jesus. He begins in John 4:15 by declaring those who love Him will obey His commandments. This is repeated several times in the next few verses. The question is, “Whose commandments are we to follow?” It is […]

2020-04-13T16:24:05+00:00January 23rd, 2013|Categories: Commandments, Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library|Tags: , , , , , |

Feast of Unleavened Bread

Fulfilled by Jesus who was without sin. Leviticus 23:4-8

Leaven, a typology of sin, was removed from the dwellings. Then at twilight, as the 14th day of Nisan was ending, the Passover lambs were slain. Sunset initiated the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Nisan 15 was a “high day”, a non Saturday Sabbath. Bread baked without yeast was eaten during the seven days of the feast.

Sunset began the 15th day of Nisan. Jesus took on our sins at the crucifixion and then He was buried, or put away, hidden just in time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But in the grave His body did not decay or see corruption. That Passover the sinless unleavened ‘Bread of […]

2020-04-13T16:29:24+00:00January 7th, 2013|Categories: Feasts, Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library|Tags: , , , |

Passover

Fulfilled by Jesus at His crucifixion. Exodus 12:14-20

On the 14th day of Nisan the sacrifice lamb is slain. The blood of atonement upon the door brings salvation as the death angel passes overhead. The epic Exodus that follows sees God’s covenant people delivered from the bondage of Egypt. This was the Old Covenant fulfillment of Passover for national salvation.

On the 14th day of Nisan, on the eve of Passover, Jesus is crucified. The blood of the promised Sacrifice Lamb is shed. This is the redemption God has provided. It brings salvation to His covenant people, delivering them from the bondage of sin and death. This is the New Covenant fulfillment of Passover for personal salvation.

This is all about […]

2020-04-13T16:29:44+00:00January 7th, 2013|Categories: Feasts, Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library|Tags: , , , |

Feast of Tabernacles

Fulfilled by Jesus when He was born and dwelt among us. Deuteronomy 31:10-11, Leviticus 23:33-36

Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, or Feast of Tabernacles, is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (late September to late October). It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday lasts seven days (eight in the diaspora). The first day is a sabbath-like yom tov when work is forbidden. The sukkah is intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery […]

2020-04-13T16:29:59+00:00January 7th, 2013|Categories: Feasts, Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library|Tags: , , , |

Feast of Dedication

Festival of Lights

Fulfilled by Jesus when the Light entered the World. John 10:22-29

Also known as the Hanukkah, or Feast of Dedication, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. This Jewish ‘Feast of Dedication’ (Hannukah as it is also called) honors the re-dedication of the Jewish temple after it had been defiled by the forces of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Festival of Lights proclaims the cleansing of the temple and its altar by Judas Maccabees in the aftermath of the Old Testament incident on which Daniel’s ‘Abomination of Desolation’ was based. The desolating sacrifice was instituted on the 15th day […]

2020-04-13T16:30:21+00:00January 7th, 2013|Categories: Feasts, Hebrew Roots Movement, Law, Library|Tags: , , , |

Fulfill – Definition

Fulfill in Strong’s G4137.

πληρόω plērŏō, play-rŏ´-o; from 4134; to make replete, i.e. (lit.) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (fig.) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:—accomplish, × after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfill, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.1

 

Some, including the Hebrew Roots Movement, use the wording “fully preach” to refer to Jesus fulfilling the Mosaic Law. There are a couple issues with that interpretation. The words after the colon in the Strong’s definition above are examples of how the word has been translated in some of the English Bibles. The only time pleroo is interpreted […]

2020-04-13T16:30:36+00:00January 7th, 2013|Categories: Hebrew Roots Movement, Languages, Library, Word Definitions|Tags: , , , , |
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