"Those of you who are in Torah and who are seeking justification (from it), you have ceased to be from Mashiyach, (and therefore) you have fallen from grace. For we, through the blessings of the Spirit, which is from faith, abide in the hope of righteousness. For in Mashiyach Y’shua, circumcision and uncircumcision are nothing, but faith is completed through love. You were progressing beautifully! Who confused you to not obey the truth? Your persuasiveness was not from him who called you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I am confident with you in our Master (Y’shua), that you will not consider anything else, and that he who troubled you will bear his judgment, whoever he is." (Galatians 5:4-9) Some site this verse and may claim the age of law has ended. Well this is not what Paul is saying but rather he is saying something that is much more stunning. He is talking essentially about 90% of the Hebrew Roots population. Let me explain: Notice first of all that he says the Torah does not bring justification and it does not bring even bring hope of righteousness. For these things are indeed through Yeshua. Now what that being said he is teaching an amazing rabbinical teaching here that has even been recorded, in terms of similar concept, by Rabbi Bachya in the 11th Century. We can claim righteousness through Torah but it is simply not true. Especially if we see Torah observance as a form of self righteousness we then have our chests puff out and we become egotistical in our walk, we feel self righteous and we do Torah for the sake of an appearance of being more pious than our brother. "And they do all their deeds that they might be seen by the sons of men. For they widen their Tefillin and lengthen the Tekhelet of their robes. And they love the chief places at festivals and the chief seats at the assembly. And a greeting in the streets, and to be called Rabbi by men. But you should not be called ‘My Great One’ for there is only one Who is Great and you are all brothers. And do not call yourself Father for your Father is one who is in heaven. And you should not be called leaders, because one is your leader, the Mashiyach. But he who is greatest among you, let him be a servant to you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matthew 23:5-12) What I see is people who wish to fulfill the mitzviot for the right intentions. Then they are put down for what they do not know because they are babies in their walk. And many are influenced by puffed up teachers that put on a perception of themselves based upon academic pedigree or based upon the garb they wear, etc. Brethren....STOP IT! Let us not put people into the bondage of the Torah that comes from our own halaka and out own insecurities and the dismissal of Yeshua in the process. This happens way too often, and this is the bondage we are warned about. I had a brother ask me today how to pray, and I said, "is not the way Yeshua said how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 good enough?" Many have been taught that something so simple must be done standing on ones head and jumping up and down 4 times in order for it to work. You are not saying the Amidah as a personal prayer (that was an attempt at a joke). In Judaism we submit ourselves to a Rabbi and we are under the halaka of our Rabbi, is not Yeshua our rabbi? Why do we tend to diminish Yeshua as such? What we are instead doing is propagating and promoting ourselves above that of Yeshua and we wonder why the young ones are so confused and frustrated and scared of everything but their shadow. Look at who they have as teachers.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 03:28:59 +0000