When Yehova communicates His expectations for us, He uses words like “everything” and “all”.
But mankind seems to think He said “some things” and “most”.
Let’s take a quick look at the expectations that are set for us throughout the scriptures:
Here are two [of many] instructions from Yehova:
28 Take care and listen to all these words that I am commanding you, so that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Adonai your God.
And another:
30 You are to walk in all the way that Adonai your God has commanded you, so that you may live and it may be well with you…
Yehova is very consistent in His message, that we are to obey ALL and EVERYTHING that He has commanded.
Are Yehova’s words not enough for us?
They were not enough for the Hebrew nation, His chosen people.
He had to send prophets to tell us the same things:
Here is one reference from Jeremiah:
“…but I explicitly commanded them: ‘Obey My voice and I will be your God to you and you will be My people. Walk in all the ways that I command you that it may go well with you.’ 24 But they did not listen or pay attention. Instead, they followed their own counsel, in the stubbornness of their evil heart.”
The people still did not listen.
They disobeyed and were divorced from the covenant. They were scattered among all the nations of the earth.
“But then, Yeshua Messiah came and taught us a whole new doctrine, since God’s plan didn’t work.”
Ummm….
Nope, that isn’t how it went.
Yeshua came and taught us the same things the Father taught.
John 7:16
16 Yeshua answered, “My teaching is not from Me, but from Him who sent Me.”
Matthew 5:17-18
17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass.
“The only difference, though, is that Jesus knows we are not capable of keeping the law. He only expects us to do as much as we are comfortable with, and His grace covers us for everything else.”
Again, no.
Not at all.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Ruach ha-Kodesh, 20 teaching them to observe all I have commanded you.
Yeshua even asks this:
“Why do you call Me ‘Master, Master’ and do not do what I say?”
We are told that His Word shall never pass away.
It is forever, never-ending, perpetual, and for all generations.
The expectation set in the scriptures, from start to finish, is that we follow Yehova wholly and completely.
Hearing these words and understanding them is not a difficult thing.
Having faith in these words and making the effort to do so seems to be more difficult for most.
I constantly see men and women trying to create loopholes to justify their disobedience. I see men and women encouraging one another in their disobedience.
This is not scriptural, and it is not wise.
But it is rampant, even in Torah communities.
I try to share this concept of following wholly and completely with anyone and everyone who will listen. Most people seem to not like it very much, even in Torah Observant communities.
I get accused of being many things for sharing this idea: judgmental, arrogant, self-righteous, condemning, hateful, intolerant, etc. It is just like being in the mainstream church all over again.
I believe it is important that we share the expectations set in scripture, even if mankind has other ideas. We need to be grounded in the truth of the words of Yehova, the words of the prophets, and the words of Messiah. We must not change the things They said in order to accommodate our comfort levels.
Often times (actually most times) when I share the concept of following completely, I get lots of negative feedback from those who want to follow partially. Many people think close enough is good enough. That only works in government and hand grenades.
It is not what Yehova wants from us.
Some people respond favorably to this teaching, even if it is difficult for them. Even if it convicts them. Some people love the truth and seek after it.
Others respond poorly to this teaching. The lukewarm want leniency. The lukewarm want justification that close enough is good enough. The lukewarm want loopholes and pats on the back for partial obedience. The lukewarm want to delay and wait to come into obedience.
They say it takes time to make changes in their lives.
But why?
If Yehova said it, why not just do it?
Do we love Him, or do we not love Him?
And I ask this by His standards, not our own.
Deuteronomy 13:4-5
“…for Adonai your Elohim is testing you, to find out whether you love Adonai your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 5 Adonai your Elohim you will follow and Him you will fear. His mitzvot you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling.”
1John 2:3-6
3 Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this— 6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.
When I share scriptures advocating for following wholly and completely, it is not meant to be critical. I am not trying to condemn anyone (I do not have that authority, nor would I want it). I simply mean to separate Yehova’s expectation in scripture from the lukewarm ideas that men and women come up with.
Some people recognize the truth and love it.
Others hate the truth and attack me over it.
I try to shine the light of this scriptural truth to follow wholly and completely, but some [even those who claim to be Torah Observant] do not like the light.
Yoḥanan (John) 3:20-21 TS2009
“For everyone who is practicing evil matters hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But the one doing the truth comes to the light, so that his works are clearly seen, that they have been wrought in Elohim.”
Obviously, there are people who are new to learning Torah. There are people shedding a lifetime of lies, and it is difficult to do so.
There is patience associated with this…
Consider these two passages of scripture inspired by Yehova, and authored by James:
Acts 15″19-21
19 Therefore, I judge not to trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to Yehova— 20 but to write to them to abstain from the contamination of idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses from ancient generations has had in every city those who proclaim him, since he is read in all the synagogues every Shabbat.”
James 1:22-25
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror— 24 for once he looks at himself and goes away, he immediately forgets what sort of person he was. 25 But the one who looks intently into the perfect Torah, the Torah that gives freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts—he shall be blessed in what he does.
We learn in Acts 15 that new converts are to adhere to four basic principles. It is expected they will learn the Torah over time, as the writings of Moshe are read weekly, every Shabbat.
If we consider James’ declaration that we are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, we can safely assume that new converts are to do what they learn in Torah, not just hear about it.
I have heard people who are learning Torah say things like, “I’m praying to see if I should work on the Sabbath,” and other such things…
Men and women make accommodations for this, but what this person is praying for is permission to disobey.
How will Yehova receive those prayers? If someone learns Torah, but does not have the faith to do what they have learned, but instead, continue in disobedience while praying about it — what will Yehova do with this?
Proverbs 28:9
One who turns his ear from hearing Torah
—even his prayer is an abomination.
The expectation is that we learn and do.
Not learn and continue in disobedience while praying to be allowed to continue in disobedience.
This is all part of learning, but we need to NOT encourage these things. Instead, we need to teach new converts the expectations set forth in scripture about following completely.
In addition, we need to encourage our brothers and sisters in Torah to follow completely, if we see evidence that they are following partially.
This encouragement in truth is not meant to be critical or hateful or self-righteous.
It is meant to be helpful, even if it is difficult.
It is meant in love, with eyes on the big picture and looking to the end game…
I will keep sharing the truth of Yehova, the truth of the prophets, and the truth of Yeshua Messiah.
If you are offended by what יהוה expects from us, please sort it out on your knees in prayer instead of getting angry with me. I am not your enemy.
Shalom