Who has never been confused when studying the bible?
Crickets…
Silence…
No takers…

Why can two different people study the scriptures and have opposite viewpoints, with both being 100% sure they are correct?
It isn’t possible, right?
Opposing views cannot both be correct.

Why is it that some people can clearly see and understand a concept in the bible and share it with others, and they totally do not get it?
It’s just a book full or words, right?
Just read it and believe it.
Simple.
It says what it says, right?
Why all the confusion?

Well, for starters, it is not just a book full of words.
John 17:17
¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 
So it is settled — Scripture tells us that the Scriptures are truth!
Sort of like a double negative, but in this case, a double positive, right?
But it goes a step further…
This verse identifies what the Scriptures are:
They are the Words of Yahweh, our Creator.

2Timothy 3:16-17 confirms this, but also gives us instructions on what to do with it:
¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What do we learn here?
1. All (not some) Scripture
2. Is inspired by Yahweh
3. It is profitable
     >>>>for doctrine
     >>>>for reproof
     >>>>for correction
     >>>>for instruction in righteousness
4. So that one who belongs to Yahweh
5. May be complete
6. Thoroughly equipped
     >>>>for every good work.

So the Word is truth, it is inspired by God, and it is useful to us.
In addition, understanding is promised to us — but only if we do not doubt:
James 1:5-8
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

But this promise is conditional…
2Corinthians 3:14-16
¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 
This tells us that people are blinded from understanding.
Understanding what?
The Old Testament.
Who is blinded?
Those who have not fully submitted their hearts to Yahweh (God).

Even further, Messiah (Jesus, Yeshua, Our Savior, the Son of God) tells us that understanding is intentionally withheld from people:
Matthew 13:11
¹¹ He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”

So now we have learned there is something very special about the Scriptures.
They are not just words on a page.
They are not just God’s words on a page.
Our ability to understand has a supernatural element to it.
To some, understanding is given.
To others, understanding is withheld.
In both cases, it is due to the condition of their hearts.
A humble, submitted heart is promised understanding and truth.
An unsubmitted heart is not allowed the truth.
Very interesting…

So here is a HUGE QUESTION:
How can we tell the difference?
How can we know who understands and who does not understand?
What if two people spend time studying the Scriptures, but they each come away with a different idea or understanding?
Whom are we to believe as a teacher?
There are over 40,000 different Christian denominations.
Each and everyone of them think they “have it right.”
In reality, pretty much none of them have it right.

How do we get to the bottom of it?
The answer lies >>>> wait for it…
In the Scriptures.

First of all, let’s take a look at one vital warning:
2Peter 3:14-17
¹⁴ Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in shalom [peace], spotless and blameless before Him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that the patience of our Lord means salvation—just as our dearly loved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom given to him. ¹⁶ He speaks about these matters in all of his letters. Some things in them are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist (as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures)—to their own destruction. ¹⁷ Since you already know all this, loved ones, be on your guard so that you are not led astray by the error of the lawless and lose your sure footing.

Peter gives us this warning from his death bed.
What do people speak of on their death bed?
The things they find to be MOST important in life.
What do we learn from Peter?
What things were the MOST important to him?
1. We are to make every effort (full time job)
     >>>>to be found in peace
     >>>>to be spotless and blameless (without sin)
2. Paul speaks of matters of salvation
3. Some of which is hard to understand
4. Which ignorant and unstable people
     >>>>twist (misconstrue, confuse, change, alter)
     >>>>Paul’s writings
     >>>>And the Scriptures (Old Testament, as it is all that existed at this time)
     >>>>To what end?  Their own destruction [not good!!]
5. Be wary, even though you already know this
6. So that you are
     >>>>not led astray
     >>>>by the error (mistake, wrong-doing)
     >>>>of the lawless (those who do not keep the Law)
     >>>>resulting in the loss — of their sure footing.

Ok, so this is a great deal of info packed into one concise warning.
First of all, please recognize the importance of this warning:
The consequences are your destruction and the loss of your sure footing.
What sure footing?
Matthew 7:13-14
¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
We must no lose our sure footing on the narrow path that leads to eternal life.
Yeshua Messiah (Jesus) is telling us already that few will find this path.
Peter warns those who have found this path to not lose our footing and stray from this path, resulting in our destruction (same description that Messiah uses).

How can we avoid these pitfalls that lead to destruction, and lead us away from life?
It is quite simple.
All we have to do is pass our test.
What do I mean by this?
What test?

We must pass the test that Yahweh (God of the Bible, Yehova, Elohim, Adonai, The Great I Am, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) gives to each and every person who has ever lived:
Deuteronomy 13:3-4
“…for Yahweh your Elohim is testing you, to find out whether you love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁵ Yahweh your Elohim you will follow and Him you will fear. His commandments you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling.

What is this test comprised of?
How do we pass this test?
1. Love Yahweh with all our heart
2. Love Yahweh with all our soul
3. Follow Yahweh
4. Fear Yahweh
5. Keep Yahweh’s commandments (The Law)
6. Listen to Yahweh’s Voice
7. Serve Yahweh
8. Cling to Yahweh

“Yes, but this is old testament stuff. We don’t have to do these things anymore. We’ve learned to believe in Jesus and call it good because He did away with the Law…”

What does Jesus say about it?
Matthew 5:17-18
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah [The Law] or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill/fully teach. ¹⁸ Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah [The Law] until all things come to pass.

Messiah [Jesus] says that He did not do away with the Law.
He goes on to say that not a single pen stroke of the Law [the Torah] will change until heaven and earth pass away at End Times.

“If Jesus wanted us to keep the Law, He would have told us so…”
I present to you the very words of Yeshua Messiah [Jesus]:
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Not convinced?
How about more words of Messiah?
John 14:21
^{21 “}He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.”
Still not convinced?”
How about even more words of Messiah?
John 15:10
^{10 “}If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

Still not convinced?
What about a New Testament test?
Are you passing the newer test?
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.

Mainstream Christian doctrine is built upon the twisted and misunderstood quotes of Paul.  If a Christian pastor is presented with any of the verses I’ve quoted in this article, they always respond with a quote of Paul.
Is this a good or a bad thing?
Well, God and Jesus both tell us to keep God’s commandments, the Torah, the Old Testament Law.
Mainstream Christianity teaches that we do not keep the Law because of the things Paul said.
This raises two questions in my mind:
1. Have they ever bothered to read Peter’s warning about Paul’s writings that we quoted and reviewed above?
2. WHo the heck is in charge around here?  God and Jesus, or Paul?  If you have to choose which to follow [with your eternity on the line] whom will you choose?
God and Jesus?
Or Paul?
Before you decide, let’s look at some direct quotes of Paul that your church leader most likely has not included in their teachings:
Acts 24:14
“But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.”
Acts 25:8
…while he answered for himself, “Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
Paul says those who do the Law [the Torah, God’s commandments] are the ones who will be justified:
Romans 2:12-13
¹² For all who have sinned outside of Torah will also perish outside of Torah, and all who have sinned according to Torah will be judged by Torah. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of Torah who are righteous before God; rather, it is the doers of Torah who will be justified.
Are you confused by these quotes of Paul?
What about this one?
Romans 3:31
³¹ Do we then nullify the Torah through faithfulness? May it never be! On the contrary, we uphold the Torah.

If you follow a mainstream Christian doctrine of not keeping the Law, built upon the words of Paul, then which Paul do you follow?
Do you follow the twisted and misunderstood words of Paul that Peter warned us not do do?
Or do you follow the Paul who upholds the Torah?

What famous words do we learn from Joshua, that many lawless people quote and even hang on their walls?
Joshua 24:15
“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Do you follow and serve misinterpreted Paul?
Or do you follow and serve Yahweh, Yehova, Elohim, Adonai, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Do you serve Messiah Yeshua, Jesus, the Son of the Living God?
Because you can’t follow and serve both, and why would anyone follow a man anyway? Paul is not a god, and he is not to be followed, and yet, the whole of mainstream Christianity does exactly that!
Did you know that the prophets foretold this?
Jeremiah 16:19-20
¹⁹ O Lord, my strength and my fortress,
My refuge in the day of affliction,
The Gentiles shall come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Surely our fathers have inherited lies,
Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
²⁰ Will a man make gods for himself,
Which are not gods?

God said His Law is forever, for all generations, never ending, and a perpetual covenant.
God said His Law is for both the native Hebrew and for the sojourners/strangers among them [Gentiles].
God said His word shall never pass away.
Here is a direct quote of God:
Malachi 3:6
“For I am Yehova. I do not change…”
Paul has no authority to change the things that God said are for everybody, and are forever, and he did not try to do so.
Paul’s letters sometimes refer to the Torah Instructions, the Law/Commands of God, and other times refer to the Law of Sin and Death.  Still other times, Paul refers to the Law of the Pharisees.
This is why Peter says his letters are hard to understand.
Churches take Paul’s statements about the Law of Sin and Death or the Law of the Pharisees and use them to say that God’s Torah is done away with.
This is blasphemy, as God said His commands are forever and for all people who want to belong to Him.

Mainstream Christians claim to belong to the New Covenant.
Let’s look at the very simple details of the New Covenant.
Hebrews 8:7-10
⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. ⁸ Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says 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 did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

What do we learn here about the New Covenant that Christians claim as their own?
1. The first covenant was not faultless
     >>>>the fault was not with the covenant
     >>>>the fault was with the people who broke the covenant
This resulted in Yahweh [God] divorcing the House of Israel from the covenant:
Jeremiah 3:8
⁸ Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce;
But Yahweh promised to one day restore the House of Israel (as represented in the parable of the Prodigal Son).
Did Jesus come to save the Gentiles?
No.
Here is another direct quote of Messiah:
Matthew 15:24
²⁴ But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But these things are a whole other study… 
Let’s get back to the new covenant:
2. There will be a New Covenant
     >>>>not like the one the people did not keep
3. But the New Covenant will be with
     >>>>the house of Isreal
     >>>>and the house of Judah
     >>>>[NO GENTILES]
4. God will put His laws in their mind
5. God will write His laws on their hearts
6. He will be their God
7. And they will be His people.

Does this sound like the New Covenant that your church teaches?
With Israel and Judah?
With the Law written on your mind and heart?
Is your church teaching you this truth?
Or do they twist Paul’s writings to say the Law is done away with, even though God Himself says it is not, and even though Jesus Himself says it is not?

Choose whom you will serve this day…
Yahweh and Yeshua Messiah?
God and Jesus?
Or do you serve your church’s false teachings.
You can’t serve both.
You must choose one or the other.

Still not sure if I’m right about any of this?
Have you studied this scripture?
This is a conversation a man had with Jesus:
Matthew 19:16-17
¹⁶ Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
¹⁷ So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Don’t listen to my thoughts and ideas.
Don’t listen to my words.
Listen to Jesus.
Listen to the One who you say that you serve and follow.
Listen to the Only One who can save you and grant you eternal life.
“But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

Still not sure?
Jesus tells us who will enter His Kingdom in Revelation 22:14
^{14 “}Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”

Again, how many times now, straight out of the mouth of Jesus?
Keep the commandments.
Are you listening to Him?

Here is another quote of Jesus:
John 10:27-28
²⁷ My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

Do you know His voice?
Do you know the voice of the Father?

So back to the original question.
Why so confusing?
Why are various parts of the scriptures written in a way that can cause confusion?
It is a test.
Do you know His Voice?
Do you obey His Voice?
Do you cling to Him?
Or do you wander away from Him because of some confusing Scriptures?

Are you passing your test?
Deuteronomy 13:3-4
“…for Yahweh your Elohim is testing you, to find out whether you love Yahweh your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. ⁵ Yahweh your Elohim you will follow and Him you will fear. His commandments you will keep, to His voice you will listen, Him you will serve and to Him you will cling.

Are We Favored By God?
Modern church culture has elevated the status of man far beyond where we should be according to the scriptures.
We’ve been taught that we are loved no matter what.
We’ve been taught that we’ll enter into the kingdom of heaven, no matter our behavior, so long as we believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
It isn’t that we can do no wrong, but that we are sinners and we will be forgiven and accepted, no matter if we do wrong.
Is this a healthy outlook?
Is this true?
Can we count on this idea in the end?

Let’s take a look at some scriptures:
Acts 10:34-35
34 And opening his mouth, Peter said, “Truly I see that Elohim [God] shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation, he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
God does not show favor to men, but adheres to the criteria He has set before men.
Who is accepted by Yahweh? [God]
We are given two criteria in this bit of scripture:
1— those who fear Yahweh
2— those who work righteousness

Do we see this anywhere else in scripture?
Of course we do.
Let’s take a look at words from the wisest man to ever live – Solomon:
Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the entire matter: Fear Elohim and guard His commands, for this applies to all mankind!

Again, we see two criteria given as the whole duty [or the purpose] of mankind:
1— Fear Elohim [God]
2— Keep His commandments

But the first set of scriptures did not say to keep His commands. It said to be workers of righteousness.
Is there a definition of righteousness in scripture?
Yes…   Let’s take a look:
Deuteronomy 6:24-25
²⁴ Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our Elohim—for our good always, to keep us alive, as is the case this day. ²⁵ It will be righteousness to us, if we take care to do all this commandment before Yahweh our Elohim, just as He has commanded us.’

According to God, righteousness is keeping His commands.
Does it matter that this is Old Testament scripture?
Church culture teaches that Old Testament scripture, especially the law, is no longer applicable.
What does Messiah [Jesus] say about it?
John 7:16
16 יהושע [Yeshua Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God] answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.”
Jesus taught what God taught, which is the Torah, His instructions, His Old Testament Law.

We see it again in John 12:48-50
48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My Words, has one who judges him: the Word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day.
49 “Because I spoke not from Myself, but the Father who sent Me has given Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
50 “And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, as the Father has said to Me, so I speak.”

And again in John 14:23-24
23 יהושע [Yeshua Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God] answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him. 24“He who does not love Me does not guard My Words. And the Word which you hear is not Mine but of the Father Who sent Me.

All the way back in Deuteronomy Yahweh [God] told us that He would send Yeshua Messiah [Jesus] and that He would put His own words into Yeshua’s mouth:
Deuteronomy 18:18-19
18 I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I require it of him.

Yahweh goes further, to warn us that if we do not listen to His Words coming from Messiah’s mouth, that He will hold us accountable for it!!
These should be scary words to us. 
We should know these things, and they should motivate us to righteousness. Fear is a great motivator and is ok:
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of Elohim [God] is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Let’s take another look at the church culture idea that we will be loved and forgiven, no matter what.
We see this warning in John 3:36
36 He who believes in the Son possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim [God] remains on him.

We are told point blank that if we do not obey the things Messiah says that we will not be granted eternal life.
In conjunction with that, the wrath of God remains upon us, which means we do not receive Messiah’s forgiveness.
Is this even possible?
Surely this must be a mistake.
Are we told this anywhere else in scripture?
Yes, we are.
Numbers 15:30-31
30 But the being who does whatever defiantly, whether he is native or a stranger, he reviles יהוה [God], and that being shall be cut off from among his people.
31 Because he has despised the word of יהוה [God], and has broken His command, that being shall certainly be cut off, his crookedness is upon him.’ ”

What does this tell us?
1— anyone who sins defiantly
2— just ancient Israel? Nope – native or a stranger – this means YOU
3— this person reviles God
4— this person is cut off from among God’s people
5—Why? Because he has despised the Words of God
6— by breaking His commands
7— he will be cut off (excluded)
8— and his sin remains upon him (unforgiven)

If you are not a fan of Old Testament scripture and think it is not applicable today, let’s look at this same concept in the New Testament, saying the same thing but in much more horrifying detail:
Hebrews 10:26-31
²⁶ For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for the one who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “Yahweh will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
What do we find here?
1— If we sin willfully after knowing the truth
2— there no longer remains a sacrifice [we are unforgiven]
3—but instead we get
4— a terrifying expectation of judgment
5— what kind of judgement? A fury of fire that devours you, the enemy of God
6— trampling Jesus underfoot by sinning willfully is worse than violating the Torah law
7— doing so insults the spirit of grace [the very grace that sinning Christians are counting on and proudly proclaim]
8— Yahweh will judge His people.
9— we should be terrified of ‘falling into the hands’ of the Living God and His wrath in an unforgiven state

If these things were important, you’d think God would have warned us!!
Yes, this is very true, and He did.
Too many times to count.
But here are a couple:
Deuteronomy 12:28
28“Guard, and obey all these words which I command you, that it might be well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of יהוה your Elohim.

Proverbs 3:1-7
1 My son, do not forget my Torah [Law], And let your heart watch over my commands; 2 For length of days and long life And peace they add to you. 3 Let not loving-commitment and truth forsake you – Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 Thus finding favour and good insight In the eyes of Elohim and man. 5 Trust in יהוה [God] with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 Know Him in all your ways, And He makes all your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear יהוה [God] and turn away from evil.

But God’s chosen people did not listen to Him.
They did not heed the warnings.
And what was the result?
They were divorced from the covenant (Jeremiah 3:8) and were scattered among all the nations of the earth.  I have gone into great detail showing this in the scriptures in numerous articles. Please review the article “Warning to Torah Community” to see the scriptures telling us about this scattering.

The scattering was not just a physical punishment.
They were not just defeated by enemies and taken as slaves.
While this is bad, really bad, it gets worse.
We are told in the scriptures that the exile was also a separation of the people from Yahweh [God] Himself.  Not only that, but the people are exiled from understanding the Word of God!!
Let’s look at that:
Amos 8:11-12
11“See, days are coming,” declares the Master יהוה [God], “that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a hunger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of יהוה [God]. 
12“And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east – they shall diligently search, seeking the Word of יהוה [God], but they shall not find it.

We are told the people will be separated from the Word of God.
They will seek it, but are not able to find understanding. Yes, they have the written word, but comprehension and understanding is withdrawn from them in this exile.
It is a consequence for them turning their backs on Yahweh and not following His commands and not heeding His warnings.
But it gets worse…
This exile, consequence, and punishment is not just for the people who turned their backs on Yahweh.
The consequences also apply to their children:
Hosea 4:6
6“My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me. Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children.

Hosea tells us that the people did not follow Yah’s words, rejecting His knowledge.
Because of this, Yahweh rejected not only them, but also their children.
Does this seem unfair?
No, because Yahweh advised them before hand:
Deuteronomy 12:28
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 Yahweh your Elohim.
They were warned by God that their obedience to His Instructions would lead to good things for both them and their children.
This warning is given many other times, not just this once.
Here is one of many other occurrences:
Deuteronomy 4:39-40
³⁹ “So you will know today and take to heart that Adonai, He is God, in the heavens above and on the earth below—there is no other. ⁴⁰ You must keep His statutes and His commands, which I am commanding you today, so that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you may prolong your days in the land that Yahweh your Elohim [God] is giving you for all time.”

Are you beginning to see the importance of following the Words of God?
If you answer with, “But Jesus…” lets look at some more direct quotes of Jesus:
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
John 14:21
^“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.”
John 15:10
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “

Did you see what Jesus said?
Not once, but three times?
It is important to Him that we keep the commandments.
Remember, Jesus taught what the Father teaches, which is the Torah, the Old Testament commandments.

Not convinced yet?
Not even by the very words of Jesus?
Let’s look at some more New Testament scriptures:
1John 5:3
5 Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of Him.
Love God—Live God’s Word
² We know that we love God’s children by this—when we love God and obey His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God—that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Still not convinced?
Do you know Jesus?
We are given a test in New Testament scripture to determine whether or not we know Him:
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.

Am I showing you things in scripture that your church does not show you?
If you have comfort in the knowledge given to you in church, then what I’m showing you should be terrifying!
The fact that your church has not taught you these things should scare you, not comfort you!!
I don’t say this to frighten you; I tell you this to inspire you to search out the scriptures for yourself. Do not believe me.  Review the scriptures I’ve quoted and make sure I have them correct.  Read whole chapters, whole books to verify context.
Do your homework.
Be as the Bereans, and confirm what you know.
And do not be afraid to be afraid.
Reverent fear of God is healthy, just as the scriptures tell us.
If you are skeptical of the things I’m showing you because they are unfamiliar, please consider this warning given long ago:
Jeremiah 16:19-20
¹⁹ O Lord, my strength and my fortress,
My refuge in the day of affliction,
The Gentiles shall come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
“Surely our fathers have inherited lies,
Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
²⁰ Will a man make gods for himself,
Which are not gods?

We are told in the scriptures that we have been taught nothing but lies.
But don’t listen to Jeremiah.
Don’t listen to me.
Study the scriptures and pray for God’s wisdom and understanding.
He will give it to you, for it is promised.
James 1:5-8
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Am I saying that no one is favored by Yahweh [God]?
No, I am not saying that.
I am simply saying that God has established criteria, and that we must know His voice and follow Him.  His favor is conditional, because He is just.
I love the good news in scripture.
It is wonderful and true, but it is also conditional.
Study the warnings in scripture and heed them.
Failing to heed the warnings may take away your good news.

 

Take a look at these scriptures, and then we’ll go into some discussion:

Ephesians 2:11-13, 19
¹¹ Therefore, keep in mind that once you—Gentiles in the flesh—were called “uncircumcision” by those called “circumcision” (which is performed on flesh by hand). ¹² At that time you were separate from Messiah, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Messiah Yeshua, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.

Galatians 3:26-29
²⁶ For you are all sons of God through trusting in Messiah Yeshua. ²⁷ For all of you who were immersed in Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female—for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. ²⁹ And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s seed—heirs according to the promise.

There are many millions of people in the world today who believe they are God’s people and are in covenant with Him — without being Israel.
Countless millions of people believe they are “Gentile Believers.”
I did a search in my bible app for Gentile Believer.
Guess what?
It does not exist.

If we read the bible from the front to the back, we learn that those who are ‘in covenant’ with the Father are considered to be of His nation, the people of Israel.
Paul hints at this idea in Ephesians 2, quoted above.  What are some of the key ideas that he presented?
1—“At that time you were separate from Messiah” equals not in covenant
2—“excluded from the commonwealth of Israel” and therefore not part of Israel
3—“strangers to the covenants of promise” and are not participant in the promise
4—“having no hope and without God in the world.” Points 1, 2, and 3 result in no hope and being without God.
5—“But now in Messiah Yeshua” but all of this changes when we are in Messiah
6—“you who once were far off” you are no longer far off
7—“have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.” brought near to what? Covenant – Israel – the promise – hope – God
8—“you are no longer strangers and foreigners” Being brought near to these things
9—“but you are fellow citizens” citizens NOT visitors or guests
10—“with God’s people” >>>Israel
11—“members of God’s household” >>>Israel

Moving on to what is said in Galatians:
1—“you are all sons of God” belong to Him
2—“through trusting in Messiah Yeshua” this is how we become a son of Yahweh
3—“There is neither Jew” being sons of God is not about being Jewish
4—“nor Greek” being sons of God is not about being Greek (Gentile)
5—“there is neither slave nor free” being sons of God is not defined by our social status nor wealth
6—“there is neither male nor female” being sons of God is not defined by gender
7—“for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua.” We are all one.  
8—“if you belong to Messiah” THEN:
9—“you are Abraham’s seed” >>>Israel
10—“and heirs according to the promise.” able to become part of the Kingdom of Heaven

Some will say I’m just reading into these passages, making them say what I want them to say. But am I? What if we just read these verses and believe what they say?
Simple as that?
No?
Can’t see it?
Let’s look deeper.

The countless millions of self-proclaimed Gentile Believers also claim to be part of the ‘New Covenant.’
Let’s take a look at it in Jeremiah 31 and in Hebrews 8:

Jeremiah 31:30-32
³⁰ “Behold, days are coming”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah—
³¹ not like the covenant
I made with their fathers
in the day I took them by the hand
to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they broke My covenant,
though I was a husband to them.”
it is a declaration of Adonai.
³² “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days”
—it is a declaration of Adonai—
“I will put My Torah within them.
Yes, I will write it on their heart.
I will be their God
and they will be My people.

Hebrews 8:7-10
⁷ For if that first one had been faultless, there would not have been discourse seeking a second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, He says,
“Behold, days are coming, says Adonai,
    when I will inaugurate a new covenant
    with the house of Israel
    and with the house of Judah.
⁹ It will not be like the covenant
    I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not remain in My covenant,
    and I did not care for them, says Adonai.
¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make
    with the house of Israel
    after those days, says Adonai.
I will put My Torah into their mind,
    and upon their hearts I will write it.
And I will be their God,
    and they shall be My people.

So…
The new covenant is with Gentile Believers, right?
Nope.
The new covenant is with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Simple, right?
These are the two houses/kingdoms that make of the people of Yah – the nation of Israel.
Still, the countless millions of self-proclaimed Gentile Believers ignore these details.
But it gets worse…
In the new covenant, the Torah [the Law] will be put into our minds and written upon our hearts.
There are two problems of note with this idea:

1—The Torah!! The Law!! We are told that in the new covenant the Law is still applicable.  But Gentile Believers reject it anyway.
2—Again, The Torah, The Law!!!  What is the second problem?  Gentile Believers say the Torah is only for the nation of Israel — and not for themselves.
Take a minute.
Think about that.
Take as long as you need…
If the Torah is only for Israel and it is written on the hearts of everyone in the new covenant, then THEY must be Israel if they expect to participate in the new covenant.
And yet, they proclaim themselves in the new covenant – but that they are not Israel and that the law is done away with.

The hypocrisy of this thought process is enormous.
It is a terrible thing.
The “Gentile Believers” believe in lies, and pursue hypocrisy.
Who does Yeshua Messiah say are NOT in His Kingdom?
Revelation 22:15
“But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.”

What about hypocrites?
Here are Yeshua Messiah’s words:
Matthew 15:6-8
“Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.”

And another direct quote of Yeshua, regarding hypocrites:
Matthew 23:13
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.”

In Revelation 21, we learn that “Heaven” will be here on earth, not some far away mysterious place in the ‘universe’.
Heaven is the City of New Jerusalem which will descend from the heavens.  It is where those granted eternal salvation will reside in the presence of Yahweh for all eternity.
Let’s take a look at how the City is described:
Revelation 21:9-13
The New Jerusalem
⁹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹ having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹² Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³ three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

Heaven will have twelve points of entry, each guarded by an angel.
The points of entry are named after the twelve tribes of Israel, and are arranged in the same manner as the twelve tribes of Israel camped around the tabernacle in the Wilderness during the Exodus story.
Please note:  there is no thirteenth gate for Gentile Believers.
Only Israel will be admitted into heaven, the City of New Jerusalem.

Please note that I do not write these articles to criticize others.
If you believe in the concept of “Gentile Believers” being separate from Israel, this article is not intended to insult you.
The purpose of this article is to show what the scriptures tell us about such things.
It is my hope and prayers that people will study this for themselves and learn the truth.
Pray to Yah for His understanding, just as we are directed to do in James 1:5-8.

If you’ve read this article, studied for yourself, and prayed — and you still claim to be a Gentile Believer, please keep this in mind:

You do not exist.

It is very important for us to do our best at determining when the moedim are (the biblical feast days) as well as when Sabbath begins and ends.
These are “appointed times” with Yahweh, our Creator and Elohim.
But the topic is very confusing…
I’ve learned there are roughly 30 different biblical calendar ideas being used in Torah communities.
If someone has it right, that means 29 are wrong.
If no one has it right, then 30 are wrong!!

I’ve been studying the idea of when a biblical day starts for the last couple months.
I am not finished…
I’ll post a more in depth study soon, but I wanted to post a single verse that has me “backed into a corner.”
There are lots of verses all throughout the scriptures that apply to this idea, but it is difficult to find information that gives us a black and white, indisputable answer.
Depending on how you look at all of the details, day could start at sundown or a day could begin at sunrise.
But Matthew 28:1 seems to be fairly black and white.
I need to look at numerous bible translations, as well as interlinear resources.
I need to confirm the meanings of words used, and really dig into the idea.

But in simple English, taken word for word, Matthew 28:1 seems to dial this in for us…

But late in the sabbath, as it was dawning into day one of the week, Miryam from Maḡdala and the other Miryam came to see the tomb. [ISR2009 Scriptures]

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. [NKJV]

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. [KJV]

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. [ESV]

Now after Shabbat, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Miriam of Magdala and the other Miriam came to look at the tomb. [TLV]

After Shabbat, as the next day was dawning, Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam went to see the grave. [CJB]

And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, [YLT]

G2020
ἐπιφώσκω
epiphōskō

Strong’s Definitions (Strong’s Definitions Legend)
ἐπιφώσκω epiphṓskō, ep-ee-foce’-ko; a form of G2017; to begin to grow light:—begin to dawn, × draw on.

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon (Jump to Scripture Index)
ἐπιφώσκω; (imperfect ἐπεφωσκον); to grow light, to dawn (cf. Buttmann, 68 (60)): Luke 23:54; followed by εἰς, Matthew 28:1, on which see εἰς, A. II. 1.

This single verse appears to say that the Sabbath was coming to a close at dawn of the first day of the week.
Is this a slam dunk?
I’m not sure…
Prayer and more study is to come, but I wanted to share this verse.
Let me know what you think.

How many of us that are following Torah have had a difficult [if not impossible] time trying to communicate what we have learned to others?
When I first began to understand Torah, I was really excited about it.
Understanding Torah enabled me to then understand many other things in the scriptures.  Things that used to confuse me…
And I wanted to share it with anybody and everybody, but especially with friends and family.
So I did…
And what happened?
People were not excited about it as I was.
In fact, many got angry about it.
I lost lots of friends. I’ve been called many things, and countless friends have ditched me, both in real life and online.
Not a single family member has opted to seek out and study Torah, and fortunately, not many have all-out rejected us because of it.
I did not say none, but not many…
Others have not been as fortunate, losing contact with family, or even losing their spouses over Torah Observance.

So why won’t they listen?
Or even if they will listen, why can they not comprehend?
Did you know that Yeshua Messiah (Jesus) answers this question for us?

Matthew 13:10-15
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”
11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

Messiah tells us that understanding is intentionally withheld from some people.
They see but do not perceive.
They hear but do not understand.
Why would Yeshua Messiah do such a thing?
It is all about the heart.
These people have hearts that have grown dull.
Here is how it is phrased in other bible translation versions:
NIV: For this people’s heart has become calloused
NLT: For the hearts of these people are hardened
CEV: All of them have stubborn minds! They refuse to listen; they cover their eyes.
Aramaic: For the heart of this people has become dense
GWT: These people have become close-minded and hard of hearing
WNT: For this people’s mind is stupefied

These are people who have not submitted their hearts to Yahweh (God).
They have hardened their hearts against Yahweh, and as a result, Yeshua Messiah says that understanding is withheld from them.

So —- what is the cure?  How can this be remedied?
We find the answer in 2Corinthians 3
14 But their minds were hardened. For up to this very day the same veil remains unlifted at the reading of the ancient covenant, since in Messiah it is passing away. 15 But to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Again, it is about the heart.
When one turns their heart to Yahweh and Yeshua Messiah, then their veil is lifted.
When they submit to the Father, they are then given understanding.
Of what?
The ancient covenant.
The Old Testament.
The Torah.

I see many people frustrated that their loved ones will not or cannot understand Torah.
They say that the Father has just not revealed it to them yet.
While there is truth in this statement, it is often said without the understanding that it is intentional, and that we as people must do something to correct this problem.
It is not a matter of waiting for God to stop playing games.
The Father does not play games.
The reason for a lack of understanding is spelled out for us in the scriptures, coming directly from our Savior!!

If you are experiencing this, as most of us are, pray for your loved ones.
Pray that they will submit to the Father.
Pray they will soften their hearts and submit their will to His will.
Until they do, it is not likely they will understand.
Pray for them.