Please Note: Jacob (not “James”) in Jacob 3:1 says few should be teachers because they will be judged the more harshly. Followers of Yeshua will have to give an account for their actions, 2 Cor. 5:10 etc. Cf. esp. also Mt. 7:21-23.
Are today’s Hebrew Roots & Jewish Roots movements, along with much of the teaching on the Hebrew Roots and Jewish Roots of following Yeshua, and the Bible, the actual emphasis and teaching by Yeshua, and an authentic Biblical model?
Because of what we believe to be the critical importance of these questions, we’ve also placed this essay in the Torah – The LORD’s Teaching, Revelation, and Word window in the Yeshua and the Torah section, and in the Deeper Hebrew Roots & Jewish Roots of the Bible from A to Z, under C Commandments.
As we say on our About You & Us page, we are not here to tell you what to think. We are here to try to help you better think for yourself.
As we have stated elsewhere: one of the things I believe we are doing that is very unique, is looking at a Greek Concordance to see what things seem to be heavily mentioned – and which things are not.
Though something not mentioned very much does not mean it is not very important based on that alone, things that are mentioned dozens or hundreds of times clearly would not be done so, either by Yeshua – or inspired by the Ruach – if they did not have import to them!
While the huge upsurge in interest in the last few decades in the “Hebrew Roots” and “Jewish Roots” is very welcome – and more than very very badly needed – there are some very very critical questions that need to be asked.
Number one perhaps is:
Are the true Hebrew and true Jewish Roots that Biblically were intended to be followed by Christians being followed today? Very very sadly, in fact this is not, far too largely it seems, the case.
We have dealt with this more elsewhere in our teaching. Our purpose here is to open up for you from a Greek Concordance, the verses that speak of “observe commandment”, and see what’s actually instructed!
You will probably be startled, and please allow us to jump ahead a little bit, to learn that there are actually no uses together of the Greek words “entole” as the closest Greek word for the Hebrew “commandment”, and “eorte” ” Festival”.
As a quick note, there are other Greek words translated command that are used which mean a directive or order, along the lines of say a military command. We are only looking at the Greek word and the related word which is the closest to the Hebrew, in simple English “commandment”. We have repeatedly pointed out in our teaching the deeper meaning of the Hebrew word.
You will also be startled again, if we may jump ahead a bit again, to point out that the uses of two forms of the well-known word for love in Greek, agapeo (the actually more often used verbal form of the well-known word agape), and entole, commandment, are found together 17 times.
There is a major movement that focuses on “tongues”, which is used about the same number of times – though it has no teaching on it by Mashiach. Why not a “love one another it’s a commandment of Yeshua” movement?
Please allow us to reiterate: of the 25 uses of eorte, Festival, and the 67 uses of entole, nowhere do we find these two together when it comes to anything that Gentiles are instructed to do, by Yeshua, or Paul, Shimon Peter, Yochanon, or Judah (not “Jude” as we explain). One of the first steps that must be taken in restoring the true Hebrew Roots and Jewish Roots, is restoring the actual names of Yeshua’s family – as well as the name actually given to his mother Miryam/Miriam by the angel, from the Father – Yeshua – cf. Lk. 1:30-34.
A Quick Sidenote
We well understand the significance of the name JC to our dear Christian brethren. We are not saying they cannot use it. Though again while trying to be both very sensitive and honest, his actual name really should be used. One reason is that it would very much help restore that he is fundamentally and foundationally not only Hebrew and Jewish rooted through and through. As well as very much a part of the whole of the Jewish People. (Please see the Yeshua and the Good News Window for much more on this truth, that is generally minimized or held back from Christians).
Not to be ungracious, but again if we’re being honest, we can’t help but find it a bit ludicrous to use the J name of Yeshua – and then talk about him in and from a Hebrew & Jewish dynamic. I know they are well intended, but I can only shake my head when I see books with the title “Rabbi J”…… Let me please reiterate that my dear Christian brethren are free to call him whatever they like. Followers say “we stand on the Bible the Bible the Bible and only on the Bible”. Then, why not do so in the most accurate and authentic way possible?
To return:
Let us please reiterate that we are not here to tell you what to think but to better help you think for yourself. So, we will lay out the uses of “tereo entole” “observe commandment”, and also the uses of both the noun form of the highest form of love, agape, as well as its verbal use, its action, agapao, regarding their use with commandment.
As a quick but key note; as we point out in our teaching the verbal form of the highest form of love is used 27 times more than the noun form. Thus, there is more emphasis given to love as a verb as an action, then as a noun, a thing.
We will, ahead, list the verses from a Greek concordance of “observe commandments”.
As we explain in part the deeper meaning of the Hebrew for commandment is “fulfilling of which leads to fullness of life”. You will now we hope be better able to see for yourself which things are thought of as actual commandments – for Christians – and which are not.
Tereo Evtolas observe commandments – 13 uses
You will quickly see that most of these are by Yochanon.
Afterward we will also list the uses of love and commandment, which according to the Concordance is found 17 times.
Excursus
A Look at Understanding The “Key” Difference Between Scriptural Lessons – And Scriptural Application
As always: please be sure to look at the verses that flow in and out of any verse to be sure you’re seeing it in its proper context. Also – please be sure you understand the context of what is being said and why. This is extremely important for keeping – and – applying Scripture properly and as actually intended!
This applies to all Scripture.
“Key” – While all Scripture has lessons for all people for all times, not all Scripture applies to everyone.
A prima facia example – there are things that apply to Jews/Jewish Brothers specifically, that while there are lessons for Gentiles, there is not an application for Gentiles. Gentiles are prohibited from circumcision cf. Gal. – most esp. 1 Cor. 7:17-21 esp. v.21. Gentiles are not commanded to eat kosher (“fit”). Gentiles are not commanded to keep the Sabbath. Gentiles may eat however they like. If Gentiles choose to refrain from work – or not – and worship on Saturday rather than Sunday, they are free to do so. Gentiles are – absolutely (!) – not required to tithe! (Please see our teaching on this in The Deeper Hebrew & Jewish Roots of the Bible from A – Z Window under T Tithe; as well B Blessing, and O Obligation).
The Torah has specific commandments regarding Jews and the Land of Israel, that have lessons for Gentiles – but absolutely no application for Gentiles. Nor – in any way whatsoever – are Gentiles in Gentile lands, required to do the same thing that Jews in the land of Israel are commanded to do by the LORD in the Torah. These are just a few examples.
In the same vein; the Bible has certain things women or wives are supposed to do, that are not given to men etc. etc. For our Gentile spiritual sisters who want to “observe the Festivals because they’re in the Torah”, are you also then, following what the Torah instructs regarding the woman’s monthly cycle and childbirth? There was no instruction – and certainly no command – in the RCS for Gentile followers to do so.
In short for here: the major problem is that my dear Gentile brethren have no concept, because of Greek based teaching from the Religious System, of the Torah and Hebrew’s wholeness and totality. In a sentence – when it comes to the Torah it is a package deal so to speak. A Jew is obligated to follow the “whole/totality” of the Torah cf. Jacob 2:10. He/she cannot utilize a “buffet table approach”, i.e., just pick and choose what you “like” and skip the rest!
Is there a teaching somewhere by Yeshua, or Paul, or the other Jewish Brothers who write letters to Gentiles, that Gentile followers can or should simply choose from the Torah what they “like”, and ignore what they don’t? If so, who, where, and why?
If I am a Gentile male follower, can I simply “observe” a couple of the “Festivals” “because they’re part of my Hebrew/ Jewish Roots”, choose what “resonates” with me; and skip others that don’t? Can I say skip circumcision because it would be painful for an adult male”?
In short, the “key” question is: where is the “buffet table approach” of actual application of the Torah? Again please: who teaches this, where is it found – and why?
Elders (in Hebrew literally “graybeards”) are first found in the Torah (cf. Ex.18 etc.). Paul draws from the Torah on the type of characteristics that elders in an assembly are to have cf. 1 Tim. 5. While all followers should have these character traits, and thus there is a lesson for all, it doesn’t apply to all, in that not everyone is going to be an elder in an assembly.
Again – just as there are commandments and teaching for men as men and women as women, and while there is a lesson for all, there are things that apply to men, and there are things where the application is specifically for women. Just as a quick example cf. 1 Cor. 14, as well as what Paul says about women in 1 Tim. Please see our teaching on The Role of Women in the Assembly under W Women in The Deeper Hebrew & Jewish Roots of the Bible from A – Z window, for more.
The same thing when it comes to Jew and Gentile – there are specific applications for Jews, there are specific applications for Gentiles. Please esp. cf. Rom. 11:11 why salvation has come to the Gentiles; as well as Rom. 11:20–22.
Most especially of all: please be sure to see 1 Cor. 7:17-21. In short what should be very particularly noted is, that in KG Paul puts as an emphasis that his instruction regarding Jew and Gentile here is not only a directive, order, command, but also to apply in all the assemblies! This is extremely significant, because the Letters to the Corinthians when originally written were written specifically addressing their specific problems and situation.
Yet, Paul speaks of how things are to be in all the assemblies; not just Corinth. He says the same thing again i.e., while addressing the issue of the “akatastasias” ” without according to a supporting foundation, chaos, confusion caused by rebellion” of the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 14, that God is a God of shalom. Shalom and order are to be found among the assemblies of all of the holy ones cf. 1 Cor. 14:33. Cf. 1 Cor. 14:26-40. (Greek text paragraph)
In short: we find in 1 Cor. 14 that followers doing their own thing their own way and having their own individualistic experience, is not a good witness to others!
Another very quick but very “key” example:
Something you were never taught, most likely because it’s an existential threat to the Gentile Western System. That is Paul’s five-year effort in taking up a Collection from the Gentile Brethren to the Jewish Brethren and Jewish People in Jerusalem! This was to be completely voluntary; the point is – Paul asks this and expects it to be from the Gentile Brethren.
Paul did not ask the Jewish Brothers in the Diaspora (outside of Israel) to contribute. Thus, we see a specific application here for Gentiles – not Jews. In short, the same principle applies to certain things in the Torah specifically given to and the application is, for Jews to do!
Both the lesson and the application regarding the Collection is specifically upon the Gentile Brothers! Cf. Rom. 15:27 esp.! Larger context chronologically roughly the years 49 – 54. Cf. Gal. 2:10, 1 Cor. 16:1-4, 2 Cor. 8- 9, Rom. 15:25-28. Cf Acts 24:17-18.
To return:
We will only (relatively) briefly comment on a passage. We very much encourage you to look up these verses for yourself. What we will help you with is what a major part of our teaching is about. That is, to deeply open up for you dear one the Biblical Text from the incomparable original languages!
Mt. 19:17
….”safeguard, protect distance from danger, the positive bearer of existence actuality the fulfilling of which leads to fullness of life”. This is a rendering of the deeper Hebrew or Aramaic original.
In KG Mattityahu (“Matthew”) places this last for emphasis in Mt. 19:17. There is some thought that Mattityahu originally wrote in Hebrew, and later rendered in KG.
In KG “the commandments” is in a form referring very specifically to them and limiting what’s being discussed.
It should be noted that the next four verses are part of Yeshua’s last extended recorded teaching, his teaching and illumination after the Last Passover Seder
In short, our wonderful Master Yeshua is fully aware that his beloved Taught Ones are not yet close to being the unit they need to be. Thus, the content of Yochanon 13 – 16 accordingly!
Yochanon uses forms of love 42 times in his Good News. This is substantially more than the other Good News writers. This includes both words for non-physical love agapeo, the verbal form of the well- known noun agape, and 6 uses of “philo“, which is defined as “have a high regard for, love”.
Hebrew has only one word for love. Some commentators think Yochanon in KG uses agapeo and philo without distinguishing between the two. That’s outside of our scope here.
What does need to be emphasized is:
Yochanon – far and away more than any other writer – uses love. Why is this so particularly significant? Yochanon is the last writer of the Word of God. Thus; what does the Ruach Hakodesh want to be sure the followers of Yeshua don’t miss and know that it’s being emphasized – love – especially love for one another!
Please note: Yeshua gives love as both a commandment and something he commands in its fuller meaning regarding love in Yochanon 13-16.
Please note also: Yochanon 13-16 follows immediately after the Last Passover Seder. If Yeshua intended Gentiles to observe this or any other Festival, would this not be the place he would have taught it? What does he actually emphasize to his beloved Taught Ones in Yochanon 13-16? Love for one another!
Further: in Yeshua’s extended recorded teaching from the Teaching on the Hill Mt. 5-7:28, Mt. 24-25, Yochanon 13-16 and Acts 1, is there any teaching by our Master about the Festivals – period – never mind about Gentiles observing them?
Yochanon 14:15
Yochanon uses “if” in a form which indicates there’s some probability/ possibility. Hebrew has only one word “if”. Yochanon probably uses the KG he does, because that’s how he understood it. He also places it first in the verse for emphasis.
Yochanon 14:21 As with the uses above, Yeshua stresses/includes having the commandments, with what in Hebrew one of the great Torah teachers and philologists (word study expert; a Greek based word; literally ” love words”) defines as “safeguard by observing; protect, distance from danger”.
In a sentence, having the fulfilling of which leads to fullness of life “commandments, has nothing to do with a “belief” or a “position”; it has to do with the doing of them.
Yochanon 15:10
Please note: used twice in one verse. Again, stresses safeguard by observing; the reference to the Father should also be noted.
Though the word observe is not used, Yochanon 13:34-35 should especially be noted! Here, reciprocating back and forth love between the Taught Ones is given as a “fulfilling of which leads the fullness of life; delegation of authority while the LORD retains control, like being assigned to a (military) post”.
The extremely key question for my dear Christian brethren is:
Is there anywhere you find Yeshua teaching his beloved Taught Ones, that the “Festivals” and “Judaica”, are to be taught or observed by those of the Nations Yeshua calls through the Jewish Brothers? If so; where? Cf. Mt. 28:18-20 (the so-called Great Commission which more accurately is the Great Resending. Please see the Yeshua Window for our audio teaching on this).
1 Tim. 6:14
V. 13 should be noted for context. Paul there uses “paraggello” (“para” ” alongside” “aggello” “messenger” “announce”) “command”. This is put first for emphasis and is used for the idea of an order.
In 1 Tim. 6:14, Paul uses “observe very specifically the commandment”, with the wording that would be used of a Torah commandment. This he puts first for emphasis. You should note what Paul refers to here.
Yochanon also uses both love and commandment in 1 Yochanon proportionately far beyond any other writer!
The Greek paragraph heading added by scholars at the beginning of 1 Yochanon 2:7 thru v. 17 calls this section The New Commandment.
Very significantly: the uses in KG of new with commandment, are “kainos” ” renewed, new in quality”. Not, that we are aware of is “neos” “new in time”, i.e., “brand new” used with commandment by Yochanon.
We point this out most especially because the New Covenant Mashiach makes at the last Passover Seder cf. Lk. 22:19-20 has been vastly misunderstood as though it were something completely brand new!
As we point out in our teaching: if that is how Luke understood his Jewish source understood it, the good doctor would have used a form of “neos” ” new in time”, i.e., “brand new” in his Greek rendering. He does not! He uses a form of “kainos” ” renewed, new in quality” in Lk. 22:19-20.
The easiest way to understand this is to simply think of the new moon God gives us each month! Do we get a brand-new moon every month? No. It’s renewed so to speak.
We should especially note: Yochanon’s focus in 1 Yochanon on love and commandments and observing those commandments of Yeshua!
1 Yochanon 2:3
Yochanon begins for emphasis by using two forms of “gnosis” “know”. In Hebrew “know” means “by experience, intimacy, personal relationship”. In KG “know” is more intellectual. A technical commentary points out very significantly that the second form of “know” should especially be noted. This is because it indicates that our knowledge is genuine if it abides and continues to grow.
Yochanon connects this verse with the end of v. 2 by beginning it with “kai” “and”. This is very Hebraic. “If” in the middle of the verse is “ean“, indicating probability/ possibility, and that it’s subject to some condition.
1 Yochanon 2:4
A switch from the usual plural to singular to indicate this is to be in the life of each individual follower. “Know” is used in a form that the original audience would have caught the significance of. It indicates an abiding state/condition of knowing.
“Observe” here indicates a description of a real concrete present tense ongoing process.
Also notice the use of “liar”. One who “says” they know and observe – but does not “do” – is a liar!
Though commandment is not used in the next verse 1 Yochanon 2:5 does use “observe” near the beginning for emphasis, when it comes …to the Word of him”…i.e., Yeshua.
1 Yochanon 3:22
Begins Hebraically with “kai” “and”, thus connecting it with the end of verse 21. Very reminiscent of what we see in the Torah. Also, very reminiscent of the Torah in that those who safeguard by observing the commandments of God do what is pleasing to the LORD!
Though as with 2:5, 3:23 does not use the word observe; nonetheless the emphasis on the commandments must be noted!
1 Yochanon 3:24
Also begins Hebraically with “kai” “and”, connecting it with the end of verse 23. Yochanon begins v. 24 with a focus on the individual observing the commandments. We should note the more usual use of “we/us”, i.e., “collectively” later in the verse.
Yochanon will occasionally focus on the individual to make the point that something is to be done by each and every individual.
However; we cannot stress enough that his overarching focus is an Hebraic “we/us”; not the post-Biblical Greek/ Augustinian focus on “me”.
1 Yochanon 5:3
“This is the love of God (i.e., our love of God) in order that specifically referring to the commandments, we safeguard (them) by observing (them)…
One of the most highly regarded commentaries on Yochanon points out that this may be our love for one another.
Two very key questions regarding observe and commandments by Yochanon:
Yochanon is the last writer of the Word of God. He spent three years with Mashiach. Yochanon writes under inspiration of the Ruach Hakodesh. What then, does the Ruach Hakodesh want to be sure that followers understand and do; especially Gentiles, since that is who 1 Yochanon is addressed to? (Yochanon’s Good News is universal).
Is the Ruach concerned that Gentiles “observe”, a couple of the Festivals? Or, that love – complete devotion to the other – is safeguarded by observing?
If Gentiles were supposed to “observe” the Torah Festivals, rather than focusing on observe by safeguarding love, why don’t we see that in Yochanon?
Commentators point out the following regarding 1 Yochanon and its historical cultural context. Yochanon noticed, and this is late first century, that emerging Gentile leadership he visited in what is now Asia Minor, had taken a totally intellectual approach to Yeshua. No doubt this would have been under the influence of Greek philosophy, especially Aristotle’s emphasis on reason and logic.
Commentators point out that what very much stood out to Yochanon was “it’s all intellect; where’s love”?
The incalculably tragic fact today is that the Body is more splintered than it’s ever been. The Jewish Brothers are restored after a 1600-year absence; and overall, very poorly received in the West.
While we see a huge huge increase in interest in “Hebrew Roots” and “Jewish Roots”, it breaks our heart to say that overall, we see very little interest by Christians in the pursuit of their Jewish Brothers, in the same way many pursue “the Festivals”.
Which do you think Mashiach underwent an absolutely horribly horrific death on the Cross for?
So that 2,000 years and several thousand miles away from his beloved Jerusalem, Gentiles could observe “their Hebrew and Jewish Roots”; but virtually completely ignore their Jewish Brothers, and have no shalom with them?
Or was it as Yeshua prayed Yochanon 17:20-23; cf. also esp. Eph. 2:11-22 esp. vss. 14-17?
Is the engrafting into the root of Israel, Rom. 11:17-24 so the Gentiles can, not to be ungracious but to be directly Israeli like honest, and even with the best of intentions, play “Jewish”? Do their own thing their own way – without their Jewish Brothers?
Is this type of thing found anywhere – anywhere – in the Torah?
Is Gentiles doing their own thing their own way Biblical? Yes, we do see it – perhaps most notably with the Corinthians – but is that held up as a model for Gentile followers to be and do?
The bottom-line question again is this. Was Yeshua’s incomprehensibly horrific absolute agony on the Cross – not just physically but spiritually as well – as he felt the Father having to pull away from him while he bears all the sin and iniquity of the World – so that Jew and Gentile would be separate to go their own ways as followers….
Which would be more honoring to the Father – cf. 1 Yochanon above – “observing” the “Festivals” or, the fulfilling of which leads the fullness of life in complete devotion to the other (part of the Hebrew definition of love)?
Rev. 12:17
Context has to do with the Dragon (the Enemy) going off to make war against the woman, who symbolically represents the Jewish People who gave birth to Mashiach.
We should note again the reference to those whose safeguard by observing the fulfilling of which leads to the fullness of life, i.e., commandments.
We neglected to mention above that in 1 Yochanon and as well as Rev. 12:17, the form used referring to the commandments very specifically identifies them. It’s not a general quality about commandments. Rather, it is a very specific reference limiting the focus to, the commandments.
In short, the form that Yochanon uses could not be any more specific when it comes to the commandments.
Rev. 14:12
We see there what the endurance of the holy ones consists of. (Holy in Greek here is plural; thus, we render “holy ones” rather than “saints”, a decidedly non-Hebrew/non-Jewish term, in a Book with a lot of Hebraisms in it).
That endurance is safeguard by observing the commandments of God and very specifically steadfast trustworthiness in Yeshua. The latter is at the end of the verse for emphasis.
Is there anywhere that the commandments of God have to do with Gentles observing the Festivals or utilizing Judaica – especially on their own?
Command
We now also need to take a look at the use of “command” which in Greek is similar to command and commandment in Hebrew, in that as with English the two words are very similar. KG has more than one word for command. Others, such as “diatasso” 1 Cor. 7:17, are used to indicate an order, a directive, prescribe what should be. There is also a word that indicates a command like a military command
We now will list for you the uses of “entello” ” command”, used along the lines of the Hebrew for command used with commandment in the Torah
You can then determine – for yourself – whether there is any command in the Good News or RCS, for Gentiles to observe the Torah Festivals or utilize Judaica.
Entello – Command – 15 uses
Good News – 11
Paul – 0
Mt. 4:6 17:9 19:7 28:20
Please be sure to particularly note Mt. 28:20, especially in the context of what we believe is more accurately called The Great Re- Sending. Please see our audio teaching on this in the Yeshua and the Good News window.
Mk. 10:3 13:34
Lk 4:1
Yochanon 8:5 14:31 15:14 15:17
The last three should especially be noted in the context of being in Yochanon 13-16, Yeshua’s last extended recorded teaching after the Last Passover Seder, and before his Crucifixion. What is our wonderful Master trying to be sure his beloved Taught Ones’ grasp?
The concordance shows that of 36 uses of agapao/agape love by Yochanon in his Good News, 24 are found between chapters 13-17. Chapter 17 is Yeshua’s great Hebrew style prayer for the Taught Ones.
Thus, Yeshua’s very last extended recorded teaching focuses on love and how the Taught Ones are to be and do – especially in connection with one another!
Yeshua knew the Taught Ones were not a unit – but in order to demonstrate that they were “Taught Ones”, they needed to demonstrate and exemplify what he did – love! In 1st-century Israel the follower of a teacher was called in Hebrew a taught one. It means ” one who has given everything up in order to follow the life the words the teaching of the teacher”.
Unit in Hebrew is related to the words “command/commandments”. In Numbers the word “unit” is what the army of Israelites is called. LORD of Hosts in Hebrew more deeply means LORD of Units. One of the great 19th-century Torah teachers astutely and correctly points out (in Hebrew), what does the Supreme Commander do?
He unites all the units together under His command! Can an army possibly function and win a battle if every unit is off fighting on its own however it wants to?
Please allow us to reiterate: Yochanon is the last writer of the Word. What then, does the Ruach Hakodesh want to be sure that we understand and apply?
Acts 1:2 13:47
Heb. 9:20 11:22
It should be noted: that since Paul is the primary Sent One to the Gentiles, nowhere does he use this word “command”, as you saw above.
We now will list the 25 uses of “eorte” ” Festival”. There is one – one use of “eortazo” ” observe/celebrate (a) festival”. We will look at that afterwards.
24/25 uses of “eorte” ” are used in the Good News.
17 are in Yochanon.
See if you can find anywhere where the “ethnos” “Gentiles”, are even mentioned!
Note: Yochanon 12:20 may refer to Jews from Greece who came for the Festival. We know that particularly Torah observant Jews from the Diaspora came to Jerusalem for the Festivals. Cf. the beginning of Acts 2, cf. also Acts 6:9. It is possible that what are known as God fearers, Gentiles who learned of the One True God – through Jews – but did not become part of the Jewish People, possibly came to the Temple to worship.
There was no use of “tereo eorte” ” observe (the) Festival” in Yochanon 12:20.
The verse speaks of coming to worship during the Festival. If these were Greek Gentiles as we know historically and especially what Paul writes in Eph. 2:15, as Gentiles, they could not have come into the inner part of the Temple.
Gentiles can worship in the Temple as we know from King Solomon’s prayer in the dedication of the first Temple in 1 Ki. 8. However; we have no record whatsoever that I’m aware of, of Gentiles setting up booths to live in Jerusalem during the Festival, or of observing the Festival the way Jews are instructed to.
Knowing how very very emotional people in the Middle East are and knowing the reaction if a Gentile attempted to enter the inner court with the Jews, Gentiles aping Jewish practices in Jerusalem no doubt would have been set upon!
Again, we see nothing either in Scripture or that I’m aware of historically of, of Gentiles “observing” ” Tabernacles” in Jerusalem….
Uses Of Eorte – Festival
Mt. 26:5 27:17
Mk. 14:2 15:6
Lk. 2:41, 42 Note – these verses pertain to Yeshua’s parents going to Jerusalem
Lk. 22:1
Yochanon 2:23 4:45 5:1 6:4 7:2 v. 8 vss. 10-11 v.14 v. 37
V. 37 should be particularly noted, and in the context of vs. 38-39. V. 37 is obviously very important. To do it justice here would be too long and takes us too far afield. The only comment we will quickly make here is this. That the promise of the Ruach Hakodesh being poured out one day in no way whatsoever should be misconstrued as having anything to do with Gentiles observing the Festivals!
In very short for here: there is a totally Jewish backdrop to Yochanon 7:37-39. The last day of the Festival had a water drawing ceremony, as this was symbolic of salvation, based on Ish. 12:3.
Yochanon 11:56 12:12 v.20 13:1 v.39
Col. 2:16
As this is the one verse that some of my dear Christian brethren cite as their justification for “observing” the Festivals, an excursus is warranted.
Excursus on Col. 2:16
We will do this Hebraically; Hebrew begins with the universal/ big picture and moves to concrete specifics, so that is how we will approach this.
Let us quickly please point out that the question is, even for the sake of discussion if the Festivals etc. are something for Christians to pursue, given history and the current state of the Body being even more splintered than any time – ever – should this be a primary focus for Christians?
What about what Scripture, what Yeshua, what Paul, and the other Jewish Brothers actually teach and emphasize?
Western Tradition Has a Bad Habit of Building a Major Theology or Practice On 1 Verse – While Ignoring the Preponderance of Other Things
- Over history, millions of Jews have been butchered and persecuted on the basis of Yochanon 8:44 and Mt. 27:25.
- Christianity developed a whole theology – and this is completely unknown to the average Christian – linking the Jewish People with the Enemy, on the basis of Yochanon 8:44. One verse – taken out of context – and completely misapplied – cost countless thousands upon thousands of Jews their life!
Four or five years ago when a brother who was helping me try to get the website going mentioned to the pastor of a major denomination that he was helping me, the pastor replied, “the Jews are of the Enemy”.
- Jews were charged with the “deicide”, the killing of Yeshua. This went on until the mid-20th century and was based on Mt. 27:25 not properly translated and taken out of context.
Again – millions of Jews over the centuries were butchered and persecuted on the basis of one verse taken out of context and misapplied by Christians!
Further – there are any number of verses that speak of God’s love for the Jewish People, that they are especially chosen of Him, that blessing to the world is through them, historically and traditionally were completely totally utterly ignored, in the pursuit and misapplication of one verse….
- Thus again: millions of Jews were butchered and persecuted for almost 2,000 years on the basis of two verses – taken without context and obviously obviously obviously completely misapplied!
- Western Tradition emphasizes the Assembly/ assembly on the basis of the lone reference to it in the entire Gospel.
As we repeatedly repeat in our teaching: the Gospel has 111 references to the Kingdom. Yes, the universal Assembly is mentioned by Yeshua – once – but where’s the real emphasis on the Kingdom by Western Tradition, given its referred to 111 times? Overall, the references are less than 30 to the universal Assembly, to 137 for the Kingdom.
Are those pursuing “Hebrew Roots”, pursuing the Kingdom with the same vigor?
2 Cor. 9:7 – “God loves the heart of a cheerful giver” (typical English translation). This verse seems to be on the majority of giving envelopes in the local Building. Yet is this really Paul’s emphasis? That Gentiles give to the local Gentile building? Is this the context of the verse? Is how it’s typically applied – to the local Gentile Building – how Paul intended it to be applied?
In short – not at all! Even a simple reading in basic English beginning with 2 Cor 8 and reading the verses following 2 Cor. 9:7, completely completely show a very very different context that Paul writes about!
In short: 2 Cor. 9:7 as part of 2 Cor. 8-9 is part of Paul’s 5-year – not 5 days 5 weeks or 5 months but 5 years (!) – Collection from the Gentile Brethren to the Jewish Brothers and Jewish People in Jerusalem. This ran from about the year 49 to 54.
Chronologically cf. Gal. 2:10, 1 Cor. 16:1-4, 2 Cor. 8-9, Rom. 15:25-28; cf. esp. v.27; cf. Acts 20:16, esp. 24:17-18.
The Western Tradition System ignores all the verses about blessings being through the Jewish People. It ignores the context of 2 Cor. 9:7. It ignores Rom. 15:27 especially – and diverts Scripture’s actual focus – on the basis of taking out of context and applying a single verse!
Let us quickly look at 3 other instances of taking a single or only a couple of references to something and focusing on it completely all out of proportion – to how much Scripture actually speaks about it
Lalein Glossai Speaking Tongues (the KG has no “the”)
A whole major wing of evangelicalism is based on as we point out in our teaching elsewhere, something that Yeshua does no teaching on, and that Paul refers to 12 times. Except for a couple of references in 1 Cor 12, the rest are in one chapter – 1 Cor. 14.
In the wider context: Paul refers to followers as brothers between 125-150 times.
Love about 130 times.
Of the 155 uses of “xaras” “grace” 95 are by Paul.
Paul uses “eirene” “peace”, the closest Greek has to “shalom”, in all 13 of his Letters.
Of the 49 uses of “peripateo” “walk” not pertaining to physical walking according to a Greek Concordance, 32 of those are by Paul. In short that’s because this was a focus of the P’rushim “Separate Ones” “Pharisees” whom Paul remained one his whole life cf. esp. Acts 23:6. Cf. esp. Acts 15:5 also.
Paul uses “peripateo” “walk” which in Hebrew more deeply means “strive towards (a) goal” to encourage his Gentile Brethren to live a godly and Mashiach like life. Unfortunately, this is typically translated “life”, which loses the Hebrew and Jewish dynamic Paul draws from and applies to Gentiles. In fairness, perhaps translators feel people would not understand what Paul was saying. That said, I think it’s a disservice frankly not to translate it as walk rather than life.
So, while there is a huge and ever-increasing interest in Christians in “observing” the “Festivals”, and a supposed “Hebrew Roots Movement”, we pose this question:
Why not a Brotherhood movement?
Why not a love movement?
There are 155 uses of “xaris” “grace”; as we said above 95 by Paul. Compare this to his one reference to the Festivals. Where does his emphasis and teaching seem to be focused on?
Why not a grace movement?
There are 133 uses of “agios” “holy”, not pertaining to the Ruach Hakodesh.
Why not a holiness movement?
There are almost 100 uses of “eirene” “peace”, again, the closest Greek word to the Hebrew “shalom”. As we repeatedly teach on, part of the deeper meaning of shalom is concern for the well-being of others, restoration of relationship, and not just a superficial coexistence but a harmony and an organic interaction.
So, for those especially in the “Hebrew Roots Movement”:
Why not a shalom movement?
Where’s the restoration of your relationship with your Jewish Brothers?
This is something beyond extremely important that Yeshua horrifically suffered and died for, and a major major focus of Paul’s ministry.
Does Yeshua or Paul teach or encourage – anywhere – Christian’s going off doing their own thing their own way regarding the Festivals? Are Christians ignoring a true focus and emphasis on what we just mentioned above, as well as not only reconciling with their Jewish Brothers, but trying to put the splintered and broken pieces of the Body back together, fully honoring to Yeshua’s death on the Cross?
Col. 2:16
Here is the question we would pose in using Col. 2:16 as a “justification” for Gentiles focusing on learning about and “observing” the Festivals:
In Mt. 23:23 in short, Yeshua takes the P’rushim to task. Not because they are tithing beyond what the Torah prescribes; Yeshua permits it. Rather, because they’ve neglected the weightier matters; things having to do with humanity and need.
It’s a different context of course, but we see the same principle in that in the very least why isn’t there a much much greater emphasis by my dear Christian brethren interested in “Hebrew and Jewish roots”, on learning the truly weightier teaching of the Torah for Christians…..
Further, also big picture wise Paul sees salvation coming to the Gentiles, according to technical commentaries on Rom. 11:11, in KG “….for the purpose” of in KG “come alongside and stimulate to red in the face passion about something you cared deeply about”.
Paul sees salvation coming to the Gentiles for the purpose of causing Jews to be jealous about the life Gentiles are living in Yeshua cf. Rom. 11:11.
Gentiles aping “Jewish” practices only provokes Jews; it doesn’t stimulate them to want to find out more about Mashiach. I can tell you this from first-hand experience among Orthodox Jews in particular as well as others.
Christians who demonstrate humility, great respect for, and the sense of obligation because of what they have received from the Jewish People (cf. Rom. 15:27 esp.!), those things positively stimulate Jews regarding Christians.
Christians aping Jewish practices, playing “Jewish”, inventing “Jewish” identities for themselves etc., is not – at all (!) – what Paul had in mind with Rom. 11:11!
Yes, very unfortunately Paul there does not specify exactly what coming along side and stimulating to jealousy is. However, if we look at his Letters, especially those to Timothy and Titus, when it comes to what to teach, how to teach and what Paul holds out as his own godly and Mashiach like conduct, cf. 2 Tim. 3:10, we do see what is not mentioned in Rom. 11:11.
Cf. also esp. 2 Tim. 2:21-22, as well as Phpns. 3:17. There Paul holds out the “tuphos” “model/example”. Is there anywhere where we see Paul holding out to Gentiles, his observance of the Festivals for Gentiles as a model? If so, where?
Regarding Col. 2:16 we must quickly point out that what Paul says is that others should not judge the Colossians regarding their observances. This is clear in KG regarding judging, where it is a prohibition in imperative form to either stop something that’s in process or not to do something in the future.
However, we would ask/point out, that Paul says nothing whatsoever about having taught them the Festival or encouraging them or commending them for doing so.
So, while we are trying not to judge our Christian brethren, on the other hand we do have to ask these questions.
Given the situation of the Body today – which is far far worse and more splintered than it was in Paul’s time – given that Yeshua puts as firstly/importance if you know your brother has something against you leave your way of drawing near to God and of first importance be dialogued Mt. 5:21-24!
What then is our wonderful Master illuminating that “he” teaches as being of “first importance”?
Does that have anything to do with what “Hebrew Roots & Jewish Roots Movement” see as of first importance? As a quick note; we mentioned above that Hebrew begins with the universal big picture then moves to concrete specifics. This is exactly exactly exactly what our wonderful Mashiach does, when he begins his illumination of the true essence of the Torah Mt. 5:17-7:28.
Mt. 5:17-20 is the universal big picture followed immediately beginning in verse 21 with the concrete specifics.
In short, we should note that Yeshua sums up what would be called in Hebrew “the true substance” of the Torah and the Prophets Mt. 7:12; ” do unto others”…
Since Yeshua sums this up as the true essence of the Torah and the Prophets, where is the emphasis on this by those who focus on the “Festivals”? Why is this not seen as “our Hebrew/Jewish Roots that we didn’t get from the Western Tradition System”?
In Mt. 5-7:28, The Teaching on the Hill, we see – and even some Jewish non-following scholars speak of it as such – as the greatest standard on piety ever given. What piety actually means deserves its own teaching. In short piety means that one serves God out of the sheer love and joy of doing so without even thought – never mind regard – to Self or of reward.
Why not a piety movement?
If Christians truly want “our Hebrew and Jewish Roots” – there it is!
Why not focus and pursue the illumination of the Torah’s true essence by Yeshua?
One Other Quick Point on Col. 2:16
My dear brethren who cite this as their ” justification” for observing the Festivals, seen to miss the following:
Had Paul either instructed or encouraged them to observe the Festivals?
Does he commend them for doing so?
No; he simply tells them that they shouldn’t be judged for doing so.
Col. 2:17 – We mentioned above about being sure to see the verses that flow in and flow out from a particular verse. We won’t delve into it here but we would encourage you to look at Col. 2:17 – to see what Paul says about these observances.
In short and keeping with the overarching emphasis of Colossians especially the first two chapters: the Colossians had gotten away from the focus and substance of Yeshua, in order to pursue and were negatively influenced by others, in focusing on other things than Yeshua. Cf. esp. Col. 2:8-9!
Col 2:17 in KG is actually connected with the end of verse 16. At the end of verse 17 we see once again Paul’s KG emphasis on Mashiach – rather than pursuing other less important things or, things they were mislead about!
The One Use of Eortazo “observe celebrate festival” 1 Cor. 5 :7
Some also try to use this verse to justify “observing” Passover. Let’s take a quick look that what’s actually going on in the beginning of 1 Cor 5, and v.7.
Paul takes the Corinthians to task for putting up with something going on among them that even the “ethnikos” “pagans” wouldn’t tolerate!
V.7 “eortazo” is in a form used as an exhortation. However very significantly we believe and we don’t care how it’s translated; the KG does not use “the Festival” or “the Passover” pertaining to the Festival. In short, we believe this is deliberate by Paul. Paul does specifically identify the Passover Lamb; but again, not the “Festival”.
Had Paul wanted to specifically identify “Passover” as something Gentiles should observe in KG he very easily could have done so. He does not; why? What is he trying to teach?
In short, what is missed is something unfortunately completely unknown apparently to Christians when it comes to Passover. Christians think Passover consists of having a Seder (“order”). In fairness in part this is not the fault because those Jewish Brothers who have taught about Passover have not done so fully and deeply correctly. Those Christians who have sought to learn about this on their own unfortunately think that it’s just about the Seder, because that is what they see in the Gospel account of the Last Seder.
However: the LORD in His Torah in Ex. 13:7 tells the Israelites they cannot have anything with leaven nor anything that sours. The LORD says in Ex. 13 that these things cannot even be seen among the Israelites.
Thus, a very very key component of Passover: remove and clean out anything with leaven or food that can sour. In short more deeply this is symbolic of character traits that are not godly, that must be removed!
This – this – is exactly what Paul refers to in the first part of 1 Cor. 5. Very very significantly Paul uses a form of a word that is a very very well-known concept in the Torah found in Leviticus. Though very simply translated clean and unclean clean more deeply means in part absolutely pure and spiritually balanced. “Unclean” means pollutions and contaminations, and being entangled in them, like an animal caught in a net.
“Clean” “katharisso” in various forms is found 70 times in the RCS. “Unclean” “akatharisso” is found 48 times. As we mentioned above there is a whole movement that focuses on speaking a certain way that Yeshua does no teaching on and Paul speaks of in just one of his 13 Letters.
“Absolutely pure and spiritually balanced” is found 70 times in the RCS.
Why not a movement focused on being absolutely pure and spiritually balanced? Imagine the positive potential possibilities if there were!
In fairness but also being honest Christians unfortunately are on aware of this because they do not turn to those Jewish Brothers who are more experienced and knowledgeable and learn together with them. Christians unfortunately have either been taught by well-intended Jewish Brothers – but those with limited education and experience. I find bemusing also that Christians seem to think every Israeli is a “rabbi” when they certainly are not! Being honest, Christians, unfortunately made numb to the Jewish Brothers by the same Western System they are trying to free themselves from then pursue things on their own…..
To return to 1 Cor. 5, in short Paul says that what needs to be done in KG is, “an inner purging/purification” from things that pollute. In this instance It has to do with Corinthians allowing someone to carry on in a way even the pagans wouldn’t tolerate; while the Corinthians think they’re really special!
One other quick key note please: Paul’s very specific form of “katharisso” he also uses in 2 Tim. 2:21. It should be noted: this is Paul’s last Letter. Paul has a particular focus on the unfortunately ever-increasing amount of incorrect teaching and incorrect and false teachers spreading through the new Gentile followers.
Please cf. several verses before 2 Tim. 2:21 and please be sure to see what Paul says in emphasizes in v.22!
Shimon Peter
In very short for here, commentators astutely and correctly point out then in both of his Letters Peter not only focuses on eschatology (End Times), but also very much on moral and ethical conduct for followers!
Unfortunately, we can’t delve into it here though as we would say in Hebrew God-willing we will at some point, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to look at one of the most amazing sections of Scripture – one that seems unfortunately virtually unknown – 2 Pet. 1:4-12.
In short, Peter speaks of followers in v. 4 having “…genethe Theias koinonoi phuseos“… “become sharers in (the) divine nature”… We must very quickly point out the context. This is so that it is not taken out of context and completely misapplied. It is not the emphasis of the verse, based on Peter’s sentence structure. Further, significantly “the” is omitted in KG. In short based on this we believe Peter speaks about what is called in KG grammar “qualitative”, meaning a quality about something rather than a specificity.
Also, Peter speaks in the context of having this share in the divine nature of being able to escape the moral decay of the 1st-century Roman Empire. Commentators seem to think this means and again based on what Peter’s KG is and is not, that it means a share in the glory of Mashiach.
What does Peter then go on to illuminate about this? Does it have anything to do with his Gentile audience observing the Festivals or utilizing Judaica?
Peter speaks of something the Torah also very much emphasizes and something Orthodox Jews, especially rabbis, would recognize in what I call “an ascending spiritual ladder of godly character traits”.
What is the highest of these? Love
Very quickly for here and very significantly:
In 2 Pet. 1:4 on, Peter says those who don’t do these virtues are blind and short-sighted 2 Pet. 1:9. Peter then goes on to encourage us by saying that we who do these virtues – his KG is “us” plural – not the “individual” – will receive a rich Regal entrance into the Kingdom of Yeshua!
He also says in verse 12 that he is going to remind His audience of this.
If the “Festivals” rather than the pursuit of acquiring and actualizing, i.e., putting into action godly and Mashiach like character traits, are what lead to a rich regal entrance into the Kingdom of Yeshua, why doesn’t Peter write that?
In short: do Peter or Judah (not “Jude”) speak anywhere about Christians observing the Festivals? Why not? What do they address what they address?
As we begin to close this, let us together take again a Hebraic big picture look.
- Paul writes 86 chapters
- Shimon Peter, Yochanon, and Judah write altogether another 16 chapters. Do we find that they use “observe festival” in any of their Letters?
There are then 102 chapters addressed to either Gentile or majority Gentile followers of Yeshua. In those 102 chapters – with 1,000’s of verses – there are – at most – at most – 2 references to festivals.
By comparison: let us please reiterate there are hundreds of uses and the emphasis on being brothers/sisters, love, grace, holy. As well as, almost 100 uses of shalom and 70 on being absolutely pure and spiritually balanced.
Another quick note please: for those who try to cite either 1 Cor 5:7 or Col. 2:16, we ask the following:
What about the fact that Paul uses shalom between Jew & Gentile made by the Cross of Mashiach 4 times in Eph. 2:14-17. Why not use those verses as a justification for pursuing a real, deeper Hebrew definition of shalom, with your Jewish Brothers…..
Lastly when our wonderful Mashiach is asked Mk. 12:28-34, what is the first commandment, how does Yeshua answer? What does Yeshua cite from the Torah?
What is the most cited verse from the Torah in the RCS in the KG Text? Does it have anything to do with the Festivals or Gentiles utilizing Judaica?
It is Lev. 19:18…. love, desire for the best for the other, a willingness to give in, to draw the other close, to breathe after someone or something, your neighbor like as (a) divine model yourself”.
Please allow us to quickly point out that this verse is part of the two great chapters on holiness in the Bible Lev 19-20.
Thus, we see If we look at what Yeshua and the RCS actually speak of as far as” fulfilling of which leads to fullness of life, delegation of authority while the LORD retains control, and like being assigned to a (military) post”, what is given?
Is it about observing the festivals – or observing and acting with love towards one another?
As a very dear brother put it several years ago, “if we would just love our neighbor as ourselves everything else would take care of itself”.
Though I hesitate to do so, please allow me to issue in love the following challenge to those Gentile Brethren who feel that “observing the festivals”, etc. is an actual Biblical essential part of their “Hebrew and Jewish Roots”.
If after reading the above you conclude – after all we say we’re here to help you better think for yourself not tell you what to think – that you think you are substantively Biblically justified for pursuing the festivals and Judaica rather than love etc. and your Jewish brothers, kindly email me.
Please email what you think is a more in depth and substantive, accurate and in context Biblical justification for doing so and If I believe you are correct, I will do two things:
Though I cannot afford it, I will send you a check for $100. I will then post on the website why your Biblically substantive response was correct – and why our Biblically language-based teaching – was not. One stipulation: since the above teaching was based on the Biblical languages, I ask please that your response also be from the Biblical languages. You need to please also take any Scripture you cite from its actual context.
Imagine a movement that focused on what the Torah, Scripture, and Yeshua actually teach, given as fulfilling of which leads to fullness of life, and emphasize.
One in which followers together as a unit, as one, as the Body, focus on being brothers/sisters, love – especially for one another – grace, holiness, being absolutely pure and spiritually balanced, having a true shalom between themselves, and with a focus on acquiring and putting into action, godly and Mashiach-like character, conduct, and integrity!
Imagine what a tremendous undeniable witness to the World that would be!
One in which followers also readily forgave one another and kept on doing so – as Yeshua taught Peter, and as Paul taught in Eph. 4:32-5:2.
Cf. also Mt. 5:21-7:28, Mk. 10:40-45, Yochanon 13:34-35, chapters 13-16, et al., cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-27, cf. 2 Cor. 6:16-17:1, Eph. 4:10-15, Phpns. 3:17, 2 Tim. 2:21-22, 3:10; cf. Col. 3:1-5 etc. Cf. 1 Pet. 2, 2 Pet 6. 1:4-12 etc.
Looking for the Torah’s true essence, for your “Hebrew Roots” and “Jewish Roots”, for what the Western System doesn’t teach or emphasize?
There it is…
Just imagine the tremendous positive possibilities for Christians – and we Jewish Brothers also – in taking in and acting and “safeguard by observing” what Yeshua actually illuminates and teaches are the true commandments for us to be and do together!
Would this not cause deep joy for the Father and His Son Yeshua!