Matthew 5-6-7 / December 2006

Matthew 5-6-7

When the God of Israel decided to give the Torah (the Law) to Moses, He gathered the people at a mountain and came down upon the mountain with a furnace of fire and smoke. It was a very frightful thing. God’s voice thundered off the rocks, splitting them. His words rattled the bones of the people and caused the animals to calve suddenly. The people appealed to Moses for him to go to the Lord and not to have the Lord speak in such a manner again. They feared that they would die. The agreement was made. Moses went up the mountain to bring down the Torah and a promise was made by God that the Messiah would be dispatched from heaven to them. The Messiah would speak the word of God and it would be required of us just like the Torah from Moses.

Yeshua the Messiah fulfilled this promise. He was dispatched by His Heavenly Father and He taught the people from the mountain. Specifically, He taught the Torah to the people.

And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And opening His mouth He began to teach them, saying, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-12

The Torah begins with a blessing and ends with a blessing. God blessed everything He created saying, "It is very good." Moses ends the Torah with blessings upon all of the tribes just before they entered the promised land under the leadership of Joshua.

Blessings are desirable things. We all would prefer to have blessings. But, having the blessings will not be agreeable with everyone. There is a reason why the Aaronic blessings says, "May the Lord bless you and keep you." Keeping the blessings can be as difficult as getting them to begin with. The fact is that once you have the blessings, the enemy will attempt to steal them. He uses the tactics of envy and strife. You may even find yourself insulted, persecuted, and the victim of slander.

The majority of the instruction in the Law (the Torah) addresses conflicts with other people. This is what Yeshua begins His teaching of the Torah with – the blessings and the conflict with people.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

The Torah teaches personal responsibility and how God has purposed all things. God has created man and He wants man to be successful. "Fill the earth and multiply," was His first instruction. The Messiah has likened us to the common substance of salt and light. Salt is just as essential to life as light is. His exhortation is simple and profound. Be what God created you to be – live!

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:17-20

Of all the words spoken of by Yeshua, these words might well be the most contested by those who follow Yeshua. His words are direct. "Don’t even think it!" Yet, not only do the majority of the followers of Yeshua in the church think it, they teach it, and they develop whole theologies to support their contention. The fact is that "replacement theology" is not just the church replacing Israel. At its core, it is the instruction of the church fathers replacing the commandments of God given at Mt. Sinai. It is about replacing the Torah, the Temple service with the Levites, and altering the customs of Moses, such as the Sabbath and festivals (Acts 6:13-14).

Yeshua said that His teaching was the opposite of abolishing or annulling any part of the Torah. Instead, His teaching was to fill it up with meaning and substance (fulfill). You have heard the other teaching, that Jesus fulfilled the Law and thus it is no more. Those who advocate such a teaching may be in the kingdom, but they will the least in it, warns Yeshua.

But Yeshua also said something more, even for those who agree with the Torah. Your righteousness better be more than that of scribes and Pharisees. The scribes were the writers and copiers of the Torah. Pharisees were the teachers and leaders of the spiritual communities. Yeshua was actually taking issue with those who claimed to be educated in Torah.

Yeshua never took issue with any commandment of God; He did take issue with other men who had added to or took away from it. In particular, He took issue with the "traditions of the elders" whenever it replaced the "commandments of God."

If Yeshua were here today with us, I believe He would make the same speeches and give the same teaching that He gave then.

For those of us who are trying the keep the Torah and have a testimony of Yeshua, how are we to keep the commandments correctly? In the following passages Yeshua offers His own instruction with specific examples.

You have heard that the ancients were told, "You shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court." But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, "Raca," shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, "You fool," shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

Matthew 5:21-22

"Raca" is to regard someone as evil. "You have heard it said" is a direct reference to the scribes and Pharisees and their teachings. Yeshua is not contrasting the commandments of the Lord given at Mt. Sinai, He is contrasting the teaching of men. Yeshua is teaching that breaking God’s commandments is done by the heart before the actual act. One of the most profound teachings of the ten commandments is to understand the role of the first and tenth commandments and how their violation precedes all other violations.

Consider the following: the first commandment is "I am the Lord God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." The commandment often misunderstood by many is "believe in me." Before you make idols, take God’s name in vain, refuse to keep Sabbath, and dishonor your father or mother, you refuse with your heart to believe in God.

The same is true about the commandments concerning men. The tenth commandment is to not covet anything belonging to your neighbor. Before you murder, steal, commit adultery, or lie to your neighbor, you will want (covet) something with your heart. You sin first in your heart.

Yeshua is teaching these profound things about the heart and the mind. He is saying that when you are angry with your brother, regarding him as evil, and cursing him, you are guilty in your own heart and worthy of God’s judgment. Forget about your defense, "Well, he did it first!" It will not absolve you of your own misdeeds.

The Torah teaches that motivation and premeditation are critical matters in justice and righteousness. If the heart is right and a mistake is made, God’s mercy reigns supreme. But if the heart is intent on sin, and no sin is seen, you are still guilty before the Law. As a man thinks, so he is. The Lord has sworn to Himself that the guilty will not go unpunished.

If therefore you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
Matthew 5:23-24

Some men believe that you can have one relationship with God and another with men. That is, some think that they can be humble and thankful before God and then be another kind of man with men. This is simply not true. You only have one heart and mind.

We have all had conflicts with others, even within our own families. We all know what those conflicts produce if they are not properly resolved – isolation, separation, and bitterness. These conditions of the heart are far from peace, joy, and life. Holding a grudge is not justice; it is a distortion of justice. There is no righteousness in it. The Torah teaches that righteousness has kissed justice; they are intimate friends. One does not exclude the other.

When a man tries to come before the Lord to express righteous worship with a gift and has distorted justice with his brother, neither are acceptable to the Lord. The Torah has much to say about acceptable gifts. They can have neither spot nor blemish, they must be the best part (first fruits). This is what the Law says and this is what Yeshua taught.

Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, in order that your opponent may not deliver you to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you shall not come out of there, until you have paid up the last cent.
Matthew 5:25-26

Sometimes it is not your brother who has wronged you. Sometimes you have wronged your brother. Yeshua says that you should confess and resolve the matter quickly. Resisting those you have wronged only ensures more difficulty. The Torah teaches that restitution for a wrong act is required, but the restitution differs based on the wrong doer’s actions. The Torah says that stealing a cow can result in a restitution of two cows or five cows. It depends on the actions of the guilty. Yeshua is teaching how the Torah works. It is better for you to pay up first rather than be forced to pay later.

You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery"; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matthew 5:27-28

Sins of the heart always precede real actions. We tend to deal with them daily. We call them temptations. Temptations can remain as temptations if we just turn away and walk away (escape). The greatest commandment of the Lord involves the heart. "You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart." The covenant relationship with God is modeled in the covenant relationship with your spouse. Adultery is the opposite of that relationship.

There is such a thing as spiritual adultery, where we commit adultery against God. It is called idolatry. Idolatry, like adultery, is about lust. It is lusting after ego, pride, food, and sex. Yeshua teaches this, specifically telling us to isolate and keep those temptations separate from us.

And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 5:29-30

Adultery will in most cases cause divorce. In Yeshua’s day, as in our day, some men marry young, raise children, then get into adultery because of their affluence or dissatisfaction with their wife. It is a common story of those men (or women) then entering into adulterous relationships. Some of them think that they can just get a divorce, get remarried, and everything is fine before God. Not so, according to Yeshua. A relationship started in adultery can not be covered by marrying over it.

And it was said, "Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce"; but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the cause of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matthew 5:31-32

Many have struggled with what Yeshua said. For example, a strictly literal reading of Yeshua’s words without understanding the context of Yeshua teaching the Law will lead many brethren into error about divorce. The Torah only mentions divorce once (primarily because it is distasteful and contrary to everything God desires). Yeshua said that divorce was given by Moses because of the hardness of the heart. When a couple become treacherous (hard hearted) toward one another, there is no path to resolution. That treachery can be caused by adultery or abuse. But what if you get a divorce and there is no treachery; you just wanted to marry someone else? That is adultery, covered by divorce and remarriage. This was a common practice in Yeshua’s day.

A real divorce is for real reasons, such as sexual misconduct or treachery. Anything else is a cover for adultery. This is what Yeshua was teaching. He not only is teaching about the marriage relationship formed by vows, but also addresses other vows and oaths.

Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, "You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord." But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your statement be, "Yes, yes" or "No, no"; and anything beyond these is of evil.
Matthew 5:33-37

When a person speaks an oath or swears to a matter, it must be accepted. But oaths should not be the resolution of every matter. They should be reserved only for the most important matters. The Torah specifically teaches the special nature of a vow by granting authority to the husband or father whenever a vow or oath is uttered by his wife or daughter. The Torah teaches that a husband or father has the power to annul any vow or oath made by his wife or daughter in the day that he hears of it. The father has this authority to protect his wife and daughter. Just as the Torah teaches, so Yeshua teaches. But Yeshua teaches further how to cooperate or complete a matter without swearing to it. Let a "Yes" be your yes. You don’t have to swear to it.

Some people who think more highly of themselves than they should take matters "to the hilt." Pushing the sword in to the handle (to the hilt) is overkill. Speaking about a matter to the point of making a vow is the same thing. It is an overly dramatic way of communicating. It is over statement, which generally causes more harm. Swearing by heaven is simply not achievable for any man. But making such a vow not makes that the vow maker subject to God to complete the vow. It would have been better to not make such a vow. This is the teaching of Torah and Yeshua.

You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone wants to sue you, and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
Matthew 5:38-42

Many of the commandments in the Law address those values necessary for any community to have freedom. There are no free men without the rule of law. An eye for eye commandment is about fairness (equal value for equal value). It is not about plucking out an eye from one because another lost his eye. It is about fair value for damages done.

But Yeshua’s use of the contrasting conjunction "But" seems to be taking issue with what the Torah says. Instead of exacting fair value for being slapped, He suggests something completely different from the Torah. Or, does He? Let’s go back and examine the full commandment.

But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. And if a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth.
Exodus 21:23-27

These words are the portion that Moses first brought down from Mt. Sinai after God spoke the Ten Commandments. It turns out that there are clear instructions for free men, but then there is something different for servants. If a servant is wounded, he is set free. Yeshua is not taking issue with the Torah; He is teaching the commandments of servants. He actually teaching the commandments of the servants of God.

A free man gets his justice (fairness) from other men and the courts. But a servant gets his justice from his master. In the case of us, the servants of God, we get our justice from our Master, the Lord. Therefore, Yeshua says we should not resist against men in our service to God. If we have been wronged, our Master will take care of us. And, our Master will exact justice from those who have harmed us.

Yeshua is truly teaching the Torah. Most believers have no idea that there are different commandments for servants and masters or free men. While God has set us free from sin, He has called us to His service. If we are to truly keep His commandments, the commandments of servants then apply to us. In fact, we are then called the "bond servants" of God. We serve for the reason of love. The Law of the Bond Servant is the first commandment taught by Moses after the Ten Commandments. This is the same "new" commandment that Yeshua taught His disciples. Actually, it is not a "new" commandment at all; it was just "new" to His disciples. "By this shall men know that you are My disciples (servants)."

You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy." But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax–gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:43-48

Some of the teachings of the Torah have sharp contrasts. The Torah does not teach us to "hate your enemy." This was the contrasting teaching of "love your neighbor." As a result, many teachers of Yeshua’s day taught the contrast more than the actual commandment to love your neighbor. It is true that there is a specific commandment for the sons of Israel to destroy the sons of Amalek on sight in every generation. But the overwhelming teaching of the Torah is about mercy, understanding, and kindness. Yeshua is teaching that God’s mercy and kindness is for everyone, not just the righteous. This is not a new teaching by Yeshua; this is the original teaching of Moses and the Law.

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matthew 6:1-4

The giving of alms is the act of a righteous man. In fact, the gift is called "tzekik" which means "righteous." But some want to be noticed for their gifts; they want to be noticed for their righteousness. Yeshua teaches that such behavior receives a reward, but then there is no reward later by His Father.

I once read about a developmental test given to children beginning in school. They placed a young child at a table with a marshmallow before them. It was explained that if the child waited a bit longer (not eating the marshmallow right away), they would receive a second marshmallow. The children who would not wait were found to be developmentally disabled and would not be as successful in their education as others would. Such a simple test is also true in the spiritual world. We are all waiting for a heavenly reward and not pursuing the rewards here in the world.

In this world, we will live for a few decades; in the world the come, we will live eternally. The reward there is much greater as well. The Torah teaches much about waiting for just rewards from the Lord. It simply says, "Wait on the Lord." But when it comes to giving to the poor, the Scripture says that such a gift is a loan to the Lord, and He will surely repay!

And when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matthew 6:5-6

Prayer is an activity of the devout. In Yeshua’s day and within religion today, prayer is conducted publicly and considered a righteous activity. Like giving money as a righteous deed, long prayers can be exchanged for a righteous reputation. Yeshua says that gifts and prayers are similar in this manner. Let them be done privately. If you really want God to hear you, then talk just to God.

And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. Pray, then, in this way: "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.]" For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Matthew 6:7-15

Yeshua’s instruction in prayer is profound and brings together many truths of the Torah, foremost is the direct relationship with giving and receiving forgiveness. The last portion of the prayer found in brackets is not in the original manuscripts. It was added by churchmen. In fact, Yeshua is not offering His own prayer; He is teaching how to pray. Isn’t it fascinating that He warned against repetitious prayers as the Gentiles do and then the Gentile Churchmen have turned His instruction into a repetitious prayer recited frequently as the Lord’s Prayer. Judaism is not free here either. They have taken repetitious prayers for the morning, afternoon, and evening to an art form.

And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face so that you may not be seen fasting by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Matthew 6:16-18

Yeshua’s instruction for fasting is virtually the same for prayer. Religious observance as explained in the Torah is really about one person coming to the temple to do business with the Lord. Yes, there is corporate worship representing the whole community but no one, including the High Priest, is to draw special attention to themselves. The priests stand as representatives of the people.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:19-24

One of the greatest spiritual lessons for a person growing to maturity is about wants and needs. God pledges to meet our needs, but He will not satisfy our desires. When our wants get a higher priority than our needs, disaster comes to our house. The Torah teaches that the eye is the part of your body that promotes want. The eyes are never satisfied. It is following the eyes that leads to idolatry. The Torah teaches that we should not go the way we see it. "This is way I see it." "Hear O’Israel…" Instead, faith comes by hearing. This is what Yeshua is teaching.

For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "With what shall we clothe ourselves?" For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:25-34

When the children of Israel left Egypt, they did not have adequate water, food, or clothing for the trip. Yet, God sustained them. One could argue that God’s preservation of Israel in the wilderness was a greater miracle than all of the judgments in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea. Yeshua is teaching us that the same God who has cared for Israel from the beginning is still with us and knows our needs.

Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. And why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1-5

The Torah teaches about how to make good judgments and how to do it in a just way. It teaches about equal weights and measures. It teaches that truth has to be confirmed by the evidence (witness) of two or three. Men who judge by what they see or what they believe make great errors. When think they have the innate ability to determine the truth about others they become slanderers and do great harm to others. By ignorance, they begin to bear false witness against others and become guilty of even greater offenses than they were first concerned with (the beam versus the speck).

Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Matthew 7:6

The Torah teaches that many things should be respected. This begins with respect for God and our fathers. The Torah also teaches respect for God’s creation, to honor life in all of its forms as made by God. But, the Torah also gives clear instruction of what is not respectable. Dogs and pigs are in that category. Yeshua is repeating that instruction. Deciding to call something clean that God said is unclean leads to spiritual harm and great confusion.

Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12

The Torah teaches the principles of good communication. Mumbling and grumbling does not get you what you want or need. The children of Israel proved that by not receiving the promised land. Instead, they rejected the promised land and died in the wilderness. Complaining is a form of speech used by people who are afraid to ask a question. Yeshua was teaching the lesson about asking and not complaining. You should not be afraid to ask. The "Golden Rule" lesson is vintage Torah just as Yeshua says. People will usually treat you in the same way you treat them. Yeshua is teaching the Torah.

Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it.
Matthew 7:13-14

There are many descendants of Abraham but only the remnant are the chosen people of God. Not all of Israel is Israel. It is the children of promise that are the citizens of the kingdom. In Yeshua’s day there was a narrow bridge that crossed the Kidron valley from the Mount of Olives to the Temple Mount. If you walked down the Mount of Olives, instead of crossing the bridge, it was a broad way. As water flows, that broad way will lead you all the way down to Gehenna (hell). Following the instructions of the Torah is likened unto a walk. It is not a stumbling walk; it a walk of uprightness. Walking before God is a narrow way, a highway (an elevated way). You walk on it according to the Torah (His commandments).

Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Matthew 7:15-20

Most believers think that a false prophet is one who makes false predictions. That is one indicator, but the Torah teaches that the primary indicator of a false prophet is anyone trying to get you to follow another god (even with signs and wonders) or anyone seducing you away from the teaching of Moses.

Yeshua’s warning about false prophets is not about false predictions. It is about teachers who attempt to take you away from the Torah and its instructions. The Torah is called the "Tree of Life." The Tree of Life always bears good fruit. But a false teacher will say that you don’t need the Tree of Life anymore. They will offer you another kind of tree and its fruit.

If you hear a churchman say that Jesus came to move us away from the teaching of Moses, then he is telling you that Jesus was a false prophet. Actually, he is bearing false witness of Yeshua. Yeshua warned us there would be false prophets (those who would deny the Law of Moses).

Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."
Matthew 7:21-23

Of all of the words that Yeshua taught, these are some of the most chilling. These are words projected into the future to people who believe that they are believers of God and Yeshua. They call Him Lord and have evidence to substantiate spiritual deeds. But, Yeshua rejects them because of their stance toward the Torah (being lawless).

A relationship with God requires you to listen to His instructions, to honor His words. Some believers have actually separated Yeshua from His Father, claiming they are following the Messiah’s instruction (New Testament) and denying His Father (the Old Testament). First, Yeshua came to do His Father’s will. He was blameless (sinless) before the Law. We are told to follow Yeshua’s example. Yet, men deny the commandments of God (the Torah) preferring their own precepts. It will be a sad and shocking thing when church leaders give an account of their teaching.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act upon them, will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall.
Matthew 7:24-27

Moses was the first to teach us about the "Rock of our Salvation." It was from the Rock that the living waters came to sustain the children of Israel in the wilderness. The Apostle Paul taught that the Rock in the wilderness was the Messiah. Yeshua is saying here that His words are that Rock.

The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7:28-29

The scribes taught the Torah. Yeshua was teaching the Torah, but not like the scribes. He was teaching like One on the mountain. He was teaching the blessings of Torah, obeying from the heart, and the real issues of life. He was filling the words of the Law up "full with meaning." He was also teaching the words of life like the very God who gave the original teaching to Moses from the mountain. He was teaching with authority – the very authority of God.

YAVOH - He is Coming is a monthly newsletter published as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries.
The ministry is a non-profit organization with an end time prophetic message in a Messianic Jewish context.
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Editor - Monte Judah
Electronic Editor - Ephraim Judah

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