Jesus, the Torah and Messianic Judaism

One of the issues confronting Messianic Judaism is their relationship to the Torah and to the Rabbinic Customs of the Jews. There are two tensions that confront Jewish Believers in Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says: “Do not think that I have come to destroy the Torah and the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Amen, amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one yod and one tittle shall not pass away from the Torah until all is fulfilled. So whoever breaks the least of these commandments, and teaches men to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of the Heavens. But whoever does them and teaches he shall be called great in the Kingdom of the Heavens.” Some Believers read these words to say that since Jesus fulfilled the whole Torah that the Torah is no longer required of the Believers. Others read these same words and believe that the Torah is still required of the Messianic Jews. In this book I examine every reference to the Torah in the New Testament and explain what is taught from the context of the passage. My goal is to give clear directions to the Jewish Believers as to their relationship to the Torah. The seven chapters cover the following issues: Chapter One – The Acts of the Apostles The New Extends the Old The Hour of Prayer Daily in the Temple Obedient Priests The First Martyr Arise, Peter, Kill and Eat! Envy How Can a Gentile Be Saved? Paul and the Nazirite Vow A Time of Transition The Early Life of Paul Ananias the Devout The Latter Life of Paul Chapter Two – What do you know about Jesus? The Name of Jesus The Babe Purification Childhood Baptism Ordination The Hope of Israel The Light The Comforter The Lord’s Prayer Beatitudes versus Torah The Heaven, the Earth, the Torah Jesus’ Stricter Torah Blood and the Garment Keeping the Sabbath Sabbath Days’ Journey Ascension Sabbath The Passover Seder The Sleep of Wine Chapter Three - Eternal Covenants The Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever What is a Covenant/Testament? Two Types of Covenants The Primary Covenants The Requirements of a Primary Covenant The Covenant with Noah The Beginning of the New Covenant The Covenant at Sinai Conclusions Concerning Primary Covenants The Secondary Covenants Abraham and His Descendants Shewbread Eternal Priesthood of Phinehas The Covenant with David The Renewed Covenant with Israel The Restoration of the Covenant The Covenant of Restoration G-d never Breaks a Covenant Chapter Four - Perpetual Statutes The Feast of Passover The Fast for Atonement The Feast of Booths The Feast of Shavuoth Jesus Celebrates Shavuoth Aaron’s Family The Temple The Covenant with Salt The Law of Food Chapter Five - Romans and the Law I Hope to See You in Passing Pronouns in the Letter to the Romans The Jews Were First What Advantage Does the Jew Have? Of What Good is Knowledge He is Not a Jew That is One Outwardly Outward Piety vs. Real Humility Is the Law Nullified by Faith Abraham - The Father of All Who Believe Torah Brings Grace What Controls You The Torah is Holy and Spiritual Disobedience and Mercy Chapter Six - Galatians, Who Has Envied You? Where is Galatia? The Theology of the Letter to the Galatians Peter Holds Himself Aloof Righteousness is Not Through the Torah Christ Became a Curse for Us Is the Torah Contrary to the Promise? The Torah Our Tutor The Heir; From Slave to Son The Allegory The Question of Circumcision Chapter Seven - Concluding Comments Purpose Temple Rules Jesus the Jew Covenant Relationship Sin and Salvation The Gentile and the Torah