An on going email conversation with two Mormon Missionaries. Part 3.

Hello friends,

i fear we are spreading out into too many topics to truly focus in on understanding. i will do my best to address each one of these topics with fairness of attention. With that said, i also want to let you know that i appreciate our email conversation. It feels good to talk about what i love most.

Let me begin with the topic of Prophets. Since that was the main topic of my last email in response to your question. i would agree with you on the definition of a prophet for the most part. Our differences are mostly inconsequential to address. However, on the point, “determine scripture.” i would have to disagree on this point. As Scripture clearly determines scripture. Man as we see with Rabbinic tradition and the modern Church, has deviated from Scripture. This was identified by Yahoshua during His ministry. In fact, when Yahoshua said, “If you believed Moses then you would believe Me for Moses wrote of Me.” Yahoshua, testified of Himself through the Word. Do prophets have insight, yes. Do they determine, absolutely not. For interpretation, and testimony have always been established by two or three witnesses. One witness is Scripture and that Scripture is the Torah and the Tanakh. If it isn’t there . . . it isn’t worth the time of day. Is there good writings worth study? Sure, i would hope that even my writing leads others to study Scripture for themselves. 

Yahoshua said, “Do not be called Rabbi, for you have one Rabbi.” The idea he was presenting is Scripture is our teacher. The Holy Spirit, leads us into all truth. i know you believe this as you hold to the idea of the “burning in your bosom.” i want to stress again the test of a Prophets authority. That is do they adhere to what has already been written. We are told not to add to or take away from His Word. If that is truth than there is no room for extra books of Scripture. Devotionals, study guides, thoughts, etc? Sure, of course again this clearly is acceptable as i expressed in my last response. Although, i would point out that perhaps John believed what he was writing was indeed going to be canon. The evidence of this would be his final statement in Revelation. “If anyone adds to the prophecy of this book, Elohim will add to him the plaques written herein. Likewise if anyone takes away from the prophecy written in this book, Elohim will take from him their part of the tree of life.” (Revelation 22:18) A pretty scary warning if you ask me. 

This warning written by John isn’t a stand alone passage. He is simply repeating from the Torah and the portion for the Tanakh called the wisdom books. Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32 Here Moses instructs the Israelites not to add to or take from the commands of Elohim. Proverbs 30:5-6 tell us, “Every Word of Elohim is pure and flawless, acting as a shield to anyone who takes refuge in it and trust in Him. Do not add to His Word lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.” Jeremiah writes in 6:16 – “Ask for the ancient paths: ‘where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they say, ‘we will not walk in it!’” Later in 8:8 he writes, “How can you say, ‘we are wise, and the Torah of YHWH is with us,’ when in fact the lying pen of the scribes has produced a deception?’” 

The entirety of Jeremiah’s writings are to call back the people of Elohim to the ways instructed. This was Messiah’s message as well. The sermon on the mount is a call to Torah. He begins with the call to walking in it wholly and holy as intended since it was given. Messiah walked in Torah. He did so without error or His walk would not have been blameless and therefore His sacrifice insufficient, worthless even. Paul tells us, “imitate me as I imitate Messiah.” 

Matthew 5:17-20 – “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish it but to bring its fullness. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot , will pass from the Torah until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

Has heaven and earth passed away? Has Revelation 21 already been fulfilled? If the answer to that is yes, than everything i have said and am about to say is wrong. If the answer is no, which i believe to be the right answer. Everything i have said, and will say, should at the very least, be considered. There is not one thing within the sermon on the mount that cannot be found within the Torah. The difference is it is given in practice. This is how you walk it out. Not in man made traditions and extra laws which the Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of. This is the point of our righteousness exceeding theirs. It was because they honored Elohim with their mouths but their hearts were far from Him. They read from the Torah but they taught from oral traditions. 

Jeremiah puts it this way – “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from the prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is not peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abominations? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,’ says YHWH.” Jeremiah 6:13-15

Yahoshua later in Matthew says this: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” Matthew 23:2-5

The seat of Moses is where the Torah was read from in the Synagogue. This is why they were instructed to do whatever they tell you, as they were instructing them in Torah. It was their practices and their self-righteousness that was being rebuked by Yahoshua. The fruit of their lives was success. They were sitting in the seats of authority, a counsel to the emperor of Rome even, to a certain extent. One could say the fruit of their lives were good on the outside. Which again is what Yahoshua was pointing out if we had continued to read Matthew 23. However, we understand the fruit we are to be judged by is that of the spirit – for we will be judged by the acts of the flesh. These two stand in contrast to one another. So those who walk in the Way will exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. Of which we will be able to tell who is and who isn’t walking in the Torah.

We know that Yahoshua was not talking about the Torah being a heavy burden because we read, “For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:3. Also in Deuteronomy 30:11 we read, “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.” This was written after Moses wrote the covenant renewal in Moab in the previous Chapters. We also read throughout Scripture that the Torah is perfect. Psalm 19:7 “The Torah of YHWH is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple…” Romans 7:12 says, ‘So the Torah is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

Paul draws the comparison for us in Galatians of which he also expounds on in his letter to the Ephesians. That the flesh and the spirit are at war within us. The flesh is deceptive, the spirit is longing. As all of creation longs to be redeemed. So how will we know what are the signs or the fruit of the Spirit? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Messiah Yahoshua have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:23-24. 

The Gospel message that Yahoshua has brought is the braking of the yoke of the Rabbinic tradition. As well the need for atoning sacrifice, and the temple role of the Levitical Priesthood. Although that role will one day be reinstated for the sacrifice of offering. When one understands the fullness and reason for the sacrificial system and the role of the priest. It becomes clear that it has a designated purpose. Of which for the time being is not necessary or even able to occur. Knowing this before hand, is a major reason for Yahoshua’s death and subsequent resurrection. He became the Atonement the exchange in order that our sins may be forgiven. Paul’s major focus and that of the disciples was spreading the good news. What good news? The once and for all atoning sacrifice of the Messiah. (Another topic all together).

Moving on. i have not yet read all of 3 Nephi. However, i do find it interesting. a good portion of what i have read thus far is simply a reiteration. And that of what we already have written in Scripture. Making it interesting but more historical, this is what was taught to them from the Scriptures themselves. For example 3 Nephi 14:21-23 says: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of the Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day; Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

What is the will of the Father? Did He not instruct us to follow His Torah? And interestingly the word here being translated “iniquity” is also rendered “lawlessness”. We would both agree that the reference is sin. However, the word being translated is better defined “being outside of Torah.” Essentially Yahoshua is saying, “. . . ye that work Torahlessness” John writes about what sin is and how to define it. 1 John 3:4 – “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” Again the word here for lawlessness is Torahlessness, sin is Torahlessness. The Torah is defined also as being in the light and out side of Torah as darkness. Understanding this Hebraic idiom we can see that “You once were in darkness, but now are of the light.” Is best understood, “you were once outside of Torah and now have come into Torah.” 

This seems a good stopping point. i wish you both a blessed week as we study and grow in maturity together. 

Keep Reading – Part Four, 4th Email Response

cj