Yahusha's Clear Teaching
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
This is perhaps the clearest statement in all of Scripture about the continuing validity of Torah. Yahusha explicitly says:
- He did NOT come to destroy (abolish) the law
- He came to FULFILL (complete, make full) the law
- Not even the smallest letter or stroke will pass from the law
- This continues until heaven and earth pass away
Key Question:
Have heaven and earth passed away yet? No! Therefore, every commandment still stands. Yahusha settled this debate before it could even start.
What Does Torah Include?
Torah (תורה) means "instruction" or "teaching" and includes all of Yahuah's commandments, not just the moral law:
⚖️ Moral Law
The Ten Commandments - eternal principles of right and wrong that reflect Yahuah's character.
🗓️ Ceremonial Law
Feast days, sacrifices, and rituals - prophetic pictures pointing to Messiah's work (past and future).
⚖️ Civil Law
Justice principles for society - showing how Yahuah's righteousness applies to community life.
🍽️ Dietary Law
Clean and unclean foods - health and holiness principles that distinguish Yahuah's people.
⚠️ Beware of False Divisions
Many Christians try to divide Torah into "categories" to keep some and dismiss others. But Yahusha said NOT ONE JOT OR TITTLE would pass. We don't get to pick and choose which commandments to follow.
The Ten Commandments Still Bind
Even most Christians agree the Ten Commandments are still valid. But let's be consistent:
The Ten Commandments
- No other gods before Yahuah
- No graven images or idols
- Don't take Yahuah's name in vain
- Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
- Honor your father and mother
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not bear false witness
- You shall not covet
The Sabbath Test
If you believe the Ten Commandments are still valid, why do you keep 9 out of 10? The 4th commandment is just as binding as "thou shalt not murder." Yahuah wrote it with His own finger!
"And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of Elohim."
Yahusha is Torah Made Flesh
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."
The "Word" (Logos in Greek) that became flesh is the same "Word" that Yahuah spoke at Mount Sinai. Yahusha IS the living Torah - He perfectly embodied every commandment and showed us what Torah looks like as a person.
Think About It:
If Torah was "abolished," then Yahusha (the Word made flesh) would be abolished too. But He lives forever, and so does His Torah!
When we see Yahusha:
- Keeping the Sabbath (Luke 4:16)
- Observing the feast days (John 7:10, 10:22)
- Following dietary laws (never ate unclean food)
- Wearing tzitzit (Matthew 9:20)
We see what Torah obedience looks like in practice.
Obedience is Love, Not Legalism
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
"For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
Torah obedience is not about earning salvation - it's about expressing love for our Creator. Just like a child obeys loving parents not to become family, but because they ARE family.
✅ Biblical Obedience
Keeping commandments out of love and gratitude for salvation already received through Yahusha.
❌ False Legalism
Trying to earn salvation through works, or keeping traditions that contradict Scripture.
Don't Be Deceived
When teachers call Torah obedience "legalism," they're calling Yahusha's lifestyle legalistic. When they say the law is "done away," they're contradicting Yahusha's clear words in Matthew 5:17-18.
Paul and the Law
Many Christians think Paul taught against the law, but this is a misunderstanding. Peter warned that Paul's writings would be "hard to understand" and twisted by the unlearned:
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."
Paul was Torah-observant his entire life:
- He kept the Sabbath (Acts 17:2 - "as his manner was")
- He observed the feast days (Acts 18:21, 20:16, 1 Cor 5:8)
- He took Nazirite vows (Acts 18:18, 21:23-26)
- He said "I have committed nothing against... the law" (Acts 25:8)
Paul's Real Message
Paul opposed adding human traditions to Scripture (like circumcision for salvation) and works-righteousness. He NEVER taught that Torah itself was abolished. When he says "the law," context determines whether he means Torah or rabbinic traditions.
Common Objections Answered
"We're Under Grace, Not Law"
Romans 6:15 - "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Elohim forbid."
1 John 3:4 - "Sin is the transgression of the law."
Grace doesn't replace law - it empowers us to keep it! We're not "under the law's condemnation" but we're still "under the law's instruction."
"Christ is the End of the Law"
Romans 10:4 - "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."
The word "end" (telos) means "goal" or "purpose," not termination. Yahusha is the GOAL of Torah - the perfect example of Torah-keeping!
"The Law Was Nailed to the Cross"
Colossians 2:14 - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us..."
The "handwriting of ordinances" refers to the certificate of debt (our sin), not Torah itself. Our penalty was nailed to the cross, not the law that defines sin.
What We Reject
False Teachings About Torah:
- ❌ "The law is done away with" - contradicts Matthew 5:17-18
- ❌ "We're not under law but grace" - misunderstands Romans 6:15
- ❌ "Torah was only for Jews" - ignores Exodus 12:49
- ❌ "Christ fulfilled it so we don't have to" - misses the point of discipleship
- ❌ "Keeping Torah is legalism" - contradicts John 14:15
- ❌ "Sunday replaced Sabbath" - human tradition, not Scripture
- ❌ "All foods are now clean" - misinterprets Acts 10
The Call to Obedience
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of Elohim, and the faith of Yahusha."
The end-time remnant is identified by TWO characteristics:
- Keeping the commandments of Elohim (Torah obedience)
- Having faith in Yahusha (grace through faith)
Not one without the other - BOTH together!
Your Choice
Will you follow the narrow path of Torah obedience that Yahusha walked? Or the broad road of lawlessness that leads to destruction? The choice is yours, but choose based on Scripture, not tradition.
"And why call ye me, Master, Master, and do not the things which I say?"