Keys To the Kingdom Series #3

The Key to Comprehending the Scriptures

 

By Dani’el Rendelman ~ danielr@innova.net

 

 

In August of the year 1173 construction began on a building that would later receive worldwide attention. A foundation was laid and workers started to labor with the marble. As the eight-story structure was being completed several architects began to notice a slight problem with it. Somehow, this beautiful bell tower in Pisa, Italy seemed to lean just a few inches. Though the design called for an accurate upright building, this beautiful medieval tower was leaning by 5.5 degrees.

 

Years later, precautions would be taken to stop this historic monument from falling. The most effective way to prohibit the tower from collapsing would be to dig up the dirt from around and under the tower and replace it with a stronger fresh foundation. Today the tower stands tall and slanted as a sign to the world about the importance of a well-built and secure foundation.

 

Yahshua (Hebrew name of the Messiah given in Matthew 1:21) spoke of this concept through a parable about a wise man that built his house upon a rock. Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

 

Or in other words, “A person who does not base his life upon the foundation of the Scriptures is just a like a mason working on the Leaning Tower of Pisa.”

 

Foundation is first

 

According to the dictionary, a foundation is that “on which a building is built; the first layer of a structure that provides a stable base for the superstructure.” With that in mind, do you remember the first Bible lessons you ever learned? Surely as a child you were taught about Noah and the ark or David and Goliath. Maybe your Sunday school teacher walked you through catechism so you could be baptized. Or perhaps you never heard the gospel story as a kid and have had to return to the teachings of your denomination for your foundation.

 

Have you ever wondered if what you have been taught is accurate?

If a bad foundation can cause a building of solid stone to crumble then surely having a bad spiritual foundation can cause a believer to fall. Please take a moment and honestly ask yourself, “What is my life based upon?” Search your heart and explore your past to reveal whether your spiritual foundation is shifting sand or solid rock.

 

Caution: Do NOT continue reading if you do not believe Isaiah 40:8 is true. It says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our Elohim (Hebrew word for Supreme Being) shall stand forever.”

 

The Truth Hurts

 

The Scriptures are clear that a person’s spiritual walk should be based solely upon the first five books of the Bible. These are the teachings of Moses and the foundation that the whole of the Bible is built upon. These teachings were given as the basis for all believers to make clear what is expected of people who walk by faith. They were not replaced with the Gospels and the Messiah did not do away with these teachings. 2 Timothy 2:19a, “A solid foundation stands firm.”

 

The problem is, when most people are born again the first thing they do is turn directly to the middle of the Bible for instruction and inspiration. New believers begin reading the Gospels without any prior knowledge of what is required of man or how the Most High relates to humanity. A person’s spiritual walk should not begin with Matthew! That’s because without reading and understanding Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy it is impossible to correctly understand the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

 

Suppose you walk into an Algebra class with no prior knowledge of math. The teacher starts the first day of the class by instructing everyone to turn to the middle of the book so she can begin teaching. You would be lost wouldn’t you? Well, that is exactly what happens when people lay a foundation of the New Testament without knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament teachings and way of life.

 

If we are going to walk as the Savior walked then we must believe as the Savior believed. It is clear that the Messiah used, read, and lived the Torah.

 

The Key to Understanding the Scriptures

 

The key to comprehending the Scriptures is by viewing everything in the Bible through the lens of the “Torah.” Every other scripture passage in the Bible, every doctrine of the Church, and every teaching a person listens to should be filtered through the “Torah.”

 

“Torah” is the Hebrew word for teaching and instruction usually translated as “law” in English Bibles. Overtime, “Torah” has become the title for the first five books of the Bible, which were given to Moses by the Almighty. The Torah is the revelation of the Creator’s will for mankind. It is also the Bible Yahshua read and used.

 

Without a firm foundation in the Torah sin is excused, false theology is accepted, and the character of Yahweh is altered. (Yahweh is the sacred Hebrew name of the Creator often seen as Lord in English Bibles) Psalm 11:3, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

 

“I thought I was supposed to follow the Savior and not the Old Testament?” you might ask.

 

Well, by truly following Yahshua you are following His interpretation of the Torah. The Hebrew word for this is “Halacha.” Yahshua’s Halacha is His complete body of teachings or commandments, and explanation of the Torah as seen in the Gospels. 1 Peter 2:20, “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” This is because Yahshua has already interpreted the Torah for us! He has shown us how to live, through His obedience to the Torah.

 

Part of Yahshua’s ministry on earth was to confront the false teachings of many religious leaders and replace their perception of the Torah with His Divine Halacha. Take for example the Savior’s words in Matthew 5:21 & 22, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment…” Yahshua was not removing the physical prohibition of murder. Murder is still wrong! What He was doing was showing the original intention of the Torah commandment: that man should respect life and examine the heart intention behind the physical actions of anger.

 

Yahshua used the Torah to teach his disciples. He even quoted the Torah to defeat the Adversary in Matthew 4:4. Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Yahweh.”

 

You see, the Torah is not a boring manuscript full of laws and commands. Rather, these teachings, which have survived thousands of years present how the Heavenly Father relates to man and how we should properly relate to Him. In the books of Moses, the character of the Ruler of the Universe is proven through His involvement with mankind. Proverbs 3:18 teaches that the Torah is a “tree of life to them that lay hold of it.” While Romans 7:12 says, “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”

 

Think about this, when you first meet someone you inquire about their likes and dislikes, their family, and their occupation. But when you really want to know someone you ask them about their past. As your new friend reveals their life’s story you really get to know them. And as their history unfolds you begin to see and appreciate their character because you understand that the events a person experienced in the past will shape how they face the future. How much more with our Heavenly Father! Surely He will continue as He has acted in the past, because He never changes! Malachi 3:6, “I am Yahweh; I change not.”

 

Don’t Be Deceived

 

James 1:16 commands believers to be careful when laying a foundation of beliefs. It says plainly “Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.” Deception is a dangerous tool used by the enemy to block a believer from fully understanding the scope of the word. For deception will separate the Bible into two books: the Old Testament and the New Testament. Deception will present the “God” of the “Old Testament” as a mean old gray-haired being ready to punish sinners and the “God” of the “New Testament” as a kind, compassionate man. Deception will lead people down the path of manipulation, condemnation, and intimidation disguised as “grace.” And deception will cause a well-built building to fall.

 

For the believer it is more important do things right than it is to do the right things. This means that you should search out your own beliefs and prove them according to the Torah. If what you believe doesn’t line up with the teachings of Moses then your foundation has some major faults. 1 Timothy 4:16, “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Make sure how you are living is based upon the Word and not man’s teachings or doctrine.

 

Not knowing the Torah leads to a spiritual life void of meaning and power. Yahshua, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”

 

Perhaps you’ve never read through the Torah, well what is stopping you? Start “in the beginning” today and find an outline on how man was created to live. Allow what you read in the Torah to sink in and become the foundation of your life.

 

It’s All About Torah

 

Teachers and historians agree that the Bible is divided into seven segments:

 

1) The Torah, which includes Genesis – Deuteronomy

 

2) The Prophets, which includes Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets

 

3) The Writings, which is all the other books

 

4) The Gospels, Matthew through John

 

5) The Acts of the Apostles

 

6) The Letters, Romans through Jude

 

7) The Apocalypse, the book of Revelation

 

Notice that this list begins with the Torah, so obviously the Torah should be the starting place for all believers. Also notice that the Torah lays the blueprint for obedience and worship while all the other portions of the scripture simply magnify, elaborate on, and explain the Torah. The Bible is all about the Torah; the rest is just commentary. Reread this list to understand more:

 

1) The Torah

 

Explains how man should live

 

2) The Prophets

 

Calls man back to the Torah and a lifestyle of worship

 

3) The Writings

 

Presents the Torah in person through the lives of individuals

 

4) The Gospels

Explains how the Torah is intended to be interpreted and obeyed through the Messiah’s life and teachings

 

5) The Acts of the Apostles

 

Portrays how the Torah teaching of the Savior spread

 

6) The Letters

 

Comments on how congregations should follow and teach Torah observance of Messiah and place trust solely in Him

 

7) The Apocalypse

 

Shows how the Torah reveals the end of days

 

Surely, it must be clear that there is an accurate line of teaching throughout the Bible. “Thus he showed me: and, behold, YHWH stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand,” Amos 7:7. This line never contradicts itself, rather it proves itself through one message: “And Yahshua answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; Yahweh our Elohim is one: And thou shalt love the Yahweh thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these,” Mark 12:29-31.

 

Have you ever wondered how to love the Almighty with all you heart and how exactly you are to love your neighbor as yourself? Well, the answers are found in the Torah! Through having the Torah as your basis for belief you will love Yahweh with all your heart and you will love your neighbor as yourself.

 

Everything you do, everything you say, everything you wear, everything you eat, everything you pray, and everything you believe should find its origin in the Torah. Only through obeying and studying the Torah will you find meaning and understanding in the remaining 61 books of the Bible.

 

Never Ending

 

Remember Isaiah 40:8?

 

“ The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our Elohim (Hebrew word for Supreme Being) shall stand forever,” Isaiah 40:8.

 

Understand that when Isaiah said this the only Scriptures the believers had was the Torah of Moses. So, if you believe that this verse is true then you must believe that all the teachings, commandments, and principles in the Scriptures are for you. They haven’t passed away. In fact, this verse says that they shall “stand forever.”

 

Man has created the doctrine of the dispensationalism.

 

Dispensationalists teach that part of the Bible was for yesterday while part of it is for today. This is totally opposite of what the Scriptures themselves teach in 1 Peter 1:25, “but the word (Torah) of YHWH endureth for ever,” and in Psalm 119:142, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”

 

If the word is eternal (which it is) that means it was to be followed yesterday, is to be obeyed today, and should be kept tomorrow.

 

According to Ezekiel 36:26 this obedience to the Torah is to flow from a heart of love and not obligation. Our Savior based His complete life and ministry on the Torah given by the Almighty Father. He did not negate it nor abolish it. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished,” Matthew 5:17 & 18. Heaven and earth have not disappeared so then the Torah should still be followed.

 

Some Examples

 

So, we’ve established that to properly comprehend and interpret the Bible as whole document one must be firmly rooted in the Torah. In light of this teaching, maybe your faith seems to be teetering a little like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If so, began today digging up the false foundation that has been laid and replace it with a firm concrete-like base of the Torah. The difference you will experience will bring freedom to your life like you never known before. And questions you have pondered for years will seemingly be answered through viewing the Scriptures in light of the Torah.

 

To help you do so, here are a few examples to allow you to see in living color how a foundation in the Torah leads to a correct understanding of some tough Bible verses:

 

Verse: Romans 14:14, “I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean.”

 

Improper Understanding: ALL food is ok to eat, regardless of what the Old Testament says. The kosher laws have passed away.

 

Torah Interpretation: The Torah makes it clear that some animals may be eaten by man for food while some are not to be eaten. Through viewing this verse according to the Torah, one would understand that is means “that no food NOT MENTIONED IN THE TORAH is unclean in itself.” The kosher commands did not pass away with Paul’s letters. What the Torah calls clean is clean and what the torah calls unclean is still unclean. Besides that, as this verse in Romans teaches, let each man choose for himself.

 

Verse: Colossians 2:16, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.”

 

Improper Understanding: It doesn’t matter what day you worship on, whether or not you keep the Biblical festivals, or what you eat or drink. We should not judge each other’s spiritual convictions. No one should look down on you if you don’t worship on the Sabbath or celebrate the New Moon.

 

Torah Interpretation: Yahweh is presented in the Torah as VERY picky as to what day is He worshipped on. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. On it you shall not do any work…,” Exodus 20:9 & 10. What this verse is really saying is that believers should not be judged by other believers for keeping the Torah! The teachings of New Moon celebrations, kosher eating, and festival celebrating have not changed. NOWHERE in the Bible is the day of worship changed from Saturday to Sunday – this was man’s doing. See Numbers 10:10 for more on the New Moons.

 

Verse: Luke 22:19, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.”

 

Improper Understanding: The Savior was instituting the service of “communion” at this point, commanding believers to remember His sacrifice weekly or monthly. When taken the bread and wine actually become the blood and body of the Messiah.

 

Torah Interpretation: What was taking place in this verse was nothing new! Read in context you can see that Yahshua and his disciples were celebrating the Passover with a Seder meal. Luke 22:8 explains, “And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the Passover, that we may eat.” This Passover meal, which includes unleavened bread and wine, is commanded in Exodus 12:2:24, “And ye shall observe this thing (Passover) for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.” Yahshua was the disciples that they were to remember HIM when they took the Passover ONCE a year. The Passover was NOT replaced with Easter.