The Logical Implication
“therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.” Matthew 23:3
All – David called YHWH Lord. King David put himself under the rule of his God, proclaiming that he was the slave of his Master. Because David obeyed the commands of his Sovereign, he was able to seek refuge in the household of the Most High. Masters care for their slaves. Slaves are known by their fidelity and obedience. That seems pretty clear, doesn’t it? So, what happens when we apply the same logic to Yeshua’s place in our lives?
Here is a statement by our Sovereign Lord. “Listen to the teaching of the Pharisees. Do what they tell you. Just don’t be a hypocrite. Actually practice what they preach.” Here are some of the implications:
1. The Pharisees taught that both the written Torah and the oral Torah expressed God’s requirements for holy living.
2. The Pharisees passed the oral Torah from one generation to another through personal training.
3. Jesus tells his disciples to practice and observe all that the Pharisees teach.
4. Yeshua endorsed both the written and oral Torah – and he upheld both in His actions.
5. If we are servants (slaves) of our master Yeshua, we must follow His instructions.
6. Yeshua instructs us to observe the teaching of the Pharisees.
7. Therefore, we are to follow both the written and the oral Torah.
8. In this way, we will be recognized as “zealous” followers of our King.
Seems pretty straightforward, doesn’t it? If there’s an error in the logic, please point it out. Yeshua does not say that the teachings are set aside. He says that the hypocrisy that characterized some of the Pharisees must be eradicated, but we are to observe and do everything they taught. That means scrupulous adherence to the written Word of God and the body of traditions that accompany it.
Can this be right? Do you think that Yeshua will say to us, “I never knew you,” when we protest that we did all kinds of wonderful things in His name, but simply didn’t follow His direction in this case because we decided that it wasn’t for us? Who’s the slave and who’s the Master?
Do you even know what the Pharisees taught, or have you swallowed the Christian “tradition” that the Pharisees were the enemy? It certainly doesn’t seem as though our Master thought that way, does it?
Oh, yes, and by the way, the Greek word here is panta, and it really does mean “all.”
Topical Index: Matthew 23:3, all, panta, traditions, oral Torah, Torah, slave
Now, we need to know what they actually taught during Yeshua’s time. Are you going to share these teachings with us? There’s a lot of oral tradition and some of it doesn’t seem too kosher.
Skip: Let me agree with the prior post – I don’t presume to know all that the contemporary Pharisees of Jesus time taught or followed. My comment therefore logically follows from not only your post but also the comment by Robin. I am a 50 year old male, married and with three children. I live in a Hellenized world and recognize that I have been enculturated and am first a Gentile (saved and grafted in) and second Greek-ified. Your teaching takes us all to the precipice but doesn’t pull the trigger. The Rabbi teaching Torah to his students would tell us precisely what it is God would require. While the Rabbi cannot make me yield he can make help me to know and comprehend what it is God requires. I have the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit but am still not clear as to what specifically are the instructions for me. Do I need to go find them myself? Excluding the “instructions” (Torah) that would not apply to me – i.e. Levitical priesthood, women, children – what exactly are the instructions that the Master would ask me to follow today? Since your position and station in life is similar to mine (married male), what instructions do you “list” as applicable to you and follow?…as my engineer-turned-pastor used to say: “Now that I have the data, what am I supposed to do with it?” Kind of goes back to an original post my wife asked: “If I am to observe the “Torah” what exactly is the “Torah” for me?”
Skip, now we need the book “Greek believer in a Hebrew faith!”
When I came to understand the differences in Greek and Hebrew perspectives, I was so anxious and distressed I didnt know what to do. The Jewish teachers are few and far between (and I have known and been taught by Bob Gorelik for some years now) . The time is not yet here when they take their place as teachers, but it has begun.
The resurgence of the Messianic Jewish community began in the mid-20th century, there is little to no history of them since the 4th century. So this is the beginning of a new time. We have been called to rediscover the Scriptures – gentiles studying Hebrew Scripture. How many will live and die without knowing? Don´t you wonder why we are members of this tiny community, why God has selected us? I do all the time.
Our pastors and churches have not made mistakes on purpose. We (gentiles) have not had adequate instruction, and for centuries now – millenia – have done as best we can to preach the gospel as well as we could. Our missionaries have suffered and died, the American continents are Christian (very “greekly” so), but no one rejects Christ. I can assure you it´s easier to teach Scriptures here (I´m in Honduras) than in, say, Asia.
We have a lot to learn. Let´s rejoice at being not only chosen, but chosen to understand and teach what has been correctly taught to us. And let´s be patient with ourselves while we learn. God chose the time to reveal Himself to us in this way. He´s patient. He knows some of us – me – are slower learners. Let´s be merciful and REST in the certainty that we are exactly where He wants us to be.
And of course, it takes some time to learn classical Hebrew. I´m sure by now you know there is no other way to read the Bible.
Brother,
Let me recommend to you First Fruits of Zion [ffoz.org] , an organization dedicated to teaching Torah from a ‘mesianic’ perspective. While I don’t agree with everything they say, they do have several gifted speakers/writers and publish many wonderful teachings.
Their Torah Club Vol 1 is an excellent source of going through the whole Torah and how to apply its teachings to our lives- what they call ‘halacha’, or our ‘walk’. Ultimately that is what our learning is all about- how to apply it to our lives. Walk in His blessings. 🙂
How does the Oral Torah prevent the distortion that comes from messages being passed down a line of individuals who inadvertantly or otherwise change even one word?
So how does the oral torah prevent the distortions that come from messages being passed down a line of individuals?
the “law” provides two functions. First, it is a “schoolmaster” to bring us to Christ. By looking closely at all the requirements of the law (at last count somewhere around 613?- but for sake of ease let’s stick with just “the ten.” I cannot say I have “kept” all of these or any of these for that matter. I am guilty, guilty, and guilty. The Book says “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” The original purpose of “the law” was (according to Romans 3:19) :
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Guilty, guilty, guilty- all have sinned. If all the wrong I have ever done in my entire life here on the planet was to steal a pencil, that one (apparently) teensy sin would keep me from heaven. Why? because heaven is a perfect, sinless place. (made for sinners too BTW.) The sin question (what do I do about my sin before a G-d who is holy?) is settled by the son question- “who is this king of glory?” What can wash away my sin? (I believe you know the answer). The first purpose of “the law” is to expose sin and to define the fact: “all have sinned.”
Before we look at “part two” we need to stop right here in the middle and become “born again”. This is where the blood sacrifice and atoning work of Calvary’s lamb enters the picture. Yes, “believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved (rescued, delivered).
Now for part three. Our sick and sinful condition has been discovered and found out by exposure to the glaring perfection and standard of G-d’s law. We are sinners. And speaking for myself, always have been and always will be (a sinner). The difference now being I am a sinner “saved” (delivered, rescued) by the grace of G-d. I am now today a blood-bought, heaven bound, Holy Spirit sealed, child of the King of all kings and still today very capable of making wrong choices and having wrong attitudes, and (sinning even though I am thoroughly “born again” and yes if I am a child of His, then He is my Father. Yeshua taught us, “when you pray, say “our Father”. Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called the children of G-d! (is it ok if I am amazed at this?) Now that I have been delivered from the Prince of Posers and set free from the grasp of sin, I have been given the awesome ability and capability of actually making right choices and knowing how to live as to please (not placate) our Savior/G-d. And where are these “directions for living” found? Back to the Book. “He has shown thee O man, what is good.” We need to “hearken” to the words of the shema, Hear (listen and obey) O Israel, the LORD our G-d is one. The Bible has rightly been referred to as “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of G-d. We have the written word. We have the spoken word and we have now living in each follower of the Way, the Living Word himself. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light (that which reveals) and reproofs of instruction are the way of life. The same words which once condemned me have now been “made alive” in me and are working within me for the purpose of conforming me to the image of the Son. twant to be like my Savior. A man of virtue, strength,mercy and compassion. My G-d is a Lover and a Giver. Take a second look at the Book of books and discover today a life you never knew existed. Yeshua (His name means salvation) has said, “I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. Not only do we have His words with us, but we also have the Author of the book living within us, His Holy Spirit (breath) leading us, and the loving Father above us. Failure? We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.. Fear? 366 times.. “fear not”. Foes? (more like flies..) But thanks be unto G-d which giveth us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ. Great is the LORD and His greatness is unsearchable. “in Christ (the Author of the law) shall all be made alive..”
Yes, the oral Torah does seem, in places, to be influenced by Greek thinking and cultural bias. So, it must always be checked against the written Torah. But the fact that the written Torah implies the existence of the oral Torah cannot be doubted, nor can the fact that Yeshua and Paul both claimed to have followed it. So, I suppose that means we have to dig some more. We might find things that don’t square with the written Torah – for example, some of the comments on the role of women – but we can’t just push aside 2500 years of thinking about the Word of God. Golly, it’s getting so complicated. 🙂
Peace, my sisters and brothers. God is gentle and patient. He leads. We follow. Even rabbit holes have their purposes.
Skip
Ah, good question. Let’s start with some simple things – like what are the Torah commandments. Here is a link to one list http://www.mechon-mamre.org/jewfaq/613.htm
Here is another link http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm (maybe a bit easier to grasp). Anyway, you will soon see that a vast majority do not apply and that a large number of the ones that do apply, you are already doing. So, we start with the simple and move forward from there, adopting as we go, changing as we can, all with gratitude for God does not wish us to obey out of legislated obligation but out of thankfulness and joy. He does not desire the sacrifice of bulls and goats but rather the sacrifice of the heart.
I will have to write more about this pretty soon, won’t I?
Skip
Here’s the secret to consistency in the oral tradition. COMMUNITY! The elaboration and explanation and expansion is never done by one person or one opinion. The rabbis argued for generations over some of these things but they never broke unity. They agreed to disagree until a final solution was obtained that resolved the dispute (unlike Protestant denominations). In things essential – unity. In things not essential – tolerance. But Rabbi Paul clarifies what this means in practical matters in his letter to the q’halah in Rome. Those who have found freedom are to willingly give it up in order to prevent a weaker brother from falling. This is the reverse of our usual thinking (let those who are blind see). No, we are to close our eyes so that we can “see” as the blind if that’s what it takes to keep unity.
Skip
Skip, first of all, let me say that I look forward to reading your teachings each day, we see eye to eye on most things; however, I must disagree with you on this teaching.
Exodus 24:3-4 says: “And Moses came and told the people all the words of YHWH, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which YHWH hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of YHWH………”
Deuteronomy 4:2 says: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YHWH YOUR Elohim which I command you.”
The Pharisees interpreted the writings of Moses and then attempted to build a fence around them so that no one violated the Torah, but they were adding to YHWH’s commands and no one is authorized to do this.
Yeshua violated the oral torah on purpose…just to show that no one can add to YHWH’s Word!
I have read in two separate places that Matthew 23:3 is mis-translated and that the real intent of Yeshua’s words can be extracted from the Hebrew version of the book of Matthew.
(Rood and Bennett)
Supposedly, it reads: “Therefore, whatever he (Moses) tells you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
At this point in my walk, this seems to make more sense to me, but I will still look forward to your teachings each day, because no two people agree on everything, and I agree with you more often than not! Thanks
I agree with Floyd’s disagreement! 😉
I cannot argue strongly about the Hebrew version Floyd mentions (Dultellit-?sp- version) because these copies come from the1300’s and we do not know their source. That being said, most scholars agree that Mathew was originally written in Hebrew and then translated into Greek.
Given that Yahushua multiple times transgresses the traditions of the Pharisees (their oral Torah) and apparently so teaches His disciples, He must not agree with their conclusions (their traditions) nor felt obligated to obey them. Thus the understanding of doing “what he (Moses) says” makes the most sense to me. Following the example of my Master, I too do not feel obligated to follow the teachings/traditions/opinions of men. They are not in the ketubah/marriage-contract [aka- the Torah] my fore-fathers agree to.
It is really the multitude of rulings of the sages that turned what was not a burden (the Torah) into a grievious burden. So much so that in the land of Israel today many Jews reject their faith because of the heavy burden that the additional applications bring to bear.
That being said we also know that both Yahushua taught and kept many of the traditions, so we should not be too hasty in tossing them out. But we should examine them to see if they are consistant with Torah and Messiah. 😎
An example in our own home is doing “kadush” (blessing of the bread and wine) every ‘erev Shabbot’ (Fri night as the Sabbath starts) which is a Jewish tradition. Tradition says that it was taught to Abram by Melechtzedek [Gen 14:17-24] and done every erev Shabbot since. We find a lot of Biblical significance that this “King of Righteousness” (Melechtzedek), King of peace (he was king of Salem)and priest of GOD Most High brought blessings of bread and wine to our forefather-Abraham, and Yahushua would explain their deeper significance at the Last Supper. It is also a good way to set-apart the Sabbath day as we are commanded to do. 😀 We find great joy and significance in this tradition and choose to take it on in order to keep the mitzvah (commandment). ——We do not feel everyone has to do this though (you can set the Sabbath apart in other ways). 🙂
Thanks for adding Bennett’s interpretation of the verse. To continue the discussion, it is quite obvious that the written Torah implies an oral Torah. Just consider the building of the Tabernacle. With the written instructions alone (which occupy more Torah space than any other single project), no one could actually figure out how to put it all together or design all the pieces. There must be an oral communication along with the written one. You will find the same thing when it comes to the proper procedure for sacrifice. And on and on. So, the rabbis realized that there was an oral Torah and, in the first century, this oral Torah was accepted as authoratative. Does this mean that there were no errors in it? No. If you read the Talmud or the Siddur or other ancient documents now written down, you will find the influences of Hellenism, cultural bias and mistaken interpretation. But, this does not mean that the first century Jewish Torah-observant believer threw out the oral tradition. Paul didn’t. He could never have done so for he claims to be a Pharisee of the Pharisees – that is, completely observant of the Pharisee position and the Pharisees accepted both the oral and written Torah.
Of course, you’re right about the accumulation of material by men over thousands of years now deposited in the Talmud, etc. But we are really interested in the circumstances during the time when our Lord walked the earth since living as he lived means knowing what he knew. Yes, he did raise issues with some of the Pharisees’ interpretation of the Torah and some of the traditions, but almost always the discussion is over the priority of Torah responsibility or a gross hypocrisy in application. Each text must be reviewed. There is room here for debate within the unity of knowing that we are all seeking to be obedient. There has always been debate over some of this stuff. Only a Greek wants all the final answers now.
I have read Bennett’s suggested interpretation of the passage in Matthew. I’m just not sure about it. But I also know that the New Testament is commentary on the Older Testament, so I look for Yeshua to clarify the true meaning and the correct priority of the traditions. Where he doesn’t, I am left with open-minded discussion. I just am not willing to throw out 3500 years of thinking about God’s Word simply because it was passed down by men.
This is all good thinking. We have a long way to go, don’t we? Won’t it be nice to some day sit at the feet of the Great Rabbi Yeshua HaMashiac and learn how it all fits together?
Skip
Skip, I hope and think you are wrong on this one!
I agree with Floyd. I believe Yeshua deliberately violated and spoke against the additions (and subtractions) of the Pharisees. I believe Paul WAS a pharisee of pharisees but was not one any longer. Wasn’t part of the oral tradition the pharisees to hate Gentiles? Samaritans? Paul bitched Peter out when Peter stopped eating with the Gentiles when other Jews came. Was Peter following the oral teachings? Was Paul?
Yeshua specifically renounced the “traditions (and teachings) of men” in Mark 7 where He says “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'[a] 8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” 9And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe[b] your own traditions!
I think the reason Yeshua says to the Jews of His day “come unto me” day was to relieve them of the terrible burdens the Pharisees laid on the people. He said elsewhere that the Pharisee’s search everywhere for one disciple and then make them into worse persons than they are. (I can’t find the reference. Sorry.)
Peter said, at the Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15:12) “Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?” He said this in direct response to assertions by Pharisees. Peter also got into trouble with the Pharisees for going to “uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Acts 11:2-3.
I think Bennet has it right on this one. The oral tradition is just that. Traditions of men.
Brother Pat,
I think we agree in a matter of degree. 😉
I caution to remind you of two things: 1) NOT ALL of the oral traditions handed down are tradtions of men. Certainly there are oral instructions the Almighty gave to Moses which he passed on. The problem is determining which these are from Moses, verses sources without the direct revelation that Moses received.
2) The Holy One can inspire the sages of Israel even as He did the Apostles, and it would be foolish to totally disregard much of their wisdom contained within the Talmud. Neither Yahushua or Peter forsook all oral traditions, therefore many of them had to be worthy. The issue again is to develope the discernment to decide which is inspired enough to take on oneself. I believe the best way is to study the Word we have received in prayer and then decide on the teachings of others.
Personally I am on my eighth Torah cycle and still trying to understand the whole Word of YHWH and do not have the energy to delve into the Talmud except in a limited way. I do read/listen-to others who do, but currently I only take on what I feel is strongly Scriptural. 🙂
It seems clear to me, that Jesus is instructing us to obey the Torah. The difficulty is in determining the “fences” created to insure obedience. I think the “fences” have changed in 2000 years and as a community, we might be well served to attempt to come together and offer suggestions as to what are proper boundaries today to insure compliance with the written Torah.
I read the Torah Club material too. Like Tom, I don’t agree with all of it, but it is an EXCELLENT place to start. Five years of study, one week at a time.
Skip
I guess you are right Tom.
But having “the energy to delve into the Talmud” sure sounds like a heavy burden and yoke that I can’t imagine Yeshua was talking about. Or John, when he said His commandments were not burdensome. Or Moses and Paul when they say, “It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”
I think He would be pleased if we got the Torah pretty well down in our lifetimes? Seems plenty to this Greek becoming Hebrew! 🙂
For us, the burden of recapturing a lost culture and perspective is heavy. But for the first century Jew, who grew up with all this stuff in the very air, it certainly was not a burden. Think of it like this. Is it a burden for you to understand the rules, plays and calls in an American football game? Of course not. You never even think about it – until you watch the game with someone from Singapore who knows nothing about American football. Then you see someone struggling to understand. That’s like us with the Talmud. We have to spend a lot of catch-up time before it becomes a part of our ethos.
Skip
All the rules of football are clearly written down and agreed to by everyone playing.
I see far more support for Yeshua and the apostles being radically against the adding to or subtracting from the Torah, ala the Pharisees. Seems the Talmud the oral law, or whatever it was called at the time, would be speciifically mentioned at least once? Seems a HUGE assumption that we would/should/could take on the burden of thousands of extra (extra-biblical?) laws that Yeshua and others seem to lump into “a burden which neither we nor or our forefathers could bear.” Using the Talmud as commentary to understand more of the Torah perhaps is useful to scholars but putting that Yoke on people seems totally contrary to all Yeshua did and taught.
I agree with Bennett that Yeshua did not say, “Do what the Pharisees teach…” when He spent a large portion of His life actually trying to offend those who taught those very traditions.
Lots more to talk about here, but it will have to wait now until I am finished with this next class. Next week hopefully. It might not be such a big burden as you think.
Skip