Page 37 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2010

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“DO NOT THINK THAT I CAME TO DESTROY THE LAW..I DID NOT COME TO DESTROY
BUT TO FULFILL FOR ASSUREDLY I SAY TO YOU…ONE JOT OR ONE TITLE WILL BY NO

MEANS PASS FROM THE LAW TILL ALL IS FULFILLED.”
Matt. 5:17-18

The above statement of Jesus is not a stand alone validation for New Testament
believers to be “Torah compliant” as some in this Torah Messianic movement

zealously teach. Rather, context will reveal this is the introductory verse that launched
Jesus into making stark, comparisons between what was “…said to those of old” and

the more complete understanding Jesus brings in saying, “But I say unto you.” The
fulfillment of the Law of which Jesus speaks cannot take place apart from embracing
the deeper and fuller revelation Jesus brings to the contents of “Torah law.” What is
contained in the isolated Torah is INCOMPLETE revelation and therefore, is not to be
the primary focus of Gentile New Testament believers, as some modern-day Torah-

based teachers seek to establish.

Yes, there are types and shadows in the law from which we can learn. However, a shadow is a dark
resemblance to the real thing. Follow a shadow and it will lead you to the real and true image of what it
merely resembles. Such was Paul’s teaching pertaining to the contents of Torah law:

“FOR THE LAW,

HAVING A SHADOW
OF THE GOOD THINGS TO COME,

AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE
OF THE THINGS…”
Heb. 10:1

“…LET NO ONE JUDGE YOU IN FOOD OR
IN DRINK, OR REGARDING A FESTIVAL
(FEAST DAY), OR A NEW MOON OR
SABBATHS,

WHICH ARE A SHADOW
OF THINGS TO COME,

BUT THE SUBSTANCE IS OF CHRIST.”
Col. 2:16-17

Paul taught the Feasts of the Lord to Gentile believers. However, neither he nor Jesus taught them to be

“Torah-observant” to the letter of Torah law. Look carefully at the above once more. Paul is using the

law to teach “the good things to come” that are in Christ. He did not teach Gentiles to observe a “Seder

dinner” according to Rabbinical Judaism, nor did he teach Gentiles to purge physical leaven out of their

physical houses at the Feast of Unleavened Bread as Judaism does even to this day. Rather Paul took

what was contained as “shadows” in the law, and like Jesus, he revealed the Spirit behind the letter of

the law: “…DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT A LITTLE LEAVEN LEAVENS THE WHOLE LUMP?

THEREFORE PURGE OUT THE LEAVEN, THAT YOU MAY BE A NEW LUMP, SINCE YOU ARE TRULY
UNLEAVENED. FOR INDEED CHRIST, OUR PASSOVER, WAS SACRIFICED FOR US. THEREFORE LET
US KEEP THE FEAST, NOT WITH OLD LEAVEN, NOR THE LEAVEN OF MALICE AND WICKEDNESS,
BUT WITH THE UNLEAVENED BREAD OF SINCERITY AND TRUTH.” 1 Cor. 5:6-8

These were Gentile believers like you and me. The Feasts of the Lord from the Torah law of Leviticus 23
became teaching aids to point his New Testament Gentile believers to a fuller understanding of Christ
and how a Christian is to live his/her life. You can study Torah law 24 hours a day and you will NEVER
come to the revelational conclusions that Paul gives to the meaning of these two Feast days any more
than you could ever come to the revelational interpretations that Jesus gave to the contents of Torah
law. The New Testament contains superior knowledge pertaining to God’s laws-period! This is why Paul
makes emphatic challenges to believers in his day who were listening to the Judaizers who sought to
place them under obligation to the law of Moses (see front page again from Acts 15).

“THIS ONLY I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU: DID YOU RECEIVE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW,
OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH? ARE YOU SO FOOLISH?

HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT, ARE YOU NOW BEING MADE PERFECT BY THE FLESH?…
THE LAW WAS OUR TUTOR TO BRING US TO CHRIST. BUT AFTER FAITH HAS COME, WE ARE NO LONGER

UNDER A TUTOR…THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK…YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS”
Gal. 3:2-3, 24-28