Post by burt on Sept 30, 2020 2:10:30 GMT -6
It was our debt to God because of our sin that was nailed to the cross.
Jesus's yoke is not the Torah. The verse says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me." (Matt 11:29) Yoked together means that you are connected - walking side by side. They were yoked to the Law or yoked to the Pharisees' teachings. Now they could be yoked to Christ. "Learn from Me" He would teach them what it means to be in relationship with God.
Acts 15 The Pharisees come and say that the new (Gentile) believers must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law. Peter says, "Why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?" Acts 15:10 (the yoke of keeping the Law/Torah) He goes on to say, "Therefore my judgement is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:19-20.
All praise, honor and glory to YaHoVaH
I’d like to discuss your post point by point, if I may:
1. First, it was not the doctrines and dogmas of men that were nailed to the cross.
If we look at Colossians 2:14 we see that “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
We can find reference in Ephesians 2:15 “Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”
I believe you used the ESV, but either way, the Greek word used in both Scriptures is “dogma” (Strongs 1378). Why does Ephesians 2:15 point out ...”law of commandments contained in ordinances...”? It literally reads “law of commandments by dogma”. Dogma is from the word Dokeo which means - to be of opinion, think, suppose, to seem, to be accounted, reputed; it seems to me, I think, judge: thus in question, pleased me, I determined
note: I have to confess, by the grace of Yeshua, that I have been guilty of this sin. I have at times judged brethren in my heart for what I considered not keeping His instructions. The sin was NOT/is NOT His instructions (His Torah) but rather my sin of judging the brethren. It’s for me to speak His Torah and do His Torah out of love for Him, not judge.
Pharisaic Judaism concerns Takkanot in which the ruling class makes the determination of how to live by the Torah (YaHoVaH’s instructions) according to what their opinion is, what they suppose and judge, what pleases them by their determination. Dogma. Dogma that is contrary to us (Colossians 2:14) because it calls for us to follow the Torah by man’s determination (I.e. the flesh).
Paul makes it clear in Romans 7 & 8 that we follow the Torah by the Spirit, not the flesh. “For I delight in the Torah of YaHoVaH after the inward man.”
We strive to follow His instructions (Torah) out of love BECAUSE He redeemed us by His shed blood (by the Spirit, inward man), not as a means of earning redemption (by dogma of man, the flesh).
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2. Jesus's yoke is not the Torah. The verse says, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me." (Matt 11:29) Yoked together means that you are connected - walking side by side. They were yoked to the Law or yoked to the Pharisees' teachings. Now they could be yoked to Christ. "Learn from Me" He would teach them what it means to be in relationship with God.
Torah is the Hebrew word for instruction. “Take my yoke upon you and learn of me”.
Psalm 119 (all of it)
They were yoked to Pharisaic Judaism, correct. Acts 15:10 “Now therefore why tempt ye YaHoVaH, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?”
“... for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
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Acts 15 The Pharisees come and say that the new (Gentile) believers must be circumcised and ordered to keep the Law. Peter says, "Why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?" Acts 15:10 (the yoke of keeping the Law/Torah) He goes on to say, "Therefore my judgement is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:19-20.
Acts 15:1-11 is pointing out the difference in following YaHoVaH’s instructions (Torah) by the Spirit, or circumcision of the heart vs Pharisaic Judaism’s “keeping of the law by the flesh” represented by circumcision of the flesh requirement for salvation.
YaHoVaH has ALWAYS expected circumcision of the heart.
Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6
Isaiah 28:9
Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
This is why new believers are taught the basics (milk) and then, as the rest of the passage in Acts 15 states [the Torah is taught every sabbath], they would grow into the deeper parts of the Torah as they were taught every sabbath from the Torah.
”...here a little, and there a little. Line upon line. Precept upon precept”
Humbly in His love,
Brett