“One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.”
–Romans 14:5-6 TLV
 
Introduction:
 
At this time of year the inevitable Christmas objectors rear their ugly heads. Being a Jewish Messiah follower and spiritual leader, and given my clear teaching in refutation of the “Pagan Christmas” lie, I usually receive a number of angry messages and or responses to posts on the subject. These messages are full of twentieth century evidence (not evidence at all), emotionalism and personal attacks and the majority of the reactionary messages are from pseudo learned so called “Messianic Gentiles”.
 
The Messianic movement has now been so heavily inundated with hyper-law keeping Gentiles that it no longer truly represents the Jewish followers of Yeshua. As Messiah following Jews we are appalled at the nonsense taught by many Messianic Gentiles and some Messianic Jewish leaders, who do not represent the freedom we have found in Yeshua but rather, are teaching as the laws of God, the doctrines of human beings, flesh born, unspiritual.
 
As a result of the demise of the genuine Jewish Messianic movement, our congregation now call ourselves “Messiah following” rather than “Messianic”. This is a decision made to clearly distinguish ourselves from the foolish teaching of so many.
 
I am bemused by the hypocrisy which has developed among hyper-law communities. I have heard them denounce the Talmud for being myth and conjecture, uninspired and full of made up stories and flawed theology, while they themselves teach as truth that which is not true. Christians have their Talmud, full of rapture theory, love languages, self-help, misinterpretation. So too do Hebrew roots groups, and Messianics, with their anti-birthday, anti-Christmas, everyone must keep Sabbath, we are the true called out Church nonsense.
 
How ironic that the Messianic anti-Christmas movement, which prides itself on living a faith that is connected to Hebrew roots and consistent with the Jewish Messiah Yeshua, has nonetheless taken its que for the denigration of Christmas from a gentile protestant.

The anti-Christmas movement essentially began in the eighteenth century CE, 1500 years after Christians began to celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December. The anti-Catholic German protestant Paul Ernst Jablonski (1693-1757) attempted, through pseudo scholarly works (1743), to prove that December 25 was somehow pagan and therefore Christmas was a pagan celebration and Catholicism is heretical.

His facts were false and his conclusions error but his work tickled the ears of protestants and puritans (a subgroup), the majority of whom hated the Catholic Church. Thus, out of hatred for Catholicism, and not from Scripture, the “modern” anti-Christmas movement was born. It has ebbed and flowed through the last two centuries and has now found new proponents among the Messianic movement. Rather than actually looking to the Scripture, and Jewish roots of our Jewish faith, we have taken the word of a man who based his theories on false facts, a Gentile no less, and have concluded that it is Jewish to be anti-Christmas. Actually, it couldn’t be more goyish (Gentile).
 
The truth is that for the most part modern Jews could care less about Christmas because 13.7 million of us believe Jesus to be a false demi-god of a Gentile religion that has nothing to do with our faith. Therefore, as a people and a religion Jews have little interest in being anti-Christmas.
 
But, for the Messiah following Jews of the first century the celebration of the birth of Yeshua had everything to do with being Jewish and with the redemption of Israel (so not remotely pagan, in fact, the opposite).
 
Several years ago, one of the beautiful ironies at work to refute the now metastasised anti-Christmas sentiment, was that at least one of the most common objections to the celebration of Christmas (it shouldn’t be celebrated on a date when a pagan deity was worshipped), was made impotent by the date of the Jewish observance of Chanukah (Rededication), which began on Christmas day, the 25th of December 2017. In 2017 the lunar Calendar of Israel coincided with the Gregorian calendar so that the 25th of Kislev and the 25th of December (a so called pagan date) became the same day.
 
The primary reason that I continue to speak out against the demonizing of Christmas, is the demoralizing effect that anti-Christmas sentiment has had on the community of believers (Ecclesia). I come across this message of bondage far too frequently among the wandering masses of Christianity, who, disillusioned with the shallow nature of their own faith, seek depth at the feet of pseudo-learned lay people and worse, professed Messianic Jewish Rabbis, many of whom dine on a steady diet of conspiracy theory, YouTube Bible teaching and conjecture.
 
My hope is that the following article will equip you for the practise of freedom in Messiah. A key aspect of the faith that has been sadly neglected by the para-church swing back to bondage on the rebound from hyper-grace. It has become more and more clear that in recent times the gift of the Holy Spirit most lacking in the western Ecclesia (Church) is that of discernment.
 
I am consistently told by certain Messianic extremists that I should not celebrate Christmas, worship on Sundays, use the name “Jesus,” etc. Though it must be said they are entirely misinformed regarding Christmas and the use of the name Jesus and fail to understand that all days belong to God; the more poignant issue is this, that they are so busy telling others what they shouldn’t do, that they are unable to articulate the freedom, wonders and depth of faith found in a Messiah essential Messianic Jewish Tradition. What’s more, the same celebrate extra Biblical festivals and break numerous other commands of Torah on a daily basis and are therefore, the greatest of hypocrites.
 
When we define ourselves by what we are not, we are repeating the error of our forebears both Jewish and Christian. Those we seek as converts to our way of thinking are instantly disillusioned, in our zeal we turn them away from the beauty and traditions we might otherwise have positively offered them. Often our fierce words of rebuke are based on poor historical knowledge, misinterpretation of Scripture, inaccuracies and myth; passed on by lazy teachers and blinded guides.
 
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” Mattitiyahu/Matthew 23:14-16
 
This is not who we are, it is who we were, before we met Messiah, but now, in Him, we are to be a light to the nations. It is time to stem the flow of darkness that is issuing from our mouths. We are, “A royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to G-d. That we might declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Kefa/Peter 2:9
 
If we continually define ourselves by what we are not, we will inevitably forget who we are.
 
Anti-Christmas Sentiment is Anti-Christ
 
It’s interesting to note that the list of Christmas objectors includes the Mormons, Jehovah’s witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Muslims, Conspiracy theorists, Hebrew roots groups, Messianic believers and atheists, among others.
 
“those who celebrate Christmas do not honor God or Christ, but honor pagan celebrations and pagan gods.” –The Watchtower Magazine (JW) Dec. 8 1988 (pg.19)
 
We must ask, why are cults and atheists some of the strongest opponents of Christmas? What is it that they share in common? There is one unifying answer, every pseudo Christian cult and atheist group agree on one thing, that Yeshua (Jesus) is not God with us (Imanu-El).
 
“Do not be deceived, evil communication (bad company) corrupts good character” -1 Corinthians 15:33 (The Bible)
 
The deity of Messiah is first revealed on earth in the Christmas narrative (Historical record: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7). His divine conception and His lineage are first illuminated in the Christmas accounts. To neglect the celebration and remembrance of the Christmas story is a means of cutting off the truth of Messiah’s divinity and His legitimate human lineage at its root, thus supporting the Satanic claims that Yeshua (Jesus) is just a man and at the same time does not qualify to be Israel’s Messiah. This is a direct attack on Messiah, the Christ, and is at its heart driven by a spirit of anti-Christ.
 
Refuting Common Objections to Christmas
 
First, let me repeat that generally speaking Jews do not object to Christians celebrating Christmas because for the most part Jews do not accept Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah.
 
Therefore, from their perspective Christmas is simply the religious practice of the Gentile Western world.
 
So who are these people within the faith community who are objecting to the celebration of Christmas? They are for the most part, disillusioned Christians, who, with great pride, claim to be Messianic. They are not Jews but they are Judaizers and because of their devote observance of human rules, consider themselves more righteous than the so called, “Apostate Church” they claim to have separated themselves from. As a Jew I find this extremely offensive because they are not only misrepresenting the message of the Messiah but they are also pretending to observe Jewish practices and thus often appear to be representing the Jewish view. They do not represent the Jewish view, nor do they represent the Messianic Jewish view. They simply represent themselves and their own confused attempts to earn God.
 
A Response to Some of the Most Common Objections to Christmas
 
Some popular false claims regarding supposed Christmas syncretism with false gods:
​

Even if it were true that false deities were worshipped in similar ways to Yeshua prior to His birth, this does not detract from Yeshua Who is all existing and therefore pre-existed all these false deities (John 1:1). Nor does performing miracles equate false gods and holy men to Yeshua. The Bible teaches that the Anti-Messiah will perform miracles in an attempt to fool the elect (2 Thessalonians 2:9).
 
The misuse of something does not define its intended purpose! A counterfeit does not delegitimize the real thing.
 
Nor does it matter on which day Yeshua was born or if other deities were worshipped on that day. All days were created by God for His glory. Again, the misuse of a thing does not define its intended purpose!
 
1.Christmas is Pagan.
 
This generalisation is lazy and intellectually dishonest as well as being an oxymoron (self-contradicting).
 
In fact Christmas is the name of a Judeo-Christian celebration of the birth of Christ (Messiah). The name Christmas is a contraction made up of two words: Christ and mas.
 
Christ comes from the Greek Khristos and means anointed one, it was intended by the Jewish New Testament writers to convey the Hebrew title Mashiyach, which is often translated Messiah, both titles represent the anointed one of God, Who would be born into time and space to deliver His people Israel. So I guess you could say the first part of the name Christmas is pretty much Jewish.
 
Mass: the English term mass comes from the Anglo-Saxon word maesse, which came from the Latin missa, which is a form of the verb mittere, which means "to send." In Hebrew we would use the term neshlach—to send. Therefore the meaning of Christmas is, “Christ is sent,” or Mashiyach neshlach—Messiah is sent. In truth, the two concepts of anointing and sending are rooted deeply in Judaism and help make Christmas—in my opinion—as much a Jewish Holiday as Purim and Chanukah. So, is Christmas Pagan? Well, the name certainly isn’t.
 
Some say that the celebration of Christmas is part of a Satanic agenda. To the contrary, to be anti (Christmas) Christ being sent is more Satanic than all the so called pagan links to Christmas put together. If there is a Satanic (Pagan) agenda at work, it is the agenda that seeks to silence the celebrating of the birth of our Messiah: it’s literally an anti-Christ agenda.
 
I wish you a hearty, “Chag Sameach le’Mashiyach neshlach!” and a, “Chag Ha-molad Sameach!”
 
Christ = Messiah & mas (Sent)
Christmas = Messiah is Sent
 
2.The date of Christmas is a day on which pagan deities were worshipped. Therefore, Messianic believers shouldn’t celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December.
 
As clearly shown in my previous tables regarding the supposed correlation between false gods and Yeshua (Jesus), the majority of the proposed pagan deity connections to the 25th of December are false. In addition, we have the following:
 
The god Tammuz was celebrated in February, March, April, June and July. The “Wailing of Tammuz” was celebrated at the end of summer long before the winter solstice.
 
Saturnalia was celebrated from 17 – 23 December, not 25 December.
 
And then there’s the false claim that Christmas borrows from Natalis Sol Invictus (Birth of the Unconquerable Son) an addition to the Emperor cult syncretized from paganism.
 
Natalis Sol Invictus is celebrated on the 25th December (4th century), however…
 
While Aurelian made Sol Invictus an official religion in Rome in 274 CE, the December 25 connection to the religion is a later syncretism between Sol Invictus and Saturnalia that did not exist in the third century CE. The earliest reference to this pagan celebration on the 25th December is written by Macrobius Theodosius in the 4th century CE [j].
 
The Christian author Hippolytus of Rome (170-235 CE) writing prior to 235 CE suggested that Yeshua (Jesus) was born on December 25. [k] Therefore, according to the known historical record, the first Christian reference to a December 25th date for Messiah’s birth predates the pagan Sol Invictus celebration by over a hundred years. The only conclusion is that the Emperor of Rome borrowed from the Christian practice in order to syncretize the pagan practice, and not the other way around.
 
Put simply. Christians used the 25th of December prior to the Natalis Sol Invictus cult. Pagans adopted our date.
 
The logic of this objection is that any day used to worship a false god should not be used to worship the one true God. Nonsense! Prior to the giving of the Torah and the moedim (festivals) of HaShem at Sinai, Israel was under bondage in a land where the Sun deity Ra-Atum was worshipped every morning at dawn and every evening at sundown (365 days a year). Using the foolish logic of those who claim pagan deities defile days, every one of HaShem’s moedim (festivals) should not be celebrated because they fall on days when the pagan deity Ra-Atum was worshipped. Who made the days? On which of the days should the God of Israel not be worshipped? We are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory.
 
In the midst of all the rhetoric and conspiracy allegations aimed at the Gentile Church fathers of the 2nd Century regarding the so called pagan date of the 25th of December. Few Christmas objectors have bothered to consider the fact that the authentic fathers of the Church were Jews who lived over 100 years before the first records indicating syncretism, and would have been eager to celebrate the birth of the Jewish Messiah on a regular basis in a Jewish way and for at least 100 years, free from Gentile interference.
 
In fact the Jews have an intrinsic connection to the date of the 25th of December. Every four years or so Chanukah coincides with the 25th of December. In fact, last year in 2017 the first day of Chanukah 25th of Kislev coincided with the 25th of December. Those who claim that pagan connections to this date make the day unsuitable must either denounce Chanukah (A festival Yeshua venerated) or simply admit that they are in grave error.
 
Given that we have no way of knowing when Messiah was born either from Biblical or Historical record, who’s to say that the 25th of December is the wrong date? We don’t know the date, therefore we contradict ourselves by saying that the 25th is the wrong date.

Consider this, the 25th of Kislev of the Biblical lunar calendar of Israel which begins Chanukah (A festival of light/dedication) coincides with the 25th of December  of the Gregorian Solar calendar on a regular cycle. Therefore, if we are bound by conjecture, as so many anti-Christmas proponents are, we may as well conjecture that it is equally likely that the date of Christmas was simply transitioned from one calendar to another and that early Messianic Jews celebrated the birth of Yeshua (The Light of the World Who rededicated Israel to God) during the festival of Chanukah. Which, as we know, is in the winter months and regularly coincides with Christmas.
 
3. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Remember my death until I come", therefore, we should not celebrate Christmas.
 
The logic here is, that anything not explicitly commanded in Scripture should not be observed. This flawed logic makes a negative commandment out of a positive commandment. It is a self-defeating premise because Messiah’s death cannot be remembered without His birth into time and space.
 
Yeshua Himself observed Chanukah (John 10:22-41), a festival that is not commanded in Scripture.
 
If we pursue the foolish logic of this objection, we must also cease to celebrate Purim, Chanukah, the Torah cycle,  the resurrection, and the miracles of the Messiah. Therefore, if we fail to acknowledge the Messiah’s literal birth into the world we make His life and ministry redundant.
 
An instruction to remember something does not negate the remembrance of other things.
 
4.Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Messiah’s birth because birthday celebration is pagan.
 
Ancient Pagans celebrated weddings too, should we no longer celebrate weddings? The false Canaanite deity Shalem is said to have been worshipped on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem (Yebus) thousands of years before Solomon’s Temple was built there.[l] Does this mean the Temple Mount is Pagan? By applying the logic that we should do nothing that pagans do, we must also cease drinking water, procreating, even breathing.
 
Did Joseph and Mary not celebrate the birth of Yeshua? They did, are they pagan? Did the Jewish shepherds of the Migdal Eder (Temple flock) not celebrate Yeshua’s birth? They did, are we to call them pagan? Were the gifts of the magi not celebratory? If they were considered pagan, why did Joseph and Mary allow them to be presented to Yeshua?
 
Some go so far as to suggest that Jews don’t celebrate birthdays. What nonsense, they have obviously spent little time around Jews. Furthermore, Jews have honoured and celebrated birthdays from ancient times. Within the Tanakh (OT) there are numerous examples of the births of children being celebrated. One of the ways the birth of Jewish children is celebrated both in the Scripture and in modern Jewish life is with the naming ceremony, called a Brit Milah for Jewish boys (circumcision), and held eight days after the birth. The births of children are honoured throughout Scripture by placing a God given name on the child and/or choosing a name that expressed the character attributes exhibited by the child through the pregnancy and in the birthing process (Gen. 25:24-26; ). Hence, Yeshua (YHVH Saves)! One of the most famous Messianic prophecies of Isaiah is in fact a birthday celebration song:
 
“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given to us,
and the government will be upon His shoulder.
His Name will be called
    Wonderful Counsellor,
    Mighty God
    My Father of Eternity,
    Prince of Peace.
6 Of the increase of His government
    and shalom there will be no end--
on the throne of David and over His kingdom--
    to establish it and uphold it
    through justice and righteousness
    from now until forevermore.
The zeal of Adonai-Tzva’ot
    will accomplish this.”
-Isaiah 9:5-6
 
5.Yeshua (Jesus) wasn't born during the Christmas season, He was born during Sukkot (Festival of Booths).
 
No, there isn’t any conclusive way to determine the day or season of Messiah’s birth. We simply don’t have historical information that enables us to make an accurate assessment concerning the time of His birth. Those who presume to know are reliant on conjecture born from theological niceties and presumption. Am I saying Messiah was born on the 25th of December? Certainly not. Does it matter which day He was born? Given the lack of Biblical evidence citing exact dates and times for His birth I would hazard a guess that God doesn't want us to know the date or season of His Son’s birth. He probably has a very good reason for this. Learn to embrace the mystery of God, you don’t need to know everything, knowledge puffs up but love builds up.
 
With regard to the “Sukkot birth” claim, the census recorded in Luke 2:1-4 was the first of two, taken between 1 C.E. and 7 C.E. (It’s the latter of the two that is referred to in Acts 5:37). While Quirinius was not physically governing in Syria until 6 C.E., he was responsible for the oversight of its operations and defence under Varus, during Herod’s reign.
It’s important to remember that for the people of Israel, a census was considered an affront to God. The taking of a census denoted a lack of trust in God’s provision. This census therefore, was something they were forced to participate in under an oppressive Roman occupation. (See Exodus 30:12; 2 Samuel 24).
 
Beit-lechem (Bethlehem) is approximately 8 kilometres from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) and approximately 136 kilometres from Natzeret (Nazareth) in the Galil (Galilee).
Given that a majority of governors over the province of Philistia (Occupied Israel) were keen to avoid further uprisings and the causes for them, it is unlikely that a census would have been called during an Regalim (going up) festival of Israel (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot). In addition, a Jew could not be both in his ancestral town and in Yerushalayim at the same time. While Beit-lechem was close to Yerushalayim, the majority of Israel’s outer communities were more than two days journey from Yerushalayim, where the Temple stood.  This is just one of many reasons why a Sukkot birth for Messiah is extremely unlikely. In fact all of the Regalim festivals fall into this category. Therefore, it is more likely that Yeshua was born in the winter months.
 
Some misuse the following verse, claiming it proves a Sukkot birth:
 
“Now in the sixth month the messenger Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,” –Luke 1:26
 
There has been much needless conjecture relating to this text. Many who are desperate to claim a Sukkot birth for Messiah need to perform linguistic, contextual, chronological and cultural gymnastics—to name a few—in order to manipulate this date to fit their argument, something every good Bible student knows, is usually an indication that we’re headed in the wrong direction. It’s most likely that this “sixth month” refers to the time as counted from the conception of Yochanan (see verse 36), the problem with confirming the date this way is that we don’t know which of the two times of year that Aviyah’s (Zechariah’s clan) division was serving is intended by the narrative.
 
We’re not told at what point during the year that the 24 divisions began to serve but we can presume that they began in the seventh month, Tishrei, following the inauguration of Solomon’s temple. If this continued to be the practice and providing the beginning of their service was not initiated at the spiritual new year of Pesach or at the giving of the Torah during Shavuot (Which are also possibilities [even if this were the case the math still wouldn’t conclude a Sukkot birth]), then we would calculate that each of the 24 divisions would serve one week twice a year. If they performed their duties in order of selection, Aviyah’s (Zechariah’s clan) division would have performed its duties eighth, in the last week of Nisan and the last week of Cheshvan, with some anomalies caused by the lunar calendar this will have varied slightly. If we count from Nisan, the sixth month would be Tishrei. If this is the month of Messiah’s conception then He was born in the month of Sivan. If we count from Cheshvan we arrive at Iyar, which makes Messiah’s birth in the eleventh month of the Hebrew Calendar, Shevat. Neither date is even remotely close to Sukkot.

However, the sixth month could also refer to the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar Elul, which is the month prior to Tishrei, which again leaves us with Iyar as a possible birth date for Messiah.
 
Additionally because Luke is either a Greek proselyte or a Jew from the Greek Diaspora, he could also be referring to the sixth month of the Roman calendar. Regardless, any conclusion arrived at is pure conjecture. We have no definitive way of knowing when Yeshua was born.
 
Some say, “But He was born dwell with us, and John 1:14 says that He became flesh and sukkot (dwelt) in our midst.”
 
But the text of John 1:14 does not say that Messiah Sukkot with us, but that He Shakhan (from Mishkan) came as flesh, as a Tabernacle in our midst. Meaning, He was a human being Who was like the Tent of meeting (Mishkan) which once dwelt in the midst of Israel. Shakhan is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek Skaynoo. Both are verbs and NOT proper nouns. Sukkot is a proper noun that is unrelated to the Hebrew Shakhan.
 
While it is true that Messiah dwells with us, it is not proof of the date or season of His birth. Messiah is also the Lamb of God, that doesn’t mean He was born at Passover. He is the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin, that doesn’t mean He was born during Yom Kippur.
 
6.The feasts of the Torah were specifically commanded by God but Christmas wasn’t. Therefore Christians and Messianics shouldn’t celebrate Christmas.
 
It’s true, Christmas was not commanded by God: neither were Purim or Chanukah, and yet Yeshua venerated Chanukah and used it as a teaching platform—John 10:22-36. Therefore, based on the foolish logic of this objection, Yeshua sinned because He celebrated a festival that wasn’t specifically commanded by God. Utter nonsense!
 
Some claim that Yeshua’s veneration of Chanukah is an exception because He is God with us, but Yeshua is not the exception, He is the Rule! He is the first-born among many brothers (Rom. 8:29). We are called to be like Him.
 
David was not commanded by God to dance half naked before the Ark of the Covenant—which carried the tablets of stone upon which God had engraved His word—as he brought it into Jerusalem with music and rejoicing. His wife Michal criticized him for His shameless celebrating and as a result the Scripture says that she remained barren until her death. If David danced semi naked in celebration before the written word of God as it entered Jerusalem, how much more should we celebrate with great joy the entry into our world of the living Word Yeshua our Messiah, born of a virgin, born to save us from sin. Though we know not the day, we celebrate Him gladly, lest we become like those who begrudge others their joy and seek to imprison people in the bondage of the past! The warning is clear, we must not become like Michal: perhaps she was physiologically unable to conceive after this event? On the other hand perhaps her husband simply no longer approached her to be sexually intimate with her? Or worse still—and most likely—she may have continued to harden her heart until she no longer wanted to be around David. This is the dangerous road we walk when we neglect grace and follow rules born of the foolish arguments of human beings. When we harden our hearts through jealousy and false religion we become isolated and alone. Like Michal we might find our spiritual womb barren, not because we can’t conceive but rather because we have refused our Husband, whose name is Freedom and in turn have failed to be inseminated by His grace. Don’t let the misconceived theories of the pseudo-learned mislead you.
 
7.Shepherds in Israel don't tend their sheep in winter, therefore, the shepherds of the Christmas story can't have been tending their flocks in winter. Thus, a December date for Messiah's birth cannot be correct.
 
In fact, Israel’s sheep are shepherded throughout the year including the winter months. Even more importantly, the shepherds of the Christmas story (approx. 3 C.E.) were no ordinary shepherds. It’s an historical fact that there was a tower in close proximity to Beit-lechem, called Eder (flock), around which were pastured the flocks destined for the Temple sacrifices. The group of shepherds in charge of these flocks held a position of great esteem in Israel and were led by a Priest whose role was to ensure the production of unblemished animals that would be offered at the Temple in nearby Yerushalayim. These sheep were needed year round for the Temple sacrifices. Therefore, a winter date for Messiah’s birth is quite possible.
 
8.Christmas trees are pagan.
 
Are they? It’s true that pagan cultures have venerated trees and worshipped tree deities. However, these were living trees growing outside the home. Furthermore, those that did bring trees into the home or communal space, didn’t use them in the same way that Christmas trees are used today. For example, the yule tide log of the Norse culture was burned in the fire. These pagan examples do not equate to the cutting down of a tree for symbolic use during Christmas celebrations.
 
Some decontextualize and mis-quote the following scripture from Jeremiah:
 
How the Christmas tree objectors read it based on their presupposition:
 
“3 For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. 4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. 5 Such idols are  like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.”
 
What the full text actually says:
“3 For the religion of these people is worthless. They cut down a tree in the forest, and a craftsman makes it into an idol with his tools. 4 He decorates it with overlays of silver and gold. He uses hammer and nails to fasten it together so that it will not fall over. 5 Such idols are  like scarecrows in a cucumber field. They cannot talk. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them because they cannot hurt you. And they do not have any power to help you.”
 
It is not speaking of anything remotely similar to Christmas trees. It is speaking of idols carved from trees and representing false gods.
 
But I ask, “Who came first? The tree or the pagan?” The tree of course. God commands us not to worship objects of creation, he doesn’t tell us not to use them as reminders of Him, in fact God Himself commands the manufacture of Cherubim for the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:18), and these were symbols of His protection, not to be worshipped but to give a visual understanding to His worshippers. Are trees good or evil? They are neither. Once again, if the use of a thing by pagans makes it sinful then we should also discontinue using oxygen—this might be a good idea for some. I repeat, the misuse of a thing does not define it!
 
Conclusion
 
So we see that for many and varied illegitimate reasons, a number of modern Christians (Hebrew Roots movement) and Messianics (a term that is now so loosely applied that it is unable to identify any one group), have decided not to celebrate Christ-mas (Messiah is sent).
 
This on its own would be of little consequence if they simply chose to celebrate His birth at another time, however in the aftermath of the establishment of this foolish pseudo-learned doctrinal decision, they have ceased celebrating the birth of our Messiah altogether. Like the Separatists of the late 18th &19th  centuries, they have become so convinced of their own separation from the Ecclesia [Community of faith] (Viewing themselves as the so called “called out” pure Church/Bride), that they have, in seeking purity through their own actions, become subject again to bondage; forgetting that in Messiah we are not keepers of the Torah but rather we are kept by the Living Torah, Ha-d’var Emet (The Word of Truth) Yeshua, Who, if not for His birth into time and space, could not have been crucified and resurrected, thus leaving us without hope. Therefore, let us celebrate His birth, which illuminates His purpose in being sent, that we might also hope in the future glory purchased for us through His death and resurrection.
 
This year our congregation will once again delight ourselves in remembering the birth of our Messiah Yeshua, each one practicing the Biblical remembrance of Christmas (Messiah is sent) utilizing the symbolism and positive traditions that affirm their own convictions regarding this celebration. We are reminded that every Shabbat we light the candles of Sh’mor (Observance) and Zakhor (Remembrance), therefore we observe the holy day, remembering that Yeshua was born for the purpose of our Salvation (Yeshua). We remember what God has done, what He is doing and what He has promised to do, in Messiah, The Hope of Glory.
 
“One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.”
–Romans 14:5-6 TLV
 
As I’ve said before, we are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshiping the One Who is beyond days. The One Who formed each day for His glory.
 
An Afterthought
 
All our Jewish celebrations and festivals fall into one of two categories. Either they celebrate God’s provision for us or they commemorate His delivering us from our enemies. Christmas is the celebration of God’s greatest provision and the commemoration of the beginning of our eternal deliverance. Thus it qualifies as one of the most important Jewish celebrations of all time.
 
If it were possible to be dull in the Olam Haba (World to come), I’m inclined to believe that those who argue against the celebration of Christmas will be wandering around the new Jerusalem debating whether we should celebrate Messiah’s return. After all, it’s not commanded in the Torah. Wake up sleeper!
 
Sources:
 
[a.] Vermaseren, M. J. (1951). "The miraculous Birth of Mithras". In Gerevich, László (ed.). Studia Archaeologica. Brill. pp. 93–109. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
 
[b.] https://www.ancient.eu/Mithra/
 
[c.] Ulansey, David (1991). The origins of the Mithraic mysteries. p. 6. ISBN 9780195067880.
 
[d.]https://www.ancient.eu/Horus/#:~:text=The%20elder%20Horus%20is%20one,the%20creation%20of%20the%20world.&text=In%20another%20version%20of%20the,wife%2C%20and%20daughter%20of%20Horus.
New York Folklore Society (1973). "New York folklore quarterly". 29. Cornell University Press. p. 294.
 Ian Shaw (2003). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-815034-3.
Piotr O. Scholz (2001). Eunuchs and castrati: a cultural history. Markus Wiener Publishers. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-55876-201-5.
Roy G. Willis (1993). World Mythology. Macmillan. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-8050-2701-3.
 
[e.] https://www.ancient.eu/Horus/
 
[f.] https://strangenotions.com/horus-manure/
 
[g.]https://greekgodsandgoddesses.net/gods/dionysus/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20origin%20given,his%20true%20form%20to%20her.&text=A%20few%20months%20later%2C%20Dionysus%20was%20born%20from%20Zeus's%20thigh.
 
[h.] https://www.greekboston.com/culture/mythology/dionysus/
 
[i.] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dionysus
 
[j.] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ambrosius-Theodosius-Macrobius
 
[k.] https://www.circeinstitute.org/blog/december-25th-day-christ-was-born-8-arguments
 
[l.] https://www.biu.ac.il/JS/rennert/history_2.html
 
NB: In combination with this article, please also consider the articles I’ve written on Luke chapters 1 and 2, and the previous articles I’ve written regarding Christmas:
 
Christmas: An Open Letter to the Haters
http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/christmas-an-open-letter-to-the-haters
 
This Jew Boy will be Celebrating Christmas on the 25th of December
http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/this-jew-boy-will-be-celebrating-christmas-on-the-25th-of-december
 
Isaiah 9: For unto us a Child is Born
http://www.bethmelekh.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/isaiah-91-2-6-7-for-unto-us-a-boy-is-born
 
Luke 1:1-38: Choosing Between Disbelief and Wonder
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-11-38-choosing-between-disbelief-wonder
 
Luke 1:39-80: From Generation to Generation
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-139-80-ldor-vdor-from-generation-to-generation
 
Luke 2:1-24: G-d’s Plan is not World Peace, it is Peace for the World
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-21-24-g-ds-plan-is-not-world-peace-its-peace-for-the-world
 
Luke 2:25-52: Hearing About Grace and Favour
http://bethmelekh.weebly.com/yaakovs-blog---14991514148914971493-15131500-1497150615111489/luke-225-52-hearing-about-grace-favour
 
© Yaakov Brown 2020

The Coptic New Testament begins with the book of Yochanan (John), and for good reason, both the first book of the Tanakh (OT) Genesis and the Gospel of John begin with the same words, “In the beginning”. Both the beginning of creation and the new beginning have their origin in God, Father, Son and Spirit.
 
בְּרֵאשִׁית הָיָה הַדָּבָר וְהַדָּבָר הָיָה אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְהוּא הַדָּבָר הָיָה אֱלֹהִים׃
1:1 הבשורה על-פי יוחנן
 
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
1:1 בראשית
 
Within the Hebrew text of the first verse of both books appears the sign of the definite direct object “את” which is not translated in English versions but is a contracted form of the Hebrew word “אות” meaning “miraculous sign”.
 
Yochanan (John) 1:1 explains not what but Who the sign “את” is.
 
 
בְּרֵאשִׁית הָיָה הַדָּבָר וְהַדָּבָר הָיָה אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וְהוּא הַדָּבָר הָיָה אֱלֹהִים׃
1:1 הבשורה על-פי יוחנן
 
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
1:1 בראשית
 
 
At the goal (end) of the HaBrit HaChadashah (New Testament) we read the words of Yeshua:
 
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” -Yeshua (Revelation 22:13)
 
The Hebrew equivalent reads:
 
““I am the Aleph “א” and the Tav “ת”, the first and the last, the beginning and the goal.” -Yeshua (Revelation 22:13)
 
Yeshua is the Aleph and the Tav, the Author and the Goal of the Torah.
 
He is the Author of the beginning, the all-existing God, the Son (John 1:1), present as the creating Word, and the sign to all creation (Genesis 1:1). He is the Author and the Spirit of the Torah, the Word (Deuteronomy 30:14).
 
He is also the Goal of the Torah:
 
“For Messiah is the Goal of the Torah for righteousness to everyone who believes.” –Rav Shaul’s Letter to the Roman Believers 10:4
 
If we fail to understand that Yeshua is “את” the Author and Goal of Torah (Not just the books of Moses but all of the Instruction of God), then we will fail to properly interpret and understand the written word of God (Tanakh [OT] & HaBrit HaChadashah [NT]).
We must accept that God does not change His mind (Num. 23:19), and that the King Messiah Yeshua has come not to remove or change the Torah but to fill it up, illuminate it (Matthew 5:17).
 
God Does NOT Change His Mind:
 
It is impossible for an omniscient (all-knowing) God to change His mind. In spite of mistranslations into English, the Scripture in its original language affirms God’s omniscience (All Knowing Nature)
 
Exodus 32:14 “So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.” NLT
 
“And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.” KJV
 
What the Hebrew text actually says, a literal translation:
 
“The YHVH sought to console concerning the evil He had declared to do to His people.”
 
“God is not a man who lies,
or a son of man who changes his mind!
Does He speak and then not do it,
    or promise and not fulfil it?”
-Bamidbar (Numbers) 23:19 TLV
 
Yeshua Did NOT Remove or Change the Torah:
 
“17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfil. 18 Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. 19 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of *these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven..”
-Mattisiyahu (Matthew) 5:17-19 TLV
 
*Note, that in the context of this passage all the commandments pretexted by the words  “*these commandments” in the proceeding verses are moral commandments (incumbent on all human beings). Yeshua is NOT saying that commandments of distinction given specifically to Jews (ethnic, religious, chosen, set apart) are incumbent on Gentiles. This is a grave misunderstanding of the text and of first century Jewish theology.
 
Understanding Torah:
 
The Torah (Books of Moses) are divided into three distinct categories:

1. Historical Narrative
2. Moral law
3. Laws of Distinction (commanded specifically to Israel [ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical])

 
Historical Narrative:
The story of creation, humanity, and the chosen people Israel.
 
Moral law:
Laws that expose the lawlessness of all human beings.
 
Laws of Distinction:
Laws commanded specifically to ethnic, religious, chosen, set apart Israel (the Jewish people), incumbent on Israel alone for the purpose of setting the Jewish people apart unto the goal of all things.
 
Purpose of Torah Distinctions:
 
Historical Narrative:
Teaches all humanity that God is Creator and King of all things, and that He has chosen an ethnic people as His everlasting possession.
 
Moral law:
Exposes the lawlessness of all human beings. These laws are incumbent on all people. To those without Messiah these laws bring condemnation, and to those who receive Messiah these same laws are the loving instruction of the Father.
 
Laws of Distinction:
Laws commanded in order to set ethnic Israel apart as a people and possession belonging to God. These laws are NOT incumbent on people of other nations, Messiah followers or not.
 
Some Examples of Moral Laws and Laws of Distinction:
 
Moral Laws:
 
•       You shall have no other gods before Me!
•       You shall not make graven images… nor bow down to worship them
•       You shall not misuse the Lord’s Name (YHVH)
•       Honor your Father and Mother
•       You shall not Murder
•       You shall not commit adultery
•       You shall not steal etc.
 
Laws of Distinction:
 
•       The children of Israel shall keep the Shabbat throughout their generations…
•       Kosher food (Lev.11)
•       Don’t cut the hair around the sides of your head…
•       Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.
•       Tefillin (Ex. 13:9, 16)
•       Tzitzit (Numb. 15:38)
 
Moral Law:
 
From the earliest days our Rabbis understood that only the moral laws were applicable to non-Jews. The only exception was when non-Jews joined and lived within the ethnic Jewish community and eventually married into Israel’s bloodline (e.g. Exodus 20:8-10).
 
Knowing this, and being guided by the Holy Spirit the early Jewish Fathers of the body of believers (Ecclesia) required nothing more of the Gentile believers other than adherence to four primary laws which summed up the Noachide (moral laws) of the Torah (Acts 15:1-35; 21:24-25).
 
“Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke (laws of distinction) on the neck of the Gentile disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?  But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Yeshua, just as they will.”
-K’fa (Peter) Acts 15:10-11
 
“For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”
-Rav Shaul (Paul) Galatians 3:10-11
 
Sadly, many Messianic Jews and Gentiles decontextualize and seek to reinterpret the following words, written by Jews, followers of the King Messiah Yeshua, the fathers of our faith communities.
 
A Religious Community that Does Not Soberly Critique Itself is a Cult!
 
Laws of Distinction Have Never Been Incumbent on Non-Jews:
 
Among Messianic believers today, and in particular among so called Messianic Gentile believers (Christians who hate being called Christians), there is a growing number who seek to impose laws of distinction (intended specifically for Jews, and not for Gentiles) upon Gentile Christians. They use spiritual blackmail in conjunction with decontextualized Scriptures in order to guilt-trip others into focusing on law observance rather than on Yeshua our King Messiah. In doing so they commit the same error that early believers perpetuated until the refutation of their false practices by the Rav Shaul HaShaliach (Paul the Apostle) [Galatians 3:10-11].
 
One of the great and tragic ironies of the zealous law keepers in the Messianic and Hebrew roots movements today, is that by insisting Gentile Christians keep the laws of distinction (intended specifically for Jews, and not for Gentiles) they are quit literally practicing the “Replacement Theology (Continuationism, Successionism etc.)” that they themselves claim to detest.
 
“For freedom, Messiah has set us free—so stand firm then, and do not become burdened again by the yoke of slavery.”
-Rav Shaul HaShaliach Letter to the Galatian Believers 5:1
 
What did Peter the Apostle call a “yoke” that Jews have been unable to “bear”? The yoke of slavery Shaul refers to concerns the obligatory observance of the laws of distinction (commanded to Jews alone). This is the same yoke Peter refers to in Acts 15:10-11)
 
Is the Shabbat Incumbent on Gentiles?
 
Among the most prominent misteaching's of zealous law keepers in the Messianic and Hebrew roots movements is the insistence that Gentile Christians are obligated to keep the Sabbath and cease worshipping on Sunday (First Day of the week) [A day they claim to be a day attributed to Sun worship, as if days belong to anyone or anything other than God our Creator].
 
When these law keeping zealots say that Sunday worship is wrong/idolatry, they are in fact impugning the character of the disciples of Yeshua and both the Jewish and Gentile believers of the early Ecclesia (body of believers). In fact, the disciples of Messiah gathered together on a Sunday only days after Yeshua’s crucifixion and continued to gather regularly on the first day of the week (Sunday) [John 20].
 
“On the first day of the week (Sunday), when we were gathered together to break bread, Shaul (Paul) talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.” –Acts 20:7
 
Observe the Day or Not, Unto the Lord:
 
“One person esteems one day over another while another judges every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes that day does so to the Lord. The one who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and the one who abstains, abstains to the Lord, and he gives thanks to God.” –Romans 14:5-6 TLV
 
Rav Shaul wrote these words to a mixed congregation of Jews and Gentiles who were arguing over the keeping of days and over kosher eating among other things. The Sabbath was one of the days in question. Rav Shaul’s admonishment clearly understands Gentile believers as being free from the obligation to keep the Shabbat commandment. His emphasis is on doing all in and toward God and NOT on law keeping.
 
We are fools to argue over the keeping of days while worshipping a God Who is beyond days!
 
What does “Keep the Shabbat” Mean?
 
The phrase “keep the Shabbat” (Ex. 31:13) in Hebrew does not mean what many think it does.
 
The Hebrew root “שמר” shamar means to guard, to keep safe, to protect from defilement.
In the Beit Midrash we’re taught that we are to Shomeir HaShabbat guard, protect the Shabbat.
 
We will learn that the ethnic, religious children of Israel are given the Shabbat as a sign “אות” upon them alone, and that they are to “guard, protect, keep” it from defilement, desecration etc. throughout their generations (Exodus 31:16-17).
 
The Command to Keep Ha-Shabbat (the Sabbath) is a Law of Distinction:
 
The principle of regular rest is for the good of all humanity but the specific command to rest on the Shabbat is given to Israel (ethnic, religious, empirical, chosen) as a generational sign “אות” on the ethnic people of Israel, a sign between ethnic Israel (the Jewish people) and God (Exodus 31:16-17 ).
 
The command to keep the Sabbath day is NOT incumbent on Gentile believers!
 
Shabbat is a Sign “אות” Between God & the Jews (Israel)
 
“So Bnei-Yisrael is to keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign “אות” between Me (YHVH) and Bnei-Yisrael forever, for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.’” -Exodus 31:16-17 (TLV)
 
*As observant Jews we pray this very Scripture as part of the “V’shamru” (And You Shall Guard) prayer every Shabbat.
 
There are those who misuse the following passage to support general Gentile Christian observance of Shabbat:
 
“Remember Yom Shabbat, to keep it holy. You are to work six days, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to ADONAI your God. In it you shall not do any work—not you, nor your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, your cattle, nor the outsider that is within your gates.” Exodus 20:8-10 (TLV)
 
Note that this commandment, given specifically to Israel (ethnic, religious, empirical) is to be observed by all Jews but only by foreigners (Gentiles) who live within the Jewish community: specifically among the people of Israel on their way to and within the land of Israel.
 
This does not apply to today’s Christians who worship the God of Israel but live outside of Israel and further still, outside of the Jewish communities within the diaspora (dispersion).
 
*Attending a Messianic or Hebrew roots congregation does not constitute living in the Jewish community.
 
The commandment to keep Shabbat is specifically a sign “אות” on the ethnic, religious chosen people of Israel (Jews):
 
“So Bnei-Yisrael is to keep the Shabbat, to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me (YHVH) and Bnei-Yisrael forever, for in six days ADONAI made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.’” -Exodus 31:16-17 (TLV)
 
We note that the Shabbat is a sign between God and the ethnic, religious people of Israel (Jews). It is not a sign upon the nations.
 
Therefore, those Gentiles who appropriate this sign under obligation are literally practicing Replacement Theology.
 
Some seek to use Yeshua’s words from Mark’s Gospel to support the idea that Gentile Christians must keep the Shabbat. However, even if one ignores the context of Yeshua’s words the fact remains that He spoke of the purpose of rest and not of obligation to keep the Shabbat commandment given specifically to the Jewish people.
 
“the Shabbat was made for man and not man for the Shabbat” (Mark 2:23-28)
 
The only “men” present were Jews. Further, He used an example from the Tanakh (OT) in which only Jews participated. If we interpret His words to apply to all human beings, we are ignoring the historical and Scriptural context of what He said and are also impugning His character by suggesting that He contradicted the Torah (Exodus 31:16-17) of which He is the Author.
 
To the contrary, He is making a drash (comparative teaching) on a commandment given specifically to Israel (ethnic, religious , empirical) and not to the nations. Thus, when He says “man” He means “man” within the context of Israel (Jews) and not humanity in general.
 
If we go further and interpret His words figuratively to apply the Shabbat to all nations, we must by reason of logical progression be speaking of the eternal Shabbat at the end of the age, that is the Olam Haba (world to come) [Hebrews 4:9] and not to the literal weekly Shabbat commanded specifically to the Jews. All figurative interpretation must submit to the plain meaning of the text.
 
In the context of Yeshua’s words the command to keep Shabbat is not made incumbent on Gentile Christians, (who did not yet exist at the time Yeshua spoke), rather He was explaining to the Pharisees that the sign of the Shabbat upon Israel’s “men” was one of rest and restoration through the work of God and was not a form of rest purchased by either the restraint or the actions of Jewish “men” (and women). That is, not by obligation.
 
All this is done to keep the Shabbat as a sign on the ethnic, religious Jewish people until the end of the age, when:
 
“‘it will come to pass,
that from one New Moon to another,
and from one Shabbat to another,
all flesh will come to bow down before Me,’
says ADONAI.” -Isaiah 66:23 (TLV)
 
The prophet Isaiah is clearly prophesying a time yet future (it will come), and is not, as some suggest, inferring that all nations should keep the Shabbat in the present age.
This is also seen in Zechariah 14:16 where, at the end of the age (not now), the survivors of the defeated nations will repent and go up to Jerusalem to join with ethnic, religious Israel in celebration of the festival (signs) placed on the Jews. Neither passage denotes a requirement for weekly Shabbat observance by Gentile Christians.
 
When Yeshua says “The Son of Man is Lord of the Shabbat” He is alluding to the Messianic title given to the Messiah in the prophecy of Daniel (Dan. 7:13-14) in order that He might be recognised as the Messiah by His disciples and any among the Pharisees who might understand and repent. While it is true that He is the Messiah over all men, we do not glean this understanding from the context of Mark 2:23-28.
 
“So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,”
 –Hebrews  4:9
 
Some decontextualize and misuse this Scripture to promote obligatory Sabbath observance. They are in grave error. The context of Hebrews 3 and 4 concerns Israel’s escape from bondage in Egypt and her subsequent rest within the promised land (HaAretz), which is a figure for the Olam Haba (World to come). The Kohen (priest) who wrote Hebrews is making a drash using Israel’s rest from bondage and revealing the future rest for all believers in the Olam Haba (World to come), which he calls a “Sabbath rest”. Therefore, the Sabbath rest that remains for all the people of God is the Olam Haba (World to come), and not the temporary weekly Sabbath observed in the sin affected world.
 
Misusing Scripture is wrong, but worse still is misusing Scripture in order to force obligation and bondage upon other believers. This is Abhorrent to God and contrary to the Gospel of our Messiah.
 
Those who teach that Gentile Christians must keep the Shabbat are in fact teaching Gentile Christians to usurp and appropriate one of the signs that sets ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical Israel (the Jewish people) apart from the nations. Ironically, as I’ve said previously, in doing so, “Hebrew roots Christians” and so called “Messianic Gentiles” are literally practicing the “Replacement Theology” they claim to detest.
 
I stand in opposition to those movements who seek to place Gentile Christians under bondage to commandments that were never incumbent upon them. The Shabbat, like the other commandments given to distinguish Israel (the Jewish people) as a unique people, is not a moral commandment and is therefore not incumbent on humanity as a whole. According to the Scripture it is a commandment, a sign, given to and upon the chosen ethnic, religious people of Israel. Any attempt to appropriate it is practiced in direct opposition to the Scripture, and therefore, in opposition to the Author of the Scripture.
 
At Beit Melekh we are Jews and Gentiles who together are followers of Yeshua the King Messiah. He has set us free for freedom, that we might not return again to bondage(Galatians 5:1).
 
This is not to say that Gentile Christians can’t choose to keep the Shabbat as free members of the body of Messiah Yeshua, rather it is to say that the weekly Shabbat is NOT incumbent upon Gentile Christians. The principle of regular rest is for all human beings but the specific command to keep the weekly Shabbat is a sign upon the ethnic, religious, chosen, empirical people of Israel, the Jewish people, throughout their generations (Exodus 31:16-17 ).
 
Those who keep the letter of the law at the expense of the Spirit of the Law will be judged according to the Law and found wanting.
 
If you keep the Shabbat out of obligation you have failed to keep the commandment. Obligation is hard work, there is no rest (Shabbat) in obligation.
 
We wish you a Messiah filled Shabbat of rest, peace and freedom. May you know the present peace of the King Messiah Yeshua and understand that He is enough.
 
Yeshua is our message!

Introduction:
 
John 8:31-59 is thematically similar to Galatians 4, where Rav Shaul illuminates and differentiates between Isaac the son of promise born of faith and Ishmael the illegitimate son born of disbelief. Note that both sons are sons of Avraham. Yeshua is not asserting that Jews are illegitimate sons but that human beings who choose to reject God’s redemptive plan are sons and daughters of Satan until such a time as they repent and receive the King Messiah and His vicarious sacrifice and resurrected life.
 
Keep in mind that many of those listening were Jewish believers in Yeshua (v.30) and that those who later violently oppose Him are specifically qualified as a group who “want to kill” Yeshua, by definition, a subset of the whole. Note that they do not succeed in stoning Yeshua because He was able to slip away in the crowd. Meaning that a large portion of the crowd of Jewish worshippers gathered in the court of the women were in favor of Yeshua and helped Him elude capture.
 
31 Therefore, Yeshua[H] (YHVH Saves, Joshua, Jesus) said (yomer[H], lego[G]) to those Judeans, Jews, (Ha-Yehudiym[H])  who had believed, were persuaded by, put their trust (hama’amiyniym[H], pisteuo[G]) in Him, “If you continue, remain, abide (meno[G]) in the word, essence, substance (vid’variy[H], ho logos[G]) of Me, truly, in truth (be’emet[H], alethos[G]) you are disciples (mathetes[G]) of Mine (talmiydiym atem liy[H]); 32 and you will know intimately (viyda’tem[H], ginosko[G]) the truth (et ha-emet[H], ho aletheia[G]), and the truth (ha-emet[H], ho aletheia[G]) will make, engrave, imprint you with freedom, [alt. let you go, set you free] (totziyachem l’cheirut[H], eleutheroo[G]).”
 
“Therefore” refers to the woman caught in adultery, the proclamation of Yeshua concerning His being the light of the world, and the belief of those mentioned in verse 30.
 
“Those Jews who believed” were made up of Jews from every tribe and every religious sect of first century Jewry, who had come up to Jerusalem for the festival of Sukkot. Therefore, what Yeshua says next is spoken to thousands of observant Jews, including believing Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Priests, and common Israelis.
 
We note that Yeshua was not content with their belief. He had come to set them free from slavery to sin and to give them the tools of discipleship, that is, the means to live an ongoing life of freedom in Him. Seeing their belief and approval of Him and His words, Yeshua did not push His advantage by blowing smoke up their skirts, rather He sought their advantage by challenging the depth of their belief and offering them the means by which they might continue to believe and be truly and eternally set free from sin.
 
"The truth will set you free" is perhaps the most decontextualized, misapplied, and philosophically misappropriated part verse of the entire New Testament. Those who use this phrase today as a type of all in one "Truth Coach" are in fact proliferating a lie. In order for this phrase to have any true meaning one must first define the truth it’s speaking of. Most modern speakers understand the truth as a collection of facts, or the subjective centre of some religion or philosophy, truth being defined by the individual rather than having its origin outside of the sphere of human intellect and spirituality. In fact the verses in question (John 8:31-32) identify truth as a person, that is, as an attribute of a person, and not just any person, but the King Messiah Yeshua, God with us (Imanu El). 
 
Therefore, in order to understand what is meant by “The Truth” we must read the phrase in context:
 
“If you continue to remain in My word, essence, substance in truth you are My disciples, followers, students; and you will intimately know the truth, and the truth will imprint you with freedom, set you free.”
 
Note that there is a prerequisite for the freedom that truth makes possible: “If you continue to remain in My word, essence, substance”. In short, unless one remains in the message and person of Yeshua (the Speaker), one cannot know the truth or the freedom that knowing the truth affords a person.
 
Note that the second requirement for being set free is to “Intimately know the truth”. In fact, as I’ve said, the Truth is not an it but a Person, and that Person defines truth. Elsewhere Yeshua says, “Aniy Ha-Derekh, v’Ha-Emet, v’Ha-Chayiym, I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Living, no one can come to the Father (God) except through, Me.”(John 14:6). Therefore, truth, like direction (way), and living, is an attribute of the Messiah, Who is God with us (Imanu El) [prophesied by Isaiah (7:10-16) 700 years before the birth of Yeshua].
 
Do you want to intimately know the Truth and be truly set free from all that keeps you in bondage? Then remain in the Word and Substance of Yeshua (Jesus), becoming His devout follower, and you will come to know the Truth Himself, and He will set you free.
 
Notice that this second half of chapter 8 begins with the theme of freedom from bondage. A theme that is ingrained in the Jewish soul from Egypt and up to the Roman occupation and beyond. Yeshua speaks of a freedom that transcends temporal life, to a people who are at the time tacitly enslaved by the Roman Empire.
 
Yeshua’s challenge to those listening, both believers and unbelievers, is intended to thresh the wheat and sift out the chaff. By the end of this dialogue the belief of some will be strengthened, while the belief of others will grow cold. Yeshua came to make disciples, not converts. We should be careful to emulate Him.
 
33 They answered Him, “We are Avraham’s (Father of many tribes) descendants and no one has enslaved us (douleuo[G]) at any time (popote[G]); how is it that You say, ‘You will become freeborn (eleutheros[G])’?”
 
“They answered Him” The nearest subjects are the thousands of observant Jews, including believing Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Priests, and common Israelis, who were in the court of woman in the Temple complex. A mixed crowd of those who now believed in Him and those who did not.
 
 בני חורין, (noblemen), that are fallen from their substance, because they are the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob;'' -Mishnah. Bava Kama, c. 8. sect. 6. & Talmud Bavliy Bava Kama, fol. 86. 1. & 91. 1.
 
“We are Avraham’s descendants (Gen.12; Deut.14:1) and no one has enslaved us at any time…” They did not mean that the Jewish people had never been physically enslaved. After all, freedom from slavery in Egypt is part of our journey as a people, not to mention our time in Babylon and subsequent freedom. What they meant was that those Jewish people who were true worshippers of God had never been made spiritual slaves to other gods (Jer.2:10-14), nor were they, the generation to whom Yeshua spoke, slaves to the Romans.
 
The Jews of the land of Israel in the first century were under occupation but were not living lives of slavery as they had done in Egypt. The Roman Empire had a history of gleaning slaves from its conquests, thus the reality of one being born into slavery was a concern to all of those living in the Empire. However, those debating with Yeshua were freeborn people, meaning that they were not born into households already bound to indentured servitude or slavery. This is why they are incredulous and ask Yeshua, “How is it that You say, ‘You will become freeborn?”
 
“Freeborn” (eleutheros[G]) Is an important distinction. Ultimately Yeshua is saying that even the freeborn (eleutheros[G]) of the Roman Empire need to be set free (eleutheroo[G]), and become spiritually freeborn (eleutheros[G]).
 
34 Yeshua[H] answered them, “Amen[H] [G]Amen[H] [G] (B’emet[H], B’emet[H]), In truth, In truth, It’s certain, it’s certain, I say to you, everyone who commits sin (misses the mark set by God) is the slave (doulos[G]) of sin (hamartia[G]).
 
“Everyone who commits sin (misses the mark set by God) is the slave of sin.” Yeshua makes it clear that He is talking about spiritual bondage, slavery to sin.
 
Rav Shaul the Shaliach (Paul the Apostle), writes an exposition on this idea:
 
“14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! 16 Do you not know that to whatever you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to what you obey—whether to sin resulting in death, or to obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching under which you were placed; 18 and after you were set free from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you yielded your body parts as slaves to uncleanness and lawlessness, leading to more lawlessness, so now yield your body parts as slaves to righteousness, resulting in holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free with regard to righteousness. 21 So then, what outcome did you have that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, having been set free from sin and having become enslaved to God, you have your fruit resulting in holiness. And the outcome is eternal life. 23 For sin’s payment[a] is death, but God’s gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.” -Romans 6:14-23 TLV
 
35 Moreover, the slave, bondservant (doulos[G]) does not remain in the house (babayit[H], ho oikia[G]) forever; the son (ha-bein[H], uihos[G]) does remain forever.
 
This phrasing is qualified by the proceeding verse. Those listening were born into the slavery of sin affected humanity and therefore, in their present state, cannot remain in the house of life. Whereas, the Last Adam (Yeshua) [1 Cor. 15:22-45], the Son of God and therefore Son of the house of creation, being the perfect sinless example of humanity (God with us), is able to set free those who have been enslaved and offer them life everlasting as heirs with Him, sons and daughters of the renewed house of creation ordered by the Creator (YHVH).
 
With regard to Torah the exception to this idea applies to the slave who willing chooses to become a member of the family and an indentured servant for life (Exodus 21:6). This does not however negate the right of the son of the household to set that slave free. Although, in this case the slave is usually treated as a member of the family.
 
Our rabbis agree that irrespective of the “forever” clause in Exodus 21:6, that freedom is eventually mandatory according to the Torah law of Jubilee (Lev.25:10).
 
"one that is bored (through the ear) is obtained by boring (through the ear), and he possesses himself (becomes free) by the year of jubilee, and by the death of his master.''- Yarchi, Iben Ezra, & ben Gershom in Exod. xxi. 6.
 
"he that has served six years, and will not go out, lo, this is bored, and he serves until the year of jubilee, or until his master dies; and although he leaves a son, he that is bored does not serve the son; which may be learned from the letter of the words, "he shall serve him", not his son, "for ever", until the jubilee: from whence it appears, that he that is bored does not possess himself (or is free) but by the jubilee, and by the death of his master.'' – Maimonides Hilchot Abadim, c. 3. sect. 6, 7.
 
36 Therefore, if the Son (ha-bein[H], ho uihos[G]) makes you free (eleutheroo[G]), you will in reality, as a point of fact, be truly (be’emet[H], ontos[G]) freeborn (eleutheros[G]).
 
The Son of God, Yeshua, sets those enslaved to sin free (eleutheroo[G]) by causing them to be born from above (John 3:3-7). Thus, through Him they are freeborn (eleutheros[G]). Not freeborn in the Roman Empire, or at any point in human history within the sin affected world,  but transcendently freeborn of God and children of God’s Kingdom, no longer subject to the temporal kingdoms of the sin affected world.
 
The use of Greek language as it pertains to the idea of freedom is exceptional. The writer of this Gospel shows in the language used that Yeshua is placing the concept of being freeborn (eleutheros) as superior to simply being freed from indentured servitude (doulos). If one is freed (eleuthero) by Yeshua, that one will be truly freeborn (eleutheros).
 
37 I know (yadatiy[H]) that you are Avraham’s (Father of many tribes)  descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word, essence, substance (devariy[H], logos[G]) has not been given space, room, place, occupation, yield (choreo[G]) in you (each individually).
 
NB: From here on to the end of the chapter Yeshua is specifically speaking to those who “seek to kill” Him, and not to those who have believed (v.30).
 
Keep in mind that Yeshua is also a descendant of Avraham and the substance of the Creator Who placed faith within Avraham. Therefore, as is the case with His saying “Your Torah”(John 8:17), He is not distancing Himself from Avraham, rather He is exposing the misuse of Avraham’s identity by those who claim connection to Avraham through pride of bloodline rather than through adherence to true faith. This does not discount the value of ethnic bloodline, which remains, given Yeshua’s zeal for the ethnic, religious, chosen people of Israel (Matt. 15:24). Rather, Yeshua is seeking to cleanse and sanctify the people, so that both their bloodline and spirituality might be unified in the freedom of Messiah.
 
“Yet you seek to kill Me” Cannot refer to those who have believed in Him (v.30), nor to the crowd in general, many of whom were undecided on the Person of Yeshua. Therefore, it is clear that He is now speaking directly to a subgroup of those who do not believe in Him and are seeking a way to put Him to death.
 
“because My word, essence, substance has not been given space, room, place, occupation, yield in you…” There are those in the crowd who have not believed and therefore have not allowed room within themselves for the Word essence of Yeshua to reside in them. In short, they seek to kill Him because they have refused to listen to Him. It is in our nature as human beings to ignore the contrary opinions of others while devising a rebuttal to their words. Our opponent may be speaking but we are not listening. Thus, we fail to hear another person in the throes of debate making us unable to properly entertain their point of view and measure it to determine its value.
 
Notice that one of the meanings of the Greek choreo is “yield”. Belief that is born of true faith will yield fruit but disbelief or false belief, even surface approval, does not allow sufficient depth of spiritual soil for the fruit of practical faith to be produced. Another meaning of the Greek choreo is “occupation”. Meaning in this context, “You have not allowed belief to perpetually occupy your life”. Therefore, belief of this sort alone is not sufficient for salvation.
 
“You believe that God is One. Excellent! Even the false deities, demons, evil spirits believe that—and are terrified.” -Yaakov (James) 2:19 Author’s translation
 
38 I speak the things which I have seen (horao[G]) from, beside, with, near (para[G]) The (My) Father (Aviy[H], ho Pater[G]); and you also do the things which you heard (akouo[G]) from, beside, with, near (para[G]) the father (ho Pater[G]) you acquired (poieo[G]) [Alt. Heb. Aviychem your (plural) father].”
 
NB: It’s important to remember that this is not being spoken to all present but specifically to those who are seeking to kill Him (v.37).
 
Yeshua explains that both He and His opponents are directed by their respective father’s. Yeshua “speaks” of what He has “seen” from being in, with and near the Father God. Whereas His opponents “do” the things which they have “heard” from the father they have acquired. That is to say, they have chosen a father other than God. In this context “speak” refers to the truth of God’s word made manifest based on literal “sight”, an actual true experience of the Person of God, and “do” is a reference to human effort based on hearsay “hearing” from a second-hand source (Satan).
 
39 They answered and said to Him, “Avraham is our father.” Yeshua[H] replied to them, “If you are Avraham’s children, accomplish the occupation (ho ergon Abraam poieo[G]) of Avraham. [Alt. in the business of Abraham work, make, fashion etc.]
 
“They” Those who are seeking to kill Yeshua (v.37) while claiming a connection to Avraham as their qualification, are in fact contradicting the faith practice of Avraham. Thus, Yeshua calls them on it. If you’re going to claim the tzadik (righteous) one Avraham as your father, then act righteously as he did. Believe God (accept His Messiah), and it will be credited to you as righteousness.
 
The rabbis of the Talmud agree with Yeshua’s assertion:
 
“whoever is merciful to the creature (man), it is evident that he is of the seed of Abraham, our father; but whoever has not mercy on the creature, it is a clear case that he is not of the seed of Abraham our father.'' - Talmud Bavliy Betza, fol. 82. 2.
 
40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the objective truth of the matter (ha-emet[H], aletheia[G]), which I heard from the God (ha Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]); a thing Avraham could not do.
 
Yeshua heard the truth in the unveiled presence of God the Father as one with the Father and has imparted that same truth to His hearers, fellow descendants of Avraham. Though Avraham heard from God, he was not one with God, nor did he see and hear from God in the fullness of God’s glory. Therefore, Avraham could not reveal the fullness of God’s redemptive plan to his descendants in the way that Yeshua has. Avraham has relationship with God through Yeshua, as one who has had the truth revealed to him, whereas Yeshua being one with the Father, reveals the truth.
 
“which I heard from the God” Yeshua’s hearing, unlike that of His opponents, is unaffected by disbelief.
 
41 You are doing, fashioning, accomplishing (poieo[G]) the business, occupation (ergon[G]) of your father (av[H], pater[G]).” They said to Him, “We were not born of illicit sexual intercourse (fig. we are not idolaters); we have one Father (Av[H], Pater[G]): the God (ha-Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]).”
 
Yeshua’s opponents (not all present but those who are specifically seeking to kill Him), understand that by making a distinction between God as father, Avraham as a father and yet another father, the father they are obeying, Yeshua is inferring that their claim on Avraham and his faith is a false one and that they are acting on the faith of a false father. Therefore, as one might expect, they take offense and proclaim, “We are not the children of whores (idolaters), we have one Father, Elohiym!” In short, “You’re no better than us, we are sons and daughters of God!” Some may even have been inferring that Yeshua was of illegitimate origin, while they were not.
 
42 Yeshua[H] said to them, “If the God (ha Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]) were your Father (Av[H], Pater[G]), you would love (ahavtem[H], agapao[G]) Me dearly, for I come out of the God (ha Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]) and go forth, not for the purpose of separating (apo[G]) Myself, but that of He Who sent Me (shelachaniy[H], apostello[G]).
 
Yeshua’s message is simple, “If you were truly sons and daughters of God you would recognise the present manifestation of God standing in front of you and would love Him.”
 
Note the progression. First they claim Avraham, and Yeshua refutes their claim. Then they claim God, and Yeshua exposes their inadequacy.
 
“I come out of the God and go forth, not for the purpose of separating Myself, but that of He Who sent Me.” Note the familiar use of the counter separation phrasing. Yeshua is very clear in saying “Neither I nor my purpose is in any way separate from God Who sent Me.” This becomes the pre-emptive counterpoint to the separation of the accuser Satan, who is separated from the beginning (v.44).
 
43 Why do you not understand (ginosko[G]) what I am saying? Because you are unable (dunamai[G]) to hear, perceive, comprehend (lishmo[H]) My word, essence, substance (et devariy[H], logos[G]).
 
They neither properly hear nor do they understand because they have wilfully resisted Yeshua and His message and are therefore incapable of comprehending His word, substance, essence. Again, “they” are specifically those who were “seeking to kill Him” (v.37, 40), and not all present (v.30)
 
44 You are of your father (aviychem[H], ho pater[G]) the Devil (ha-Satan[H], ho Diabolos[G]), and you have in mind (ethelo[G]) to do the lusts (epithumia[G]) of your father (aviychem[H], pater[G]). He was a murderer, human slayer (anthropoktonos[G]) separated (apo[G]) from the beginning (arche[G]), and in the absolute truth (emet[H], aletheia[G]) he does not stand because there is no truth (emet[G]) in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father (ha-av[H], ho pater[G]) of lies.
 
Note that while Yeshua speaks often of the fact that He has not come as one separate from the will of the Father, here, Satan is described as one who has been separate from the truth of God from the beginning of creation. Therefore, the battle between truth and lie is one of great imbalance. The Creator from Whom Truth comes, created a being that decided to reject the love of God, and His absolute Truth and seek to poison creation. Therefore, the liar is subject to the Truth, in fact his very existence relies on the truth.
 
We note that lying and murder are intrinsically linked. The enemy of our souls is by nature a liar and a murderer, the father of lies.
 
The Genesis account explains that Satan deceived Adam and Eve with a lie (Gen. 3:4; 2:17) and that as a result sin and death entered the world. Subsequently the first murder followed when Abel was murdered by Cain. Therefore, the father of lies is also the father of sin, and those that are bound by sin serve him.
 
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” -Genesis 3:15 (ESV)
 
Thus, Yeshua’s opponents prove themselves children of Satan by their accusations aimed at Yeshua and their denial of the Truth in Him. A liar will always call the truth a lie.
 
45 But because I speak (dab’riy[H]) absolute truth (ha-emet[H], aletheia[G]), you do not believe, trust (ta’amiynu[H], pisteuo[G]) Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak with absolute truth (emet[H], aletheia[G]), why do you not believe, trust (pisteuo[G]) Me?
 
Yeshua’s opponents had been trying and failing to trap Him in a sin from the moment they first began to hate Him. The phrase “why do you not believe Me…” further emphasises the fact that He is speaking specifically to that subgroup who have not believed, and want to kill Him.
 
47 He who is of the God (ha-Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]) hears that which is spoken of the God (ha-Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]); for this reason you do not hear, because you are not of the God (ha-Elohiym[H], ho Theos[G]).”
 
Here, He is clearly speaking to those who do not believe, and not to all present, many of whom have already believed.
 
48 The Judean Religious leaders (Ha-Yehudiym[H], Ioudaios[G]]) answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Shomroniy[H] (Samaritan) and have a demon, evil spirit, false divinity (sheid[H], daimonion[G])?” 49 Yeshua answered, “I do not have a demon, evil spirit, false divinity (sheid[H], daimonion[G]); but I honour, esteem, revere (kabeid[H], timao[G]) My Father (Aviy[H]), and you dishonour, insult (atimazo[G]) Me.
 
I have translated Ioudaios as Judean Religious leaders here because the context shows clearly that only those who opposed Yeshua are speaking.
 
“Do we not say rightly that You are a Shomroniy[H] (Samaritan) and have a demon, evil spirit, false divinity?”  This accusation explicitly vocalizes the tacit accusation of illegitimacy inferred in verse 41.
 
“Yeshua answered, “I do not have a demon, evil spirit, false divinity; but I honour, esteem, revere My Father, and you dishonour, insult Me.” Put simply, “By dishonouring Me you dishonour the God Whom you claim as your Father.”
 
Elsewhere when accused of having an evil spirit Yeshua warns His accusers that if they determine to continue to believe this of Yeshua that they will have no hope of salvation (Mark 3:23; Luke 12:10).
 
50 But I do not seek (zeteo[G]) My glory, judgement, view, opinion (kevodiy[H], doxa[G]); there is One who seeks and separates, selects, chooses (krino[G]).
 
We note that again a correlation can be made between glory and judgement. Yeshua submits His glory and judgement to the One to Whom it belongs, God the Father.
 
51 “Amen[H] [G]Amen[H] [G] (B’emet[H], B’emet[H]), In truth, In truth, It’s certain, it’s certain, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word, speech, essence, substance (devariy[H], logos[G]) that one will never see, attend to, remain in (tereo[G]) the death of the body (mavet[H],  thanatos[G]).”
 
Further illuminating the practical outworking of the freedom He has previously spoken of, Yeshua explains that through intimacy with God in Him a person can be free from slavery to sin and death and instead will not remain or abide in death. Elsewhere Yeshua explains this in another way saying:
 
“‘I am the resurrection and the living. The one who believes in Me will live, even though that one dies;” -Yochanan (John) 11:25
 
“And as it is appointed unto human beings once to die, and then the judgment:” -Hebrews 9:27
 
The key here is that the one who keeps the message of Messiah Yeshua will not “remain” in the death that results from temporal life in the sin affected world.
 
52 The Judean Religious leaders (Ha-Yehudiym[H], Ioudaios[G]) said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon, evil spirit, false divinity (sheid[H], daimonion[G]). Avraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word, speech, essence, substance (logos[G]), that one will not taste (geuomai[G]) of the death of the body (meit[H], thanatos[G]) into the unbroken age (aion[G]).’
 
This is the ancient equivalent of “You’re a total psycho, Abraham and the prophets died years ago, which proves that what you’re saying about your words having the ability to give a person life over death is a lot of garbage!”
 
53 Not in the least are You greater (ha’gadol[H]) than our father Avraham, who died? The prophets (han’viyiym[H]) died too; who are You making Yourself out to be?”
 
Yeshua’s opponents accuse Him of delusions of grandeur. The height of irony. Added to this is the interesting fact that the Samaritan woman asked something similar when she challenged Yeshua’s authority with the rhetorical question “Are you greater than our father Jacob?” (John 4:12).
 
It’s clear to we Messiah following Jews that those who challenged Him with these words did not represent the whole. One of our ancient commentators writes:
 
""Behold my servant shall deal prudently", this is the King Messiah; "he shall be exalted" above Abraham, as it is written, (Gen.14:22) "and extolled" above Moses, as it is written, (Num.11:12) and he shall be higher than the ministering angels, as it is written, (Eze.1:26) for he shall be גדול מן אבות, "greater than the fathers".'' - Tachuma apud Huls. p. 321
 
54 Yeshua answered, “If I glorify, extol, honour, prefer (chabeid[H], doxazo) Myself, My glory, judgement, view, opinion (k’vodiy[H], doxa[G]) is nothing; it is My Father (Aviy[H], Pater[G]) Who glorifies, extols, honours, prefers (chabeid[H], doxazo[G]) Me, of Whom you say, ‘He is our God (Eloheiynu[H], Theos[G])’;
 
Yeshua responds, “I’m not making Myself out to be anything, to the contrary, it’s My Father, Who honours Me, the same Father Whom you claim as your God.”
 
“For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” -2 Corinthians 10:18 (ESV)
 
55 and you have not come to know (y’datem[H], ginosko[G]) Him, but I see, perceive (eido[G]) Him; and if I say that I do not see, perceive (eido[G]) Him, I will be a liar like you, but I do see, perceive (eido[G]) Him and keep, guard, carefully attend to (tereo[G]) His word (d’varo[H], logos[G]). 
 
The Greek text here is important. Yeshua explains that His opponents have not come to know (ginsoko) Him, and that Yeshua sees (eido) God. Note the present continuous tense of the text, not that Yeshua has seen God but that He continues to exist in and see God. Therefore, even if He wanted to acquiesce to the incredulity of His opponents He could not because being the very definition of Truth He is unable to lie and say that He is someone else.
 
Notice that Yeshua “guards carefully and attends to God’s word (davar[H], logos[G]). Yeshua is the Word (John 1). Therefore, He is instructing those who believe to follow His example (v. 31-32).
 
56 Your father Avraham rejoiced exceedingly (sas[H], agalliao[G]) to see perceive (eido[G]) My day (yomiy[H]), and he saw (eido[G]) it and was glad, hailed it, thrived in it (yis’mach[H], chairo[G]).”
 
In the order (Seder) of Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Torah) it is written:
 
“Abraham rejoiced with the rejoicing of the law, he that cometh shall come, the branch with the joy of the law; Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon, rejoiced with the joy of the law; he that cometh shall come, the branch with the joy of the law.'' -Seder Tephillot, fol. 309. 1. Ed. Basil.
 
Yeshua is quite literally saying that Avraham saw Yeshua and His day (time) [past tense]. Moses also knew the Messiah, which is the reason for his giving up life in Pharaoh’s palace in order to live among his Jewish people (Heb. 11:26).
 
NB: First century Jewish tradition (Testament of Abraham) records a story of Avraham being taken by the Arch Angel Michael on a tour of the heavens and the inhabited world, the idea being that on this tour he saw the coming judgement and the mercy and grace of God made manifest. However, it does not specify the revelation of the Messiah and is therefore unlikely to apply to the present text in any meaningful way.
 
57 Therefore, the Judean Religious leaders (Ha-Yehudiym[H], Ioudaios[G]) said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Avraham?”
 
They focused on the wrong subject. They were still fixated on how Yeshua measured up against Avraham when they should have considered how Yeshua might have been revealed in the faith of Avraham. It was not that Yeshua had seen Avraham that was important, rather it was that Avraham had seen Yeshua. God is the focus of our prayer, not the vehicle for our desires. Clear sight begets right conclusions and right conclusions beget clear sight.
 
The reference to the age of fifty years has significance in ancient Judaism. Pirke Abot, c. 5. sect. 21. Says that at the age of fifty a Jewish man becomes fit to give counsel (as an elder of the community). This is said to be why the Levites were dismissed from service at that age.
 
A Jewish man could not be chosen as a Meturgeman (interpreter) in a kehilah (congregation), until he reached fifty years of age. (Talmud Bavliy Chagigah, fol. 14. 1. Yuchasin, fol. 44. 2.)
 
If a Jewish man died before fifty years of age it was considered a death of “cutting off”, inferring a curse for a sinful life of disobedience to the Torah. (T. Hieros. Biccurim, fol. 64. 3. Talmud Bavliy Moed Katon, fol. 28. 1. Macsecheth Semachot, c. 3. sect. 9.)
 
58 Yeshua[H] said to them, “Amen[H] [G]Amen[H] [G] (B’emet[H], B’emet[H]), In truth, In truth, It’s certain, it’s certain, I say to you, before Avraham was born, I am, exist (Aniy[H], ego eimi[G]).”
 
Any fool who says that Yeshua never claimed to be God (with us) need look no further than this verse to see that Yeshua claimed to pre-exist Abraham as the great I AM. This is quite literally the meaning of verse 58.
 
“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” -Exodus 3:14 KJV
 
59 Therefore they picked up stones to drop on Him, but Yeshua[H] hid Himself and went out of the temple (hieron[G], hamikdash[H]).
 
Believing Yeshua to have committed the gravest of blasphemies his opponents (not the majority of the crowd but the few who were already seeking a reason to kill Him) picked up heavy stones to drop on Him. They did this contrary to the sanctity of the Temple precinct in the court of the women, and contrary to the Torah instruction concerning the Sabbaths of God (although one commentator claims that the Torah allows for stoning on the Sabbath under exceptional circumstances. T. Hieros. Yom Tob, fol. 63. 2. ). But, Yeshua’s time had not come and Yeshua hid Himself in the crowd and made His way safely out of the Temple complex. It is highly likely that the crowd aided His escape, given that many believed and that those who were unsure did not consider Him worthy of stoning.
 
At this juncture the reader of the New Testament is faced once more with a major decision. Is Yeshua Who He says He is, that being God with us, or is He a blasphemer and heretic to be completely rejected? These are the only two choices. You may not call Him both a good teacher and a heretic, that is a contradiction. You may not call Him a devout Jew and a blasphemer, that would be a contradiction. According to the prophet Isaiah you may not call Him the Messiah and at the same time say that He is not God with us (Imanu El), that would be a contradiction. Either Yeshua is both God with us and the promised King Messiah of Israel, or He is a liar and a heretic. You choose. The truth will not be changed by your decision, but you could be.
 
Copyright 2020 Yaakov Brown

Introduction:
 
Chapters 24-27 are referred to by some as the Apocalypse of Isaiah, and for good reason. Those familiar with the wider canon of Scripture see many correlations between Isaiah 24-27 and other apocalyptic writings in both the Tanakh (OT) and the Brit Ha-Chadashah (NT).
 
Chapter 24 deals with the final judgement of all humanity and creation. It is the beginning of the culmination of the prophetic destiny of each of the nations who surround Israel, to whom Isaiah has prophesied in chapters 13-23. Ultimately, Israel’s enemies fall that Israel might rise.
 
The present chapter is therefore, a hymn/song of praise to HaShem for His deliverance, not only from physical oppression but also from the fear of death, which has bound, even suffocated Israel and all of humanity.
 
This chapter, like those before it, addresses both temporal maters and eternal realities.
 
The following are both the prophetic words of Isaiah and the yet future words of redeemed Israel.
 
Text:
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Isa 25:1  HaShem (YHVH: Mercy), You are Elohay my God (Judge); I will exalt You, I will odeh cast, throw confession, and praise, Your name; for You have asiyta fashioned pele wonderful things,  advice, eitzot counsel from distant ones, in emunah faithfulness, trust, omen support, agreement, faithfulness, truth.
 
Having seen the wonders (peliym) of God’s deliverance, redeemed Israel offers praise to HaShem (Mercy) her Elohiym God-Judge, from the foundation of confession.
 
The one who acknowledges that HaShem is his Judge (God) is free to throw both confession and praise toward God.
 
The distant ones through whom God affirmed His counsel to Israel are acknowledged and His faithfulness, fidelity, support and trust are named as both attributes and experienced realities. Redeemed Israel gratefully recognizes the perfect character of her God.
 
Isa 25:2  For You have samta appointed, placed meiyr anguish (a city) lagal as a wave (heap), kiryah a fortified city to be a ruin, a palace of zariym strangers, foreigners, meiyr anguished (a city); leolam perpetually never rebuilt.
 
The city that is the subject of this verse may be Rome (which saw its ruin) or Babylon, however, these words will be visited on any and all cities that resist God’s people and His Messiah. In a figurative sense, the city in question is ultimately representative of the seat of Satan’s power on earth. Just as death entered through humanities accepting of Satan’s wicked counsel, so death will exit forever through the utter annihilation of Satan and his seat of temporal authority.
 
Isa 25:3  Therefore shall a people of strength glorify You; a city of goyim nations be terrified and in awe of You.
 
This verse speaks of the repentance of strong people who have been brought low by the judgements of God and as a result, the collected nations making up this greater people are in awe of the God of Israel.
 
Isa 25:4  For You have been a maoz stronghold, refuge ladal to the poor, weak, a maoz stronghold, refuge to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when ruach a wind, spirit of the terrible ones was as a storm against the wall.
 
The poor, weak, needy, distressed and vulnerable among God’s people acknowledge that He has been their refuge and fortress, even when a terrible spirit came like a storm against them. The faithfulness of God is a strong theme in this chapter.
 
Isa 25:5  Cechorev As cutting heat betzayon in the parched land You will bring down, humble the shaon noise, roar, din of zariym strangers, foreigners; as the Cechorev cutting heat betzeil in the shadow of av a thick darkness (cloud), a song of ariytziym terrible ones will ya’aneh testify.
 
The Hebrew phrase “betzayon” shares its root (tziyah) with the name “Tziyon” (Zion), which means “parched land”. Thus, given the context of this passage and the pursuant clause regarding the mountain of HaShem in verse 6, we understand that the land of Israel is being referred to here.
 
This verse seems to be speaking specifically of those foreign enemies of Israel who have lived as a thorn in Israel’s side, within the land of Israel. The cutting heat is in the “parched land”, an allusion to the Land of Zion (Parched land). This is a poetic play on words that illuminates a remez (hint) at the location of these events. The cutting heat of the dark clouds may be a description of literal lightening that will strike down with precision the enemies of Israel.
 
Ironically the song of the terrible ones will testify against them. They will be cut down in the heat that emanates from the thick darkness that overshadows them.
 
Isa 25:6  Ve-asah And HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) Tzevaot Who goes out warring (of hosts) will fashion all ha-amiym the peoples, tribes, ba’har hazeh on this mountain,  a feast of shemaniym oils (fat), mishteih wines on the shemariym lees, dregs, and both shemaniym oils (fat) and wines, will be wiped clean of dregs, well refined.
 
“This mountain” refers to the Temple Mount, Mount Zion.
 
God will war against evil and those among the nations who repent will be fashioned anew in His Holy Mountain (Tziyon, the Temple Mount). He will take the sin (dregs) affected oil and wine and remove the sin (dregs) from them so that both blood (wine) and spirit (oil) will be made pure through the saving work of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). Thus the nations will feast with the chosen people of God (ethno-religious Israel) on the Holy Mountain according to Isaiah’s previous prophecy (Isa. 2:2-4).

Isa 25:7  U-vila And He will swallow up Ba-har in this mountain the face of the covering that is wrapped tightly upon col all ha-amiym the peoples, tribes, ve’hamaseichah and the veil (cast image) that hansuchah is woven al over col-ha-goyim all the nations.
 
The covering which HaShem will swallow up is illuminated in the following verse. This is a Hebrew literary device that acts to both cement the readers understanding and firmly establish the action being described.
 
The covering that is wrapped tightly around all the tribes (all of humanity) is the root of sin and it’s fruit of death. And the veil is the lie of disbelief and self-worship which has been woven by the father of lies. These have bound humanity to the fear of death from the first sin of Adam and Eve.
 
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.” -Hebrews 2:14-16 (NASB)
 
Hashem will swallow up all this death and disbelief in His Holy Mountain. Silencing them forever.
 
Isa 25:8  Bila He has swallowed up ha-mavet the death la-netzach for perpetuity; and the Adonay Lord HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) will machah will blot out, wipe away tears from upon all faces; and the reproach of amu His people will be turned aside from upon all ha-aretz the land/earth: for HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) dibeir speaks, declares.
 
This text was written down some 700 years before the birth of Messiah. How then is it possible that HaShem had already swallowed up death? It is possible because the resurrected Messiah transcends time and space. Once again, through the prophet Isaiah, HaShem speaks into time and space that which has already occurred outside of the limitations of time and space.
 
The Hebrew says “ha-mavet” the death, because it refers to the root of all death and not just the temporal nature of death. Rav shaul quotes the opening clause of this verse in reference to the eternal nature of the future resurrected and imperishable bodies of believers.
 
“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’” - 1 Corinthians 15:53-55 (NASB)
 
“Wipe away tears from all faces” is a figurative way of saying that there will be no more tears resulting from sin and death. This does not negate tears of joy.
 
“They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;  for the Lamb in the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” -Revelation 7:16-17
 
‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”’ -Revelation 21:3-5
 
It’s important to note that the sign that will accompany these things will be the removal of all reproach (bad mouthing, criticism, political bias, abuse, persecution, hatred) from Israel (ethno-religious), and her land. Thus “ha-aretz”, in all the land, in all the earth.
 
The Messianic Jewish commentator Victor Buksbazen puts it beautifully:
 
“An integral part of the vision of God’s triumph over sin is the vindication of God’s people Israel, whose reproach will be removed forever. As long as the forces of evil are triumphant in this world, God’s people (ethno-religious Israel) will always be despised and put to shame.”
 
Today we see the nations of the earth criticizing, demonizing, attacking, sanctioning, persecuting and abusing the Jewish people and the modern Jewish State. This will come to an end. May it come about speedily and soon bezerat HaShem!
 
The Hebrew “DiVeiR” shares its root with “DaVaR” (Word, Essence, Speech). In fact, devoid of the nikudot (Masoretic vowel markings), it is spelled exactly the same way DVR. Davar is of course the Hebrew word used to describe Yeshua in Yochanan (John) 1:1.
 
Isa 25:9  And it will be spoken beyom in the day, ha-hu that one, hinei behold, now, Eloheiynu our God (Judge), the one we looked for, waited for, hoped in: veyoshieiynu and save, redeem us, this HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) kiveinu our hope, waiting, expectation negilah glad, exultation venishmeiachah and great rejoicing beyeshuato is in His salvation/redemption.
 
“In that day” refers to the day of Israel’s redemption.
 
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;  and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
‘The Deliverer will come from Zion,
He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.’
‘This is My covenant with them,
When I take away their sins.’” -Romans 11:25-27 (NASB)
 
This verse speaks of the faithful waiting of the righteous remnant within ethno-religious Israel and the faithfulness of God Who both seeded their hope and filled it with His Son, their salvation.
 
“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure persecution with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.” -Hebrews 11:24-26
 
The Hebrew root “yeshuah” is the basis for both “our salvation” and “His salvation”. It is because Messiah is God with us and is the Salvation of God, that He has also become our Salvation. Salvation is a redemptive action born of the Redeemer.
 
Isa 25:10  Ki-tanuach For rest, comfort from yad the hand of  HaShem (YHVH: Mercy) will be ba-har on the mountain, this one; and Moav (of his father) shall be trodden down in his place, even as straw is trodden down in the water of the dung-hill.
 
Again, in unison with the prophecy of Isaiah 2, the mountain of the Lord is identified as the place where HaShem will pour out rest and comfort. The follower of Messiah sees in this a reference to that eternal Jerusalem that will descend from the heavens to rest on the very location of Zion, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
 
“Moav” here is figurative of the children of Satan. Moab was the first people group following Israel’s escape from Egypt, to seek to attack and annihilate Israel. Israel were weak from slavery, vulnerable and small, and Moab sought to take advantage of Israel’s frailty and destroy her. This would subsequently have removed all possibility of a Messiah coming forth from her: thus, this attempt by Moab was an affront, not only to the physical people of Israel but also to the redemptive plan of the God of creation. Therefore, Moab has been a figure for the B’nai Adam (Children of men, rejecters of God), sons and daughters of the Adversary, Satan. This is why Moav alone is mentioned here.
 
Notice that Moav will not be trodden down on the Mountain of the Lord but “in his place”, which means, “where Moav dwells”. This is most likely to refer to Babylon and her final destruction, as spoken of in the Revelation.
 
Isa 25:11  And he shall spread forth his hands bekirbo in the inner part, the midst of it, he will spread out like a swimmer spreading forth his hands to swim; but his pride will be laid low together with the arbot deceit of his hands.
 
In this verse “He “ refers to Moab, who is the nearest subject for the actions described. Moav is said (Figuratively) to spread out his hands in the midst of watery dung and vainly attempt to swim. So full of pride, are the children of Satan, that even when their rightful end is upon them, they still reject God and prefer to swim in their own filth. However, in spite of these foolish attempts at renewed autonomy, Moav will be laid lower still and the deceitful actions of his hands will never resurface again.
 
Isa 25:12  And the high place of your fortress walls heishach he brought down to strike the soil, ground, land until it turned to dust.
 
The “High place” is a reference both to the practical elevation of a well-built fortress and the high place of pagan worship. Thus, Moav (Satan’s kingdom) will be brought down and turned to dust, both physically and spiritually.
 
Copyright 2018 Yaakov Brown