Aleph & Tav: The Author and Goal of the Torah, the Lord of Shabbat

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.

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!