IS THE LAW OF YAHWEH REALLY A CURSE?
"Curse of The Law"?
By Elder Teddy Wilson / Seekers of Yahweh Ministries
Greetings once again! Praise Yahweh for His Torah, praise Him for his love, praise Him for His mercy, praise Him for the gift of life, praise Him for eternity, and most of all let us praise Him for the Blood of Yahshua his Son....Halleluyah! We have so much to be thankful for, do we not?
The word LAW should actually be translated as "TORAH" in most cases in the Messianic Scriptires (N.T.). So, we will, as always, try to bring up a type of view that will be fresh and point out things that most teachings on these particular portions have not covered in the past. May Yahweh guide us by His Ruach (spirit) as we seek Him in His Torah. I pray the following teachings honor our Father in heaven, and may it bless us with the ability to continue to grow as we serve Him in righteousness, seeking His Kingdom.
Before we get to the teachings that pertain to the Messianic Scriptures, I would like to cover a few things in the portion itself that may help us have a deeper understanding of Yahwehs Torah. We will first take a look at (Deut.27:6-10)....“Build the altar of Yahweh your Elohim with complete stones, and you shall offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your Elohim, 7 and shall offer peace offerings, and eat there, and rejoice before Yahweh your Elohim. 8“And you shall write all the Words of this Torah on the stones – plainly and well.” 9 And Mosheh and the priests, the Lewites, spoke to all Yisra’el, saying, “Be silent and hear, O Yisra’el: This day you have become the people of Yahweh your Elohim, 10 and you shall obey the voice of Yahweh your Elohim, and do His commands and His laws which I command you today.”
The first thing that I would like to point out here has to do with the word "complete" in verse (6). In other translations it is also translated as "whole". The definition can be found in the Strongs Hebrew dictionary #8003. A bit of information that can help us understand things better is that only the words in "italics" are literal definitions in the Strongs. The words you see in regular print are just words that translaters "chose" to use over the literal meanings. In my personal opinion, that should NEVER be done when translating Yahwehs Word. That being said, "The Scriptures" give us a far better understanding, because they use the literal definitions more often than most other translations. We read in the Strongs that the literal definitions of #8003 are (complete/friendly). We also are shown that this Hebrew word "shalem" comes from #7999 which has the literal definitions of (be safe, completed, be friendly, &
reciprocate). This word is used in reference to "stones" in the Torah Portions we are discussing. This projects the meaning that we are complete and whole with Torah in our lives, leading to Yahwehs safety. Now, as we read on in (v.8) we see that the people were commanded to "write all the words of the Torah on the stones". This command was made to all of Yisra'el, and it should be noted that this command was for others with them as well....37"And the children of Yisra’el set out from Ra'meses to Sukkoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides the little ones. 38 And a mixed multitude went up with them too, also flocks and herds, very much livestock" (Ex.12:37-38). So, this command was given to all who were grafted in among the Yisrael'ites in the great exodus as well. For the record, according to scripture, these commands were never given to Yisra'el alone. there has always been those of other nations (gentiles) living in the midts of Yahwehs chosen. They were also "NUMBERED" with them as well, "And Yahweh spoke to Mosheh in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Mitsrayim, saying, 2“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head," (Num.1:1-2). Now, we can proceed with the stones. What we are about to learn is such an awsome revelation! Let me kick start everyones thinking for a moment by asking a question. Are we not "STONES"?
In the Torah Portion above, it was said that the words of Torah were to be written "ON THE STONES". This is something spoken of a few different times in scripture, but the following verses will tie all of this in very well....31“See, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh,“when I shall make a new covenant with the house of Yisra’el and with the house of Yehudah, 32 not like the covenant I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Mitsrayim, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares Yahweh . 33“For this is the covenant I shall make with the house of Yisra’el after those days, declares Yahweh : I shall put My Torah in their inward parts, and write it on their hearts. And I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people" (Jer.31:31-33). Take note that these verses are speaking of the "NEW COVENANT" (better translated as re-newed covenant).
Also, in (v.33) Yahweh declares that He would "write the Torah on their hearts". After what scripture has shown us, we see that Yahweh commanded for His Torah be written on the "stones" and He also declares that He would place His Torah on the hearts of His children in the new covenant. Reading in the writings of Kepha (Peter), we see the following....4"Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priest- hood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offer ings acceptable to Elohim throughYahshua Messiah. 6 Because it is contained in the Scripture, “See, I lay in Tsiyon a chief corner-stone, chosen, precious, and he who believes on Him shall by no means be put to shame.” 7 This preciousness, then, is for you who believe; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling and a rock that makes for falling,” who stumble because they are disobedient to the Word, to which they also were appointed" (1 Pet.2:4-8).
"You are living stones"! We as one of Yahwehs children are stones that are supposed to have what written on us and in us? His Torah....Halleluyah! In the verses above we see that Yahwes children have always been appointed to His Torah (Word). What does scripture say causes people to "STUMBLE AND FALL"? Disobedience to Torah! Let us not make that mistake. O'Yahweh, fill us, your servants, with your Word and your Ruach that we may do what is pleasing in your sight. Where does the foundation of this teaching begin that has been handed down to us by the prophets and apostles? Where does the foundation of all that we know, including the world itself come from? When you read the following verses, please take notice of WHO is holding the plumb-line, WHERE the wall is that He is standing on, and WHO is doing the talking....7 This is what He showed me, and see, Yahweh stood on a wall made with a plumb- line, with a plumb-line in His hand, 8 and Yahweh said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb-line.” And Yahweh said, “See, I am setting a plumb-line in the midst of My people Yisra’el, no longer do I pardon them." (Amos 7:7-8). I will stop there, even though there is much more to be said in the matter. I am sure that Yahwehs Spirit will show you more on that subject in your future studies.
Moving on to the main teaching for this week. Most of us have heard it all before, how Yahshua put an end to all of that "LAW STUFF". Also, things like, "Oh, that was for the Jews". Even the short study we just went through paints a much different picture. We will now move on to the rest of chapter 27, and add to this study chapter 28 as well, among other corresponding verses as we go. These chapters are most popular for the teachings on curses. Today, we will make a huge point that pertains to the BLESSINGS spoken about in this portion as well, toward the end.
The first thing that I would like to point out here is in (Deut.27:15-26). 15‘Cursed is the man who makes a carved or moulded image, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of the crafts- man, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’ 16‘Cursed is he who makes light of his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 17‘Cursed is he who moves his neigh- bour’s boundary.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 18‘Cursed is he who misleads the blind in the way.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 19‘Cursed is he who twists the right- ruling of the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 20‘Cursed is he who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s bed.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 21‘Cursed is he who lies with any beast.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 22‘Cursed is he who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 23‘Cursed is he who lies with his mother- in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 24‘Cursed is he who smites his neighbour secretly.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 25‘Cursed is he who takes a bribe to slay an innocent being.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’ 26‘Cursed is he who does not establish the Words of this Torah.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
What is the first word in every verse there? Is it not "cursed"? Now, how many verses are there? Is there not 12? How many tribes of Yisra'el are there, (not counting the Levites for they are Yahwehs)? Is there not 12? I feel that Yahweh is showing us something here. We are all in this together! If one is in error concerning these commands, in one way shape or form, it will some how effect the whole Body. This is why we hear Yahweh time after time tell us to "purge the evil from our midst".
Look at (v.26), for this verse will play a crucial role later in the teaching...."Cursed is HE who does not establish the Words of this Torah". Where we are reading the word establish above, most translations use the words "confirmeth not". In the Strongs we see the definition of this word #6965 in the Hebrew. In this case, none of the tranlations in my possession have used the literal definition in translating (which is scary to say the least). The literal definition is listed as (to rise). Looking at the definitions used though, we see in the english "establish"/ to institute permanently. And for "confirmeth" we will go to confirmation / an act of ratifying or corroborating : proof. What all of this shows us is, the man (or body of people) that do not choose to permanently institute and corroborate with, which means to support with evidence, Yahwehs commands will receive a curse.
This is where Yahweh will begin to shed some light on some very dark teachings that are being produced by people that have not the knowledge of Torah. Let us turn to the book of Galatians. Some teach that the following verses show that the Torah (law) is a curse. In light of the teachings of Yahwehs Word, that teaching is false. Remember, the Torah Portion we just read declared that the person that does not follow the commands will be "cursed". With that in mind, we shall read the verses they say proves that the law is a curse, and that it has been done away with. 10 For as many as are of works of Torah are under the curse, for it has been written “Cursed is everyone who does not contin- ue in all that has been written in the book of the Torah, to do them.” 11 And that no one is declared right by Torah before Elohim is clear, for “The righteous shall live by belief.” 12 And the Torah is not of belief, but “The man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Torah, having become a curse for us – for it has been written, “Cursed is every- one who hangs upon a tree. ” (Gal.3:10-13).
Take a very close look at (v.13). This "does not" say that the law is a curse. Sha'ul (Paul) knew what the problem was for everyone that he was speaking to during his many journeys into the lands in which his Brethren had been cast! They had been cursed, just as the Torah has taught us for centuries! He was saying in (v.10) that the Torah was still at work and those in Galatia (along with everyone else in the world) "are under the curse". We see that being proclaimed in the rest of that verse...." for it has been written “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all that has been written in the book of the Torah, to do them.” It had been written where? In the Torah! To do what? The commands! Halleluyah!! He was teaching them that Yahshua had redeemed us from "the curse of the law" which was death....(Rom.6:23) 23"For the wages of sin is death, but the favourable gift of Elohim is everlasting life in Messiah Yahshua our Master". A little history will help show us a great truth here. The book of Romans was not the first epistle that Sha'ul wrote. It was actually the sixth letter he had written. You can check the history of his writings for yourself. Galaitians was actually his first epistle. So, if Sha'ul had taught that the law was a curse in his first letter as they try to lead us to believe, then why would he turn around some years later in his letter to the Romans and declare....12 So that the Torah truly is set-apart, and the command set-apart, and righteous, and good (Rom.7:12)? The Torah shows us the truth of the matter.
So, was Messiah "the end of the law" as some translations promote? Let us investigate this. In the K.J.V. and most other English translations we read the following, "For the Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Rom.10:4). This cannot be true if what the Torah of Yahweh just taught us is correct. Let us take a real close at what the translaters have done here. The Greek word that "end" was translated from in this case is #5056 in the Strongs / literal def.= point or goal ...point aimed at as limit. This word should have been translated as "GOAL" in our Bibles!
Messiah is the goal of the Torah (law). By following the instructions given in the commands, we become more like Messiah Yahshua! The law was never meant to produce salvation. It was given to let us know what sin is, and how to rid ourselves of that sin. Praise Yahweh! We do not keep the commands to be saved, we keep them because we are saved!
And now on to the best part. Remember the blessings I spoke about earlier in the teaching? Let us go to (Deut. 28) to learn something very important about them. “And it shall be, if you
diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your Elohim, to guard to do all His commands which I command you today, that Yahweh your Elohim shall set you high above all nations of the earth. 2“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of Yahweh your Elohim: 3“Blessed are you in the city, and blessed are you in the field. 4“Blessed is the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your livestock – the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. 5“Blessed is your basket and your kneading bowl. 6“Blessed are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out. 7“Yahweh causes your enemies who rise against you to be smitten before your face – they come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8“Yahweh commands the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and shall bless you in the land which Yahweh your Elohim is giving you." (Deut.28:1-8).
Here are all of these beautiful blessings promised to Yahwehs people. Let the truth of Yahwehs Word ring true to his servants! Question to all who teach that Messiah was the end of the Torah (law). If the Torah has been done away with, how are we, or anyone, supposed to inherit these blessings? Look at (v.8). Only in the Torah (law) did Yahweh command blessings upon us! In short, you do away with the Torah, you do away with the knowledge of sin and you also do away with the blessings. Do we now see how backwards that theology is? The Law of Yahweh is not a curse. It is what leads us to be more like Yahshua, who by the way never broke any of our Fathers commands. It is what causes people to look upon us and see a distinction between us and every one else.
O'Yahweh how we praise you for your Torah and the instructions within its pages! We thank you for giving us something that will cause us to walk as Your Son walked. How gracious thou are O'Father. We have so much to be thankful for, and we praise you always Yahweh. Let us be mindful of your Torah that we may have your blessings bestowed upon us. Let the rest of the world look and see that "THE NAME OF YAHWEH IS UPON US IN HIS SON YAHSHUA"!
Well, I pray that the words that you have read today have not only opened new doors of understanding for you, but that Yahweh has been lifted up in so doing.
Seekers of Yahweh Ministries
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