The Word of the Almighty (Torah) is such a beautiful creation that is perfect
and good in every way. It teaches us how we are to love Him and draw close to
Him and also how to love and care for our neighbors too. But there are
religions, like Christianity/Messianic, Hebrew Roots and even Islam, who
believe and teach that it is old and outdated to some degree or another. Such
people see the Torah as a list of do’s and don’ts. These are the people who do
not know or understand the heart of the Torah or the Almighty at all.
These people also only see the Scriptures in a very shallow way and cannot see
or recognize the true depth, meaning and value of the Scriptures. What that
leads to, is simply a lack of understanding of many teachings and, therefore, the
belief that many of the ancient customs are outdated and no longer necessary
today. But to someone who dedicates his life to the pursuit of truth and
understanding and the deeper study of the Torah, this idea of being outdated is
absolutely ludicrous. What some might perceive as redundant, to another person
it is a great treasure and overwhelming wealth.
Maimonedes (Rambam) explains, so clearly, the differences between the Torah
Jews and other religions, that might seem to resemble that of Torah Judaism. It
is this that he wrote to the Jews who were living in Yemen, who, at that time,
were being persecuted and was facing forced conversion to other religions, in that
case it was to Islam. Rambam wrote these letters to support the Jews and
encourage them to stay strong in their beliefs. In one of his letters, he wrote
the following:
“Our religion differs as much from other religions as a
living person differs from a lifeless statue, which is ever so well carved out
of marble, wood, bronze or silver. When an ignorant person sees a statue that
superficially resembles man in contour, form, features and color, he thinks
that the structure of its parts is similar to that of a human being. But the
informed person, who knows the interior of both, is aware of the fact that the
internal structure of the statue shows no skillful workmanship at all, whereas
the inner parts of man are marvelously made.
So too, a person ignorant of the deep meaning of the Bible, and of the deeper
significance of the Torah, would be led to believe that our religion has
something in common with another. True, both contain a system of religious
observances; but the tenets of other religions, though resembling those of the
Bible, are merely superficial imitations. People have modeled their religions
after ours in order to glorify themselves”
One of the biggest controversies surrounding the Scriptures is that of the
circumcision. Many teach that it is
If your argument is, “but I am too old,” Then please spare a thought for
Avraham who was 99 years old when he circumcised HIMSELF. He did so because of
his love and devotion to the Almighty Creator, without any hesitation at all.
Now, let us look at the different views and understandings of this commandment
and see which view is shallow and deceitful and which is the one who knows the
deeper rooted understanding of this commandment.
As noted above, Christianity/Messianic believe that it is redundant and not
necessary to perform anymore. Some do it because they want to, for health
benefits etc, and not because it is a commandment. Some may do it because the
Torah teaches so, and often because their friends are doing it too, but they
are few and far between. They claim that Sha’ul (Paul) taught that circumcision
is not longer necessary and that in Acts 15 it was done away with. We will
discuss this case further below.
Now let us see what Judaism teaches on this subject. This section was taken
from Jewish commentary of the Torah from the Torah portion mentioned:
”Regarding the commandment of the
circumcision (Gen 17:9-14).
From the sequence of this chapter, it is clear that
the blessings of the children and possession of the Land depended on
circumcision, a connection that is also implied in the second blessing of the
Blessing after Meals.
The symbolic significance of this commandment is indicated by the name of the
flesh that is removed in performance of the commandment – “orlah,” commonly translated as ‘foreskin,’
but more accurately, as it is used in Scripture, ‘a barrier’ standing in the way of a beneficial result. For example,
the sinful habits that predispose a person not to change his lifestyle are
called the ‘orlah’ of the heart
(Lev26:41; Jer 9:25; Eze 44:7).
Thus, although this concept is beyond human understanding, circumcision is a
means to help the Israelite ennoble himself and return to the spiritual state
of Adam before his sin. As the Sages teach, Adam was born circumcised, but
after his sin his foreskin was extended and covered the organ (Senhedrin 38b),
as a symbol that he had created a barrier between himself and set-apartness.
By removing the superfluous skin covering the organ of continuity, circumcision
teaches that man must eliminate the natural barriers blocking his advancement.
But circumcision’s capacity to accomplish this is not a logical outcome of the
physical act; to the contrary, it is metaphysical. This aspect of circumcision
is symbolized by the commandment that it be done on the eighth day of a boy’s
life. As Maharal teaches, the natural order of Creation involves cycles of
seven, such as the seven days of the week and the seven years of the Shemittah
agricultural cycle. The number eight represents the concept that one can rise
above limitations of nature. By commanding Israel to circumcise its male
children on the eighth day, Elohim taught that the Israelite’s ability to
remove the barriers to his spiritual ascent transcends the natural order of
life. Nevertheless, Elohim gives man the ability to do it – and since he can,
he must.
A commandment consists of two parts: the physical act and its underlying moral
or spiritual teaching – and neither is complete without the other. Just as it
is not enough to perform the commanded deeds if they are denuded of
intellectual and moral content, so it is not enough to philosophize on the
commandments and seek moral improvement without actually performing the
commandments. Hence, the physical act is the covenant, but it is also a sign of
the covenant’s deeper meaning.”
Can you see the difference? The one sees the commandment as a redundant
obligation whereas the other sees its true value which is removing the barrier
so that we can come closer to the Almighty. The one view is humanistic and the
other is recognizing the love for YHWH. Also notice how valuable and important
it is to analyze the Hebrew text for the absolute truth. You will not find this
information in any English translations at all.
So what about Acts 15… does that not teach that circumcision is not necessary
for Gentile believers? Well, lets analyze it a little bit together.
”And certain men came down from Yehudah and were
teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised, according to the practice
of Mosheh, you are unable to be saved.”” (Act 15:1). Here we see that
certain Y’hudim were teaching that new believers must submit to all the Torah
straight away, including the Circumcision. But this is not possible for new
believers as it takes a lot of study to know the whole Torah.
”So when Sha’ul and Barnabah had no small
dissension and dispute with them, they arranged for Sha’ul and Barnabah and
certain others of them to go up to Yerushalayim, to the emissaries and elders,
about this question.” (Act 15:2). Sha’ul and Barnabah were not
disagreeing with the Y’hudim with regards to the circumcision, but rather when
it was to be introduced to the new believers. This is so that the new believers
would not be frightened off. So they went and sought counsel.
“Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those
from among the gentiles who are
turning to Elohim, but that we write to them to abstain from the
defilements of idols, and from whoring, and from what is
strangled, and from blood.” (Act 15:19-20). Here it is clear
that only new believers from other nations (non-Jews) who were turning to
Elohim (Torah Judaism). They were taught that there are a few things that they
have to immediately obey without question. These things are:
1) Abstain from Idols:
a)
Eating meat offered to idols
b)
Speaking in the names of idols (Exodus 23:13)
c)
Having an idols image or statue in your home
d)
Riches and popularity etc.
2) Whoring:
a) Do not commit adultery
b) Do not have any sexual relations
with anyone other than your husband or wife
c) Do not follow the teachings of
men
d)
Do not turn away from the Word of the Almighty to follow other false teachings
3) What is strangled:
a)
Any meat that comes from an animal that has been strangled, which is a kosher
law
4) Blood:
a) No
blood is allowed to be eaten, for the soul is in the blood (Kosher law)
b) Do
not murder
c)
Women’s monthly cycle laws
These
things are absolute no-no’s for anyone who turns to the faith of the Messiah,
and have to stopped immediately if they are still being performed. But that is
not where it ends. The chapter goes on to say:
“For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being
read in the congregations every
Sabbath.” (Act 15:21). Here is the key to the entire chapter. Because
the new believers do not know the whole Torah, they need to go to the Jewish
congregations on every Shabbat to learn Mosheh (Torah) so that they can know
how to live their life in righteousness and serve the Almighty in truth.
As one learns the way of righteousness, he is then required to live
accordingly. That is why the new believers went to learn Mosheh, so that they
can learn righteousness and changed their old practices and habits in favor of
the teachings of the Torah. So when it came to the section in the Torah which
speaks of the Circumcision, the new believers then, out of their own desire to
obey and serve YHWH, became circumcised, because that is what the Torah
teaches. In fact, the Torah makes it very clear that no person can partake in
the Passover if he is not circumcised in the flesh.
It is very clear that, neither Sha’ul, nor any other disciple ever taught that
it was not necessary to be circumcised. Only through the twisting of Scripture
and trickery, do the Christian/Messianics teach this false theology.
Let us end with the following Scripture of a prophecy:
”‘Thus said the Master יהוה (YHWH), “No son of a foreigner,
uncircumcised in heart OR uncircumcised
in flesh, comes into My set-apart place, even any son of a foreigner who is
among the children of Yisra’ĕl” (Eze 44:9).
Do you want to go into the Set-Apart place of the Almighty, or do you want to
be rejected and denied entrance because you did not want to become circumcised,
and chose to keep the barrier between yourself and the Almighty Creator of the
heavens and the earth?
