From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com Sent: Tuesday, September 2, 1997 1:00 AM To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup; yadhu@haydid.org Subject: Re: The Seat of Moses
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com From: Ben Goodwyn Subject: Re: Calling a man RABBI
>From: Dick Perkins (JCM) >To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com >Subject: Re: Rabbi's Car > >Greetings, Why do you call him Rabbi when Yeshua said to call no >man Rabbi? > One of the first principles of examining the scriptures is to >interpret the scriptures IN CONTEXT. Many Christians know different >Bible verses and sometimes these Bible verses that they quote are >quoted out of context. With this in mind, let us examine your >question. >
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Eddie:
I must commend you for your excellent explanation of the above question; particularly, regarding the seat of Moshe. I consider the passage in Matt 23:2-3 a most important scripture for our times.
It is my understanding by Yehoshua's(Messiah) time the seat of Moshe had become the Judicial system in Israel, the Bet Din.
>From Eddie: **************
This is true.
>From Ben: ************
Although our present judicial system is modeled on the Bet Din, the Bet Din handled both civil as well, as religous questions(judgments). In essence the decisions regarding interpretation of Torah were bound on earth and in heaven(Halakaic ordinances). Are we to follow them as indicated in Mat 23:2-3? Is this correct?
>From Eddie: **************
Some who are studying the Hebraic/Jewish Roots of Christianity interpret Matthew 23:2-3 to mean that believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah are to "do as they say" and follow PRESENT Rabbic Orthodox Judaism.
In the Gospels, Yeshua/Jesus cautioned against two things regarding "doing as they say":
#1) The ATTITUDE toward God and toward the people of those who were religious leaders among the people and held their religious positions with a heart of pride and arragance desiring more the praise of men rather than the praise of God. ("do as they say and not as they do")
#2) Yeshua/Jesus cautioned and spoke against CERTAIN "fences" that the religious leaders put forth among the people in keeping the Torah. Yeshua/Jesus DID NOT alway follow these man-made "fences" and traditions.
Today, Rabbinic Orthodox Judaism puts the oral law ABOVE the written law in authority. Therefore, today's rabbinic Orthodox Judaism is BASED upon the written Torah but is MANDATED according the ORAL traditions of the rabbi's. Therefore, Orthodox Judaism is a religion based upon the views of the rabbi's over the years which have also changed in some areas over the years as well.
Furthermore, it can be documented that PRESENT rabbinic Orthodox Judaism is NOT 100% practiced the same and believed the same as as it was in the 1st century and prior to the 1st century. The GREATEST example of this can be seen by comparing rabbinical commentaries of Isaiah 53 and other "Messianic" prophecies BEFORE the 1st century and how they are viewed today and even given a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT interpretation by organizations like "Jews for Judaism"
Are Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus as Messiah Biblically required to follow rabbinic Orthodox Judaism and put the Oral law ABOVE the written law? I believe that the answer is obviously NO! The written law is our anchor and the Ruach HaKodesh / Holy Spirit is our TEACHER and our guide who was given to lead us unto all TRUTH/TORAH of God's Word (John 16:13)
> > >You of course remember the passage In Matt 16:19 where the Mishiak says to >Peter, "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and what ever >you bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever you loose on earth >will be loosed in heaven." > >Is this in reference to the Bet Din? >
>From Eddie: **************
Yes it is. But we are not Biblically mandated to put the Oral law ABOVE the written Word of God.
> >What were the keys to the kingdom? >
>From Eddie: **************
Loving God and keeping His commandments.
> >What was he binding or loosing on earth? Your clarification would be >appreciated. >
>From Eddie: **************
"Binding and loosing" referred to the mandate given to the San Hedrin to make rulings concerning the Torah. However, this power does not give them the right to make "unconstitutional" decisions. Yeshua/Jesus taught concerning many of these "unconstitutional" rulings in the NT. HE made the CORRECT ruling regarding the application and rulings of the TORAH. Therefore, we should look to HIM to be our example not rabbi's who put the Oral law ABOVE the written law and put "unconstitutional fences" around the written Torah.
> > >Shalom aleichem------------------------benGoodwyn > >
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