Articles in this section come from The Congregation of YHWH, Lower Hutt, NZ.
Unless otherwise stated the booklets and articles are authored by David.
The Home Schooling Alternative.
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CONTENTS.
Introduction
The School Master.
The New Covenant.
What is Grace?
The Sabbath.
INTRODUCTION.
There are many people on this earth who use some of the words of the Apostle Paul, to claim that
there is now no need to keep the Torah (Law) of Yahuweh.
In this booklet we hope to show, that this idea is merely due to a lack of understanding of what the
Apostle Paul was saying. If the Apostle Paul had actually stated that the Torah was done away with,
then we could no longer call him an Apostle. In fact we would have to call him an apostate. The
Apostle Paul was by no means an apostate; he was in fact most zealous for the Word of Yahuweh.
Read in context, there is no way that Paul can be said to have claimed that the Law (Torah) was
made null and void. So how is it that so many professing Christians make this error? Let us look to
the Scriptures for the answer.
Rom 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
Rom 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is enmity towards God; for it is not being subjected to
the Law of God, for neither can it be. (LITV)
We see above in Romans 8, from the words of the Apostle Paul himself, that it is the human mind in
the flesh that is against the law of Yahweh. Note that Paul says the mind of the flesh cannot be
subject to the Law of Yah. Now if Paul was claiming that the Law was done away, why on earth
would he be talking of the mind of the flesh being death?
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of Yah: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
So we see in 1st Corinthians 2 that the human mind cannot understand the things of the Spirit
because they can only be discerned through the Spirit of Yah.
In Thessalonians chapter 2, Paul goes on to tell us that people don’t understand the truth because
they do not love the Truth.
2Th. 2:10 “and in all deceit of unrighteousness in those being lost,
because they did not receive the love of the truth in order for them to be saved.”
2Th 2:11 “And because of this, Yah will send to them a working of error,
for them to believe the lie,”
Very basically then, people do not understand, largely because they don’t want to. The vast majority
of people only want to believe what it suits them to believe.
So what then is the purpose of this booklet; it is for those who have been misled by false teachers;
for those who never knew to read the Scriptures for themselves, who trusted those who went to
Theology Colleges to know better than they could themselves. Never realizing that through the Set
Apart Spirit it is Our Father Yah Yahuweh that teaches us All Things, we should look to no other. Yah
provides helps through men, but He alone is the teacher and revealer of all.
This booklet is then; for a vehicle by which Yah can reveal some Truth to those He is calling out of
this world’s system and religions. So now before we look at some of those Scriptures, commonly
misinterpreted to say the Law is no longer in force, there are three things we need to remember.
1. The Scripture cannot be broken, so there can be no contradiction in Yah’s word.
John 10:35 “If he called them gods, unto whom the word of Yah came,
and the scripture cannot be broken;”
2.Yahushua himself said that the law would not pass away.
Mat 5:18 “Truly I say to you, Until the heaven and the earth pass away, in no way shall one iota
or one point pass away from the Law until all comes to pass.”
3. We need to keep in mind the definition of sin.
1John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law:
for sin is the transgression of the law.”
THE SCHOOL MASTER
It seems that for many the book of Galatians is a stumbling block. So let us begin with a look at some
of those Scriptures from Galatians.
Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which
should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Messiah, that we might be
justified by faith.
Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Many read “we are no longer under a schoolmaster” to mean that the law was done away. Is this
really so? Exactly what was Paul saying?
The word translated “schoolmaster” is G3807 in Strong’s παιδαγωγομς
paidagōgos pahee-dag-o-gos'
From G3816 and a reduplication form of G71; a boy leader, that is,
a servant whose office it was to take the children to school;
(by implication [figuratively] a tutor [“paedagogue”]): - instructor, schoolmaster.
So before answer the questions posed; let us first look a little closer at the definition of the word
translated as “schoolmaster” from “Easton’s Bible Dictionary” and also from “The International
Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Schoolmaster
(We read from Easton's Bible Dictionary)
The law so designated by Paul (Galatians 3:24, 25).
As so used, the word does not mean teacher, but pedagogue (shortened into the modern page),
i.e., one who was intrusted with the supervision of a family, taking them to and from the school,
being responsible for their safety and manners.
Hence the pedagogue was stern and severe in his discipline. Thus the law was a pedagogue to the
Jews, with a view to Christ, i.e., to prepare for faith in Christ by producing convictions of guilt and
helplessness. The office of the pedagogue ceased when "faith came", i.e., the object of that faith,
the seed, which is Christ.
Schoolmaster
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
skool'-mas-ter: Galatians 3:24 f. the King James Version reads: "The law was our schoolmaster to
bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no
longer under a schoolmaster." "Schoolmaster" is a translation of paidagogos, literally, "child-leader."
This paidagagos was not a teacher but a slave, to whom in wealthy families the general oversight of
a boy was committed. It was his duty to accompany his charge to and from school, never to lose
sight of him in public, to prevent association with objectionable companions, to inculcate moral
lessons at every opportunity, etc. He was a familiar figure in the streets, and the (sour) "face of
paidagogos" and "to follow one like a paidagogos" were proverbial expressions. Naturally, to the
average boy the paidagogos must have represented the incorporation of everything objectionable.
Hence, Paul's figure may be paraphrased: "The law was a paidagogos, necessary but irksome, to
direct us until the time of Christ. Then was the time of our spiritual coming-of-age, so that the
control of the paidagogos ceased." The word paidagogos was taken over into Aramaic at an early
date, and Paul's language; which is hardly that of a mere adult observer, suggests that he had had
personal experience with the institution. Wealthy and intensely orthodox Jewish parents living in a
Gentile city may well have adopted such a precaution for the protection of their children.
No English word renders paidagogos adequately."Schoolmaster" is quite wrong, but Revised Version's
"tutor" (compare I Corinthians 4:15) is little better in modern English.
From the definitions we have just looked at we see that ‘the law’ that was a “schoolmaster” was
something stern and severe.
Now the Torah of Yahweh (the Law of Yahweh given to Moses and summarised by the Ten
Commandments) is the great Law of Love and Liberty, so it could not be that which is here being
referred to by Paul. So exactly what was this Law called a schoolmaster. If we look back a few verses
to Galatians 3:19 we read:-
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,
till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;
and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Note the words “it was added.” What was added and why? The verse tells us “why”, it was added
because of transgressions (sins). What was the LAW THAT WAS ADDED? It was the SACRIFICIAL LAW
In the Old Testament, Yahweh commanded His people to adhere to a precise set of rules governing
the offering of sacrifices, various washings and ablutions and physical requirements such as
circumcision. The animal sacrifices taught them that all sin leads to death, something had to die.
They also were a fore shadow of Messiah’s sacrifice once for all. Death is the consequence of
breaking Yahweh’s Torah (sin).
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of Elohimis eternal life
through Yahshua Messiah our Master.
These people needed a physical reminder of this. These laws were designed to keep Israel conscious
of the need for a Saviour and to set them apart as a separate nation to protect them from the
influence of Gentile nations. The various washings etc, that kept them clean in body, were also a
reminder to be clean and pure in thought and deed. The washings also foreshadowed the cleansing of
the water immersion into the Name of Messiah and the spiritual cleansing of the acceptance of His
shed blood to atone for us.
So the Sacrificial and Ceremonial Law was a pale, physical foreshadow of the saving power of Messiah
Yahshua’s sacrifice. That sacrificial and ceremonial law is now redundant in that it has been
superseded by a better sacrifice and better cleansing. The basic spiritual law of sacrifice and
cleansing still stands, but it stands in Messiah, not the sacrifice of animals and ceremonial washings.
This is in keeping with Messiah’s statement:-
Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in
no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled
However, while it is true that animal sacrifices had been made since Adam first sinned [Cain and
Abel fell out over whose sacrifice was acceptable; Noah sacrificed after the flood, Abraham was told
not to sacrifice Isaac but a ram instead.] In the first instance Yahweh did not require animal
sacrifices from the Israelites coming out of bondage in Egypt.
Jer 7:22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them
out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:
Jer 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your Elohim,
and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may
be well unto you.
Jer 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the
imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Yah wanted only obedience to His Voice, from the Israelites;
Exo 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and
brought you unto myself.
Exo 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall
be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exo 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words
which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
But as we saw in Jeremiah 7:24 the Israelites did not listen; and so the sacrificial system was added
after the golden calf incident to be the ‘schoolmaster” (the paidagogos) to teach discipline and make
ready for the better way, through Faith in Messiah’s sacrifice. But now that Messiah has come; we
are no longer under the OLD SACRIFICIAL and CEREMONIAL LAW. We are no longer under The
Schoolmaster.
THE NEW COVENANT.
Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things,
can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually
make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers
once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Heb 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou
wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Heb 10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
As we have already discussed, we see from Hebrews10:1 that the sacrificial law had a “shadow” of
good things to come, the reality of those good things being Messiah (Hebrews10:5)
So while the Sacrificial and Ceremonial Laws were stopped, The Laws(teachings) of Yah are still very
much in force; always remember the words of Messiah.
Mat 5:18 “Truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth pass away, in no way shall one iota
or one point pass away from the Law until all comes to pass.”
Another scripture often used to say the Law is done away is;
Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O Yah. He taketh away the first, that He may
establish the second.
Many believe that this scripture proves that the Old Testament was done away and a New Testament
was brought in. They believe that nothing in the Old Testament is relevant for today.
As we have seen already it was the Terms of the Old Covenant that were replaced;
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
The Old Covenant is still very relevant; in fact the New Covenant was written in the Old Covenant
Scriptures.
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house
of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took
them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake,
although I was an husband unto them, saith Yahweh:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those
days, saith Yahweh, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and
will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people.
In Jeremiah 31.31-33 we see Yahweh talking about The NEW Covenant. It is a covenant made with
the same people; The House of Israel. The Apostle Paul explains this in Hebrews 8
Heb 8:6 But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for
the second.
Heb 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, when I will
make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took
them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my
covenant, and I regarded them not, saith Yahweh.
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith
Yahweh; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to
them a Elohim, and they shall be to me a people:
So we see that The New Covenant could be better called the Renewed Covenant as it was
established upon ‘better promises’. The Old Covenant was sealed with the blood of animals, which as
we have seen (Hebrews 10:4) could not take away sin. The New Covenant has been sealed with the
Life Saving Blood of Yahushua.
Notice in both, Hebrews 8:10 and Jeremiah 31:33 it states quite clearly what Yahweh is going to
do with His Law.
Does it say He is going to do away with His Law? No, and again No, it does not, it says something
quite the opposite.
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those
days, saith Yahweh, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and
will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people
Heb 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
saith Yahweh; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to
them a Elohim, and they shall be to me a people
Now let us be logical and consistent if The Law was made null and void, WHY would Yahweh be going
to write it anyone’s heart? Obviously He would not, so here is absolute proof from the mouth of
Yahweh himself that the Law still stands. The New Covenant then is still based on the Law of Moses,
only the terms by which we enter the New Covenant were changed.
We enter into the New Covenant, by firstly repenting of our sins, remember
1John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression
of the law.”
So the first requirement for entering the New Covenant also proves that Yahweh did not cancel the
Law.
Then we must accept and have faith in Yahshua’s sacrifice and His atoning blood for the forgiveness
of our sins. Next we need to be baptized by immersion in water; in the name of Yahshua. After that
comes the laying on of hands for the receipt of The Ruach Ha Qodesh (the Set Apart Spirit) following
which we must walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, living by every word of scripture.
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
WHAT IS GRACE?
Rom 1:3 Concerning his Son Yahshua Messiah our Master, which was made of the seed of David
according to the flesh;
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of Yah with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by
the resurrection from the dead:
Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all
nations, for his name:
Rom 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Yahshua Messiah:
Sadly it seems that many a Christian believes that ‘grace’ means that all you have to do is believe
that Yahshua was the Son of Yah, and that you have no other responsibility except to have faith.
Once again Paul is often quoted out of context to try to justify this position.
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under
grace.
Now I will tell you, it is way easy to have faith; if you think that you have no responsibility- that
however you do things, Yah is just up there waiting to answer your prayers. They seem to imagine
that He is there at their service. How arrogant is that? What is grace really? Did grace exist
before Messiah came?
Number G5485 in Strong’s Concordance, the word for grace is as follows;
χαμρις charis khar'-ece
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative
or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including
gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure,
thank (-s, -worthy).
Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh.
Gen 19:19 Behold, now, Your servant has found grace in Your sight, and You have magnified
Your mercy which You have done to me in saving my life. And I am not able to escape to the
mountain lest some evil overtake me and I die.
Psa 84:11 For Yahweh Elohim is a sun and shield; Yahweh will give grace and glory;
He will withhold nothing good from those who walk in integrity.
We see from the preceding three scriptures that ‘grace’ is not something entirely new in the New
Covenant. Grace has always existed. Grace has also always had the same prerequisite.
Gen 6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations,
and Noah walked with Elohim.
Gen 6:22 And Noah did so, according to all that Elohim commanded him, so he did.
Gen 7:1 And Yahweh said to Noah, You and all your house come into the ark,
for I have seen you righteous before Me in this generation.
Noah found ‘grace’ because he walked with Yahweh; he followed Yahweh’s instructions; and was a
righteous man.
Grace is not given to unrepentant sinners; as we have already discussed, in order to enter the New
Covenant we must repent of our sins and keep Yahweh’s Commandments as part of the New
Covenant. A covenant is an agreement between two parties; there are always terms to be kept by
both parties in any covenant agreement.
So what did Paul mean when he said “for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” very simply,
that after we have entered the New Covenant by fulfilling the requirements, we are no longer under
the “penalty” of the law which is death.
But rather we are under the Grace (favour) of forgiveness. So if we need to be forgiven, what are
we being forgiven for? We are being forgiven for the breaking of Yah’s Law. Now if the Law was
done away we would not continually need forgiveness for there would be no law to break. It seems
incredible that so many would use Rom 6:14 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are
not under the law, but under grace” to say that they don’t need to keep the law, especially as in the
very next verse Paul declares:-
Rom 6:15 What then? Shall we sin*, because we are not under the law, but under grace? Elohim
forbid.
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are
to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But Yah be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
* Remember that ‘sin’ is ‘the transgression of the law”
So clearly then “Grace” is the unmerited pardon, freely given upon repentance from breaking the
Law, Grace is forgiveness and mercy. Grace is not a license to sin; as some would try to tell you.
However this is not a new problem,this claim was being made back in the time of the Apostles
and Jude warned against it.
Jud 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation,
it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,
ungodly men, turning the grace of our Elohim into lasciviousness, and denying the only Sovereign Yahweh,
and our Master Yahshua Messiah.
Jud 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how
that Yahweh, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
Grace is unmerited pardon; but we can lose it if we do not walk with Yah in His commandments
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of Elohim, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of Elohim, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Our obedience does not save us; we are saved by grace, by putting our faith in Messiah Yahshua,
accepting Yahweh’s mercy and free gift of eternal life. That is the way to be saved. BUT, we must
live, lives of obedience from then on, or else we have not kept the first requirement for salvation
which is repentance from sin. If we have not repented our baptism is invalid and we do not have
salvation.
THE SABBATH.
We can show from scripture the Apostle Paul continued to keep the weekly Sabbaths and the annual
Sabbaths of Yahweh. Still many are led to believe that Paul said that we no longer need to do this.
Why would Paul have said the Sabbaths were no longer required and then kept them himself? That
would not make any sense and it is not what Paul said at all. We have already shown that the Law is
still in force; part of that Law is the keeping of the Sabbaths. That is the 4th Commandment. What
is it that leads people to believe Paul says we do not need to keep the 4th Commandment? Mainly it
is; Colossians2:14-17 and Romans14:5-6 and Galatians4:9-11 so let us look at these passages
and see who Paul was talking to, and what he was talking about.
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,
and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday,
or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:
Col 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Messiah.
First let us consider “who” Paul is talking to. In Colossians1 we read in verse 2 that Paul is writing
to the Saints and faithful brethren at Colosse, in verse 6 Paul talks of the gospel that has come to
them and all the world. This tells us that those at Colosse were not Jews, they were converted
Gentiles coming from a background of Paganism. These people needed help in understanding which
parts of Judaism they should adhere to; and what was not required.
Very much the same situation exists today with people coming out of pagan Christianity, often times
going right over the narrow path into the commandments of men that Yahushua complained about.
As we have already seen when Yahushua was nailed to the tree, the old system of sacrifices and
ritual was ended.
Further to that there were the “commandments of men” added by the Rabbis as spoken of by
Messiah in;
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
It is these ordinances that Paul is primarily talking of in this passage in Colossians 2.
The word for “ordinances” in Col. 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances” is in Strong’s
Concordance as follows:-
G1378
δομγμα dogma dog'-mah
From the base of G1380; a law (civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical): - decree, ordinance.
These ordinances that Paul was talking of, were handwritten man made additions to Yahweh’s perfect
law. No one had the authority to add to Yahweh’s Law and these dogmatic rules only served to widen
the gap between Jew and Gentile.
In Colossians 2: 20-22 we read Paul himself answer the question of what? the ‘ordinances’ in
question were;
Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Messiah from the rudiments of the world, why, as though
living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
The same word ‘dogma’ is translated ‘decree’ in Luke2:1; “decrees” in Acts 16:4 & Acts 17:7 and
“ordinances” in Ephesians2:15, all instances refer to laws of men not Yah.
So now, can we read Colossians 2:16 to mean that we no longer need to keep the Set Apart days,
the New Moon or the weekly Sabbaths? No, we cannot.
Firstly let us notice that there is no full stop at the end of verse 16, in the original letter verse 16
and 17 were one whole statement. Secondly let us notice in the KJV that in verse 17 the word ‘is’
has been italicized, which means it did not exist in the original but has been added by translators, so as
to make sense according to their own understanding.( *NB. Italics in this article and on this site
are for highlighting the text they do not signify an insertion unless stated)
However if we read the statement as originally made by Paul, his meaning becomes clear. “Let no
man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon,
or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body of Messiah.”
No doubt these Gentile converts from Colosse had both Jews practicing Judaism on the one side
telling them they were not doing things correctly and old friends and family from Paganism telling
them not to do them at all. So Paul is saying to, let no one judge them in their observance of
these days EXCEPT the Body of Messiah.
Now let us turn our attention to Romans 14:5-6
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let
every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto Yahweh; and he that regardeth not the
day, to Yahweh he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to Yahweh, for he giveth Elohim
thanks; and he that eateth not, to Yahweh he eateth not, and giveth Elohim thanks.
The first thing that we need to notice about Romans14:5-6 is that no where is, the Sabbath,
mentioned. It is incorrect to assume that Paul is referring to the Sabbath. Many take this passage
out of context and assume it is about the Sabbath. There are three things in this passage that Paul
is talking of, they are; vegetarianism (Rom.14:2-3), fasting (Rom 14:5-6) not judging one
another (Rom.14:3, 10, 13).
Rom 14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
Rom 14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not
judge him that eateth: for Yah hath received him.
This is clearly telling the Romans not to judge one another on the subject of vegetarianism.
Romans14:5 tells us that some were choosing one day over another
.
Rom 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man
be fully persuaded in his own mind.
Once again Paul is telling them to make their own choice, but what was this day for? Not the
Sabbath!! Verse 6 tells us it was for fasting.
Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto Yahweh; and he that regardeth not the
day, to Yahweh he doth not regard it. He that eateth eateth to Yahweh, for he giveth Elohim
thanks; and he that eateth not (fasts), to Yahweh he eateth not (fasts), and giveth Elohim
thanks.
So we see that Paul was discussing fasting, and people making their own choices about which day or
days they would fast to Yahweh. In verse 13 Paul clearly tells the Romans not to judge one another in
this matter.
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man
put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
The Sabbath is not discussed at all in Romans 14. Nor is Paul talking of the one and only
commanded fast of the Day of Atonement.
Many of the Jews at that time fasted twice a week, as is evidenced in Luke 18.
Luk 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I thank thee, that I am not as other
men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
There were also other fast days observed by the Jews; we see examples of these in; Zechariah 8.
Zec 8:19 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and
the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and
cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
Remember we already talked about the “handwriting of ordinances” being blotted out. So here in
Romans14:5-6 Paul is not talking about the Sabbath or the commanded Day of Atonement. Paul is
talking of the fasts of tradition and commandment of men. He is telling the Romans not to judge
one another on these; it is up to the individual, for the individual alone will have to explain their
actions at the Judgment Seat.
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?
for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah.
The last scripture we want to look at, in regard to claims that Paul said the Sabbath observance was
no longer required, is Galatians 4:9-11
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known Elohim, or rather are known of Elohim, how turn ye again to
the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
Now frankly folks, we worry about anyone who thinks Paul was referring to Yahweh’s Set Apart Days
and weekly Sabbaths as “weak and beggarly elements” As this shows both denial and ignorance of the
importance of the Set Apart Days. The Set Apart Days are a shadow of Yahweh’s plan of Salvation;
there is nothing “weak or beggarly” about that. Also the Sabbath observance is the 4th
Commandment, Paul would not be calling Yah’s Law “weak and beggarly”, below is an example of
how Paul described the Law of Yah.
Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is *pure and blameless, and the commandment *pure and blameless,
and just, and good.
[*most translation have the word ‘holy’ due to that words connection with sun worship and the
nimbus, we have replaced it with “pure and blameless” which is the meaning of the Greek word G40
in Strong’s ἁμγιος hagios hag'-ee-os From ἁμγος hagos (an awful thing) compare G53, [H2282];
sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated): - (most) holy (one,
thing), saint.]
So what was Paul calling “weak and beggarly elements”? Once again we first need to consider,
to whom Paul was speaking. We see in Acts 9 that Paul is a chosen vessel to speak to the Gentiles.
Act 9:15 But the Master said unto him, Go thy way: for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to
bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel (the ten lost tribes
scattered among the nations):
These people of Galatia were not Jews. The name Galations comes from “Gaul” a Celtic people from
the regions that are now France and Belgium. These were Gentile converts from paganism, who Paul
was concerned about as they were turning back to their old pagan worship and customs. We see in
Galatians 4:8 talks of what they did before conversion.
Gal 4:8 But then, indeed, not knowing Elohim, you served as slaves to the ones by nature not
being gods. (LITV)
In verse9 Paul talks of them now ‘knowing Elohim’ but turning again to their former ways.
.Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known Elohim, or rather are known of Elohim, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. (KJV)
So we see this observing of days, and months and times, and years, was the festivals of paganism.
For anyone to “turn again” to something, it has to be a practise they observed previously. So there
is no way that this, could even remotely, be thought to be referring to the weekly or annual Sabbaths.
Paul went on to say that he feared for them.
Gal 4:11 I fear for you, lest somehow I have labored among you in vain.
Why would Paul fear for them? Paul was afraid for them because they had accepted Messiah as
their Saviour and were now turning back. In verse 12 Paul begs them to be as himself.
Gal 4:12 Brothers, I beg of you, be as I am, because I am as you are. You wronged me in
nothing.
How was Paul? Did Paul observe the weekly and annual Sabbaths?
Act 13:42 And when the Jews had gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these
words light be preached to them the next sabbath.
Act 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes
followed Paul and Barnabas; who speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of
Elohim.
Act 13:44 And the next Sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear the word of Elohim.
Act 16:13 And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont
to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Act 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in
Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
Act 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto
them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
Act 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in
Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
While there are other scriptures that show clearly that Paul observed the Sabbaths of Yahweh, we
are sure that the ones we have just listed are sufficient to prove that Paul did indeed keep the
Sabbaths. So in Galatians 4: 9-10, Paul cannot possibly be referring to these Feasts of Yahweh.
Paul was without doubt referring to old pagan festivals.Paul has been accused by many of saying the
Law and the Sabbaths were done away. This is not so, let us let Paul give his own response to this
accusation
.
Act 25:7 And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about,
and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove.
Act 25:8 While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple,
nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all.
We could simply say that 2000 years later not much has changed. In this small booklet we have tried
to cover as many of the common errors relating to the writings of Paul as we could. However we
acknowledge that there are other scriptures in Paul’s writings that can be hard to follow.
If there is a scripture of Paul’s that you find particularly difficult to follow, that we have not covered
here, please contact us by email or post, and we will endeavour to send you an explanation a.s.a.p.
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