2 Corinthians 13
We are walking in today: Let Scripture Interpret Scripture!!!! ENCORE!!!
Witness instruct throughout the Bible: H3256 yacar-- to chasten, discipline, instruct, admonish
Psalms 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, H3256 ye judges of the earth.
The Torah ..................…
Deuteronomy 4:36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct H3256 thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.
The prophets ...............…
Isaiah 8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed H3256 me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
The writings .............
Psalm 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct H3256 me in the night seasons.
Isaiah 28:26 For his God doth instruct H3256 him to discretion, and doth teach him.
There are many popular New Testament teachings today that fit into this 'false' category. For example, many have been taught the false notion that an 'old' Testament commandment or concept must also be repeated explicitly in the 'new' Testament writings, in order for that commandment or concept to apply to Believers today.
This notion is false, and it goes against all the Scriptural Guidelines. This is just one of many false ideas that have arisen as a result of the widespread, modern teaching of the Doctrine of Balaam, which continues to give rise to many man-made, counterfeit Bible doctrines.
Let the Believer beware!!
Let us now look at some practical applications, to see the importance of finding the Torah Basis for any New Testament Truth.
In this example, we will see a practical example of how we are to use this Biblical principle, of finding the Torah Basis for any New Covenant teachings:
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11)
In the above passage, the Bereans were said to be more noble, for they searched the Scriptures, to see whether the teachings of Paul and Silas were true or not, according to Torah. We recall that the Torah [the 'old' Testament Scriptures] was all they had in those days. The example of the Bereans is an example for us today!
By this example, we see that in order for us to correctly understand a given Bible idea or concept, we must do as the Bereans did. We must find the "Torah Basis" for that idea or concept in the 'old' Testament writings.
In this example, we will see that throughout the Scriptures, there are pictures of the Torah and the Testimony appearing together. Let's look at some of these passages:
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17)
We see in the above passage that only a remnant, a small number, maintain the keeping of the commandments [the Torah] and the faith of Yahushua [the Testimony]. It is these with whom the dragon becomes angry, and full of wrath.
Now notice another, in the following passage:
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15:3)
In the above passage, we are again given a prophetic picture of the Torah and the Testimony together.
First, we see the Song of Moses as a prophetic picture of obedience to Moses' words [the Torah - The Sayings of Messiah that He gave to Moses], describing Father's works.
We then see the Song of the Lamb as walking as Messiah walked, and as the doing of Messiah's works of obedience to Torah [the Testimony of the Holy Spirit], the testimony of walking in Father's ways.
These two songs speak of keeping Father's works, and of walking in His ways — as described in the Words Messiah spoke to Moses (Num 3:51, 15:31). Taken together, these two songs become one unified message, revealing the truth of Father's works and His ways.
This is an example for those who have been Born-Again, and have Messiah living within.
In the following passage, a man asks Messiah about Eternal Life, which is a 'new' Covenant question. Notice the answer Messiah gives the man:
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [a New Covenant question] 26 He said unto him, What is written in the law [The Torah]? how readest thou? (Luke 10:25-26)
In the above passage, Messiah answers this 'new' Covenant question, by referring to the Torah, a part of the 'old' Testament writings. The answer is given in the form of a question: "How do you read it?"
Brothers and Sisters, How do 'we' read it?
We are each called to read, study, and obey the Torah [the words Messiah spoke to Moses and all the Prophets] for ourselves (2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16; James 1:22; 2 Peter 3:2).
And then by our obedience to Torah [the Words of Messiah], we demonstrate whom we have chosen to 'serve' (Romans 6:16).
And also by our obedience to Torah [the Words of Messiah], we demonstrate whom we have chosen to 'love' (John 14:15).
And if we choose to continue in transgression [disobedience] to Torah [the Words of Messiah], we demonstrate we have chosen to continue in 'sin.' (1 John 2:1, 3:4; 1 Cor 15:34).
Two or Three Witnesses
For this guideline, we will first notice the following passages:
At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. (Deuteronomy 17:6)
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15)
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (Matthew 18:16)
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. (2 Corinthians 13:1)
The above Scripture passages tell us that any word or matter must have at least two or 3 witnesses, in order to be established as true or valid.
If there is an idea or concept in Scripture that we assume to be true, then we should be able to find two or three witnesses in Scripture that will confirm the truth. If an idea or teaching has only one mention, however, it is a likely candidate to be a falsehood, unless there is an identical or similar witness to that idea or concept.
As Scripture examples of this truth, notice in the above passages, that both Yahushua (Matthew 18:16) and Paul (2 Corinthians 13:1) made statements that were in agreement with two other witnesses of Scripture, in Deuteronomy 17:6 and Deuteronomy 19:15.
From this guideline we see that for any presumed Bible interpretation, idea, or 'doctrine' to be true, it must be established on the testimony of two or 3 witnesses. This tells us that if we are to avoid being found among the foolish, our interpretation of Scripture must find agreement among two or 3 witnesses of Scripture.
Again, many modern 'New Testament' teachings today fit into this 'false' category, having no second witness to confirm them as true. Likewise, the falsehoods abound when there is no second witness found in Torah to give validity to its truth.
In this example, we will investigate a popular but non-Scriptural teaching that violates this Guideline. Here we will investigate the widespread observance of a common tradition seen today — the celebration of a day known as "the Lord's Day."
Let's see what the Bible says about 'the Lord's Day.'
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet..." (Revelation 1:10)
The phrase "Lord's day" is seen only once in all of Scripture in the above passage (Revelation 1:10). This passage is the source of the man-made notion that the 'Lord's Day' refers to a particular day of the week, giving rise to a popular religious Doctrine and tradition.
But what do the Scriptures tell us?
When we search the Scriptures, we see there is no other mention of 'Lord's Day' in the Bible.
What would the Bereans (Acts 17:11) have concluded from this information? They would have searched the Scriptures [the 'old' testament Scriptures are all they had], and would have concluded there is no such day of the week called 'the Lord's Day.'
There is however, a similar phrase seen throughout the Scriptures. The term 'Day of the LORD' refers to a [yet future] time of judgment. This phrase "Day of the LORD" appears 25 times in the 'old' testament writings, with an additional 5 of these in the 'new' testament writings (Acts 2:20; 1 Co 5:5; 2 Co 1:14; 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Pet 3:10).
The phrase "Day of the LORD" was a well-known concept among even the most elementary of Torah students of John's day. They all knew what the "Day of the Most High" meant.
The phrase "Day of the LORD," mentioned throughout the Torah, speaks of a future time when
the Most High will fulfill various parts of His plans for His people.
The Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos was likely well acquainted with this phrase "Day of the LORD." John was simply telling us that he was "In the Spirit" in the [future] Day of the LORD [the Day of the Most High], and that what he saw was a panoramic view of the activities that will take place in this [future] Day of the LORD.
We must conclude, as Scripture tells us, that only out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, shall every word, and every matter, be established.
Thus according to Scripture, we can not build a 'day of the week' doctrine, nor any other doctrine, on only one Scripture passage.
To apply the term 'Lord's day' to Sunday, or to any specific day of the week, is a man-made idea. The current 'Lord's day' tradition arose in earlier centuries, and has been vigorously promoted by those Religious Leaders who fail to adhere to the Scriptures (Jude 1:3-4, 11-12).
So the Bereans would have concluded from the Scriptures, that the phrase 'Lord's Day' is not related to a particular day of the week, since there is simply no other witness of Scripture to tie this phrase to a particular day of the week.
With this in mind, we must ask ourselves, "Have we allowed anyone to persuade us of a 'Lord's Day' teaching, as a means of deceiving us into celebrating a man-made substitute, a counterfeit of the Biblical Sabbath Day?"
There are many, many more examples of modern church doctrines that lack sufficient witness of Scripture to validate them as true, but the above should suffice.
As New Covenant followers of Messiah, we are called to read the Scriptures for ourselves, so that we might embrace all that is true, and abandon all that is counterfeit! Let us return to reading the Scriptures for ourselves!
Shema Selah, the question is Fiveamprayer, will we turn our feet to obedience to His word or remain in the doctrines of men??
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