Category Archives: Studies

Appendix 6: The Forbidden Meats for Christians

NOT ALL LIVING THINGS WERE CREATED TO BE FOOD

THE GARDEN OF EDEN: A PLANT-BASED DIET

This truth becomes evident when we examine the beginning of humanity in the Garden of Eden. Adam, the first man, was given the task of tending a garden. What type of garden? The original Hebrew text does not specify, but there is compelling evidence that it was a fruit garden:
“And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden… And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food” (Genesis 2:15).

We also read about Adam’s role in naming and caring for the animals, but nowhere does Scripture suggest that they were also “good for food,” like the trees.

ANIMAL CONSUMPTION IN GOD’S PLAN

This is not to say that eating meat is forbidden by God—had it been, there would be explicit instruction to that effect in the entire Scripture. However, it does tell us that the consumption of animal flesh was not part of humanity’s diet from the beginning.

God’s initial provision in the early phase of man seems to be entirely plant-based, emphasizing fruits and other forms of vegetation.

THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS

INTRODUCED IN NOAH’S TIME

While God eventually permitted humans to kill and eat animals, clear distinctions were established between animals that were suitable for consumption and those that were not.

This distinction is first implied in the instructions given to Noah before the flood:
“Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate” (Genesis 7:2).

IMPLICIT KNOWLEDGE OF CLEAN ANIMALS

The fact that God did not explain to Noah how to distinguish between clean and unclean animals suggests that such knowledge was already ingrained in humanity, possibly from the very inception of creation.

This recognition of clean and unclean animals reflects a broader divine order and purpose, where certain creatures were set apart for specific roles or purposes within the natural and spiritual framework.

THE EARLY MEANING OF CLEAN ANIMALS

ASSOCIATED WITH SACRIFICE

Based on what has transpired so far in the Genesis narrative, we can safely assume that up to the flood, the distinction between clean and unclean animals was only related to their acceptability as sacrifices.

Abel’s offering of the firstborn of his flock highlights this principle. In the Hebrew text, the phrase “firstborn of his flock” (מִבְּכֹרוֹת צֹאנוֹ) uses the word “flock” (tzon, צֹאן), which typically refers to small domesticated animals such as sheep and goats. Thus, it is most likely that Abel offered a lamb or a young goat from his flock (Genesis 4:3-5).

NOAH’S SACRIFICES OF CLEAN ANIMALS

Similarly, when Noah exited the ark, he built an altar and sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord using clean animals, which were specifically mentioned in God’s instructions before the flood (Genesis 8:20; 7:2).

This early emphasis on clean animals for sacrifice sets the foundation for understanding their unique role in worship and covenantal purity.

The Hebrew words used to describe these categories—tahor (טָהוֹר) and tamei (טָמֵא)—are not arbitrary. They are deeply connected to concepts of holiness and separation for the Lord:

  • טָמֵא (Tamei)
    Meaning: Unclean, impure.
    Usage: Refers to ritual, moral, or physical impurity. Often associated with animals, objects, or actions prohibited for consumption or worship.
    Example: “Nevertheless, these you shall not eat… they are unclean (tamei) to you” (Leviticus 11:4).
  • טָהוֹר (Tahor)
    Meaning: Clean, pure.
    Usage: Refers to animals, objects, or people suitable for consumption, worship, or ritual activities.
    Example: “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean” (Leviticus 10:10).

These terms form the foundation of God’s dietary laws, which are later detailed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. These chapters explicitly list animals deemed clean (permissible for food) and unclean (forbidden to eat), ensuring that God’s people remain distinct and holy.

GOD’S ADMONITIONS AGAINST EATING UNCLEAN MEATS

Throughout the Tanach (Old Testament), God repeatedly admonished His people for violating His dietary laws. Several passages specifically condemn the consumption of unclean animals, emphasizing that this practice was seen as a rebellion against God’s commandments:

“A people who provoke Me continually to My face… who eat the flesh of pigs, and whose pots hold broth of impure meat” (Isaiah 65:3-4).

“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 66:17).

These rebukes highlight that eating unclean meat was not merely a dietary issue but a moral and spiritual failure. The act of consuming such food was linked to defiance against God’s instructions. By indulging in practices explicitly forbidden, the people demonstrated a disregard for holiness and obedience.

JESUS AND UNCLEAN MEAT

With the coming of Jesus, the rise of Christianity, and the writings of the New Testament, many have begun to question whether God no longer cares about obedience to His laws, including His rules on unclean foods. In reality, practically the entire Christian world will eat anything they want.

The fact, however, is that there is no prophecy in the Old Testament that says that the Messiah would cancel the law of unclean meat, or any other law of His Father (as some argue). Jesus clearly obeyed the Father’s ordinances in everything, including on this point. If Jesus had eaten pork, just as we know he ate fish (Luke 24:41-43) and lamb (Matt 26:17-30), then we would have a clear teaching by example, but we know that this was not the case. We have no indication that Jesus and his disciples inflicted these instructions given by God through the prophets.

ARGUMENTS REFUTED

FALSE ARGUMENT: “Jesus declared all food clean”

THE TRUTH:

Mark 7:1-23 is often quoted as evidence that Jesus abolished the dietary laws concerning unclean meat. However, a careful examination of the text reveals that this interpretation is unfounded. The commonly misquoted verse says:
“’Because the food doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and is expelled as waste.’ (By this he declared all foods clean)” (Mark 7:19).

THE CONTEXT: IT’S NOT ABOUT CLEAN AND UNCLEAN MEAT

First and foremost, the context of this passage has nothing to do with clean or unclean meat as outlined in Leviticus 11. Instead, it focuses on a debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about a Jewish tradition unrelated to the dietary laws. The Pharisees and scribes noticed that Jesus’ disciples did not perform the ceremonial handwashing before eating, known in Hebrew as netilat yadayim (נטילת ידיים). This ritual involves washing the hands with a blessing and is a traditional practice observed by the Jewish community to this day, particularly within orthodox circles.

The Pharisees’ concern was not about God’s dietary laws but about adherence to this man-made tradition. They viewed the disciples’ failure to perform the ritual as a violation of their customs, equating it with impurity.

JESUS’ RESPONSE: THE HEART MATTERS MORE

Jesus spends much of Mark 7 teaching that what truly defiles a person is not external practices or traditions but the condition of the heart. He emphasizes that spiritual impurity comes from within, from sinful thoughts and actions, rather than from failing to observe ceremonial rituals.

When Jesus explains that food does not defile a person because it goes into the digestive system and not the heart, He is not addressing the dietary laws but rather the ceremonial handwashing tradition. His focus is on internal purity rather than outward rituals.

A CLOSER LOOK AT MARK 7:19

Mark 7:19 is often misunderstood due to a non-existent parenthetical note that Bible publishers inserted in the text, stating, “By this, he declared all foods clean.” In the Greek text, the sentence only says: “οτι ουκ εισπορευεται αυτου εις την καρδιαν αλλ εις την κοιλιαν και εις τον αφεδρωνα εκπορευεται καθαριζον παντα τα βρωματα,” which translates literally as: “Because it enters not of him into the heart, but into the belly, and into the latrine goes out, cleansing all the foods.”

Reading: ” into the latrine goes out, cleansing all the foods” and translating as: “With this, he declared all foods clean” is a blatant attempt to manipulate the text to fit a common bias against God’s Law in seminaries and among Bible publishers.

What makes more sense is that the whole sentence is Jesus describing in the everyday parlance of the time the process of eating. The digestive system takes in food, extracts nutrients and beneficial components that the body needs (the clean part), and then expels the rest as waste. The phrase “cleansing or purifying all foods” probably refers to this natural process of separating useful nutrients from what will be discarded.

CONCLUSION ON THIS FALSE ARGUMENT

Mark 7:1-23 is not about abolishing God’s dietary laws but about rejecting human traditions that elevate external rituals over matters of the heart. Jesus taught that true defilement comes from within, not from failing to observe ceremonial handwashing. The claim that “Jesus declared all food clean” is a misinterpretation of the text, rooted in biases against God’s eternal laws. By carefully reading the context and original language, it becomes clear that Jesus upheld the Torah’s teachings and did not dismiss the dietary laws given by God.

FALSE ARGUMENT: “In a vision, God told the apostle Peter that we can now eat the flesh of any animal”

THE TRUTH:

Many people cite Peter’s vision in Acts 10 as evidence that God abolished the dietary laws concerning unclean animals. However, a closer examination of the context and purpose of the vision reveals that it had nothing to do with overturning the laws about clean and unclean meat. Instead, the vision was meant to teach Peter to accept Gentiles into God’s people, not to alter the dietary instructions given by God.

PETER’S VISION AND ITS PURPOSE

In Acts 10, Peter has a vision of a sheet descending from heaven, containing all kinds of animals, both clean and unclean, accompanied by a command to “kill and eat.” Peter’s immediate response is clear:
“Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14).

This reaction is significant for several reasons:

  1. Peter’s Obedience to the Dietary Laws
    This vision occurs after Jesus’ ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. If Jesus had abolished the dietary laws during His ministry, Peter—a close disciple of Jesus—would have been aware of it and would not have objected so strongly. The fact that Peter refused to eat unclean animals demonstrates that he still observed the dietary laws and had no understanding that they had been abolished.
  2. The Vision’s Real Message
    The vision is repeated three times, emphasizing its importance, but its true meaning is clarified just a few verses later when Peter visits the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. Peter himself explains the vision’s meaning:
    “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean” (Acts 10:28).

The vision was not about food at all but was a symbolic message. God used the imagery of clean and unclean animals to teach Peter that the barriers between Jews and Gentiles were being removed and that Gentiles could now be accepted into God’s covenant community.

LOGICAL INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE “FOOD LAW ABOLISHED” ARGUMENT

Claiming that Peter’s vision abolished the dietary laws ignores several critical points:

  1. Peter’s Initial Resistance
    If the dietary laws had already been abolished, Peter’s objection would make no sense. His words reflect his continued adherence to these laws, even after years of following Jesus.
  2. No Scriptural Evidence of Abolishment
    Nowhere in Acts 10 does the text explicitly state that the dietary laws were abolished. The focus is entirely on the inclusion of Gentiles, not a redefinition of clean and unclean food.
  3. The Vision’s Symbolism
    The vision’s purpose becomes evident in its application. When Peter realizes that God does not show favoritism but accepts people from every nation who fear Him and do what is right (Acts 10:34-35), it is clear that the vision was about breaking down prejudices, not dietary regulations.
  4. Contradictions in Interpretation
    If the vision were about abolishing dietary laws, it would contradict the broader context of Acts, where Jewish believers, including Peter, continued to observe the Torah’s instructions. Furthermore, the vision would lose its symbolic power if it were interpreted literally, as it would then only address dietary practices and not the more significant issue of Gentile inclusion.
CONCLUSION ON THIS FALSE ARGUMENT

Peter’s vision in Acts 10 was not about food but about people. God used the imagery of clean and unclean animals to convey a deeper spiritual truth: that the gospel was for all nations and that Gentiles were no longer to be considered impure or excluded from God’s people. To interpret this vision as a revocation of the dietary laws is to misunderstand both the context and the purpose of the passage.

The dietary instructions given by God in Leviticus 11 remain unchanged and were never the focus of this vision. Peter’s own actions and explanations confirm this. The real message of the vision is about breaking down barriers between people, not altering God’s eternal laws.

An old painting of butchers preparing meat according to the rules of the Bible for draining the blood.
An old painting of butchers preparing meat according to the rules of the Bible for draining the blood of all clean animals, birds, and land animals as described in Leviticus 11.

FALSE ARGUMENT: “The Jerusalem council decided that Gentiles could eat anything as long as it’s not strangled and with blood”

THE TRUTH:

The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) is often misinterpreted to suggest that Gentiles were given permission to disregard most of God’s commandments and only follow four basic requirements. However, a closer examination reveals that this council was not about abolishing God’s laws for Gentiles but about easing their initial participation in Messianic Jewish communities.

WHAT WAS THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL ABOUT?

The primary question addressed at the council was whether Gentiles needed to fully commit to the entire Torah—including circumcision—before being allowed to hear the gospel and participate in the meetings of the first Messianic congregations.

For centuries, Jewish tradition held that Gentiles must become fully observant of the Torah, including adopting practices like circumcision, observing the Sabbath, dietary laws, and other commandments, before a Jew could freely interact with them (See Matthew 10:5-6; John 4:9; Acts 10:28). The council’s decision marked a shift, recognizing that Gentiles could begin their journey of faith without immediately following all these laws.

FOUR INITIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HARMONY

The council concluded that Gentiles could attend the congregational meetings as they were, provided they avoided the following practices (Acts 15:20):

  1. Food Polluted by Idols: Avoid consuming food sacrificed to idols, as idolatry was deeply offensive to Jewish believers.
  2. Sexual Immorality: Abstain from sexual sins, which were common in pagan practices.
  3. Meat of Strangled Animals: Avoid eating animals that were killed improperly, as this retained blood, forbidden by God’s dietary laws.
  4. Blood: Avoid consuming blood, a practice prohibited in the Torah (Leviticus 17:10-12).

These requirements were not a summary of all the laws Gentiles needed to follow. Instead, they served as a starting point to ensure peace and unity between Jewish and Gentile believers in mixed congregations.

WHAT THIS DECISION DID NOT MEAN

It is absurd to claim that these four requirements were the only laws Gentiles needed to obey to please God and receive salvation.

  • Were Gentiles free to violate the Ten Commandments?
    • Could they worship other gods, use God’s name in vain, steal, or murder? Of course not. Such a conclusion would contradict everything the Scriptures teach about God’s expectations for righteousness.
  • A Starting Point, Not an Endpoint:
    • The council addressed the immediate need to allow Gentiles to participate in Messianic Jewish gatherings. It was assumed they would grow in knowledge and obedience over time.
ACTS 15:21 PROVIDES CLARITY

The council’s decision is clarified in Acts 15:21:
“For the law of Moses [the Torah] has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

This verse demonstrates that the Gentiles would continue learning God’s laws as they attended the synagogue and heard the Torah. The council did not abolish God’s commandments but established a practical approach for Gentiles to begin their faith journey without overwhelming them.

CONTEXT FROM JESUS’ TEACHINGS

Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of God’s commandments. For instance, in Matthew 19:17 and Luke 11:28, and in the entire Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), Jesus affirmed the necessity of following God’s laws, such as not committing murder, adultery,  loving our neighbors, and many others. These principles were foundational and would not have been dismissed by the apostles.

CONCLUSION ON THIS FALSE ARGUMENT

The Jerusalem Council did not declare that Gentiles could eat anything or ignore God’s commandments. It addressed a specific issue: how Gentiles could start participating in Messianic congregations without immediately adopting every aspect of the Torah. The four requirements were practical measures to promote harmony in mixed Jewish-Gentile communities.

The expectation was clear: Gentiles would grow in their understanding of God’s laws over time through the teaching of the Torah, which was read in the synagogues every Sabbath. To suggest otherwise misrepresents the council’s purpose and ignores the broader teachings of Scripture.

FALSE ARGUMENT: “The apostle Paul taught that Christ cancelled the need to obey God’s laws for salvation”

THE TRUTH:

Many Christian leaders, if not most, incorrectly teach that the apostle Paul opposed God’s Law and instructed Gentile converts to disregard His commandments. Some even suggest that obeying God’s laws could endanger salvation. This interpretation has led to significant theological confusion.

Scholars who disagree with this perspective have painstakingly worked to address the controversies surrounding Paul’s writings, attempting to demonstrate that his teachings have been misunderstood or taken out of context regarding the Law and salvation. However, our ministry holds a different position.

WHY EXPLAINING PAUL IS THE WRONG APPROACH

We believe it is unnecessary—and even offensive to the Lord—to go to great lengths to explain Paul’s stance on the Law. Doing so elevates Paul, a human being, to a status equal to or greater than the prophets of God, and even Jesus Himself.

Instead, the proper theological approach is to examine whether the Scriptures prior to Paul predicted or endorsed the idea that someone would come after Jesus to teach a message nullifying God’s laws. If such an important prophecy existed, we would have reason to accept Paul’s teachings on this matter as divinely sanctioned, and it would make sense to do our utmost to understand and live by it.

THE ABSENCE OF PROPHECIES ABOUT PAUL

The reality is that the Scriptures contain no prophecies about Paul—or any other figure—bringing a message that cancels God’s laws. The only individuals explicitly prophesied in the Old Testament who appear in the New Testament are:

  1. John the Baptist: His role as the forerunner of the Messiah was foretold and confirmed by Jesus (e.g., Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 11:14).
  2. Judas Iscariot: Indirect references are found in passages like Psalms 41:9 and Psalms 69:25.
  3. Joseph of Arimathea: Isaiah 53:9 indirectly alludes to him as the one who provided Jesus’ burial.

Beyond these individuals, no prophecies exist about anyone—least of all someone from Tarsus—being sent to nullify God’s commandments or teach that Gentiles could be saved without obedience to His eternal laws.

WHAT JESUS PROPHESIED TO COME AFTER HIS ASCENSION

Jesus made numerous prophecies about what would happen after His earthly ministry, including:

  • The destruction of the Temple (Matthew 24:2).
  • The persecution of His disciples (John 15:20, Matthew 10:22).
  • The spread of the Kingdom message to all nations (Matthew 24:14).

Yet, there is no mention of anyone from Tarsus—let alone Paul—being given authority to teach a new or contrary doctrine regarding salvation and obedience.

THE TRUE TEST OF PAUL’S WRITINGS

This does not mean we should dismiss Paul’s writings or those of Peter, John, or James. Instead, we must approach their writings with caution, ensuring that any interpretation aligns with the foundational Scriptures: the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament, and the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels.

The problem lies not in the writings themselves, but in the interpretations that theologians and church leaders have imposed on them. Any interpretation of Paul’s teachings must be supported by:

  1. The Old Testament: God’s Law as revealed through His prophets.
  2. The Four Gospels: The words and actions of Jesus, who upheld the Law.

If an interpretation does not meet these criteria, it should not be accepted as truth.

CONCLUSION ON THIS FALSE ARGUMENT

The argument that Paul taught the cancellation of God’s laws, including dietary instructions, is not supported by Scripture. No prophecy foretells such a message, and Jesus Himself upheld the Law. Therefore, any teaching that claims otherwise must be scrutinized against the unchanging Word of God.

As followers of the Messiah, we are called to seek alignment with what has already been written and revealed by God, not to rely on interpretations that contradict His eternal commandments.

THE TEACHING OF JESUS, THROUGH WORDS AND EXAMPLE

The true disciple of Christ models their entire life after Him. He made it clear that if we love Him, we will be obedient to the Father and the Son. This is not a requirement for the faint-hearted but for those whose eyes are fixed on the Kingdom of God and who are ready to do whatever it takes to obtain eternal life—even if it brings opposition from friends, the church, and family. The commandments concerning hair and beard, tzitzit, circumcision, the Sabbath, and forbidden meats are ignored by almost all of Christianity, and those who refuse to follow the crowd will certainly face persecution, just as Jesus told us (Matthew 5:10). Obedience to God requires courage, but the reward is eternity.

THE FORBIDDEN MEATS ACCORDING TO GOD’S LAW

Four hooves of different animals, some split and some solid. Bible law about clean and unclean animal.
Four hooves of different animals, some split and some solid, illustrate the Bible law about clean and unclean animals according to Leviticus 11.

God’s dietary laws, outlined in the Torah, specifically define the animals that His people are permitted to eat and those they must avoid. These instructions emphasize holiness, obedience, and separation from practices that defile. Below is a detailed and descriptive list of the forbidden meats, with scriptural references.

  1. LAND ANIMALS THAT DO NOT CHEW THE CUD OR HAVE SPLIT HOOVES
  • Animals are considered unclean if they lack one or both of these characteristics.
  • Examples of Forbidden Animals:
    • Camel (gamal, גָּמָל) – Chews the cud but does not have split hooves (Leviticus 11:4).
    • Rock hyrax (shafan, שָּׁפָן) – Chews the cud but does not have split hooves (Leviticus 11:5).
    • Hare (arnevet, אַרְנֶבֶת) – Chews the cud but does not have split hooves (Leviticus 11:6).
    • Pig (chazir, חֲזִיר) – Has split hooves but does not chew the cud (Leviticus 11:7).
  1. AQUATIC CREATURES WITHOUT FINS AND SCALES
  • Only fish with both fins and scales are permissible. Creatures that lack either are unclean.
  • Examples of Forbidden Creatures:
    • Catfish – Lacks scales.
    • Shellfish – Includes shrimp, crab, lobster, and clams.
    • Eels – Lacks fins and scales.
    • Squid and Octopus – Neither have fins nor scales (Leviticus 11:9-12).
  1. BIRDS OF PREY, SCAVENGERS, AND OTHER FORBIDDEN BIRDS
  • The law specifies certain birds that must not be eaten, typically those associated with predatory or scavenging behaviors.
  • Examples of Forbidden Birds:
    • Eagle (nesher, נֶשֶׁר) (Leviticus 11:13).
    • Vulture (da’ah, דַּאָה) (Leviticus 11:14).
    • Raven (orev, עֹרֵב) (Leviticus 11:15).
    • Owl, Hawk, Cormorant, and others (Leviticus 11:16-19).
  1. FLYING INSECTS THAT WALK ON ALL FOURS
  • Flying insects are generally unclean unless they have jointed legs for hopping.
  • Examples of Forbidden Insects:
    • Flies, mosquitoes, and beetles.
    • Grasshoppers and locusts, however, are exceptions and permitted (Leviticus 11:20-23).
  1. ANIMALS THAT CRAWL ON THE GROUND
  • Any creature that moves along its belly or has multiple legs and crawls on the ground is unclean.
  • Examples of Forbidden Creatures:
    • Snakes.
    • Lizards.
    • Mice and moles (Leviticus 11:29-30, 11:41-42).
  1. DEAD OR DECAYING ANIMALS
  • Even from clean animals, any carcass that has died on its own or was torn by predators is forbidden to eat.
  • Reference: Leviticus 11:39-40, Exodus 22:31.
  1. CROSS-SPECIES BREEDING
  • While not directly dietary, crossbreeding of species is forbidden, implying care in food production practices.
  • Reference: Leviticus 19:19.

These instructions demonstrate God’s desire for His people to be distinct, honoring Him even in their dietary choices. By adhering to these laws, His followers show obedience and respect for the sanctity of His commands.


Appendix 5: The Sabbath And The Day to Go to Church, Two Different Things

WHAT IS THE DAY TO GO TO CHURCH?

NO COMMANDMENT ON A SPECIFIC DAY FOR WORSHIP

Let’s begin this study by getting right to the point: there is no commandment from God that indicates what day a Christian should attend church, but there is one that determines on which day he should rest.

The Christian may be Pentecostal, Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, or any other denomination, attending worship and Bible studies on Sundays or any other day, but that does not exempt him from the obligation to rest on the day ordained by God: the seventh day.

WORSHIP CAN BE ON ANY DAY

God never stipulated what day His children here on earth should worship Him: not Saturday, not Sunday, not Monday, Tuesday, etc.

Any day that the Christian wants to worship God with his prayers, praises, and studies, he can do so, either alone, with family, or in a group. The day he gathers with his brothers to worship God has nothing to do with the fourth commandment and is not related to any other commandment given by God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

THE SEVENTH-DAY COMMANDMENT

REST, NOT WORSHIP, IS THE FOCUS

If God really wanted His children to go to the tabernacle, temple, or church on the Sabbath (or Sunday), He would obviously have mentioned this important detail in the commandment.

But, as we will see below, this never happened. The commandment only says that we are not to work or force anyone, not even animals, to work on the day that He, God, sanctified.

FOR WHAT REASON DID GOD SET ASIDE THE SEVENTH DAY?

God mentions the Sabbath as a holy day (separate, consecrated) in numerous places in Holy Scripture, beginning with the week of creation: “And God completed on the seventh day the work which he had made, and rested [Heb. שׁבת (Shabbat) v. to cease, rest, desist] on that day from all the work He had done. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it [Heb. קדוש (kadosh) adj. holy, consecrated, set apart], because in him he rested from all the work that he had created and made” (Genesis 2:2-3).

In this first mention of the Sabbath, God lays the foundation of the commandment that He would later give us in more detail, which is:

  1. 1. The Creator separated this day from the six days that preceded it (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, etc.).
  2. 2. He rested on this day. We know, obviously, that the Creator does not need to rest, since God is Spirit (John 4:24). However, He used this human language, known in theology as anthropomorphism, to make us understand what He expects His children on earth to do on the seventh day: rest, in Hebrew, Shabbat.
Garden of Eden with fruit trees, animals and a river.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

THE SABBATH AND SIN

The fact that the sanctification (or separation) of the seventh day from the other days occurred so early in human history is significant because it makes it clear that the Creator’s desire for us to rest specifically on this day is not tied to sin, since sin did not yet exist on earth. This indicates that in heaven and on the new earth, we will continue to rest on the seventh day.

THE SABBATH AND JUDAISM

We also note that this is not a tradition of Judaism, since Abraham, who gave rise to the Jews, would not appear on the scene until several centuries later. Rather, it is a matter of showing His true children on earth His behavior in this day, so that we can imitate our Father, in the same way that Jesus did: “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, the Son also does likewise” (John 5:19).

MORE DETAILS ON THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

THE SEVENTH DAY IN GENESIS

This is the reference in Genesis, which makes it more than clear that the Creator separated the seventh day from all others and that this is a day of rest.

Up until now in the Bible, the Lord had not been specific about what man, who was created the day before, was to do on the seventh day. Only when the chosen people began their journey to the promised land did God give them detailed instructions about the seventh day.

After 400 years of living as slaves in a pagan land, the chosen people needed clarification regarding the seventh day. This is what God Himself wrote on a stone tablet so that everyone would understand that it was God, and not a human being, who gave these orders.

THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT IN FULL

Let’s look at what God wrote about the seventh day in its entirety:
“Remember the Sabbath [Heb. שׁבת (Shabbat) v. to cease, to rest, to desist], to sanctify him [Heb. קדש (kadesh) v. sanctify, consecrate]. Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work. מלאכה (m’larrá) n.d. work, occupation]; but on the seventh day [Heb. ום השׁביעי (uma shivi-i) seventh day] is rest for the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your maidservant, nor your animal, nor the stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and sanctified it” (Exodus 20:8-11).

WHY DOES THE COMMANDMENT BEGIN WITH THE VERB “REMEMBER”?

A REMINDER OF AN EXISTING PRACTICE

The fact that God begins the commandment with the verb “remember” [Heb. זכר (zakar) v. to remember, to recall] makes it clear that resting on the seventh day was not something new to His people.

Because of their slave status in Egypt, they could not do so often or in the right way. Also, note that this is by far the most detailed of the 10 commandments given to the people, occupying one-third of the Bible verses devoted to the commandments.

THE COMMANDMENT’S FOCUS

We could talk at length about this passage in Exodus, but I want to focus on the purpose of this study: to show that the Lord did not mention anything in the fourth commandment related to worshiping God, gathering together in a place to sing, pray, or study the Bible.

What He did emphasize is that we must remember that it was this day, the seventh, that He sanctified and set apart as a day of rest.

RESTING IS MANDATORY FOR ALL

God’s command to rest on the seventh day is so serious that He expanded the commandment to include our visitors (foreigners), employees (servants), and even animals, making it very clear that no secular work would be allowed on this day.

GOD’S WORK, BASIC NEEDS, AND ACTS OF KINDNESS ON THE SABBATH

JESUS’ TEACHINGS ON THE SABBATH

When He was among us, Jesus made it clear that acts related to God’s work on earth (John 5:17), basic human needs such as eating (Matthew 12:1), and acts of kindness toward others (John 7:23) can and should be done on the seventh day without breaking the fourth commandment.

RESTING AND DELIGHTING IN GOD

On the seventh day, the child of God rests from his work, thus imitating his Father in heaven. He also worships God and delights in His law, not only on the seventh day, but every day of the week.

The child of God loves and is pleased to obey all that His Father has taught Him:
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but in the law of the Lord is his delight, and meditates on His law day and night” (Psalm 1:1-2; see also: Psalm 40:8; 112:1; 119:11; 119:35; 119:48; 119:72; 119:92; Job 23:12; Jeremiah 15:6; Luke 2:37; 1 John 5:3).

THE PROMISE IN ISAIAH 58:13-14

God used the prophet Isaiah as His spokesman to make one of the Bible’s most beautiful promises to those who obey Him by observing the Sabbath as a day of rest:
“If you keep your foot from profaning the Sabbath, from doing your will on my holy day; if you call the Sabbath a delight, holy, and glorious of the Lord; and you honor him, not following your own ways, nor seeking your own will, nor speaking vain words, then you will delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth, and I will sustain you with the inheritance of your father Jacob; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13-14).

THE BLESSINGS OF THE SABBATH ARE ALSO FOR THE GENTILES

THE GENTILES AND THE SEVENTH DAY

A beautiful special promise linked to the seventh day is reserved for those who seek God’s blessings. To the same prophet, the Lord went further, making it clear that the blessings of the Sabbath are not limited to the Jews.

GOD’S PROMISE TO GENTILES WHO KEEP THE SABBATH

“And as for the gentiles [‏נֵכָר nfikhār (strangers, foreigners, non-jews)] who join the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be His servants, to all who keep the Sabbath without profaning it, and embrace My covenant, I will bring them to My holy mountain, and I will make them glad in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted upon my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

SATURDAY AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES

RESTING ON THE SEVENTH DAY

The obedient Christian, whether a Messianic Jew or a Gentile, rests on the seventh day because this, and no other, is the day the Lord instructed him to rest.

If you want to interact with your God in a group, or worship God alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ, you can do so whenever there is opportunity, which usually happens on Sundays and also on Wednesdays or Thursdays, when many churches hold prayer, doctrine, healing, and other services.

SYNAGOGUE ATTENDANCE ON SATURDAYS

Both Jews in the biblical period and modern Orthodox Jews attend synagogues on Saturdays because it is obviously more convenient, since they do not work on this day, in obedience to the fourth commandment.

JESUS AND THE SABBATH

HIS REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT THE TEMPLE

Jesus himself attended the temple on Saturdays regularly, but at no time did He imply that He went to the temple on the seventh day because that was part of the fourth commandment—because it simply isn’t.

Model of the Jerusalem temple in Israel
Model of the Jerusalem Temple before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Jesus regularly attended and preached in the Temple and synagogues.

JESUS WORKED FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS ON THE SABBATH

Jesus was busy seven days a week in accomplishing His Father’s work:
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work” (John 4:34).

And also:
“But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17).

On the Sabbath, He often found the greatest number of people in the temple who needed to hear the Kingdom message:
“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to read” (Luke 4:16).

THE TEACHING OF JESUS, THROUGH WORD AND EXAMPLE

A true disciple of Christ models their life in every way. He clearly indicated that if we love Him, we will be obedient to the Father and the Son. This is not a requirement for the weak, but for those who have their eyes fixed on the Kingdom of God and are ready to do whatever it takes to obtain eternal life. Even if it incites opposition from friends, the church, and family. The commandment concerning hair and beard, the tzitzit, circumcision, the Sabbath, and prohibited meats are ignored by almost all of Christianity, and those who refuse to follow the crowd will certainly be persecuted, as Jesus told us. Obedience to God demands courage, but the reward is eternity.


Appendix 4: The Hair and Beard of the Christian

A COMMANDMENT OF GOD SO SIMPLE, AND COMPLETELY IGNORED

THE COMMANDMENT IN LEVITICUS 19:27

There is no biblical justification for essentially all Christian denominations to ignore the commandment of God about males keeping their hair and beards as the Lord describes.

We know this was a commandment faithfully observed by all Jews during the biblical period without interruption, as today’s ultra-Orthodox Jews continue to observe it, albeit with non-biblical details due to rabbinical misunderstanding of the passage.

There is also no doubt that Jesus, along with all His apostles and disciples, faithfully obeyed all commandments contained in the Torah, including Leviticus 19:27:
“Do not shave the hair around the head or shave the outline of the beard close to the skin.”

GREEK AND ROMAN INFLUENCE

The first Christians began to stray from the commandment about the hair and beard, largely due to cultural influences during the early centuries of the Christian era.

CULTURAL PRACTICES AND COMPROMISE

As Christianity spread throughout the Greco-Roman world, converts brought with them their cultural practices. Both the Greeks and Romans had hygiene and grooming norms that included shaving and trimming hair and beards. These practices began to influence the customs of Gentile Christians.

Statue of Menander showing the short hair and shaved beard of ancient Greeks.
Early Christians were influenced by the Romans and the Greeks’ appearance and began to disregard the Law of God about how to keep their hair and beard.

THE CHURCH’S FAILURE TO STAND FIRM

This should have been the time when church leaders stood firm in emphasizing the necessity of remaining faithful to the teachings of the prophets and Jesus, regardless of cultural values and practices.

They should not have compromised on any of God’s commandments. However, this lack of resolve was passed down through generations, resulting in a people weakened in their ability to remain faithful to God’s Law.

THE REMNANT PRESERVED BY GOD

This weakness persists to this day, and the church we now see is far removed from the one Jesus founded. The only reason it continues to exist is that, as always, God has preserved a remnant:
“The seven thousand who have not bowed to Baal nor kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).

THE COMMANDMENT’S SIGNIFICANCE

A REMINDER OF OBEDIENCE

The commandment regarding hair and beards is a tangible reminder of one’s obedience and separateness from worldly influences. It reflects a lifestyle dedicated to honoring God’s instructions over cultural or societal norms.

A man having a haircut in ancient Israel.
There is no passage in the Scriptures indicating that God has canceled His commandment about hair and beard. Jesus and His disciples all kept their hair and beard according to the law.

Jesus and His apostles modeled this obedience, and their example should inspire modern believers to reclaim this often-overlooked commandment as part of their faithfulness to God’s holy Law.

JESUS, HIS BEARD, AND HAIR

JESUS AS THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE

Jesus Christ, through His life, gave us the ultimate example of how anyone seeking eternal life should live in this world. He demonstrated the importance of obeying all the Father’s commandments, including the commandment concerning the hair and beard of God’s children.

His example holds significance in two key aspects: for His contemporaries and for future generations of disciples.

CHALLENGING RABBINICAL TRADITIONS

In His time, Jesus’ adherence to the Torah served to counter many rabbinical teachings that dominated Jewish life. These teachings appeared to be ultra-faithful to the Torah but were, in fact, largely human traditions designed to keep people “enslaved” to those traditions.

PURE AND UNTAINTED OBEDIENCE

By faithfully observing the Torah—including commandments regarding His beard and hair—Jesus challenged these distortions and provided a pure and untainted example of obedience to God’s Law.

JESUS’ BEARD IN PROPHECY AND HIS SUFFERING

The importance of Jesus’ beard is also highlighted in prophecy and His suffering. In Isaiah’s foretelling of the Messiah’s torment, as the suffering servant, one of the tortures Jesus endured was having His beard pulled and torn out: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).

This detail underscores not only Jesus’ physical suffering but also His steadfast obedience to God’s commandments, even in the face of unimaginable torment. His example remains a powerful reminder for His followers today to honor God’s Law in all aspects of life, just as He did.

HOW TO CORRECTLY OBSERVE THIS ETERNAL COMMANDMENT

HAIR AND BEARD LENGTH

Men should maintain their hair and beard at a length that makes it evident they have both, even when observed from a distance. Neither too long nor too short, the primary concern is that neither the hair nor the beard be trimmed too closely.

DO NOT SHAVE THE NATURAL CONTOURS

The hair and beard should not be shaved at their natural contours. This is the key aspect of the commandment, centered on the Hebrew word pe’ah (פאה), meaning contour, edge, border, corner, or side. It does not refer to the length of each strand but rather to the natural edges of the hair and beard. For example, the same word pe’ah is used regarding the edges of a field: “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges (pe’ah) of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest” (Leviticus 19:9).

Clearly, this does not refer to the length or height of the wheat (or any other plant), but to the extremity of the field itself. The same understanding applies to the hair and beard.

ESSENTIALS FOR OBSERVING THE COMMANDMENT

  1. Maintain Visibility: The hair and beard should be visibly present and recognizable, reflecting the distinction commanded by God.
  2. Preserve Natural Edges: Avoid shaving or altering the natural contours of the hairline and beard.

By adhering to these principles, men can faithfully observe this divine instruction concerning their hair and beard, honoring God’s eternal commandments as intended.

Two men side by side showing the correct and incorrect way of how to maintain the beard and the hair according to the commandment of God as described in the Scripture.

INVALID ARGUMENTS FOR NOT OBEYING THIS COMMANDMENT OF GOD:

INVALID ARGUMENT:
“Only those who want to have a beard need to obey”

Some men, including Messianic leaders, argue that they do not need to obey this commandment because they completely shave their beards. According to this illogical reasoning, the commandment would only apply if someone chose to “have a beard.” In other words, only if a man wanted to grow a beard (or hair) would he need to follow God’s instructions.

This convenient rationale is not found in the sacred text. There is no conditional “if” or “in case,” only clear instructions about how hair and beards should be maintained. Using this same logic, one could dismiss other commandments, such as the Sabbath:

  • “I don’t need to keep the seventh day because I don’t observe any day,” or
  • “I don’t need to worry about forbidden meats because I never ask what kind of meat is on my plate.”

This type of attitude does not convince God, as He sees that the individual views His laws not as something delightful but as an inconvenience they wish did not exist. This stands in stark contrast to the attitude of the psalmists:
“O Lord, teach me to understand your laws, and I will always follow them. Give me understanding so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart” (Psalm 119:33-34).

INVALID ARGUMENT:
“The commandment about the beard and hair had to do with the pagan practices of neighboring nations”

The commandment about hair and beard is often misinterpreted as being related to pagan rituals concerning the dead, simply because the adjacent verses in the same chapter mention practices God forbids. However, when we examine the context and Jewish tradition, we notice that this interpretation lacks a solid basis in the Scriptures.

This commandment is a clear instruction about personal appearance, without any mention of pagan practices concerning the dead or any other pagan custom.

THE BROADER CONTEXT OF LEVITICUS 19

Leviticus 19:1-37 contains a wide range of laws that cover various aspects of daily life and morality. These include commandments about:

  • Not practicing divination and sorcery (Leviticus 19:26)
  • Not making cuts or tattoos on the body for the dead (Leviticus 19:28)
  • Not prostituting (Leviticus 19:29)
  • Treating foreigners well (Leviticus 19:33-34)
  • Honoring the elderly (Leviticus 19:32)
  • Using honest weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35-36)
  • Not mixing different types of seeds (Leviticus 19:19)

Each of these laws reflects God’s specific concern for holiness and order within the people of Israel. Thus, it is essential to consider each commandment on its own merit. One cannot simply claim that the commandment not to cut the hair and beard (Leviticus 19:27) is linked to pagan practices just because verse 28 mentions cuts on the body for the dead and verse 26 addresses witchcraft.

NO CONDITIONAL CLAUSE IN THE COMMANDMENT

NO EXCEPTIONS IN SCRIPTURE

Although there are passages in the Tanach that connect shaving one’s hair and beard with mourning, nowhere in Scripture does it state that a man may shave his hair and beard as long as he is not doing so as a sign of mourning.

This conditional clause to the commandment is a human addition—an attempt to create exceptions that God did not include in His Law. Such an interpretation adds clauses that are not in the sacred text, revealing a search for justifications to avoid full obedience.

ADJUSTING COMMANDMENTS IS REBELLION

This attitude of adjusting commandments according to personal convenience, rather than following what was clearly commanded, goes against the spirit of submission to God’s will. Passages that mention shaving for the dead serve as warnings that this excuse would not justify breaking the commandment concerning hair and beard.

ORTHODOX JEWS

THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMANDMENT

While they clearly have an incorrect understanding of certain details about cutting hair and beards, Orthodox Jews, since ancient times, have always understood the commandment in Leviticus 19:27 as separate from laws concerning pagan practices.

They maintain this distinction, recognizing that the prohibition reflects a principle of holiness and separation, unrelated to mourning or idolatrous rituals.

ANALYZING THE HEBREW TERMS

The Hebrew words used in verse 27, such as taqqifu (תקפו), meaning “to cut or shave around,” and tashchit (תשחית), meaning “to damage” or “to destroy,” indicate a prohibition against altering a man’s natural appearance in a way that dishonors the image of holiness God expects from His people.

There is no direct connection to the pagan practices described in the preceding or following verses.

THE COMMANDMENT AS A PRINCIPLE OF HOLINESS

Claiming that Leviticus 19:27 is related to pagan rituals is incorrect and biased. The verse is part of a set of commandments that guide the conduct and appearance of the people of Israel and has always been understood as a distinct order, separate from the mourning or idolatrous rites mentioned in other passages.

JESUS’ TEACHING, BY WORD AND EXAMPLE

The true follower of Christ uses His life as a model for everything. Jesus made it clear that if we love Him, we will be obedient to the Father and the Son.

This is a requirement not for the weak, but for those who have their eyes fixed on the Kingdom of God and are willing to do whatever it takes to obtain eternal life—even if this creates opposition from friends, church, and family.

COMMANDMENTS IGNORED BY MOST OF CHRISTIANITY

The commandments concerning hair and beard, tzitzit, circumcision, the Sabbath, and forbidden meats are ignored by practically all of Christianity. Those who refuse to follow the crowd will certainly face persecution, just as Jesus told us.

Obedience to God requires courage, but the reward is eternity.


Appendix 3: The Tzitzits (Fringes, Tassels, Cords)

THE COMMANDMENT TO REMEMBER THE COMMANDMENTS

THE INSTRUCTION OF THE TZITZITS

The commandment of the tzitzits, given by God through Moses during the 40 years of wandering, instructs the children of Israel—whether native-born or Gentiles—to make fringes (tzitzits [ציצת], meaning threads, fringes, tassels) on the edges of their garments and to include a blue thread among the fringes.

This physical symbol serves to distinguish God’s followers, acting as a constant reminder of their identity and commitment to His commandments.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BLUE THREAD

The inclusion of the blue thread—a color often associated with the heavens and divinity—emphasizes the holiness and significance of this reminder. This commandment is declared to be followed “throughout your generations,” indicating that it is not restricted to a specific time period but is meant to be observed continuously:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them: Throughout the generations to come you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments, with a blue thread on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all my commands and will be consecrated to your God.’” (Numbers 15:37-40)

TZITZIT AS A SACRED TOOL

The tzitzit is not merely decorative; it is a sacred tool to guide God’s people toward obedience. Its purpose is clear: to prevent believers from following their own desires and to lead them to a life of holiness before God.

By wearing the tzitzits, followers of the Lord demonstrate their dedication to His commandments and remind themselves daily of their covenant with Him.

FOR MEN ONLY OR FOR EVERYONE?

THE HEBREW TERMINOLOGY

One of the most common questions regarding this commandment is whether it applies exclusively to men or to everyone. The answer lies in the Hebrew term used in this verse, Bnei Yisrael (בני ישראל), meaning “sons of Israel” (masculine).

In other verses, however, where God gives instructions to the whole community, the phrase Kol-Kahal Yisrael (כל-קהל ישראל), meaning “assembly of Israel,” is used, clearly referring to the entire community (see Joshua 8:35; Deuteronomy 31:11; 2 Chronicles 34:23).

There are also cases where the general population is addressed using the word am (עַם), which simply means “people” and is clearly gender-neutral. For example, when God gave the Ten Commandments: “So Moses went down to the people (עַם) and told them” (Exodus 19:25).

The choice of words for the commandment about the tzitzit in the original Hebrew indicates that it was specifically directed to the sons (“men”) of Israel.

PRACTICE AMONG WOMEN TODAY

While some modern Jewish women and Messianic Gentile women enjoy adorning their clothing with what they call tzitzits, there is no  indication that this commandment was intended to apply to both genders.

HOW TO WEAR TZITZITS

The tzitzits should be attached to clothing: two at the front and two at the back, except during bathing (naturally). Some consider wearing them while sleeping optional. Those who do not wear them while sleeping follow the logic that the purpose of the tzitzits is to be a visual reminder, which is ineffective when one is asleep.

The pronunciation of tzitzits is (zitzit), and the plural forms are tzitzitot (zitziôt) or simply tzitzits.

THE COLOR OF THE THREADS

NO SPECIFIC SHADE OF BLUE REQUIRED

It is important to note that the passage does not specify the exact shade of blue (or purple) for the thread. In modern Judaism, many opt not to include the blue thread, arguing that the exact shade is unknown and instead use only white threads in their tzitzits. However, if the specific shade were crucial, God would undoubtedly have provided clarity.

The essence of the commandment lies in obedience and the constant reminder of God’s commandments, not in the precise hue of the color.

SYMBOLISM OF THE BLUE THREAD

Some believe the blue thread symbolizes the Messiah, though there is no scriptural support for this interpretation, despite its appealing nature.

Others take advantage of the lack of restriction regarding the colors of the other threads—aside from the requirement that one must be blue—to create elaborate tzitzits with multiple colors. This is not advisable, as it demonstrates a casualness toward God’s commandments that is not constructive.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF COLORS

During biblical times, dyeing threads was expensive, so it is almost certain that the original tzitzits were made in the natural colors of wool from sheep, goats, or camels, most likely ranging from white to beige. We recommend adhering to these natural tones.

Comparisson of three diferent types fo tzizits and a description of the correct type according to the Law of God in the Bible on Numbers 15:37-40.

THE NUMBER OF THREADS

SCRIPTURAL INSTRUCTIONS ON THREADS

The Scriptures do not specify how many threads each tzitzit should have. The only requirement is that one of the threads must be blue.

In modern Judaism, tzitzits are typically made with four threads doubled over to form eight threads in total. They also incorporate knots, which are considered mandatory. However, this practice of using eight threads and knots is a rabbinic tradition with no scriptural basis.

SUGGESTED NUMBERS: FIVE OR TEN THREADS

For our purposes, we suggest using either five or ten threads for each tzitzit. This number is chosen because, if the purpose of the tzitzits is to remind us of God’s commandments, it is fitting for the number of threads to align with the Ten Commandments.

While there are certainly more than ten commandments in God’s Law, the two tablets of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 have long been regarded as a symbol of the entirety of God’s Law.

Make your own tzitzit acthreading to the commandment of God
Download PDF
Thumbnail linking to a Printable PDF with step by step instruction on how to make your own tzitzit according to God's commandment.

SYMBOLISM OF THREAD COUNTS

In this case:

  • Ten threads could represent the Ten Commandments in each tzitzit.
  • Five threads could symbolize five commandments per tablet, though it is not definitively known how the commandments were divided between the two tablets.

Many speculate (without evidence) that one tablet contained four commandments related to our relationship with God and the other six related to our relationship with others.

Regardless, choosing five or ten threads is merely a suggestion, as God did not provide this detail to Moses.

“THAT YOU MAY LOOK UPON IT AND REMEMBER”

A VISUAL TOOL FOR OBEDIENCE

The tzitzit, with its blue thread, serves as a visual tool to help God’s servants remember and fulfill all His commandments. The verse emphasizes the importance of not following the desires of the heart or the eyes, which can lead to sin. Instead, God’s followers are to focus on obeying His commandments.

A TIMELESS PRINCIPLE

This principle is timeless, applying to both the ancient Israelites and today’s Christians, who are called to remain faithful to God’s commandments and avoid the temptations of the world. Whenever God instructs us to remember something, it is because He knows we are prone to forget.

A BARRIER AGAINST SIN

This “forgetting” does not merely mean failing to recall the commandments but also failing to act upon them. When a person is about to commit a sin and looks down at their tzitzits, they are reminded that there is a God who has given them commandments. If these commandments are not obeyed, there will be consequences.

In this sense, the tzitzit serves as a barrier against sin, helping believers remain mindful of their obligations and steadfast in their faithfulness to God.

“ALL MY COMMANDMENTS”

A CALL TO COMPLETE OBEDIENCE

Observing all of God’s commandments is essential for maintaining holiness and faithfulness to Him. The tzitzits on garments serve as a tangible symbol to remind God’s servants of their responsibility to live a holy and obedient life.

Being holy—set apart for God—is a central theme throughout the Bible, and this specific commandment provides a way for God’s servants to remain mindful of their obligation to obey.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “ALL” COMMANDMENTS

It is important to note the use of the Hebrew noun kōl (כֹּל), meaning “all,” which emphasizes the necessity of obeying not just some commandments—as is the practice in nearly every church worldwide—but the entire “package” of commandments given to us.

God’s commandments are, in fact, instructions that must be faithfully followed if we desire to please Him. By doing so, we are positioned to be sent to Jesus and to receive forgiveness for our sins through His atoning sacrifice.

THE PROCESS THAT LEADS TO SALVATION

PLEASING THE FATHER THROUGH OBEDIENCE

Jesus made it clear that the path to salvation begins with an individual pleasing the Father through their conduct (Psalm 18:22-24). Once the Father examines the heart of the person and confirms their inclination toward obedience, the Holy Spirit guides that person to observe all of His holy commandments.

THE FATHER’S ROLE IN LEADING TO JESUS

The Father then sends, or “gifts,” this person to Jesus:
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:44).
And also:
“This is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39).

THE TZITZITS AS A DAILY REMINDER

The tzitzits, as a visual and physical reminder, play a vital role in this process, serving as a daily aid for God’s servants to remain steadfast in obedience and holiness.

This continual awareness of all His commandments is not optional but a fundamental aspect of a life devoted to God and aligned with His will.

JESUS AND THE TZITZIT

A woman with the issue of blood touching Jesus's tzitzit and being healed according to Matthew 9:20-21.

Jesus Christ, in His life, demonstrated the importance of fulfilling God’s commandments, including wearing tzitzits on His garments. When we read the original Greek term [kraspedon (κράσπεδον), meaning tzitzits, threads, tassels, fringes], it becomes clear that this is what the woman with the issue of blood touched to receive healing:

“Just then, a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the tassels of His cloak” (Matthew 9:20). Similarly, in the Gospel of Mark, we see that many sought to touch Jesus’ tzitzits, recognizing that they symbolized the powerful commandments of God, which bring blessings and healing: “Wherever He went—into villages, towns, or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged Him to let them touch even the tassels of His cloak, and all who touched it were healed” (Mark 6:56).

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TZITZITS IN JESUS’ LIFE

These accounts highlight that Jesus faithfully observed the commandment of wearing tzitzits as instructed in the Torah. The tzitzits were not just decorative elements but profound symbols of God’s commandments, which Jesus embodied and upheld. The people’s recognition of the tzitzits as a point of connection with divine power underscores the role of obedience to God’s Law in bringing blessings and miracles.

Jesus’ adherence to this commandment demonstrates His complete submission to God’s Law and provides a powerful example for His followers to do likewise; not only for the tzitzits, but to all His Father’s commandments, such as the Sabbath, circumcision, hair and beard and forbidden meats.


Appendix 2: Circumcision and the Christian

CIRCUMCISION: A COMMANDMENT NEARLY ALL CHURCHES CONSIDER ABOLISHED

Among all of God’s holy commandments, circumcision appears to be the only one that nearly all churches erroneously consider abolished. The consensus is so widespread that even former doctrinal rivals—such as the Catholic Church and Protestant denominations (Assembly of God, Seventh-day Adventists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc.)—as well as groups often labeled as sects, like Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, all assert that this commandment was canceled at the cross.

JESUS NEVER TAUGHT ITS ABOLITION

There are two main reasons why this belief is so prevalent among Christians, despite the fact that Jesus never taught such a doctrine and that all of Jesus’ apostles and disciples obeyed this commandment—including Paul, whose writings are often used by leaders to “release” Gentiles from this requirement set by God Himself.

This is done even though there is no prophecy in the Old Testament suggesting that, with the coming of the Messiah, God’s people—whether Jews or Gentiles—would be exempt from obeying this commandment. In fact, circumcision has always been required, from the time of Abraham onward, for any man to be part of the people God set apart to be saved, whether he was a descendant of Abraham or not.

CIRCUMCISION AS A SIGN OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

No one was admitted as part of the holy community (set apart from other nations) unless they submitted to circumcision. Circumcision was the physical sign of the covenant between God and His privileged people.

Moreover, this covenant was not limited to a specific time or to Abraham’s biological descendants; it also included all foreigners who wished to be officially integrated into the community and regarded as equals before God. The Lord was explicit: “This is true not only for those born in your household but also for the foreign-born servants whom you have purchased. Whether they are born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant” (Genesis 17:12-13).

GENTILES AND THE REQUIREMENT OF CIRCUMCISION

If Gentiles truly did not need this physical sign to become part of the people set apart by the Lord, there would be no reason for God to require circumcision before the coming of the Messiah but not after.

NO PROPHETIC SUPPORT FOR A CHANGE

For this to be true, there would have to be information to that effect in the prophecies, and Jesus would have had to inform us that this change would take place after His ascension. However, there is no mention in the Old Testament about the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s people that suggests they would be exempt from any commandment, including circumcision, simply because they were not Abraham’s biological descendants.

TWO COMMONLY USED REASONS FOR NOT OBEYING THIS COMMANDMENT OF GOD

THE FIRST REASON:
CHURCHES ERRONEOUSLY TEACH THAT THE COMMANDMENT OF CIRCUMCISION WAS CANCELED

The first reason churches teach that God’s law on circumcision was canceled—without specifying who supposedly canceled it—lies in the difficulty of fulfilling this commandment. Church leaders fear that if they accept and teach the truth—that God never gave any instruction to abolish it—they would lose many members.

Broadly speaking, this commandment is indeed inconvenient to fulfill. It always has been and still is. Even with medical advances, a Christian who decides to obey this commandment must find a professional, pay out of pocket (as most health insurance plans do not cover it), undergo the procedure, deal with post-surgical inconveniences, and endure social stigma, often facing opposition from family, friends, and the church.

PERSONAL TESTIMONY

A man must be truly determined to obey this commandment of the Lord to go through with it; otherwise, he will easily give up. Encouragement to abandon this path is plentiful. I know this because I personally went through it at the age of 63 when I was circumcised in obedience to the commandment.

THE SECOND REASON:
MISUNDERSTANDING DIVINE DELEGATION OR AUTHORIZATION

The second reason, and certainly the primary one, is that the church lacks a proper understanding of divine delegation or authorization. This misunderstanding was exploited early on by the devil, when, just a few decades after Jesus’ ascension, disputes for power among church leaders began, culminating in the absurd conclusion that God had delegated to Peter and his supposed successors the authority to make any changes they wished to God’s Law.

A group of Israelites in ancient Jerusalem talking in a dark street while holding a torch.
As soon as Jesus returned to the Father, the devil began influencing the church leaders to lead the Gentiles away from the eternal commandments of God.

This aberration extended far beyond circumcision, affecting many other commandments in the Old Testament, which Jesus and His followers had always faithfully obeyed.

AUTHORITY OVER GOD’S LAW

Inspired by the devil, the church disregarded the fact that any delegation of authority over God’s holy Law would have to come directly from God Himself—either through His prophets in the Old Testament or through His Messiah.

It is inconceivable that mere human beings would grant themselves the authority to alter something as precious to God as His Law. No prophet of the Lord, nor Jesus, ever warned us that the Father would, after the Messiah, grant any group or individual, whether inside or outside the Bible, the power or inspiration to nullify, abolish, modify, or update even the smallest of His commandments. On the contrary, the Lord explicitly stated that this would be a grave sin: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

THE LOSS OF INDIVIDUALITY IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

THE CHURCH AS AN UNINTENDED INTERMEDIARY

Another critical issue is the loss of individuality in the relationship between the creature and the Creator. The church’s role was never meant to be that of an intermediary between God and man. However, early in the Christian era, it assumed this role.

Instead of each believer, guided by the Holy Spirit, relating individually with the Father and the Son, people became entirely dependent on their leaders to tell them what the Lord permits or prohibits.

RESTRICTED ACCESS TO THE SCRIPTURES

This serious problem occurred largely because, until the 16th-century Reformation, access to the Scriptures was a privilege reserved for the clergy. It was explicitly forbidden for the common man to read the Bible for himself, under the justification that he was incapable of understanding it without clerical interpretation.

THE INFLUENCE OF LEADERS OVER THE PEOPLE

DEPENDENCE ON TEACHINGS FROM LEADERS

Five centuries have passed, and despite universal access to the Scriptures, people continue to rely exclusively on what their leaders teach—right or wrong—remaining incapable of learning and acting independently on what God requires of each individual.

The same erroneous teachings about God’s holy and eternal commandments that existed before the Reformation continue to be passed down through the seminaries of every denomination.

JESUS’ TEACHING ABOUT THE LAW

As far as I am aware, there is not a single Christian institution that teaches future leaders what Jesus clearly taught: that no commandment of God has lost its validity after the coming of the Messiah: “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore, anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:18-19).

PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IN SOME DENOMINATIONS

SELECTIVE ADHERENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

A few denominations strive to teach that the Lord’s commandments are eternally valid and that no biblical writer after the Messiah ever wrote against this understanding. Yet, for some mysterious reason, they limit the list of valid commandments to those that other churches have decided to declare abolished.

These denominations emphasize the Ten Commandments (including the Sabbath, the seventh day of the fourth commandment) and the dietary laws of Leviticus 11 but go no further.

THE INCONSISTENCY OF SELECTIVITY

The most curious thing is that these specific selections are not accompanied by any clear justification based on the Old Testament or the four Gospels that explains why these particular commandments are mandatory, while others, such as the use of hair and beard, the tzitzit, or circumcision, are not mentioned or defended.

This raises the question: if all the Lord’s commandments are holy and just, why choose to obey some and not all?

THE ETERNAL COVENANT

CIRCUMCISION AS A SIGN OF THE COVENANT

Circumcision is the eternal covenant between God and His people, a group of holy human beings set apart from the rest of the population. This group has always been open to everyone and was never limited to the biological descendants of Abraham, as some assume.

An old painting by the artist Giovanni Bellini features the circumcision of Jesus, with Joseph and Mary.
A 15th-century painting by the artist Giovanni Bellini features Jesus being circumcised by rabbis, accompanied by Joseph and Mary.

From the moment God established Abraham as the first of this group, the Lord instituted circumcision as a visible and eternal sign of the covenant. It was made clear that both his natural descendants and those not of his lineage would need this physical sign of the covenant if they wished to be part of His people.

THE APOSTLE PAUL’S WRITINGS AS ARGUMENT TO NOT OBEY GOD’S ETERNAL LAWS

MARCION’S INFLUENCE ON BIBLICAL CANON

One of the earliest attempts to compile the various writings that emerged after Christ’s ascension was made by Marcion (85 – 160 A.D.), a wealthy shipowner in the second century. Marcion was a fervent follower of Paul but despised the Jews.

His Bible primarily consisted of Paul’s writings and his own gospel, which many consider a plagiarized version of Luke’s Gospel. Marcion rejected all other gospels and epistles, dismissing them as uninspired. In his Bible, all references to the Old Testament were removed, as he taught that the God prior to Jesus was not the same God Paul proclaimed.

Marcion’s Bible was rejected by the Church of Rome and he was condemned as a heretic, but his view on the writings of the apostle Paul as the only ones inspired by God, and his rejection of the entire Old Testament and the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, had already influenced the beliefs of many early Christians.

THE FIRST OFFICIAL CANON OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CANON

The first New Testament canon was officially recognized in the late fourth century, around 350 years after Jesus returned to the Father. Catholic Church councils in Rome, Hippo (393), and Carthage (397) were pivotal in finalizing the 27 books of the New Testament that we know today.

These councils were instrumental in consolidating the canon to address the diverse interpretations and texts circulating in Christian communities.

THE ROLE OF THE BISHOPS OF ROME IN FORMING THE BIBLE

APPROVAL AND INCLUSION OF PAUL’S LETTERS

Paul’s letters were included in the collection of writings approved by Rome in the fourth century. The collection, considered sacred by the Catholic Church, was called Biblia Sacra in Latin and Τὰ βιβλία τὰ ἅγια (ta biblia ta hagia) in Greek.

After centuries of debate over which writings should form the official canon, the bishops of the Church approved and declared as sacred: the Jewish Old Testament, the four Gospels, the Book of Acts (attributed to Luke), the epistles to the churches (including Paul’s letters), and the Book of Revelation by John.

THE USE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT IN JESUS’ TIME

It is important to note that during Jesus’ time, all Jews, including Jesus Himself, exclusively read and referenced the Old Testament in their teachings. This practice was predominantly based on the Greek version of the text, known as the Septuagint, which had been compiled about three centuries before Christ.

THE CHALLENGE OF INTERPRETING PAUL’S WRITINGS

COMPLEXITY AND MISINTERPRETATION

Paul’s writings, like those of other authors after Jesus, were incorporated into the official Bible approved by the Church many centuries ago and are therefore considered foundational to the Christian faith.

However, the problem lies not with Paul but with the interpretations of his writings. His letters were written in a complex and difficult style, a challenge already recognized during his time (as noted in 2 Peter 3:16), when the cultural and historical context was still familiar to readers. Interpreting these texts centuries later, in an entirely different context, adds to the difficulty.

THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY AND INTERPRETATIONS

THE ISSUE OF PAUL’S AUTHORITY

The central issue is not the relevance of Paul’s writings but the fundamental principle of authority and its transfer. As previously explained, the authority the Church attributes to Paul to cancel, abolish, correct, or update God’s holy and eternal commandments is not supported by the Scriptures that preceded him. Therefore, this authority does not come from the Lord.

There is no prophecy in the Old Testament or the Gospels indicating that after the Messiah, God would send a man from Tarsus to whom all should listen and follow.

ALIGNING INTERPRETATIONS WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND GOSPELS

THE NEED FOR CONSISTENCY

This means that any understanding or interpretation of Paul’s writings is incorrect if it does not align with the revelations that preceded him. Therefore, a Christian who truly fears God and His Word must reject any interpretation of the epistles—whether by Paul or any other writer—that is not consistent with what the Lord revealed through His prophets in the Old Testament and through His Messiah, Jesus.

HUMILITY IN INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE

The Christian must have the wisdom and humility to say:
“I do not understand this passage, and the explanations I have read are false because they lack the support of the Lord’s prophets and the words spoken by Jesus. I will set it aside until one day, if it is the Lord’s will, He explains it to me.”

A GREAT TEST FOR THE GENTILES

A TEST OF OBEDIENCE AND FAITH

This might be considered one of the most significant tests the Lord has chosen to impose on the Gentiles, a test analogous to what the Jewish people faced during their journey to Canaan. As stated in Deuteronomy 8:2: “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.”

IDENTIFYING THE OBEDIENT GENTILES

In this context, the Lord seeks to identify which Gentiles are truly willing to join His holy people. These are those who decide to obey all the commandments, including circumcision, despite the intense pressure from the church and the numerous passages in the letters to the churches that seemingly suggest several commandments—described as eternal in the prophets and the Gospels—have been revoked for Gentiles.

CIRCUMCISION OF THE FLESH AND THE HEART

ONE CIRCUMCISION: PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL

It is important to clarify that there are not two types of circumcision, but only one: the physical. It should be evident to all that the phrase “circumcision of the heart,” used throughout the Bible, is purely figurative, much like “broken heart” or “joyful heart.”

When the Bible states that someone is “uncircumcised in heart,” it simply means that the person is not living as they should, as one who truly loves God and is willing to obey Him.

EXAMPLES FROM SCRIPTURE

In other words, this man may have been physically circumcised, but his way of living does not align with the life God expects from His people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declared that all of Israel was in a state of being “uncircumcised in heart”: “For all the nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart” (Jeremiah 9:26).

Clearly, they were all physically circumcised, but by turning away from God and abandoning His holy Law, they were judged as uncircumcised in heart.

PHYSICAL AND HEART CIRCUMCISION REQUIRED

All male children of God, whether Jews or Gentiles, must be circumcised—not only physically but also in heart. This is made evident in these clear words: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No foreigner, including those who live among the people of Israel, may enter my sanctuary unless they are circumcised both in body and heart” (Ezekiel 44:9).

KEY CONCLUSIONS

  1. The concept of circumcision of the heart has always existed and was not introduced in the New Testament as a replacement for true physical circumcision.
  2. Circumcision is required of all who are part of God’s people, whether Jew or Gentile.

CIRCUMCISION AND WATER BAPTISM

A FALSE SUBSTITUTION

Some mistakenly believe that water baptism was instituted for Christians as a substitute for circumcision. However, this claim is purely a human invention, an attempt to avoid obedience to the Lord’s commandment.

If such a claim were true, we would expect to find passages in the prophets or the Gospels indicating that after the Messiah’s ascension, God would no longer require circumcision from Gentiles who wished to join His people and that baptism would take its place. Yet, no such passages exist.

THE ORIGIN OF WATER BAPTISM

Furthermore, it is important to note that water baptism predates Christianity. John the Baptist was neither the “inventor” nor the “pioneer” of baptism.

THE JEWISH ORIGINS OF BAPTISM (MIKVEH)

THE MIKVEH AS A RITUAL OF PURIFICATION

Baptism, or mikveh, was already a well-established ritual of immersion among Jews long before John the Baptist’s time. The mikveh symbolized purification from sin and ritual impurity.

An old and rustic brick and rock mikvah in Germany.
An ancient mikvah used for ritual cleansing by Jews, located in the city of Worms, Germany.

When a Gentile was circumcised, they also underwent a mikveh. This act not only served for ritual purification but also symbolized death—being “buried” in the water—of their old pagan life. Emerging from the water, reminiscent of the amniotic fluid of the womb, symbolized their rebirth into a new life as a Jew.

JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE MIKVEH

John the Baptist was not creating a new ritual but rather giving a new meaning to an existing one. Instead of just Gentiles “dying” to their old lives and being “reborn” as Jews, John called Jews living in sin to also “die” and “be reborn” as an act of repentance.

However, this immersion was not necessarily a one-time event. Jews would immerse themselves whenever they became ritually impure, such as before entering the Temple. They also commonly—and still do today—undergo immersion on Yom Kippur as an act of repentance.

DISTINGUISHING BAPTISM AND CIRCUMCISION

DISTINCT ROLES OF THE RITUALS

The idea that baptism replaced circumcision is not supported by Scripture or historical Jewish practice. While baptism (mikveh) was and remains a meaningful symbol of repentance and purification, it was never intended to replace circumcision, which is the eternal sign of God’s covenant.

Both rituals hold their own distinct purposes and significance, and neither negates the other.


Appendix 1: The Myth of the 613 Commandments

THE MYTH OF THE 613 COMMANDMENTS AND THE TRUE COMMANDMENTS EVERY SERVANT OF GOD MUST SEEK TO OBEY

COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Many times, when we publish texts about the necessity of obeying all the commandments of the Father and the Son for salvation, some readers become irritated and respond with comments such as: “If that’s the case, we’ll have to keep all 613 commandments!”

Such comments reveal that most people have no idea where this mysterious number of commandments—which no one has ever seen in the Bible—originated or what it actually entails.

EXPLAINING THE ORIGIN OF THE MYTH

QUESTION-AND-ANSWER FORMAT

In this study, we will explain the origin of this myth in a question-and-answer format.

We will also clarify which are the true commandments of God, as contained in the Holy Scriptures, that every person who fears God the Father and hopes to be sent to His Son for the remission of sins should seek to obey.

Question: What are the so-called 613 commandments?
Answer: The 613 commandments (613 Mitzvot) were invented by rabbis in the 12th century AD for practicing Jews. Their main author was the Spanish rabbi and philosopher Moses Maimonides (1135–1204), also known as Rambam.

Question: Are there truly 613 commandments in the Scriptures?
Answer: No. The true commandments of the Lord are few and simple to obey. The devil inspired this myth as part of his long-term plan to convince humanity to abandon obedience to the Lord. This strategy has been in place since Eden.

Question: Where did the number 613 come from?
Answer: This number originates from rabbinic tradition and the concept of Hebrew numerology, which assigns a numerical value to each letter of the alphabet. One such tradition claims that the word tzitzit (ציצית), meaning fringes or tassels (see Numbers 15:37-39), has a numerical sum of 613 when its letters are added together.

Specifically, these tassels, according to the myth, are said to have an initial numerical value of 600. Adding eight threads and five knots brings the total to 613, which they claim corresponds to the number of commandments in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible). It is worth noting that the use of the tzitzit is a genuine commandment that must be obeyed by all, but this connection to 613 commandments is pure invention. It is one of the many “traditions of the elders” mentioned and condemned by Jesus (see Matthew 15:1-20). [See the study on the tzitzit]

Question: How did they come up with so many commandments to fit the 613 number from the tzitzit (tassels)?
Answer: With great difficulty and creativity. They divided true commandments into several smaller ones to inflate the count. They also included numerous commandments related to priests, the Temple, agriculture, livestock, festivals, and more.

Question: What are the true commandments we must strive to obey?
Answer: In addition to the Ten Commandments, there are a few other commandments, all of which are simple to obey. Some are specific to men or women, others to the community, and a few to specific groups such as farmers and livestock keepers. Many commandments do not apply to Christians because they are exclusive to the descendants of the tribe of Levi or are connected to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was destroyed in 70 AD.

We must understand that now, in the end times, God is calling all His faithful children to prepare, for at any moment, He will take us from this corrupt world. God will only take those who strive to obey all His commandments, without exception.

Moses standing next to Joshua, teaching the Law of God (All His commandments) to the people of Israel in Sinai.
In addition to the Ten Commandments, there are a few other commandments, all of which are simple to obey. God instructed Moses to teach us what the Lord expects from us.

Do not follow the teachings and examples of your leaders, but follow only what God has commanded. Gentiles are not exempt from any of God’s commandments: “The assembly is to have the same laws for you and for the gentile [גֵּר gēr (stranger, foreigner, non-jew)]  residing among you; this is a perpetual decree for your generations: before the Lord, it will apply equally to you and the gentile residing among you. The same law and ordinance will apply to both you and the gentile residing among you” (Numbers 15:15-16).

The term “gentile residing among you” refers to any non-Jew who wishes to join God’s chosen people and be saved. “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews (John 4:22).

Below are the commandments most often ignored by Christians, all of which were followed by Jesus, His apostles, and His disciples. Jesus is our example.

COMMANDMENTS FOR MAN:

  • Hair and beard: “You shall not cut the hair of your head round about, nor spoil the edges of your beard” (Leviticus 19:27). [Access study on the Christian’s hair and beard.]
  • Tzitzit: “Tell the sons of Israel to make for themselves tassels on the edges of their garments in their generations…and to look at them, to remember all the commandments of the Lord” (Numbers 15:37-39). [Access study on tzitzit.]
  • Circumcision: “Eight days old from birth, let your male child be circumcised… Both the nativate and the gentile.” (Genesis 17:12). [Access study on Christians and circumcision.]

COMMANDMENT FOR WOMEN:

  • Abstinence from relationships during menstruation: “If anyone lies down with a woman during her sickness and reveals her nakedness…both of them shall be destroyed from among their people” (Leviticus 20:18).

COMMANDMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY:

  • Sabbathrest: “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days you shall work…but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:8-11). [Access study on the Sabbath]
  • Forbidden foods: “Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat…” (Leviticus 11:1-46]

Question: In his letters (epistles), doesn’t Paul say that Jesus obeyed all the commandments for us and canceled them through His death?
Answer:
Absolutely not. Paul himself would be horrified to see what pastors are teaching in churches using his writings. No human being, including Paul, was given authority by God to change even a single letter of His holy and eternal Law. If this were true, both the prophets and Jesus would have been clear that God would send a certain man from Tarsus with this level of authority. However, the fact is that Paul is not mentioned at all—neither by the prophets in the Tanach (Old Testament) nor by the Messiah in the four Gospels. Such an important matter would not have been left unaddressed by God.

The prophets mention only three individuals who appeared during the New Testament period: Judas (Psalm 41:9), John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3), and Joseph of Arimathea (Isaiah 53:9). There is zero reference to Paul, and that is because he did not teach anything that adds to or contradicts what had already been revealed by the prophets or Jesus.

Any Christian who believes that Paul changed something from what had been previously written must reconsider their understanding to align with the prophets and Jesus—not the other way around, as most people do.

If one cannot make Paul’s writings fit with the prophets and Jesus, it is better to set them aside than to disobey God based on one’s interpretation of any human’s writings. Such reasoning will not be accepted as an excuse at the final judgment.

No one will convince the Judge by saying, “I am innocent of having ignored Your commandments because I followed Paul.” Here is what has been revealed about the end times: “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith in Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

Question: Didn’t the Holy Spirit inspire changes and cancellations to God’s Law?
Answer: Such an idea borders on blasphemy. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God Himself. Jesus was clear that the sending of the Holy Spirit was meant to instruct us by reminding us of what He had already said: “He (the Spirit) will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

There is no mention that the Holy Spirit would bring a new doctrine not already taught by the Son or the Father’s prophets. Salvation is the most important topic in the Holy Scriptures, and all the necessary information had already been delivered by the prophets and by Jesus: “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded  [εντολη (endoli) command, rule, instruction] me to say all that I have spoken. I know that His command [endoli] leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say” (John 12:49-50).

There is a continuity of revelations that ended with Christ. We know this because, as previously mentioned, there are no prophecies about the sending of any human being with new primary doctrines after the Messiah. The only revelations after the resurrection pertain to the end times, and there is nothing about new doctrines from God arising between Jesus and the end of the world.

All of God’s commandments are continuous and eternal, and we will be judged by them. Those who pleased the Father were sent to the Son to be redeemed by Him. Those who disobeyed the Father’s commandments did not please Him and were not sent to the Son: “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (John 6:65).


Part 2: The False Plan of Salvation

SATAN’S STRATEGY TO LEAD GENTILES ASTRAY

THE NEED FOR A RADICAL STRATEGY

For the devil to lead Gentile followers of Christ into disobedience to God’s Law, something radical needed to be done.

Until a few decades after Jesus’ ascension, the churches consisted of Judean Jews (Hebrews), Diaspora Jews (Hellenistic), and Gentiles (non-Jews). Many of Jesus’ original disciples were still alive and gathering with these groups in homes, which helped maintain fidelity to everything Jesus taught and exemplified during His life.

FAITHFULNESS TO GOD’S LAW

God’s Law was read and rigorously obeyed, just as Jesus had instructed His followers:
“He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God [λογον του Θεου (logon tou Theou) The Tanach, Old Testament] and obey it'” (Luke 11:28).

Jesus never deviated from His Father’s instructions:
“You have commanded Your precepts to be kept diligently” (Psalm 119:4).

The common notion in today’s churches—that the coming of the Messiah exempted Gentiles from obeying God’s laws in the Old Testament—has no basis in the words of Jesus found in the four Gospels.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF SALVATION

SALVATION ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO GENTILES

There has never been a time in the history of civilization when God did not allow anyone to turn to Him in repentance, receive forgiveness for their sins, be blessed, and attain salvation upon death.

In other words, salvation has always been available to Gentiles, even before the coming of the Messiah. Many in churches today mistakenly believe that only with Jesus’ arrival and His atoning sacrifice did Gentiles gain access to salvation.

THE UNCHANGING PLAN

The truth is that the same plan of salvation that has existed since the Old Testament remained valid in the days of Jesus and continues to be so today.

The only difference now is that, whereas before, part of the process for the forgiveness of sins included symbolic sacrifices, today we have the true sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

JOINING GOD’S COVENANT PEOPLE

THE REQUIREMENT TO JOIN ISRAEL

Apart from this critical difference, the rest remains the same as it was before Christ. For a Gentile to be saved, they must join the nation God designated as His own through the eternal covenant sealed by the sign of circumcision:
“And as for the gentiles [‏נֵכָר nfikhār (strangers, foreigners, non-jews)] who join the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be His servants… and who holds fast to My covenant—these I will bring to My holy mountain” (Isaiah 56:6-7).

JESUS DID NOT CREATE A NEW RELIGION

It is important to understand that Jesus did not establish a new religion for Gentiles, as many assume.

In fact, Jesus rarely interacted with Gentiles, as His focus was always on His own nation:
“Jesus sent out the Twelve with the following instructions: Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 10:5-6).

GOD’S TRUE PLAN OF SALVATION

THE PATH TO SALVATION

The true plan of salvation, which aligns perfectly with what God revealed through the prophets of the Old Testament and through Jesus in the Gospels, is straightforward: strive to be faithful to the Father’s laws, and He will unite you with Israel and send you to the Son for the forgiveness of sins.

The Father does not send those who know His laws yet live in open disobedience. Rejecting God’s Law is rebellion, and there is no salvation for the rebellious.

THE FALSE PLAN OF SALVATION

A DOCTRINE WITHOUT BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

The plan of salvation preached in most churches is false. We know this because it lacks the backing of what God revealed through the prophets in the Old Testament and what Jesus taught in the four Gospels.

Any doctrine related to the salvation of souls (primary doctrines) must be confirmed by these two original sources:

  1. The Old Testament (Tanach—Law and Prophets), which Jesus frequently quoted.
  2. The words of the Son of God Himself.

THE CENTRAL FALSEHOOD

The central idea promoted by advocates of this false plan of salvation is that Gentiles can be saved without obeying God’s commandments. This message of disobedience is identical to what the serpent preached in Eden:
“You will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4-5).

If this message were true:

  • The Old Testament would contain numerous passages explaining this point.
  • Jesus would have explicitly declared that exempting people from God’s Law was part of His mission as the Messiah.

However, the reality is that neither the Old Testament nor the Gospels provide any support for this absurd idea.

MESSENGERS SENT AFTER JESUS

THE RELIANCE ON NON-GOSPEL SOURCES

Those who promote the plan of salvation without obedience to God’s Law rarely reference Jesus in their messages. The reason is clear: they cannot find anything in Christ’s teachings to suggest that He came into this world to save people who willfully disobey His Father’s laws.

THE LACK OF PROPHETIC SUPPORT

Instead, they rely on the writings of individuals who appeared only after Christ’s ascension. The problem with this is that:

  1. There are no Old Testament prophecies about any messenger from God who would arise after Jesus.
  2. Jesus Himself never mentioned that anyone would come after Him with a mission to teach a new plan of salvation for the Gentiles.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPHECIES

THE REQUIREMENT OF DIVINE AUTHORITY

God’s revelations require prior authority and delegation to be valid. We know Jesus is the One sent by the Father because He fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.

An ancient prophet writing on a scroll with a city in flames on the background
There is no prophecy about the arrival of any man tasked with teaching something beyond what Jesus taught. All we need to know about salvation ended with Christ.

However, there are no prophecies about the sending of other individuals with new teachings after Christ.

THE SUFFICIENCY OF JESUS’ TEACHINGS

Everything we need to know about our salvation ends with Jesus. Any writings that emerged after Jesus’ ascension, whether inside or outside the Bible, should be regarded as secondary and auxiliary, for there was no prophecy about the arrival of any man tasked with teaching something beyond what Jesus taught.

THE STANDARD FOR DOCTRINAL VALIDITY

Any doctrine that does not align with the words of Jesus in the four Gospels must be rejected as false, regardless of its origin, duration, or popularity.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES OF SALVATION

All events related to salvation that were to occur after Malachi were prophesied in the Old Testament. These include:

  • The birth of the Messiah: Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23
  • John the Baptist coming in the spirit of Elijah: Malachi 4:5; Matthew 11:13-14
  • Christ’s mission: Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:17-21
  • His betrayal by Judas: Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 11:12-13; Matthew 26:14-16; Matthew 27:9-10
  • His trial: Isaiah 53:7-8; Matthew 26:59-63
  • His innocent death: Isaiah 53:5-6; John 19:6; Luke 23:47
  • His burial in a rich man’s tomb: Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60

NO PROPHECIES ABOUT INDIVIDUALS AFTER JESUS

However, there is no prophecy mentioning any individual after Jesus’ ascension, whether inside or outside the Bible, tasked with developing a different way for Gentiles to be saved—much less a way that allows someone to live in deliberate disobedience to God’s Law and still be welcomed into heaven with open arms.

THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS, THROUGH WORD AND DEED

A genuine follower of Christ shapes their entire life after His example. Jesus clearly taught that loving Him means being obedient to both the Father and the Son. This command is not for the faint-hearted but for those who are focused on the Kingdom of God and are prepared to do whatever is necessary to gain eternal life. This commitment may attract opposition from friends, the church, and family.

The commandments regarding circumcision, hair and beard, the Sabbath, forbidden meats and wearing tzitzits are largely disregarded by most of Christianity today. Those who choose not to conform and instead adhere to these commandments are likely to face persecution, just as Jesus warned us in Matthew 5:10. Following God’s commandments demands courage, but the reward is eternal life.


Part 1: The Devil’s Grand Plan Against the Gentiles

SATAN’S PLAN AGAINST THE GENTILES

SATAN’S FAILURE AND NEW STRATEGY

A few years after Jesus returned to the Father, Satan began his long-term plan against the Gentiles. His attempt to convince Jesus to join him had failed (Matthew 4:8-9), and all his hopes of keeping Christ in the tomb were permanently shattered by the resurrection (Acts 2:24).

What remained for the serpent was to continue doing among the Gentiles what he had always done since Eden: convincing humanity not to obey God’s laws (Genesis 3:4-5).

TWO OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN

To achieve this, two things needed to be accomplished:

  1. The Gentiles had to be distanced as much as possible from the Jews and their faith—a faith that had existed since the creation of humanity. The faith of Jesus’s family, friends, apostles, and disciples had to be abandoned.
  2. They needed a theological argument to accept that the salvation offered to them differed from how salvation had been understood since the beginning of time. This new plan of salvation had to allow the Gentiles to disregard God’s laws.

The devil then inspired talented men to create a new religion for the Gentiles, complete with a new name, traditions, and doctrines. The most critical of these doctrines led them to believe that one of the Messiah’s primary purposes was to “free” the Gentiles from the obligation to keep the Commandments of God.

A crowded and dirty street in ancient middle east.
After Jesus’ ascension, the devil inspired talented men to devise a false plan of salvation to move Gentiles away from the message of faith and obedience proclaimed by Jesus, the Messiah of Israel.

THE DISTANCING FROM ISRAEL

THE CHALLENGE OF THE LAW FOR GENTILES

Every movement seeks followers to survive and grow. The Law of God, which had until then been observed by Messianic Jews, began to pose a challenge for the rapidly expanding group of Gentiles within the newly-formed church.

Commandments such as circumcision, the observance of the seventh day, and abstaining from certain meats started to be viewed as barriers to the movement’s growth. Gradually, the leadership began making concessions to this group, under the false argument that the coming of the Messiah included a relaxation of the Law for non-Jews—even though such an argument lacked any basis in the Old Testament or in the words of Jesus recorded in the four Gospels (Exodus 12:49).

THE JEWS’ RESPONSE TO THE CHANGES

Meanwhile, the few Jews who still showed interest in the movement—drawn by the signs and wonders performed by Jesus just a few decades earlier and bolstered by the presence of eyewitnesses, including some of the original apostles—were understandably troubled by the gradual abandonment of the obligation to observe God’s laws delivered through the prophets.

These were the same laws that Jesus, the apostles, and the disciples had faithfully followed.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF DISTANCING

THE CURRENT STATE OF WORSHIP

The result, as we know, is that millions now gather weekly in churches claiming to worship God, all while completely ignoring the fact that this very God set apart a nation for Himself through a covenant.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ISRAEL

God clearly stated that He would never break this covenant:
“Just as the laws of the sun, the moon, and the stars are immutable, so too the descendants of Israel will never cease to be the nation before God forever” (Jeremiah 31:35-37).

GOD’S COVENANT WITH ISRAEL

SALVATION THROUGH ISRAEL

Nowhere in the Old Testament do we read that there would be blessing or salvation for those who do not join themselves to Israel:
“And God said to Abraham: You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Even Jesus Himself was unequivocal in affirming that salvation comes from the Jews:
“For salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).

GENTILES AND OBEDIENCE

The Gentile who desires to be saved by Christ must follow the same laws that the Father delivered to the chosen nation for His honor and glory—the same laws that Jesus and His apostles observed.

The Father sees the faith and courage of such a Gentile, despite the challenges. He pours out His love upon him, unites him with Israel, and leads him to the Son for forgiveness and salvation.

This is the plan of salvation that makes sense because it is true.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS

According to historians, after Christ’s ascension, several apostles and disciples obeyed the Great Commission and carried the gospel taught by Jesus to Gentile nations:

  • Thomas went to India.
  • Barnabas and Paul went to Macedonia, Greece, and Rome.
  • Andrew went to Russia and Scandinavia.
  • Matthias went to Ethiopia.

The Good News spread far and wide.

THE MESSAGE REMAINED CONSISTENT

The message they were to preach was the same one taught by Jesus and centered on the Father:

  1. To believe that Jesus came from the Father.
  2. To obey the Father’s laws.

Jesus made it clear to the first missionaries that they would not be alone in their mission to spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit would remind them of what Christ had taught during their time together:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

The instruction was to continue teaching what they had learned from their Master.

SALVATION AND OBEDIENCE

A SINGLE MESSAGE OF SALVATION

Nowhere in the Gospels do we see Jesus suggesting that His missionaries would bring a different message of salvation specially crafted for non-Jews.

FALSE DOCTRINE OF SALVATION WITHOUT OBEDIENCE

The idea that Gentiles could obtain salvation without obeying the holy and eternal commandments of the Father is absent from the teachings of Jesus.

The idea of salvation without obedience to the Law has no support in the words of Jesus and is therefore false, no matter how old or popular it may be.


The Law of God: Introduction

THE HONOR OF WRITING ABOUT GOD’S LAW

THE NOBLEST TASK

Writing about the Law of God is possibly the noblest task within the reach of a simple human being. The Law of God is not merely a set of divine commandments, as most perceive it, but rather an expression of two of His attributes: love and justice.

The Law of God reveals His requirements within the human context and reality, aiming at the restoration of those who desire to be returned to the condition they had before sin entered the world.

THE LAW’S SUPREME GOAL

Contrary to what has been taught in churches, every commandment is literal and unyielding to achieve the supreme goal: the salvation of rebellious souls. No one is forced to obey, but only those who do obey will be restored and reconciled with the Creator.

Writing about this Law is, therefore, sharing a glimpse of the divine—a rare privilege that demands humility and reverence.

A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY ON THE LAW OF GOD

PURPOSE OF THESE STUDIES

In these studies, we will cover everything truly important to know about the Law of God so that those who desire to do so can make the necessary changes in their lives here on earth and align themselves perfectly with the guidelines established by God Himself.

Moses talking with young Joshua in front of the israelite crowd.
The sacred and eternal Law of God has been kept faithfully since the beginning of time. Jesus, His family, friends, apostles, and disciples all obeyed God’s commandments.

RELIEF AND JOY FOR THE FAITHFUL

Human beings were created to obey God. Those who are courageous and genuinely wish to be sent to Jesus by the Father for forgiveness and salvation will receive these studies with relief and joy:

  • Relief: Because after two thousand years of misguided teachings about the Law of God and salvation, God has seen fit to entrust us with the production of this material, which we acknowledge goes against virtually all existing teachings on the subject.
  • Joy: Because the benefits of being in harmony with the Creator’s Law go beyond what mere creatures can express—spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits.

THE LAW NEEDS NO JUSTIFICATION

THE SACRED ORIGIN OF THE LAW

These studies do not primarily focus on arguments or doctrinal defenses, as the Law of God, when correctly understood, requires no justification given its sacred origin.

Engaging in endless debates about something that should never have been questioned is an affront to God Himself.

THE CREATURE CHALLENGING THE CREATOR

The very act of a finite creature—a piece of clay (Isaiah 64:8)—challenging the rules of its Creator, who can at any moment discard it among worthless shards, reveals something deeply troubling in that creature.

This is an attitude that must be urgently corrected for the creature’s own benefit.

FROM MESSIANIC JUDAISM TO MODERN CHRISTIANITY

THE FATHER’S LAW AND JESUS’ EXAMPLE

While we affirm that the Father’s Law should simply be obeyed by everyone who claim to follow Jesus—just as Jesus Himself and His apostles did—we acknowledge the significant damage that has been done within Christianity regarding His Law.

Such damage has made it necessary to explain what has transpired over the nearly two millennia since Christ’s ascension.

THE SHIFT IN BELIEF ABOUT THE LAW

Many want to understand how the transition occurred from Messianic Judaism—Jews who were faithful to God’s laws in the Old Testament and accepted Jesus as the Messiah of Israel sent by the Father—to modern Christianity, where the prevailing belief is that striving to obey the Law is tantamount to “rejecting Christ,” which, of course, is equated with condemnation.

THE CHANGED PERCEPTION OF THE LAW

FROM BLESSING TO REJECTION

The Law, once regarded as something to be meditated upon day and night by the blessed (Psalm 1:2), has come to be viewed, in practice, as a set of rules whose obedience leads to the lake of fire.

All of this has occurred without a shred of support in the Old Testament or in the words of Jesus recorded in the four Gospels.

ADDRESSING DISOBEYED COMMANDMENTS

In this series, we will also cover in detail the commandments of God that are most disobeyed in churches worldwide, almost without exception, such as circumcision, the Sabbath, dietary laws, hair and beard regulations, and the tzitzit.

We will explain not only how these clear commandments of God ceased to be observed in the new religion that distanced itself from Messianic Judaism but also how they should be properly observed according to the instructions in Scripture—not according to Rabbinic Judaism, which, since the days of Jesus, has incorporated human traditions into the holy, pure, and eternal Law of God.


The Law of God: Series Summary

THE LAW OF GOD: A TESTAMENT OF LOVE AND JUSTICE

The Law of God stands as a testament to His love and justice, far surpassing the perception of a mere set of divine commands. It offers a roadmap for humanity’s restoration, guiding those who seek to return to the sinless state intended by their Creator. Each commandment is literal and unwavering, designed to reconcile rebellious souls and bring them into harmony with God’s perfect will.

THE NECESSITY OF OBEDIENCE

Obedience to the Law is not forced upon anyone, yet it is an absolute requirement for salvation—no one who knowingly and willfully disobeys can be restored or reconciled with the Creator. The Father will not send someone who intentionally disobeys His Law to benefit from the Son’s atoning sacrifice. Only those who faithfully seek to follow His commandments will be united with Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHARING TRUTH

Sharing the truths of the Law demands humility and reverence, as it equips those willing to align their lives with God’s guidelines. This series offers relief from centuries of misguided teachings and the joy of experiencing the profound spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits of living in harmony with the Creator.

EXAMINING THE SHIFT IN UNDERSTANDING

The studies will explore the transition from the Messianic Judaism of Jesus and His apostles—where the Law was central—to modern Christianity, where obedience is often misconstrued as rejection of Christ. This shift, unsupported by the Old Testament or Jesus’ words, has led to widespread neglect of God’s commandments, including the Sabbath, circumcision, dietary laws, and others.

A CALL TO RETURN TO GOD’S PURE LAW

By addressing these commandments in light of Scripture, free from the influence of Rabbinic traditions and the entrenched cycle of theological conformity within seminaries—where pastors gladly inherit preconceived and unquestioned interpretations to please the crowd and secure their livelihoods—this series calls for a return to the pure and eternal Law of God. Obedience to the Creator’s Law must never be reduced to a matter of career advancement or job security. It is a required expression of true faith and devotion to the Creator, leading to eternal life through Christ, the Son of God.