I remember my parents telling me that a non Jew should not tell Jewish jokes. They told me that it was offensive and bordered on Anti-Semitism. But when Jews tell Jewish jokes – OY! …. now that’s funny!
I only say this because the message of this article contains information about the mystical teachings of today’s Jews and even as far back as before the time of Christ. I love my people. But for the sake of those who are caught up in Hebrew Roots, I felt that I had to expose these teachings. What you will find in this piece will help you understand the anger that our Lord Jesus had for the Pharisees. Many Scriptures will come to life – many that you never quite understood will make complete sense to you.
I thought a lot about this before deciding to write this article. My readers know of my love for Yeshua (Jesus) and for the Bible, which is penned by men under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In other words, God Himself wrote the Scriptures. Isn’t that incredibly wonderful? We can fully trust the Bible because each word is God-breathed.
The Old Testament
As a child in the synagogue, we only read from the Old Testament. Many Jews call the Old Testament the “Tanahk”
From spiritualforam.org
What is the difference between the Tanakh, Talmud and Old Testament of the Bible?
“The Tanakh is the appropriate name for Hebrew scriptures. It is arranged differently than in Christian Bibles. The word comes from the three sections.
Torah – The first five books aka Pentateuch: Genesis (Bereshit), Exodus (Shemot), Leviticus (Vayikrah), Numbers (Bamidbar), and Deuteronomy (Devarim)
Nevi’im – The Prophets. The list doesn’t necessarily match who Christians regard as prophets: Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachai
Ketuvim – The Writings: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, I Chronicles, and II Chronicles.
Some of the books differ between Judaism and Christianity as to what was included or left out from each book
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Talmud is the central text of Judaism. It’s the rabbinical discussion of the Tanakh and Jewish law, customs, philosophy, etc. It covers centuries of thought. – source (emphasis added).
The Torah vs. Talmud
From aish.com (A Kabbalah supporting Jewish ministry)
(My commentary will be indented in blue)
Torah versus Talmud?
Question:
I’m hoping that you can clarify a few terms that are not clear for me. What is the difference between Torah, Talmud, Mishnah, Gemara and Midrash. If the Bible is the written law, then is the Midrash the commentary?
I went to Hebrew School and had my Bar Mitzvah, but they never explained any of this to me. I’m drowning in a sea of unfamiliar terminology. Please help!
The Aish Rabbi Replies:
The first thing to know is that the Torah consists of two parts: The Written Torah, and the Oral Torah.
No, this is false. The Torah consists of ONE part: The Written Torah. The so-called “Oral Torah” is merely the thoughts and musings of Rabbis through the ages. And do you think that Satan would sit by and not twist and pervert the lofty teachings of the rabbis? Remember when Jesus was in the wilderness with the devil? The evil one would tempt Jesus with his own version of the Word of God. How did Jesus respond each time? He would start by saying “It is Written”……and then He would speak pure Scripture to shut down the devil.
The Written Torah totals 24 books, including the Five Books of Moses and the prophetic writings – e.g. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Psalms, Proverbs, etc.
The Five Books of Moses – comprised of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy – was written down by Moses in 1273 BCE, and includes all 613 commandments (mitzvahs).
Perhaps part of the reason for your confusion is that the Five Books of Moses has many names. It is referred to as the Bible (meaning “book” in Greek), the Chumash (Hebrew for “fifth”), the Pentateuch (Greek for “five scrolls”), or generically “Torah” – Hebrew for “instructions,” because its purpose is to instruct. (Jews consider it insulting to call it the Old Testament, as this implies a New Testament, which Jews reject.)
But whatever the name, it refers to the best-selling, longest-running book in the history of mankind.
At last! Truth.
So what is the Oral Torah? Its name derives from the fact that it was not allowed to be formally written down but had to be taught orally. It contains the explanations of the Written Torah. One cannot be understood without the other.
FALSE. The written Torah, just as the rest of the Bible, was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What better teacher than Him? The written Torah is Absolute Truth. God does not change. His Word does not change. The thoughts and opinions of men are subject to personalities, upbringing, what they were taught, and other factors, which leaves the “Oral Torah” greatly vulnerable to errant teaching.
In 190 CE, persecution and exile of the Jewish people threatened the proper transmission of the Oral Torah. Therefore, Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi compiled written notes on the Oral Torah called the “Mishnah” (Hebrew for “teaching”). Rabbi Yehudah arranged the Mishnah into six sections: Laws of Agriculture, Festivals, Damages, Marriage, Purity, and Offerings. Rabbi Yehudah wrote the Mishnah in code form, so that students would still require the explanation of a rabbi – since this information was meant to remain oral.
Do you see that even after this Rabbi arranged the “Mishnah” in order to better explain the Scriptures to students; this was written in “code” so that all students (present and future) would rely ONLY on the rabbis and teachers. We could compare this to Roman Catholicism – for centuries, Catholic priests instructed their people not to read the Bible for themselves. They were told that it is too complex for them to understand, and that they should come to a priest with any questions.
In 500 CE, the Jewish people again suffered an uprooting of their communities, and two Babylonian rabbis – Rav Ashi and Ravina – compiled a 60-volume record of rabbinic discussions on the Mishnah, called the “Gemara.” Together, the Mishnah and Gemara comprise what is commonly called the “Talmud.”
The Talmud is what the Kabbalists from ancient times right up to today use for instruction. These Kabbalist leaders do not rely on the Written Word of God – only on men’s opinions regarding just what the Bible is ‘attempting’ to say. Obviously, they feel that their own interpretations of God’s Word is what people need. The Pharisees taught from Talmud instead of the Written Word, which is why Jesus said to them:
“You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But Because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin: And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me: He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God” (John 8:44-47).
And this passage of Scripture clearly shows why God wants His children to read His written Word:
“These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2: 26-27).
The Oral Torah also includes the Midrash, an explanation of the Written Torah, comprising both ethical and legal components. Much of this material is also contained in the Talmud.
The Oral Torah also includes the works of Kabbalah, a tradition of mystical secrets of the metaphysical universe received by Moses at Mount Sinai. It was first published as “The Zohar” by R’ Shimon bar Yochai (170 CE), and elucidated by the Arizal (1572 CE).
Moses received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai – NOT mystical secrets! I hope that the reader is beginning to understand the righteous anger which our Lord Jesus had toward the Pharisees. Although they had the entire “Tanakh” they taught from their own words – not God’s.
Don’t you wish that you could have heard the Lord Jesus speaking to the leaders of the synagogue when he was only 12 years old? They must have been astounded at His knowledge – and enraged!
Torah is not to be regarded, however, as an academic field of study. It is meant to be applied to all aspects of our everyday life – speech, food, prayer, etc. Over the centuries great rabbis have compiled summaries of practical law from the Talmud. Landmark works include: “Mishneh Torah” by Maimonides (12th century Egypt); “Shulchan Aruch” by Rabbi Yosef Karo (16th century Israel); “Mishnah Berurah” by the Chafetz Chaim (20th century Poland).
I hope this helps solve your confusion. Now only one thing remains – to go out and learn the entire Torah! – source
In other words, go and sit among the scribes and leaders of your synagogues to learn about God; when they should be saying – “Read the Written Word of God, and He will quicken to your heart and spirit the meaning of His Words!”
The love for the Jews and Israel
Since I was saved in 1983, it has warmed my heart that born again believers have an abiding love for my people. They know that the Bible was written by Jewish men through the ages; these men were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They know that the Messiah of the entire world (Yeshua) came through the lineage of the Jews. This is the reason that Satan has persecuted and slaughtered my people for thousands of years.
But it is worrisome to me when the love of Israel and the Jews draws many into the false teaching of Hebrew Roots. These “Hebrew Roots” followers need to understand that so many of the traditions and customs of my people are mystical; they need to know that so many of my people are practicing this terribly evil mysticism. Many of the well known Hebrew Roots teachers are themselves practicing Kabbalah and are leading those who follow them into the practice of Evil.
The reason for me writing the last few articles about Kabbalah and Talmud teachings is that I want the Christian community to understand these things. I hope and pray that I have articulated the truth to the reader. Perhaps you have a friend who is deeply into Hebrew Roots, and has no idea about Kabbalah and its satanic origins.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
The Time of Jacob’s Trouble
As children of God, we know that a time is coming when God deals with Israel for the purpose of their redemption. During this time, the focus of our Lord will be entirely on Israel. Although this will be an incredibly horrific time in the history of the world, it is part of the plan of God to finally open the eyes and hearts of His people Israel.
They will know that Yeshua was and is their Messiah. They will know that they missed the time of their visitation.
Shalom b’Yeshua
MARANATHA!