Questioning Paul
Chapter 1
Part 4
Yahowsha’s presentation is especially germane considering Paul’s claim to have been authorized by Yahowsha’ to assault and annul the Towrah. So to determine whether or not such a mandate was possible, let’s examine Yahowsha’s statements regarding the enduring authority of the Towrah during His Sermon on the Mount.
The human manifestation of God is translated from Hebrew to Greek and then to English saying:
"You should not think or assume (me nomizomai – you not consider, expect, nor suppose at any time even the possibility of the commonly held or popularly established presumption, never accepting the prevailing precept or justification (negative particle, aorist active subjunctive verb)) that (hoti – namely) I actually came (erchomai – I in fact appeared then, now, or in the future (aorist active indicative)) to tear down, invalidate, put an end to, or discard (kataluo – to dissolve, destroy, disunite, subvert, overthrow, abrogate, weaken, dismantle, or abolish, releasing or dismissing any of the implications, force, influence, or validity of) the Torah (ton nomon – that which has been assigned to nourish and provide an inheritance) or the Prophets (e tous prophetes – those who are inspired to speak and write based upon divine inspiration, making God’s thoughts and plans known even before they happen).
I actually came not (ouk erchomai) to create a division, to dismiss, to invalidate, or to discard (kataluo – to tear down, to dissolve, to destroy, to disunite, to subvert, to overthrow, to abrogate, to weaken, to dismantle, or to abolish, dismissing any implication or its influence), but instead (alla – to the contrary, emphatically contrasting that to the certainty), to completely fulfill (pleroo – to proclaim and complete, conveying the true meaning and thinking, to liberally supply, carrying out, accomplishing, and rendering it totally and perfectly). (5:17)
Because (gar – for this reason then so that you understand) in deed and in truth (amen – truly and reliably), I say to you (lego sy), until (hoes – up to the point that) with absolute certainty (an) the heaven and the earth (o ouranos e ge – the universe and the surface of the planet) cease to exist (parerchomai – pass away, disappearing), not ever under any circumstance shall (ou me – there is no way whatsoever, not even so much as a possibility that) one aspect of the smallest letter (eis iota – shall a single Yowd, the first letter in Yahowah’s name and the smallest character in the Hebrew alphabet) nor (e) a single stroke of the pen (mia keraia – one of the smallest line distinguishing any aspect of any Hebrew letter) cease to be relevant (parerchomai – be averted or neglected, have any chance of being ignored or disregarded, being passed over or omitted, perishing) from (apo – being disassociated, separated, or severed from) the Towrah (tou nomou – that which has been assigned to nourish and provide an inheritance) until with absolute certainty (hoes an) everything (pas – every last aspect, all and the totality of it) might take place (ginomai – happens and occurs, becoming a reality). (5:18)
Therefore (oun – indeed and as a result), whoever may at any time (hos ean – if at any moment anyone introduces a contingency or condition whereby individuals) dismiss or attempt to do away with (luo – may seek to toss aside, invalidate, or abolish, tearing away or asunder) one of the (mian ton) smallest and least important of these (houtos ton elachistos) prescriptions and instructions which are enjoined (entole – rules, regulations, and authorized directions, precepts, and teachings), and (kai) he may instruct or indoctrinate (didasko – he might teach, delivering moralizing discourses while conceiving and instilling doctrine, expounding or explaining so as to enjoin) people (anthropos – humanity or mankind) in this manner (houto – thusly and likewise), he will actually be provided the name and will be judicially and legally summoned as (kaleo – he will be referred to and called by the proper name, literally and passively summoned, called to task and designated), Little and Lowly (elachistos – Paulos in Latin, meaning: small and inadequate, insignificant and insufficient, irrelevant and unimportant, immaterial and inconsequential (Paulos, the Latin name Sha’uwl adopted as his own means "elachistos – little and lowly)) by the kingdom of heaven (en te basileia ton ouranos – by, within, among, and with regard to the reign and royal authority of the heavens).
And then (de – but by contrast), whosoever (hos an) might act upon it (poieomai – may engage through it, making the most of it, attempting to carry out its assigned tasks (aorist active subjunctive)), and (kai) teach it (didasko – try to provide and share its instructions, expounding upon it), this (houtos – these things) will properly be referred to and named (kaleo – it will be judiciously and appropriately called and designated) great and important (megas – astonishingly valuable, splendid and sensible, albeit surprisingly uncommon) among those who reign within the heavens (en te basileia ton ouranos – by and with regard to the kingdom and royal authority of the heavens)." (Mattanyah / Yahowah’s Gift / Matthew 5:19)
That was as unequivocal as it was opposed to Christian traditions Paulos contrived. To discount or discard any aspect of the Torah, an individual such as Paulos has to contradict Yahowsha’. And it is irrational for anyone to claim to have been granted authorization to speak on behalf of an individual when their message is contradictory.
If Yahowsha’ told the truth, the notion of a "New Testament" is torn asunder because His original testimony is still in vogue. And based upon this statement, Paul’s letters which seek to invalidate the Towrah must be discarded.
But if Yahowsha’ cannot be trusted, then nor can Paul, because he would be speaking on behalf of a liar. In fact, if Yahowsha’ cannot be trusted, then the whole "New Testament" has to be rejected, because it claims to chronicle Yahowsha’s words and deeds.
Neither option is acceptable if you are a Christian. With regard to the religion’s veracity, it actually does not matter if this statement from Yahowsha’s most famous and well-attended public pronouncement is valid or invalid, properly recorded or misrepresented. If His uncompromising declaration before the largest audience He would ever address, a speech chronicled by His most literate Disciple, isn’t reliably conveyed, then nothing the Greek manuscripts claim to document can be considered credible. And if Yahowsha’s words were accurately translated into Greek and then responsibly retained, then there is no possibility whatsoever that the Christian religion is reliable, because it is in complete and irreconcilable conflict with the letters which comprise the words of the Towrah.
As a Christian, you cannot discount this statement without discounting Yahowsha’s testimony. And the moment that is done, everything crumbles. But on the other hand, to believe Him, you have to reject Christianity.
Equally telling, especially since the Prophets were included, the majority of Yahowah’s prophecies, including His return and His ultimate renewal and restoration of the Covenant with Yisra’el and Yahuwdah, have not yet happened, and the heavens and earth remain. Therefore, the Torah still stands. Now that’s something for Christians to think about, especially considering the subject and speaker. Therefore, as a Christian reading this, since you are no longer ignorant of this proclamation, your only options are to reject Christianity or be irrational. And what do you suppose the merits might be of believing in something which is irrational?
Since we are now undeniably aware of Yahowsha’s assessment of those who attempt to dismiss and discard any portion of the Torah, and that He referred to such attempts as "Paulos," how can we consider Paulos’s attempt to demean and devalue the Towrah favorably? In this light, how is it that he convinced the world that God had authorized him to do precisely what Yahowsha’s just testified should not, and could not, be done? Said another way, is there any chance whatsoever that God inspired, even condoned and endorsed, the writings of a man who invalidated His Torah in view of this statement by Yahowsha’? Do Christians honestly believe that Paul can contradict God and still be trusted?
I realize that we have just begun our investigation, and that apart from the four derogatory statements we have thus far considered, where Paul referred to the Towrah as a curse, something abhorrent, repugnant, and malicious, and where he claimed that absolutely no one could be saved by the Towrah, I have not yet validated the assertion that Paul claimed to have destroyed and discarded the Towrah after dissolving and dismantling it. So while we will cover all of this in great detail, suffice it to say for now...
"Having come to realize without investigation or evidence that by no means whatsoever is made righteous or vindicated, man out of acting upon the Towrah if not by faith in Iesou Christou, and we to Christon Iesoun, ourselves, believed in order for us to be acquitted out of faith in Christou, and not out of acting upon the Towrah, because out of works of the Towrah not any flesh will be acquitted, vindicated, nor be made righteous." (2:16)
"Because if that which I have actually torn down, dissolved, and dismantled, invalidated, abolished, negated, abrogated, discarded, and completely destroyed, this on the other hand I restore or reconstruct, strengthening and promoting this edifice, I myself, bring into existence, and recommend transgression and disobedience. (2:18) I then, because of the Towrah, actually died and was separated in order that to God I might currently live. In Christo I have actually been crucified together with." (2:19)
"O ignorant and irrational, foolish and senseless, unintelligent and unreasonable, Galatians. To whom you bewitched, deceived, and slandered? (3:1) This alone I want to learn from you: out of accomplishments of the Towrah the spirit you received or alternatively out of hearing of belief? (3:2) In this way, you are ignorant and irrational, lacking in knowledge and unable to think logically. Having begun with spirit, now in flesh you are completing? (3:3) So much and so long these things you suffered, you were affected and you were vexed and annoyed without reason or result, even chaotically without a plan. If indeed also thoughtlessly and for nothing without cause, reason, or result. (3:4) The one, therefore then, supplying you the spirit and causing to function and operating powers in you out of acting upon and engaging in the tasks delineated in the Torah or out of hearing faith?" (3:5)
"Indeed, consequently, the Torah accordingly is against and contrary to the promise of the god. Not may it be (It might be, although I don’t want it to be). For if, per chance, had been given the Torah the power and ability, the capacity and resources, to impart life, certainly in the Torah would be the righteous and vindicated. (3:21) To the contrary, emphatically and certainly, written scripture imposed restrictions, completely shutting the door on heaven, imprisoning everything under error and evil in order that the promise out of the faith of Iesou Christou might be given to believers. (3:22) But before the to come of the faith, under the control of the Towrah, we were actually being held in custody as prisoners, restricted and trapped like fish in a net, to the bringing about of faith was revealed. (3:23) As a result, the Towrah has come to exist as our disciplinarian, a pedagogue which instructs in a particularly pedantic and dogmatic manner using strict, old-fashioned methods with an overbearing demeanor by smiting and stinging those it enslaves, extending until Christon in order that by means of the faith, or a belief system, we might, at some point in time, while doing nothing ourselves, be justified, with the possibility of someday being vindicated as a result of being influenced. (3:24) But now having come the faith-based system of belief, no longer do we exist under an old fashioned and strict disciplinarian whose methods are antiquated and overbearing, even harsh. (3:25)
This is a literal translation, word for word as the text of Galatians actually reads in Greek, something that will be conclusively demonstrated in due time. So it sounds course and disjointed because it is poorly written. But if you look beyond the sorry prose for a moment and consider the content, there is no mistaking the fact that Paul is claiming that he has invalidated and destroyed the Towrah because he views God’s testimony as inept, incompetent, and ineffective, even old fashioned, mean spirited, and enslaving. He is also claiming to have replaced the arcane and impotent Towrah with "the faith of Iesou Christou," which is now wholly suspect due to the testimony of said individual.
Indirectly incriminating Sha’uwl, a man who not only dismissed the Towrah, but who also claimed to be a Rabbi and Pharisee, in addition to being a religious expert, scholar, and writer, please consider what Yahowsha’ said next: "For indeed (gar – because then), I say to you all (lego umin – I actually affirm and personally explain to you all (present active indicative)), that unless conditionally (hoti ean – because if) your (umon) righteousness, integrity, and standing in the relationship (dikaiosyne – acceptability of your thinking and state of approval, upright nature accuracy of your understanding) is abundantly superior to and immanently more appropriate than (perisseuo polys – could be considered vastly more abounding and greatly in excess of) the religious teachers, experts, scribes, and scholars (ton Grammateus – government officials, politicians, public servants, reporters, writers, clerks, lawyers, and judges), and Pharisees (Pharisaios – members of a fundamentalist political and religious party comprised of hypocritical Jews who coveted authority, were overtly religious, set rules which others had to abide by, established religious rituals and traditions, and interpreted Scripture to their liking), you will absolutely never move into nor experience (ou me eiserchomai eis – there is no chance whatsoever that at any time you might ever do something which may cause you to enter into (aorist active subjunctive)) the realm of the heavens (ten basileia ton ouranos – the sovereignty of the kingdom of the abode of God)." (Mattanyah / Yah’s Gift / Matthew 5:20)
Since we are still in the infancy of our study, it is still a bit presumptuous to conclude that Paul’s overall intent was to foreclose the Torah in order to promote his new faith. And yet the translations of the Galatians passages we considered suggest that Christian theologians are justified in their interpretation of Paul’s message when they cite this letter as evidence that he believed that the Torah was an outdated and restrictive burden which had to be replaced with a much simpler and accommodating approach. But why is it that not one Christian scholar has the character, courage, or intellectual integrity to say that Paul’s position, if Christians have interpreted it correctly, is diametrically opposed to Yahowsha’s testimony on life and the Towrah, as well as in direct conflict with God’s Word?
Speaking to those who are willing to invest the time required to actually know Yahowah, to those who actively seek to learn the truth, to those willing to engage in the process which leads to admission into God’s home, Yahowsha’ provided a set of instructions which completely undermines the ignorance of blind faith...
"You should ask (aiteo – at the present time it is desirable for everyone act on their own initiative to earnestly request information, knowledge, and answers (present active imperative second person plural)) and (kai – as a logical connective conjunction relates the flow of thought from one thing to another while expressing the logical relationship between them) it will be given (didomi – in the future this will reliably produce the desired result (future passive indicative third person)) to you (umin – two or more of you or you all).
You should seek (zeteo – at the present time it is desirable for everyone act on their own initiative to attempt to find information, searching for knowledge and answers (present active imperative second person plural)) and (kai – expressing the logical relationship) you will actually receive the discovery (heuriskomai – you will receive an education, you will be the beneficiary of finding reliable learning, facilitated and aided in the process attaining the information (future passive indicative third person)).
You should knock (krouo – at the present time it is desirable for everyone act on their own initiative to physically demonstrate and announce their presence at the door desiring acceptance and admittance (present active imperative second person plural)) and (kai – expressing a logical relationship) it will be opened (anoigo – entry into the midst will be provided (future passive indicative third person)) to you (umin). (7:7)
For then (gar – because and for this reason) universally the one asking (pas o aiteo – without exception, the individual actively engaging is transformed and (present active participle nominative)) receives (lambano – he is selected and is grasped by the hand (present active indicative)), (kai) the one seeking (zeteo – earnestly trying to obtain information though personal interaction so as to learn (present active participle nominative)) actually finds (heuriskomai – genuinely participates in the discovery and receives an education from the information (present active indicative)), and (kai) the one knocking (krouo – the one demonstrating and announcing his presence at the door desiring acceptance will be given and granted what he seeks so (present active participle dative)) it will be opened (anoigo – access to understanding and entry into the midst will be provided (future passive indicative third person)). (7:8)
This is wholly consistent with Yahowah’s Towrah guidance where God constantly encourages us to observe, which is to closely examine and carefully consider, His instructions, especially the provisions associated with the Covenant, and to listen to His prescriptions for living, so that we can act upon what we discover and thereby come to be invited into His Home. This, however, is the antithesis of Paul’s proposition which is salvation through faith. God’s method requires us to learn and then engage. But with faith, both the process and response would be unnecessary, even counterproductive.
God’s next statement is also hostile to Christianity, because Yahowsha’ is directing our attention not to Himself, but instead to Yahowah, to our Heavenly Father, and to the Father’s gift, which is found in the Towrah. But beyond this, by juxtaposing these thoughts, Yahowsha’ is also revealing where we should look to find the door to seek acceptance. He is even contrasting the merits of Yahowah’s testimony, His offer and promises, and the statements and promises of a man. He is saying this in hopes that we will accept Yahowah’s salvation promises instead of promises promoted by a man, and that man almost certainly being Paul.
Should you be considering an alternative (e – by comparison (scribed as a logical disjunctive, a conjunction which provides a logical contrast between opposites)), what (tis) man (anthropos) currently exists (estin – is now actively becoming (present tense nominative singular masculine)) from out of you (ek umon) whom (hos) his son (o huios autos) will ask for (aiteo – will request sometime in the future (future active indicative)) a loaf of bread (artos – aerated and thus yeasted bread), not (me) a stone (lithos – a rock used for sealing graves or making millstones) will he give him (epididomi autos – will he hand to him). (7:9)
Or should you be considering an alternative (kai e – by comparison (scribed as a logical disjunctive, a conjunction which provides a logical contrast between opposites)), he will ask for (aiteo – he actually will request (future active indicative)) a fish (ichthys), not (me) a snake (ophis – a serpent which is symbolic of Satan) will he hand him (epididomi autos – will he give to him). (7:10)
If (ei – introducing a condition which must occur or be met before the resulting event can be manifest), therefore (oun), you all (umeis) presently and actively being (ontes – currently existing and in the process of being (present active participle)) troublesome and morally corrupt (poneros – seriously flawed, evil and annoying, blind and diseased) have in the past been familiar with and have actually known how (oida – have perceived and have shown that you are genuinely aware of, having recognized how (perfect (a completed action in the past) active indicative)) to give (didomi – to provide) good and beneficial (agathos – moral, generous, and useful) gifts (doma – presents) to your children (tois umon teknon – to your descendants and offspring), how much more by contrast will (posos mallon) your Father (o umon pater), the One in the Heavens (o en tois ouranos), actually give (didomi – personally respond to reliably produce, grant, and bestow (future active indicative)) something good, moral, generous, and beneficial (agathos – that which is upright and worthy, capable and substantial, valuable and kind) to those asking Him (tois aiteo auton – actively responding to Him making a request of Him (present active participle))?" (Mattanyah / Yah’s Gift / Matthew 7:11)
So if Paulos is offering the gift of faith, and Yahowah is offering the gift of the Covenant, which offer do you suppose might be more beneficial and capable, more generous and substantial? And since this follows a presentation on asking and seeking, do you suspect that Yahowsha’ is indicating where we ought to look to find something which is reliably good, valuable, and kind? And since the answers to these questions are obvious, why do Christians, who claim that their religion is based upon Yahowsha’, ignore this and turn to Paul instead? In light of this, how did Sha’uwl manage to convince them that the Towrah was anything but good, generous, capable, or beneficial?
"Anything (pas – everything), therefore (oun – then), whatever to the degree or extent (ean hosos – whenever and as far as) you might want or may enjoy (thelo – you might decide or presently desire, you may propose or be of the opinion or currently think something might be so, perhaps personally being fond of or taking pleasure in your will, your intent and your purpose (present active subjunctive)) as a result of (hina – that) men being human (oi anthropos – individuals representing mankind and humankind (nominative plural)) doing to you (poieo umin – actively attempting to perpetrate this against you, fashioning and assigning these things with regard to you, trying to make you do them (present active subjunctive dative)), also (kai) in this way (houto – likewise in this manner, thusly) you (umeis) should choose to actively do to them (poieomai autois – you may elect to perform and behave unto them (present active imperative)).
This (houtos) then (gar – for this reason) actually and presently is (estin – exists as) the Torah (o nomos – becomes the means to being nourished by that which is bestowed to become heirs, existing as the precepts which were apportioned, established, and received as a means to prosper and to be approved, and prescriptions for an inheritance; from nemo – that which is provided, assigned, and distributed to heirs to nourish them (nominative)) and the Prophets (kai oi prophetes)." (Mattanyah / Yah’s Gift / Matthew 7:12)
The moral here is that since we don’t want a millstone, a premature burial, a poisonous snake, or a serpent representing Satan given to us by men or by their institutions, and would be vastly better served with Yahowah’s good, generous, and beneficial gift, we ought to offer our fellow man access to God’s gift – providing them with the valuable and kind offer found in our Heavenly Father’s Towrah and Prophets.
Since context is the mother’s milk of understanding, remember that Yahowsha’ has been encouraging us to knock at a certain door, seeking admission, and He has spoken of our Heavenly Father’s gift being especially valuable. He has deliberately and decisively associated this especially good and generous gift with Yahowah’s Towrah and Prophets.
Cognizant of this context, and especially noting the realization that the last statement is as appropriate used as a conclusion to the discussion regarding the relative value of man’s offers compared to God’s, as it is in introducing the narrow doorway which leads to life, and therefore speaking of Passover, let’s repeat that conclusion now as an introduction...
"This (houtos) then (gar – for this reason) actually and presently is (estin – exists as) the Torah (o nomos – becomes the means to being nourished by that which is bestowed to become heirs, existing as the precepts which were apportioned, established, and received as a means to prosper and to be approved, and prescriptions for an inheritance; from nemo – that which is provided, assigned, and distributed to heirs to nourish them (nominative)) and the Prophets (kai oi prophetes):
Under the auspices of freewill, you all should choose at some point in time to enter, personally engaging by moving (eiserchomai – at a moment in time you ought to want to personally act by electing to go in, beginning the journey by choosing to experience (aorist active imperative)) through (dia – by way of and on account of) the narrow, specific, seldom-tread, and exacting door (tes stenos pule – the doorway with strict requirements which is highly restrictive, the passageway which is unpopular and seldom walked, an infrequently-trodden gateway whereby a stand will be taken to enable others to stand, to be firmly established, and to be upheld (note: stenos is based upon histemi which provides the concluding insights)) because (hoti – for the reason that namely) broad, man-made, and crafted to be wide open (platys – molded, malleable, plastic, and easily crafted and plied, a wide and artificial thoroughfare; from plasso – formed and molded by man, serving as the basis of plastic) is the door (pule – is the gate) and spacious (eurychoros – as encompassing as nations, widely regional, and broadly societal; sharing a base with eusebeia – especially religious, speaking of belief systems and their devout and pious practices) is the way (e hodos – is the path and journey, the popular way through life, the well traveled road and route, the common course of conduct) which misleads and separates (e apago – that takes away, leading through deception; from ago – directs, leads, and guides to apo – separation) into (eis) utter destruction (apoleia – needlessly squandering and ruining the valuable resource of one’s existence, causing it to perish; from apollumi – to be put entirely out of the way, to be rendered useless and to be abolished, coming to an end and ceasing to exist), and a great many (kai polys – the vast preponderance, an enormous number, and to a very great degree, serving as a superlative of great, many, much, and a large number) are those (eisin – are actually the ones (present active indicative)) who are influenced into moving while suffering the consequences of entering (oi eiserchomai – who as a result of being acted upon are affected by taking the first step toward and then going in, manipulated in the process of beginning a journey while experiencing the effect of going out (present middle passive participle nominative)) through it (dia autos – by way of it). (7:13)
Certainly (tis – it is certain that), the specific doorway has strict requirements, it is narrow, seldom-tread, and it is an exacting passageway (e stenos pule – the doorway is highly restrictive, the passageway is unpopular and infrequently walked whereby a stand is taken to enable others to stand, to be firmly established, and to be upheld), and it completely goes against the crowd to the point of persecution (kai thlibomai – it is so totally unpopular the past act influences the future to the point of hardship and harassment, even to oppression and affliction (perfect passive participle nominative)), the one way (e e hodos – the specific journey through life, the singular route and the path) which leads, separating those guided (apago) unto (eis) life (zoe – vigorous and flourishing living, the fullness of a restored and active existence), but (kai) very few (oligos – an extremely small quantity over a very short time) are those (eisin o – exist the ones) finding it (heuriskomai autos – presently learning and actively discovering the location of it, themselves experiencing it)." (Mattanyah / Yah’s Gift / Matthew 7:14)
This may be the single most devastating declaration ever made against religion. The one thing religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Socialist Secular Humanism have in common is that they are very popular. A great many people have placed their faith in them, ranging from tens of millions to many billions. But Yahowsha’, the diminished manifestation of God, just said that the popular ways are not only artificial and manmade, they lead to destruction, needlessly squandering countless souls. And while this statement is only catastrophic to Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Socialist Secular Humanism when Yahowsha’s divine credentials are established, there is no out for Christianity. Based upon this declaration alone in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount, the moment Constantine made the Christian religion the official faith of the Roman Empire, there was no longer any hope that it could be the path to life. It must, therefore, be one of the many ways which lead to destruction.
Now, don’t misunderstand. Yahowsha’ did not say that Christianity was destructive because it’s popular, but only that the path to life is unpopular. Christianity is deadly because it is based upon Sha’uwl’s man-made and artificial path.
I am not trying to rub salt into an open wound if you are still a Christian, but I would be remiss if I didn’t remind you that Yahowah specifically revealed that there would be a "broad path," a duplicitous and improper way, associated with Sha’uwl. As a result, Christianity is "the plague of death" being predicted in these words...
Pay attention, he will be puffed up with false pride. His soul, it is not right nor straightforward in him. So, through trust and reliance, by being firmly established and upheld by that which is dependable and truthful, those who are upright and vindicated live.
Moreover, because the intoxicating wine and inebriating spirit of the man of deceptive infidelity and treacherous betrayal is a high-minded moral failure, and his is arrogant and meritless presumption, he will not rest, find peace, nor live, whoever is open to the broad path, the duplicitous and improper way, associated with Sha’uwl.
He and his soul are like the plague of death. And so those who are brought together by him, receiving him, will never be satisfied. All of the Gentiles will gather together unto him, all of the people from different races and nations in different places.
But they do not ask questions, any of them, about him. Terse references to the word they lift up as taunts to ridicule, with implied associations that mock, controlling through comparison and counterfeit, along with allusive sayings with derisive words arrogantly conveyed.
There are hard and perplexing questions which need to be asked of him, and double dealings to be known regarding him. So they should say, ‘Woe to the one who claims to be great so as to increase his offspring, acting like a rabbi, when neither apply to him. For how long will they make pledges based upon his significance, becoming burdened by his testimony?’" (Chabaquwq / Embrace This / Habakkuk 2:4-6)
In context, Yahowsha’ has identified the Torah as God’s gift and as the lone path to life. He said that all other paths lead to destruction, "needlessly squandering a person’s existence." So there is no getting around the fact that this means that popular paths—and there are none more popular than Christianity—lead to the death and destruction of those who follow their edicts. This is a profoundly important truth few Christians consider. And yet it is the reason, the only reason, we are examining Paul and his letter to the Galatians.
As an interesting aside, Yahowsha’s instructions regarding eternal life tell us to "begin by entering through a specific doorway." And that is because the first of seven steps to our salvation begins by answering Yahowah’s invitation to walk through the doorway labeled "Passover." This doorway, featuring the blood of the Passover Lamb, initiated the exodus from the crucible of Egypt, and the liberation of God’s Chosen People from their enslavement in oppressive human political and religious schemes. It represents the doorway to God’s home. And Yahowsha’, as the Passover Lamb, is the living embodiment of this doorway, representing the first of seven steps to the final result, which is living with God in His home.
Also relevant, the reason that there are strict requirements associated with this specific doorway is because it is only available to the Children of the Covenant. And to participate in this family relationship with our Heavenly Father, we engage by accepting five very specific conditions.
Yahowsha’ was not yet finished warning Christians about the consequence of disregarding the Torah. With these words, He would tell everyone willing to listen to Him not to trust Paul:
"At the present time you all should be especially alert, being on guard by closely examining and carefully considering, thereby turning away from (prosechete apo – you all should choose to beware, presently paying especially close attention, actively and attentively watching out for and guarding yourself against so as to separate yourself from (present active imperative)) the false prophets (ton pseudoprophetes – those pretending to be divinely inspired spokesmen, from pseudo – deliberately false, lying, deceitful, and deceptive and prophetes – one who speaks of hidden things, declaring what he claims to have received from God) who (hostis) come to you, currently appearing before you (erchomai pros umas – who approach you, moving toward or up to you, making public appearances or statements against you (the present tense reveals that the false prophet is currently in their midst, the middle voice indicates that he is self-motivated, that his statements are affecting him, and that the more assertive he becomes the more he is influenced by his aggressiveness and claims (i.e., one lie leads to another), while the indicative mood affirms that this is actually occurring)) from within (esothen – as an insider and thus from the same race, place, or group) by (en) dressing up in sheep’s clothing (endyma probaton – cloaked in the outer garments of sheep (note: the root of probaton is probaino – to go beyond, to go farther and forward, to go on and on, overstepping one’s bound
s)), yet (de – but) they actually are (eisin – they correspond to, represent, are similar to, and exist without contingency as (present active indicative)) exceptionally self-promoting, self-serving, and swindling (harpax – vicious, carnivorous, and thieving, robbing, extorting, and destructive, ferocious, rapacious, and snatching; extracting and compelling under duress; from harpazo: to violently, forcibly, and eagerly claim and then seize for oneself so as to pluck and carry away; itself a derivative of haireomai – to take for oneself, choosing to be)) wolves (lykos – fierce individuals under dangerous pretenses who are vicious, cruel, greedy, destructive, overreaching, voracious, avaricious, acquisitive, and insatiable men impersonating beasts of prey)." (Mattanyah / Yah’s Gift / Matthew 7:15)
The first word in this statement, prosechete, is a compound of "pros – to one’s advantage with respect to or towards someone or something" and "echo – that which is accepted, grasped unto, held, possessed, considered, or regarded, often addressing groups, organizations, or institutions a person might join, attend, participate in, or congregate amongst." Therefore, by juxtaposing "prosechete – a cautionary and guarded examination and consideration" of "pseudoprophetes – false prophets" and the "prosechete – institutions they would have you embrace and join," with "apo – disassociation and separation," Yahowsha’ told us to walk away from religious organizations like churches.