Jesus, the Torah and Messianic Judaism

One of the issues confronting Messianic Judaism is their relationship to the Torah and to the Rabbinic Customs of the Jews. There are two tensions that confront Jewish Believers in Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says:
“Do not think that I have come to destroy the Torah and the Prophets. I did not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Amen, amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, one yod and one tittle shall not pass away from the Torah until all is fulfilled. So whoever breaks the least of these commandments, and teaches men to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of the Heavens. But whoever does them and teaches he shall be called great in the Kingdom of the Heavens.”

Some Believers read these words to say that since Jesus fulfilled the whole Torah that the Torah is no longer required of the Believers. Others read these same words and believe that the Torah is still required of the Messianic Jews.

In this book I examine every reference to the Torah in the New Testament and explain what is taught from the context of the passage. My goal is to give clear directions to the Jewish Believers as to their relationship to the Torah.

The seven chapters cover the following issues:

Chapter One – The Acts of the Apostles
The New Extends the Old
The Hour of Prayer
Daily in the Temple
Obedient Priests
The First Martyr
Arise, Peter, Kill and Eat!
Envy
How Can a Gentile Be Saved?
Paul and the Nazirite Vow
A Time of Transition
The Early Life of Paul
Ananias the Devout
The Latter Life of Paul

Chapter Two – What do you know about Jesus?
The Name of Jesus
The Babe
Purification
Childhood
Baptism
Ordination
The Hope of Israel
The Light
The Comforter
The Lord’s Prayer
Beatitudes versus Torah
The Heaven, the Earth, the Torah
Jesus’ Stricter Torah
Blood and the Garment
Keeping the Sabbath
Sabbath Days’ Journey
Ascension Sabbath
The Passover Seder
The Sleep of Wine
Chapter Three - Eternal Covenants
The Same, Yesterday, Today and Forever
What is a Covenant/Testament?
Two Types of Covenants
The Primary Covenants
The Requirements of a Primary Covenant
The Covenant with Noah
The Beginning of the New Covenant
The Covenant at Sinai
Conclusions Concerning Primary Covenants
The Secondary Covenants
Abraham and His Descendants
Shewbread
Eternal Priesthood of Phinehas
The Covenant with David
The Renewed Covenant with Israel
The Restoration of the Covenant
The Covenant of Restoration
G-d never Breaks a Covenant

Chapter Four - Perpetual Statutes
The Feast of Passover
The Fast for Atonement
The Feast of Booths
The Feast of Shavuoth
Jesus Celebrates Shavuoth
Aaron’s Family
The Temple
The Covenant with Salt
The Law of Food

Chapter Five - Romans and the Law
I Hope to See You in Passing
Pronouns in the Letter to the Romans
The Jews Were First
What Advantage Does the Jew Have?
Of What Good is Knowledge
He is Not a Jew That is One Outwardly
Outward Piety vs. Real Humility
Is the Law Nullified by Faith
Abraham - The Father of All Who Believe
Torah Brings Grace
What Controls You
The Torah is Holy and Spiritual
Disobedience and Mercy

Chapter Six - Galatians, Who Has Envied You?
Where is Galatia?
The Theology of the Letter to the Galatians
Peter Holds Himself Aloof
Righteousness is Not Through the Torah
Christ Became a Curse for Us
Is the Torah Contrary to the Promise?
The Torah Our Tutor
The Heir; From Slave to Son
The Allegory
The Question of Circumcision

Chapter Seven - Concluding Comments
Purpose
Temple Rules
Jesus the Jew
Covenant Relationship
Sin and Salvation
The Gentile and the Torah