Torah on Easter?

Warning: This article is likely to enrage many; however, that is not my intent.

Tim O’Connor – Center for the Preservation of Humanity – 3/31/2024

Torah on Easter?

Christians around the world are celebrating Easter today. Yeshua was not found in the tomb when the stone was rolled away after he was crucified. He wasn’t in the tomb because he was resurrected after gathering souls to take to the Kingdom of G-d. It was the final act of Yeshua on this earth during the time when he walked it – he offered universal salvation to each and every soul on the earth. He showed us that his father, HaShem, has the power to resurrect the dead and that He has the power to resurrect us as well. Jesus taught that to be resurrected we should follow in his footsteps. There is a lot of misunderstanding about what this means; unfortunately. Easter is perhaps the most appropriate time to reconcile Christian belief with Biblical fact.

First of all, notions pertaining to any of us being perfect as Yeshua was as he lived on this earth need to be abolished. In Genesis 4:7 G-d told Cain that there is an evil in men’s hearts – an evil inclination, “If you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door — it wants you, but you can rule over it.” Cain fell to the internal evil coming from his heart. External evil was presented by the serpent in the Garden of Eden which resulted in Adam and Eve, along with all of fleshly humanity, being exiled from the garden in Genesis 3.

When we see Jesus being tempted by Satan in Matthew 4:1-11 two things are revealed. One is that Yeshua is not like us because the evil inclination of our hearts is not present in his. This is an important realization because it necessitates Satan tempting Yeshua in person much as he tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in person. Unlike Adam and Eve; however, Yeshua rejected Satan’s offers of food while he was famished, being saved from falling to his death by angels, and gaining the whole world but losing the love of HaShem. Satan did this because the throne he seeks is the throne at the right hand of HaShem and he did this in person because there is no evil in the heart of Yeshua.

All of us are faced with ruling over the evil inclinations of our hearts. The only surefire method of doing this is to know the know the Word of G-d and to know what sin is so that we may live our lives in avoidance of committing them. Easter should be a time to really reflect on what that means. It should also be a time to understand that Yeshua is not like any of us as he did not have this evil inclination in his heart leading him towards sin.

Secondly, Yeshua perfected the Torah by living his life as we are told to live our life by G-d. G-d teaches all men, through Torah, what He has set down as good and evil. Included in the Torah are several passages about sacrifice. Sacrifice requires that it is something meaningful to the person which is giving it up.

In Leviticus 4:1-5:13 we learn that sins committed by the high priest meant that the Temple could no longer function as the cohen was unclean and would be killed if he approached G-d. More, because of the sins of the cohen, all of the people were declared unclean by G-d as well. The cohen was required to present an unblemished young bull. If the Israeli’s collectively sinned, even unknowingly, the people had to present a young bull to the cohen to offer to HaShem to be absolved of their sin. A leader who sinned was to bring an unblemished male goat as sacrifice. Individuals in the community were to bring a female goat or lamb. Those who could not afford a lamb were to bring two doves or young pigeons. If the sinner seeking atonement could not afford the birds they were to bring two quarts of fine flour.

Livestock in these times was an indicator of wealth. A bull was expensive and important and was needed to help till fields as well as create more livestock. Goats, while less expensive, were no less important to the people of those times. Pigeons and doves were important protein sources in those days. Flour was a staple food even in the times of ancient Israel. All of these, serving as sacrifices, meant that the people really needed to pay attention to not committing sins so that they would not be made to burden themselves with making atonement. But, we are all sinners, and Israeli’s of that time were no exception….

… The Passover lamb served at Seders on Pesach is specified in Exodus 12:5, “Your animal must be without defect, a male in its first year, and you may choose it from either the sheep or the goats.” Lambs were often selected. Exodus 12, outlines some other important facts. The sheep or goats were brought into the homes for several days. At dusk of the day before Pesach the animal was slaughtered, its blood placed on the doorposts of the homes, and the meat roasted and eaten hurriedly. Leftovers were to be burnt up completely. It is a remembrance of G-d leading the Hebrews out of Egypt. Blood on the door frames of the homes of the Hebrews in Egypt meant that G-d spared the firstborn of those households from the judgment HaShem unleashed upon the Pharaoh. Work is only permitted as it relates to preparing meals over the next week following Pesach. During this week no leavening agent is to be found in our homes whether circumcised or not (the Covenant of Avraham). Only those under the Covenant of Avraham; however, are permitted to partake in eating the lamb….

...The night prior to Yeshua’s betrayal by one of his talmidim (apostles) describes a Seder. This means that all of those eating the lamb with Yeshua were circumcised according to the covenant G-d made with Avraham. The Seder itself is recorded in the Torah as HaShem related it to Moshe. The last supper, as it is known in Christian circles, was actually a Seder commanded by G-d through Moshe and relied upon the keeping of the covenant G-d made with Avraham. I’m not writing this to be charged with heresy or being a Judaizer – I am writing this because without the betrayal and this Seder, there would have been no resurrection as the G-d-directed prophets in the Tanack foretold.

It is important to understand what Yeshua did in regards to our salvation. Without these fundamentals, his sacrifice would be in vain. Yeshua was greatly valued by those who followed him as well as those in the community who he performed miracles on. His actions and words were related to many around Israel as well as into the pagan world. His message was the same as the message in the Torah – love G-d by obeying G-d’s teachings and love our neighbors as we love ourselves as G-d also taught. There was no legalism in the teachings of Yeshua and there was no legalism in the teachings of HaShem either.

This becomes overwhelmingly important when we arrive at passages like Colossians 2:22, “Such prohibitions are concerned with things meant to perish by being used [not by being avoided!], and they are based on man-made rules and teachings” and Galatians 3 where every reference is made to the legalistic observance of Torah. Paul, or, more likely, someone writing in the name of Paul (described as a Hebrew of Hebrews by many – Philippians 3:1-6) seems to be suggesting that the Torah itself is a burden and to be forgotten; however, this is not the case. The Torah is not the problem – the beliefs which have cropped up around it were and are the problem.

Yeshua demonstrated this in teachings and actions. In teaching Yeshua stated in Matthew 5:17, ““Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete.”” This means that the Torah – stripped of the legalism which cropped up around it – is still fully in effect. Because this is not the way most of those celebrating Easter believe – if I took the SAT and aced it, does that mean the SAT should no longer be used to gauge other’s probability of future academic success? Hardly. It means that maybe my study habits and dedication to academic excellence should be studied so that those who also seek to ace the SAT are able to do so. Yeshua lived a perfect life upon this earth as measured by the Torah stripped of this legalism Paul and, as we shall see, Yeshua, railed against. When Yeshua calls us to follow him, he is calling us to follow the Torah HaShem revealed to Moshe – not the legalism which men created around around it.

In one of Yeshua’s most famous doings, we find him in the Temple in Jerusalem. Matthew 21:12-13 relates, “12 Yeshua entered the Temple grounds and drove out those who were doing business there, both the merchants and their customers. He upset the desks of the money-changers and knocked over the benches of those who were selling pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It has been written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it into a den of robbers!”” The issue of sacrifice was trivialized into buying a sacrifice so that atonement for sins could be made. Yeshua would have none of it. Sacrifice is only possible when what is given up is meaningful – a few shekels traded for a pigeon which is almost immediately presented as a sin sacrifice is not meaningful – it’s disgraceful.

Both of these instances were causes for those practicing the legalistic interpretation of Torah to become alarmed and resentful of Yeshua. He threatened their way of life as they saw fit to organize it. Externally, Rome and Greece presented grave dangers to the priests of Jerusalem. Internally, the priests themselves were not doing as G-d intended per the Torah. Internally and externally, versions of Torah were being built by men. These versions existed to justify the cultures which prevailed around the Torah as those practicing it used the Torah as the basis for their culture but in reality contorted it to fit their agenda. This type of thing is exactly what Yeshua railed against.

The sacrifice of Yeshua covered the sins of all of humanity and was offered to both the Jew and the pagan alike. He had to be unblemished and he was – there was no defect in him. He had to beloved, meaningful, by those making the offering and he was by those who followed him albeit they were not the ones who arrested him nor demanded his death nor executed him. For these “Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them; they don’t understand what they are doing,”” in Luke 23:34. No more is sin sacrifice needed. Even if there was a temple still standing, no longer are bulls, goats, lambs, pigeons, doves, or flour needed to atone for our sins. Yeshua offers us salvation by following his teachings – the same thing that HaShem taught us in Torah.

Thirdly, Hebrews 8:13 reads, “By using the term, “new,” he has made the first covenant “old”; and something being made old, something in the process of aging, is on its way to vanishing altogether.” This is used as the ultimate condemnation of Judaism by Christians. It is accredited to Paul, not Yeshua. But even what Paul is saying here does not contradict the New Covenant of Yeshua. The old (in Christian vernacular the entire Old Testament, particularly the Torah) is in the process of aging but, as Yeshua stated himself, it will not disappear until all things come to pass which must come to pass (Matthew 5:18).

So this demands a look at the New Covenant. In Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and Luke 22:17-20 the mention of the New Covenant is manifest. The same New Covenant is related in John 13:34-35 in a much more concrete fashion, ““I am giving you a new command: that you keep on loving each other. In the same way that I have loved you, you are also to keep on loving each other. 35 Everyone will know that you are my talmidim by the fact that you have love for each other.”” The accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke fail to define the New Covenant. John fills in the gaps of the other accounts all of which state we are to eat and drink in remembrance of the coming of the enforcement of the New Covenant when Yeshua returns to this world.

We can place ourselves into the New Covenant now – it is available to us because Yeshua ratified it for us. In order to be under the New Covenant we must do as Yeshua instructed us in John 13. Additionally, we must be mindful of Jeremiah 31:30-33:

“30 (31) “Here, the days are coming,” says Adonai, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra’el and with the house of Y’hudah. 31 (32) It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them,” says Adonai. 32 (33) “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days,” says Adonai: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 33 (34) No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, ‘Know Adonai’; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.””

Do all people know Adonai? Do all people have Torah written on their hearts? No. They do not. The blood that Yeshua spilled is a promise that these times are coming; however. Those times are something I, and billions of others, very much look forward to. It is the description of what the comes after Yeshua returns to earth. This is what we are to remember when we eat the bread and drink the wine of Yeshua – the New Covenant is available now but it is also not fully enforced as there are those who debate the existence of Adonai.

Thus, in order to be under the New Covenant now, we must follow the teachings of HaShem (Adonai) in the Torah, love one another (something lacking throughout history but an overwhelming theme within the Torah as well as in the teachings of Yeshua), and be able to test the spirits guiding us. For brevity, we test the spirit according to the Torah – if the spirit is drawing us away from the teachings of G-d then is it the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)?

Fourthly and lastly, I want you to be wary of replacing Adonai with anything or anyone. “I am Adonai, your G-d” occurs dozens of times in the Bible. It doesn’t say Jesus, Yeshua, nor Vishnu, Brahma, Moshe, Mohammad, the Emperor of Japan or China – it says Adonai. Worship Adonai. Who resurrected Yeshua? Adonai your G-d. Who gave us salvation through Yeshua? Adonai, your G-d. Adonai, singular, is G-d for everyone. The deification of anything or anyone other than Adonai is idolatry.

This lesson is also taught in the Torah and Tanack. In Numbers 21 the people of Israel accused G-d of murdering them in the desert and demanded a swift return to Egypt. HaShem sent snakes which killed many of those complaining. In verses 7-9 the people realize their sin, “The people came to Moshe and said, “We sinned by speaking against Adonai and against you. Pray to Adonai that he rid us of these snakes.” Moshe prayed for the people, 8 and Adonai answered Moshe: “Make a poisonous snake and put it on a pole. When anyone who has been bitten sees it, he will live.” 9 Moshe made a bronze snake and put it on the pole; if a snake had bitten someone, then, when he looked toward the bronze snake, he stayed alive.” This was salvation from the punishment through death by snakebite because of the accusations leveled against G-d by the Israelite's in the desert.

Although it brought relief to the Israelite’s in the desert, pardoning their transgressions against G-d, the Israelite’s lost the fact that it was G-d who gave them this symbol as one of salvation offered because of the people’s repentance. They began to worship this bronze snake, as they began to believe it offered salvation – not Adonai. They named it Nehushtan. In 2 Kings 18:4 “[Hizkiyahu the son of Achaz] removed the high places, smashed the standing-stones, cut down the asherah and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moshe had made; because in those days the people of Isra’el were making offerings to it, calling it N’chushtan.*” The snake on a pole was being worshiped as were many other idols.

Now, ask yourselves, how is the deification of the son of Adonai, Yeshua, any different than the bronze snake? Both are given to those repentant of their sins. Both offer salvation from the consequences of sin. But both are used to deny the rightful awe and worship of the issuer of that salvation – Adonai. The bronze snake was given by Adonai to save Israel from sin and became an idol leading people away from G-d’s teachings. The same concept is how some (far, far too many) employ Yeshua’s actions to condemn G-d’s teachings. There is only one G-d, Adonai. Through His son we are offered salvation. Through His spirit we are offered further instruction and insight. Through both we are able to communicate to HaShem and from HaShem.

Those who believe in Yeshua and the resurrection truly are the salt of the earth, “Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!” – John 20:29. Yeshua was absolutely resurrected so that he could go to heaven and build us a place for us in heaven. John 14:2-3 explains, ““Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many places to live. If there weren’t, I would have told you; because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 Since I am going and preparing a place for you, I will return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be also. 4 Furthermore, you know where I’m going; and you know the way there.”” The way there is obedience to G-d’s teachings and the recognition that salvation is secure as long as we look to Yeshua for forgiveness.

Trusting in G-d is the way to rule over the evil inclination in our hearts. Following Yeshua is a sure refutation of the wiles of Satan. Yeshua can only build this for us if we recognize sin, repent of it, and go and sin no more. We are to look to usher in the New Covenant by living our lives as if it is being enforced now. The New Covenant is the Torah – the standards by which we will be measured to be called least or greatest in heaven – and the belief in Yeshua’s offer of salvation. Our reward is a place in heaven with Yeshua.

While people clamor to find Easter eggs today and go to their sing-song services those who are serious need to recognize who Yeshua is, what his sacrifice means, and what we need to be doing here on this earth. We need to be preaching and practicing the Word of G-d. We need to be seeking the forgiveness of our sins through Yeshua’s sacrifice. And we need to be convincing others to do the same.

Is this going to enrage people? Absolutely. If you are enraged, ask yourself why. And, when those reasons wind up being the doctrines of Christianity contrived by men – be angry with them, not me. But, like Yeshua, forgive them quickly and earnestly and return to seeking the face of G-d, HaShem, Adonai… in truth and humbleness, full of hope and awe, for the return of Yeshua (his resurrection made this crystal clear) will occur like a thief in the night. This is what we should remember today.

Bless G-d and G-d bless.