Torah 101 - Will teach you the fundamentals of applying
Torah teachings to your life
People often ask us what they should do in order to understand and follow the teachings in the Torah. What are the first steps?
The most important step is to begin your walk with is: recognize what you have already been doing to follow Torah in your life. Yes, believe it or not, if you have been a Bible-believing person up until this point, you have already been following the Torah.
How is that possible, you ask? Have you understood and followed the teachings of Yeshua since accepting him as your Savior? Do you recognize and understand the Ten Commandments and follow them in your life? Teach them to your family as well? The messages Yeshua taught throughout his ministry come from the teachings in the Torah, and the Ten Commandments are recorded in the Torah. So, you have already been "following the Torah" for some time now.
What, then, is different in this new journey from what you were doing before? Your first change was in seeing a new attraction to the Biblical Feast Days or the Saturday Sabbath. You noticed you wanted to celebrate those blessed times, as well as discover Rosh Chodesh, also known as the New Moon or the first day of the Biblical month. When a person or family decides to be "Torah Observant" these new celebrations are what they typically mean.
What to do next is where the big discussion begins. Do you need to go out and buy all sorts of new clothing, prayer shawls, or Sabbath accouterments? No.
What we always counsel for those that are newly discovering the foundations of their faith is to read the guidelines in Acts 15.
"Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:19-21
The new converts of the early church were instructed to begin with this starting point and to continue learning Torah and adding upon the Biblical principles learned from bible study. To summarize Acts 15:
1. Abstain from the pollution of idols - False teachings, false celebrations, false worship, and idolatry.
2. Abstain from sexual immorality - End immoral lifestyles and sexual sins. Pursue holiness based on God's definition of holiness.
3. Follow dietary rules - Follow God's biblical diet of clean meats, purging your lives of all unclean meats.
4. Learn and grow into the teachings of Moses (aka; The Torah - the first five books of the bible) while honoring the Sabbath/ Shabbat every week and celebrating the feast days.
There you have it - four simple instructions which we can now lead you through. We plan to provide you with guidance and resources to help you begin this amazing journey into the teachings of the Torah and the pursuit of right living.
The most important step is to begin your walk with is: recognize what you have already been doing to follow Torah in your life. Yes, believe it or not, if you have been a Bible-believing person up until this point, you have already been following the Torah.
How is that possible, you ask? Have you understood and followed the teachings of Yeshua since accepting him as your Savior? Do you recognize and understand the Ten Commandments and follow them in your life? Teach them to your family as well? The messages Yeshua taught throughout his ministry come from the teachings in the Torah, and the Ten Commandments are recorded in the Torah. So, you have already been "following the Torah" for some time now.
What, then, is different in this new journey from what you were doing before? Your first change was in seeing a new attraction to the Biblical Feast Days or the Saturday Sabbath. You noticed you wanted to celebrate those blessed times, as well as discover Rosh Chodesh, also known as the New Moon or the first day of the Biblical month. When a person or family decides to be "Torah Observant" these new celebrations are what they typically mean.
What to do next is where the big discussion begins. Do you need to go out and buy all sorts of new clothing, prayer shawls, or Sabbath accouterments? No.
What we always counsel for those that are newly discovering the foundations of their faith is to read the guidelines in Acts 15.
"Therefore my judgment is that we don’t trouble those from among the Gentiles who turn to God, but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:19-21
The new converts of the early church were instructed to begin with this starting point and to continue learning Torah and adding upon the Biblical principles learned from bible study. To summarize Acts 15:
1. Abstain from the pollution of idols - False teachings, false celebrations, false worship, and idolatry.
2. Abstain from sexual immorality - End immoral lifestyles and sexual sins. Pursue holiness based on God's definition of holiness.
3. Follow dietary rules - Follow God's biblical diet of clean meats, purging your lives of all unclean meats.
4. Learn and grow into the teachings of Moses (aka; The Torah - the first five books of the bible) while honoring the Sabbath/ Shabbat every week and celebrating the feast days.
There you have it - four simple instructions which we can now lead you through. We plan to provide you with guidance and resources to help you begin this amazing journey into the teachings of the Torah and the pursuit of right living.
Abstain from the pollution of idols
False teachers and their teachings can lead to idolatry
Idolatry can mean innocently following pagan practices or devotion to teachings that go counter to the teachings of the scripture that will lead you away from God. We must flee from these false teachings so they don’t lead us into idolatry. Never elevate a teaching or pagan practice that God despises above His words.
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. If anyone comes to you, and doesn't bring this teaching, don't receive him into your house, and don't welcome him”
2 John 1:7 & 10
Those who teach false doctrines are acting as an Antichrist. “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:18
This Antichrist spirit is on earth today, turning people away from God with false doctrines. Eventually, the true Antichrist will arise and deceive many to the point they will worship his image (an idol).
“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Revelations 16:2
We must also do away with pagan or occult practices that have crept into the church, families, and homes of believers. These include ceasing the practices of Yoga, Kaballah, witchcraft, New Age, tarot cards, and any other habits or beliefs which are not of Yahweh. We counsel new followers of Torah principles to stop celebrating Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and an assortment of holidays that either originated in or include traditions which came from pagan practices.
“Take heed to yourself… that you not inquire after their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise. You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, have they done to their gods…"
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
Therefore, we cannot take pagan practices and make them holy. Yet this is exactly what many have done and continue to do.
Paul warned us that messing around with idols is equal to playing around with demonic forces:
“…Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
The idols are nothing, but participating with these idols is equal to participating with the wicked forces behind them. False teachers can also introduce you to doctrines/teachings of demons. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" 1 Timothy 4:1
Greed is also a form of idolatry:
Colossians 3:5 tells us: “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry”
Here we see that coveting is having such a strong desire for material wealth, people, or things in general that your lust for these things overrides your love for God. Therefore, Paul is saying your greed is classified as idolatry, and once again this means you are yielding to wickedness. Don’t yield to the wickedness and temptations placed before you.
Idolatry can mean innocently following pagan practices or devotion to teachings that go counter to the teachings of the scripture that will lead you away from God. We must flee from these false teachings so they don’t lead us into idolatry. Never elevate a teaching or pagan practice that God despises above His words.
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist. If anyone comes to you, and doesn't bring this teaching, don't receive him into your house, and don't welcome him”
2 John 1:7 & 10
Those who teach false doctrines are acting as an Antichrist. “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:18
This Antichrist spirit is on earth today, turning people away from God with false doctrines. Eventually, the true Antichrist will arise and deceive many to the point they will worship his image (an idol).
“And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Revelations 16:2
We must also do away with pagan or occult practices that have crept into the church, families, and homes of believers. These include ceasing the practices of Yoga, Kaballah, witchcraft, New Age, tarot cards, and any other habits or beliefs which are not of Yahweh. We counsel new followers of Torah principles to stop celebrating Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and an assortment of holidays that either originated in or include traditions which came from pagan practices.
“Take heed to yourself… that you not inquire after their gods, saying, "How do these nations serve their gods? I will do likewise. You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which he hates, have they done to their gods…"
Deuteronomy 12:30-31
Therefore, we cannot take pagan practices and make them holy. Yet this is exactly what many have done and continue to do.
Paul warned us that messing around with idols is equal to playing around with demonic forces:
“…Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” 1 Corinthians 10:18-22
The idols are nothing, but participating with these idols is equal to participating with the wicked forces behind them. False teachers can also introduce you to doctrines/teachings of demons. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" 1 Timothy 4:1
Greed is also a form of idolatry:
Colossians 3:5 tells us: “Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry”
Here we see that coveting is having such a strong desire for material wealth, people, or things in general that your lust for these things overrides your love for God. Therefore, Paul is saying your greed is classified as idolatry, and once again this means you are yielding to wickedness. Don’t yield to the wickedness and temptations placed before you.
Abstain from sexual immorality
The Greek word “porneia” is the root of the English terms "pornography" and "pornographic." This word is multifaceted because it means: to prostitute, to be unfaithful, to be a harlot, fornicate, act immoral, but it also means idolatry. This would encompass all that is sexually immoral. The Bible has many instructions on immorality which we are to avoid and that Yahweh finds abominable. We are to follow this instruction as Yeshua did.
Resources for further study:
- What is meant by sexual immorality? - Read this online article.
- Scripture verses on Sexual Immorality - Online
Resources for further study:
- What is meant by sexual immorality? - Read this online article.
- Scripture verses on Sexual Immorality - Online
Follow dietary rules
In Acts 15, the new converts are told to refrain from eating blood and from eating anything strangled or improperly killed/prepared. Although many will claim that rare meats are acceptable, we do recommend avoiding these as well as meals like blood sausage or blood pudding. However, we need to understand that the people arguing this matter were all Jewish, and so their definition of food would have been biblical foods (clean meats). This would be why they never mentioned what meats to eat or not eat. It would have been silly for the Jerusalem council to make a list of acceptable foods because they would have never considered swine or any other detestable, unclean animal as food. Also, if the apostles would have suggested the new converts are approved to eat unclean foods, then I am sure the Pharisees in the group would have risen in protest.
Keep in mind that even Paul stated food must be “sanctified through the word of God.” 1 Timothy 4:5. Sanctified means the food is set apart from the unclean (common) and made holy by the scriptures. Where in the scriptures does God declare what things are foods? Where did He set apart certain meats from other meats?
In the Torah.
See a list of clean and unclean foods Click Here
Keep in mind that even Paul stated food must be “sanctified through the word of God.” 1 Timothy 4:5. Sanctified means the food is set apart from the unclean (common) and made holy by the scriptures. Where in the scriptures does God declare what things are foods? Where did He set apart certain meats from other meats?
In the Torah.
See a list of clean and unclean foods Click Here
Learn and grown into the teachings of Moses
"For Moses from generations of old has in every city those who preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Acts 15:21.
Therefore, it was expected that the converts would honor the Sabbath/Shabbat, which is from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. This would also include the feast days, since the converts would gather on those days, too. What is the main purpose for these converts to gather with others on the Shabbat? To hear Moses (Torah) which is preached in every city. By hearing Moses preached every Shabbat the new converts would grow in their understanding of Torah.
Therefore, it was expected that the converts would honor the Sabbath/Shabbat, which is from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday. This would also include the feast days, since the converts would gather on those days, too. What is the main purpose for these converts to gather with others on the Shabbat? To hear Moses (Torah) which is preached in every city. By hearing Moses preached every Shabbat the new converts would grow in their understanding of Torah.
Study and Learn the Torah
This can be done individually, together as a family, or with a group each Shabbat.
What exactly is meant by "The Torah?" It is simply what is also known as the Pentateuch, and it includes the first five books of the Bible:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The entire Bible from beginning to end is important in our walk with Yahweh. Each section from the Torah to Revelation is filled with much that we need to learn and understand. Although we are saved through Yeshua and the sacrifice that he made for us, when we commit to living as he lived, we are led to live righteously. Where can we learn to do this? Well, Yeshua said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40) "All the law" to which he refers is found in the first five books when Yahweh instructs His people.
The New Testament has a lot of information and instruction in it which we can follow, but much of what is taught there is also taught in the Torah and throughout the Old Testament. Yeshua taught the Torah principles throughout his ministry. We can learn to love Yahweh with all our heart by learning how He expected us to live as good people, doing good works (Ephesians 2:10) for His kingdom on earth. We can also learn how He expects us to love our neighbours. Those guidelines are throughout the Bible, and studying the Torah will help us discover those expectations to help keep us in right relationship with Yahweh.
For Further information on the Torah, the first link below explains the Hebrew Names of the books in the Torah:
- Names of the First Five Books -
This second link, provides a list of weekly scripture study which you can do. A brief explanation: the date listed on the weekly Torah Portion is the date it is commonly read in synagogue or in assemblies. If you are studying for yourself or with family, you can study it the week before that date, or you can study together on Shabbat. Many enjoy reading it in advance so that they are prepared for discussion at assembly or with others.
- Weekly Torah Portion - (Portions of scriptures read during the week for instruction and reflection)
This can be done individually, together as a family, or with a group each Shabbat.
What exactly is meant by "The Torah?" It is simply what is also known as the Pentateuch, and it includes the first five books of the Bible:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
The entire Bible from beginning to end is important in our walk with Yahweh. Each section from the Torah to Revelation is filled with much that we need to learn and understand. Although we are saved through Yeshua and the sacrifice that he made for us, when we commit to living as he lived, we are led to live righteously. Where can we learn to do this? Well, Yeshua said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40) "All the law" to which he refers is found in the first five books when Yahweh instructs His people.
The New Testament has a lot of information and instruction in it which we can follow, but much of what is taught there is also taught in the Torah and throughout the Old Testament. Yeshua taught the Torah principles throughout his ministry. We can learn to love Yahweh with all our heart by learning how He expected us to live as good people, doing good works (Ephesians 2:10) for His kingdom on earth. We can also learn how He expects us to love our neighbours. Those guidelines are throughout the Bible, and studying the Torah will help us discover those expectations to help keep us in right relationship with Yahweh.
For Further information on the Torah, the first link below explains the Hebrew Names of the books in the Torah:
- Names of the First Five Books -
This second link, provides a list of weekly scripture study which you can do. A brief explanation: the date listed on the weekly Torah Portion is the date it is commonly read in synagogue or in assemblies. If you are studying for yourself or with family, you can study it the week before that date, or you can study together on Shabbat. Many enjoy reading it in advance so that they are prepared for discussion at assembly or with others.
- Weekly Torah Portion - (Portions of scriptures read during the week for instruction and reflection)
Honor the Shabbat & Feast Days
- 64 Biblical Reasons to Keep the 7th Day Biblical Sabbath -
- Shabbat Objections and Answers -
- Overview of the Feast Days -
- Hanukkah -
- What is the correct calendar?
- Support for the correct calendar - Only the current Hebrew calendar is authorized by the last Sanhedrin.
- Shabbat Objections and Answers -
- Overview of the Feast Days -
- Hanukkah -
- What is the correct calendar?
- Support for the correct calendar - Only the current Hebrew calendar is authorized by the last Sanhedrin.
Common Questions and Answers
COMING SOON!!!
The sections below are currently under construction, but stay tuned!
We will announce the release of each new Q&A Section on our Facebook page.
Like and Follow us there! Shalom!
The sections below are currently under construction, but stay tuned!
We will announce the release of each new Q&A Section on our Facebook page.
Like and Follow us there! Shalom!
