Acceptance of Jesus Christ, or more properly Yeshua ha Messiah as described in the New Testament, is unquestionably based on following the Mosaic code.
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)
YHVH’s adherence to the Mosaic law is the reason the fundamentalist Pharisees could believe that Jesus / Yeshua / YHVH’s Savior was promised Seed of the Woman, AKA the Prophet who Moses said to obey.
“And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Numbers 21:9)
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:14-16)
Jesus spent more time disputing with the rulers of the Jews rather than performing his feel-good miracles. The reason is that this was the biggest part of his ministry – to sift and purify the Levites to make them fit servants in his kingdom.
“I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.
Note! They admit they are not descended from Aaron the Levite, therefore not qualified to be priests under the Mosaic law. However, Jesus skips the tangent and cuts to the chase.
Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham [note how they continue the argument started with John the Baptist]. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham…Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning…
Then took they up stones to cast at him…” (John 8:29-53)
Publicly proving his point.
Don’t miss the defiance and deliberate provocation as Jesus continues facing off against his declared enemy.
Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, [expressly stated to be the nation of Israel] and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen [the rulers of the nation of Israel], and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it…last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance [both ruler- and land owner- ship]…When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them…
as the husbandmen, not the nation of Israel!
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude – the “many” in the nation of Israel, because they took him for a prophet.” (Matthew 21)
In the context of the second parable, the nation of Israel is the vineyard, which is not replaced. Only the husbandmen – the caretakers of Israel. Like “Washington”, the “Kingdom” that is taken away is idiomatic for “the rulers in the government”.
“rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine.“ (I Samuel 15:22-28)
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves…Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matthew 23:14-15, 43)
The kingdom leadership was not taken away from the entire nation of Israel.
It was taken away from the nation / brotherhood of priests who had replaced the legitimate Aaronic heirs a about 150 years before.
The apostles knew exactly what that nation – as in brotherhood – would be. They had anticipated government positions during their entire time with the Jesus because, after all, they had worked hard for his elevation to sit on the throne of David as the Messiah / Christ, the promised son of God / ruler.
“Jesus said unto them [his chosen twelve apostles,] Verily I say unto you,
- That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, [standard practice in any war throwing one’s support behind the leader one has chosen to follow] shall receive an hundredfold [standard reward for risk undertaken], AND shall [of course, in addition to the basic package] inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:28-29)
“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave THEM power…the apostles…These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand…” (Matthew 10:1-18)
Following the trail of events recorded in the book of the Acts of the apostles, we find that for at least the first 20-30 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection the good news of the arrival of the Messiah / Christ and the coming of the kingdom of God was disseminated throughout the world only by preaching from the Jewish Torah and Prophets. Until the apostles wrote their sermons and memoires of Jesus, there was no “John 3:16” or “Romans Road” with which to lead people to salvation. Faith can only be based on the word of God, found at that time only in Old Testament writings.
“Peter…answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel…those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled…For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me…Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after…have likewise foretold of these days.” (Act 3:12-24)
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said…The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, (quoting Isa 9:1-7) for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Act 5:29-32)
“Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men…And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law…Then said the high priest, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren , and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham…[reviews history of Israel through the son of David, Solomon] Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears (quoting Jeremiah 9:26), ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and the murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven…and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God (quoting from Dan 7:12-14). Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him.” (Act 6:9-11)
An eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians…had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet…And Philip ran thither to him…and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (Act 8:27-35)
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture [Isaiah 28:14-18], also quoted by Jesus as documented by Matthew [21:42-45] Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” (I Peter 2:6)
The chronology of events in the book of the Acts of the Apostles and their own writings proves that the Apostles’ initial assignment remained the same throughout their lifetimes – the salvation of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Acts 1: ye disciples shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me
- both in Jerusalem: beginning Acts 1
- and in all Judaea: beginning Acts 5
- and in Samaria with people who have the scriptures but don’t have leadership to follow them fully: beginning Acts 8 with the Samaritans who Jesus himself taught, the Ethiopian eunuch proselyte who traveled a long distance to Jerusalem to worship, and a Roman centurion who had no scripture / law but was a righteous man whose conscience drew him to God.
- and unto the uttermost part of the earth: beginning Acts 10
Acts 2: the day of Pente-cost, fifty days after Passover when YHVH’s Savior had been crucified, the disciples were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven [there to participate in the Jewish feast required of practicing Jews as much as Passover, according to Levitical law.]
the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language, wherein we were born? Jews and proselytes.
Acts 3: Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
Acts 4: And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people [of Israel]…Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed….And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
Acts 5: And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch)…And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women…Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Acts 6: And in those days [before any Gentiles had been converted] when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians [by language and sect of Jews] against the [national] Hebrews…Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
Acts 7: Then said the high priest, Are these things so?…they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven…And said, [quoting Daniel’s prophecy of the destruction of the fourth empire, Rome, with whom the high priest was allied] Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.
Acts 8: And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles…they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them….and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship [despite restrictions on eunuchs entering the temple]. Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet [unquestionably identifying with “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief…he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:” moving on the to promise in the very next section “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear;” and “Neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree. For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name / attribute, success better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name / eternal life, that shall not be cut off.” Remember, in pagan cultures like Egypt and Ethiopia, after death, the only relief of eternal torment of the soul was provided by heirs’ offerings.} Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized / joined into the existing assembly of believers. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God…and he baptized him
As a eunuch joining the assembly of believing Jews this was one small step for Jews, one giant leap for mankind, but it wasn’t a new law. It was based on Isaiah’s ruling.
Acts 10: There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion…A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision…an angel of God coming in to him, and saying…Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God…Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which /because it was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized / included into the body of believers, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Acts 11: And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him.
Acts 12: Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Read Peter’s introduction to the two letters he wrote to new believers with Jesus’ instructions in mind to “go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
I Peter: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered / lost sheep throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia…ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
James likewise addresses his letter to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.”
John confirms that his ministry was to the Jews and also that there was very little association between the Jewish and Gentile followers of the Christ when he reports that “thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest
- to the brethren / Jews,
- and to strangers / non-Jews; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey [the strangers] after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth [in context, as missionaries], taking nothing of the Gentiles [who they are serving].
We therefore [the brethren] ought to receive such [the strangers / non-Jewish missionaries] to the Gentiles, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” (III John 1:1-8)
Kingdom Come 