Traditions of the Rabbis

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Man-made traditions are the rules and regulations that change, add to, or subtract from the commandments of Scripture. At the time of Yahshuah, the Nation of Israel [made up mostly of Jewish people], was already straying from the commandments. Since that time, the commandments of Scripture have been heavily modified or replaced with either Rabbinic rules and traditions and / or with pagan mystical forms of worship.

What Are the Traditions of the Rabbis?

The central theme of salvation within Scripture is the acceptance of the Messiah as the Savior of a person's life. Those who accept the Messiah become companions in the book of life. Messianic believers generally try to keep the commandments and laws as part of the covenant relationship. However, Messianic Jewish believers follow the culture and sanctified traditions of the Rabbi's, who are not priests and who rejected Yahshuah as Savior, and the Oral Torah as found in the Talmud, Kabbalah, and the Zohar. Messianic Judaism has many traditions and beliefs that have added to or changed the commandments found in Scripture and therefore distinguish Messianic believers from other believers in the Messiah.

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mark 7:5-9 KJV

In recent centuries, there has been the development of Ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Reformed, and other versions of Judaism who observe the Torah and the Talmud to various extents. There are also Messianic Jewish, Hebrew Roots, and the Two-House Movement who believe in the Messiah, but then interpret His life through Rabbinic traditions from the Talmud in much the same way.

Sadly, Rabbinic traditions were made to deny Yahshuah as having been the Messiah. They completely miss the need for a Savior. Instead, they often focus on Israel being a light to the nations and produce new forms of worship. It is a very strange irony to take these traditions that deny the Messiah and try to add a thin veneer or covering of meaning that supports the Messiah.

How Did Rabbinic Judaism Form?

The time of Yahshuah was far more complicated religiously, politically, and socially than most people realize. In a simplified explanation, the Sadduccees were associated with the Temple and the sacrifices while the Pharisees were associated with study and teaching. When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the power and control shifted from the Sadduccees to the Pharisees and the slow progress towards Rabbinic Judaism began.

The Oral Torah

The Pharisees believed in the authority of the Oral Torah, which is another set of commandments that they claim had been given to Moses and orally handed down through the centuries. This would be written down in the third century AD and is known as the Mishna, or first part of the Talmud. Commentaries about what these laws mean were written down and became known as the Gemera, which is the latter part of the Talmud. This new book of law is the primary focus of Orthodox Judaism and it is heavily copied within Messianic Judaism.

The Rabbis say that the written Torah (the Tanakh or Old Testament) cannot be understood without knowing the Oral Torah. Under this idea, the Rabbis become the only ones who are able to correctly interpret Scripture and, therefore, are the only ones who have authority. They further claim that Scripture is written in a 'code' that must then be interpreted. The midrashic form of interpreting the Scriptures often uses filters which ignore the wording or context of the passage and enables the making of new traditions.

Talmud, Kabbalah, and the Zohar

The basis for many of the Talmudic writings comes from Kabbalah and the Zohar. These are basically a Jewish form of mysticism ... think witchcraft with a Jewish twist that tries to impact both physical and spiritual aspects of life.

Sanctified Tradition

The customs and actions of the Rabbis are often made into commandments that must be kept by everyone. Further, some traditions are made simply because a Rabbi said it must be so without any basis from Scripture whatsoever. This takes the customs and the commandments of men and calls them the commandments of the Almighty. These are the very things from the teaching of the Pharisees that the Messiah warned the people not to follow.

The Rabbis in their Synagogues

While not truly a new priesthood (the Rabbis reserve certain functions for true Aaronic priests), the Rabbis have certainly taken on some priestly roles and have developed their own codes of worship and sanctification in the absence of a Temple. But it is simple to point out that a Rabbi in a Synagogue with the Talmud is not the same as a Priest in a Tabernacle with the Covenant.

Jewish and Messianic Culture

Within Messianic Judaism, there exists a strong social pressure to become 'Jewish' in both culture and worship while still maintaining belief in the Messiah. However, this neglects that the Nation of Israel was originally made up of the twelve tribes plus people from other nations and that worship was based around the Temple. Furthermore, it neglects that modern Jewish culture has formed during the last two thousand years and is not the same as what would be found in Old Testament times. Becoming 'Jewish' is not a necessity to becoming a believer in the Messiah.

Ephraimite Replacement Theology Heresy

There also exist, within Messianic Judaism, those who desire to become part of Israel by claiming descent from the lost northern tribes. This is difficult, if not impossible, to prove and is sometimes claimed on faith alone. There are some prophecies about the reunification of the Northern and Southern Tribes of Israel. However, some groups overemphasize this concept, attempt to make these prophecies come true today, or make theories of how it will occur in the future. In the extreme, these groups claim a superiority to the tribe of Judah. This type of attitude separates the people rather than uniting them in the Messiah.

Jew and Gentile

There is a general belief in Orthodox Judaism that the keeping of the commandments is something only for the Jewish people and not for the gentiles. This concept sometimes carries over into groups within Messianic Judaism. This produces a two level system of believers with one group keeping and the other group not keeping all of the commandments. Yet the commandments and laws are for all of the Almighty's people and are His instructions for living life. There is no distinction between Jewish, Israelite, and gentile believers in the Messiah.

Jewish Festivals

Metonic Cycle and Postponements

The Rabbis have claimed the authority to set the times of the calendar, including the beginnings of the months and years as well as the timing of the Festival Days of Assembly. They basically follow the Metonic Cycle that works on a 19 year lunar pattern with some additional postponements that have the effect of making it easier to follow other Rabbinical traditions. Although this calendar will be similar to that found in Scripture, this method neglects the direct connection that the festivals had with the times of harvest.

Rejecting the Messiah

The Rabbinical interpretations of the festivals focus on the literal history of the Nation of Israel or of what the people can do to attain salvation. Because they have not accepted the Messiah who has come (and will come again) the true meaning of the Festival Assemblies, which picture the work of the Messiah, is missed. Furthermore, some traditions of the Rabbis which lack or deny the Messiah are taken by Messianic Judaism and given a layer of new meaning and symbolism meant to celebrate the Messiah.

The Seder Example

One of the most elaborate and well-known Rabbinical festival celebrations is the Seder ceremony that has replaced the Passover observance. The Seder ceremony is a symbolic ritual used to emphasize freedom from slavery and for teaching the historic event of the exodus to the children. Messianic Judaism has taken the many customs which focus on the leaving of Egypt, mostly involved with eating certain kinds of foods (primarily fruits, vegetables, and grain), and has overlaid them with a new meaning that points to the Messiah and His work for the salvation of mankind.

The Rabbis in their Synagogues

The foremost element of the traditions of Messianic Judaism come from when the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD. This event caused the Sadducees to lose authority and leadership while the Pharisees gained that leadership as worship moved away from the Temple in Jerusalem and into the local Synagogue. The Pharisees were not priests of the line of Aaron, but they now claimed the power to decide how the people would worship.

Oral Torah and Midrash

The Pharisees believed in the authority of the Oral Torah, which is another set of commandments that they claim had been given to Moses and orally handed down through the centuries. This would be written down in the third century AD and is known as the Mishna, or first part of the Talmud. Commentaries about what these laws mean were written down and became known as the Gemera, which is the latter part of the Talmud. This new book of law is the primary focus of Orthodox Judaism and it is heavily copied within Messianic Judaism.

The Rabbis say that the written Torah (the Tanakh or Old Testament) cannot be understood without knowing the Oral Torah. Under this idea, the Rabbis become the only ones who are able to correctly interpret Scripture and, therefore, are the only ones who have authority. They further claim that Scripture is written in a 'code' that must then be interpreted. The midrashic form of interpreting the Scriptures often uses filters which ignore the wording or context of the passage and enables the making of new traditions.

Sanctified Tradition

The customs and actions of the Rabbis are often made into commandments that must be kept by everyone. Further, some traditions are made simply because a Rabbi said it must be so without any basis from Scripture whatsoever. This takes the customs and the commandments of men and calls them the commandments of the Almighty. These are the very things from the teaching of the Pharisees that the Messiah warned the people not to follow.

Talmud, Kabbalah, and the Zohar

The studies of the Zohar and the practices of Kabbalah are behind the writings and traditions of the Talmud. These are basically a type of witchcraft sometimes referred to as Jewish Mysticism.

Jew and Gentile

There is a general belief in Orthodox Judaism that the keeping of the commandments is something only for the Jewish people and not for the gentiles. This concept sometimes carries over into groups within Messianic Judaism. This produces a two level system of believers with one group keeping and the other group not keeping all of the commandments. Yet the commandments and laws are for all of the Almighty's people and are His instructions for living life. There is no distinction between Jewish, Israelite, and gentile believers in the Messiah.

Come Out

Messianic believers seek salvation through the Messiah. However, Messianic Judaism has accepted the commands of the rabbinical priesthood, a new set of Scripture interpretation, a new set of holiday meanings, and various subgroups of believers in the Messiah. Such changes divide the Almighty's people rather than making them all one body in the Messiah. It is time for all believers in the Messiah to return to Scripture and to leave behind the traditions of man.