Kollel Devarim

Kollel Devarim

Titus chapter 3

Tit 3:1 Remind them [congregants in Crete and everywhere] to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

Tit 3:2  to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.

We must obey all civil laws in the municipalites in which we live as long as they are not direct violations of Torah commandments – which very, very few would qualify as being.  We must obey zoning ordinances and building codes, licensing requirements, speed limits and auto registrations, we must pay taxes and applicable fees and get permits the same as all other citizens.

Titus, continued:

Tit 3:3  For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

Tit 3:4  But when the kindness of Elohim our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,

Tit 3:5  not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the mikvah of rebirth and renewing by the Ruach HaKodesh,

Tit 3:6  whom he poured out on us richly, through Yeshua the Messiah our Savior;

Tit 3:7  that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Those who wish to become part of the House of Israel must, according to Yeshua HaMashiach as YHWH Incarnate, not just “believe” but also be immersed in the miqvah and accept the rules of the House upon ourselves.

Isa 56:1 Thus says YHWH, Keep you justice, and do righteousness; for my Yeshuah is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.   Isa 56:2  Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Shabbat from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.   Isa 56:3  Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to YHWH, speak, saying, YHWH will surely separate me from his people…  Isa 56:6  Also the foreigners who join themselves to YHWH, to minister to him, and to love the name of YHWH, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Shabbat from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant;   Isa 56:7  even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.   Isa 56:8  Adonai YHWH, who gathers the outcasts of Yisra’el, says, Yet will I gather [others] to him, besides his own who are gathered.

A house divided against itself cannot stand – and Elohim’s house is not divided.  There is one Torah that applies to both the native born and to the grafted-in.  Those who are grafted in have been bought and paid-for by the blood of Yeshua Himself.

Gen 17:10  This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you. Every male among you shall be circumcised.   Gen 17:11  You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin. It will be a token of the covenant between me and you.   Gen 17:12  He who is eight days old will be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he who is born in the house, or bought with money from any foreigner who is not of your seed.   Gen 17:13  He who is born in your house, and he who is bought with your money, must be circumcised. My covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.   Gen 17:14  The uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.”

Those who are uncircumcised are excluded from Yeshua’s Covenant Kiddush at Passover – by his own commandment as YHWH Incarnate:

Exo 12:43  YHWH said to Moshe and Aharon, “This is the ordinance of the Pesach. There shall no foreigner eat of it,   Exo 12:44  but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it.   Exo 12:45  A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it.   Exo 12:46  In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth anything of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it.   Exo 12:47  All the congregation of Yisra’el shall keep it.   Exo 12:48  When a stranger shall live as a foreigner with you, and will keep the Pesach to YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.   Exo 12:49  One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you.”

Salvation has always been by Grace.  Elohim has no obligation to accept our repentance or provide a substitute for our own death penalty for sin – yet He does.  The wages of sin is death, period, and we have all sinned.   It is only by Elohim’s Grace that any reprieve from our sentence is provided.  We show our love and gratitude to Elohim for doing this for us with our faith and our obedience.  Faith and obedience are inseparable.

1Jo 5:1  Whoever believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of Elohim. Whoever loves the father also loves the child who is born of him.   1Jo 5:2  By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and keep his mitzvot.   1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep his mitzvot. His mitzvot are not grievous.   1Jo 5:4  For whatever is born of Elohim overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

Faith without works is, of course, dead.

Titus, continued:

Tit 3:8  This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed Elohim may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;

Tit 3:9  but shun foolish questionings, genealogies, strife, and disputes about the [Oral] Torah; for they are unprofitable and vain.

It is pointless to argue about what is the “right” way to observe Torah  -  any way that doesn’t violate the Written Torah is a “right” way.  There is no “THE” right way.  Elohim brought 11 tribes plus the Levites into Eretz Israel. The Levites were commanded to teach people the Written Torah  – and the tribes each had their own traditions, precedents, even dialects of Hebrew, and none are more valid than any other.   Torah is not meant to leave one stuck in the middle ages or on “Little House on the Prarie.”   The written Torah is a document for all times and places – just the way it is, no embellishment necessary.

Titus, continued:

Tit 3:10  Avoid a heretical man after a first and second warning;

Tit 3:11  knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.

A heretic is one who insists that something not written in the Torah itself is a precept that must be obeyed by Believers.  Those who insist that all Believers must follow the Oral Law are heretics.  Those who claim the Written Torah is “done away with” are heretics.  Someone who has a different tradition or interpretation that is within the bounds of the Written Torah is NOT a heretic, unless they insist that you’re going to hell unless you follow it.  Then they are “schismatics” as some translations here say – they are heretics who bring false doctrines and split the congregation with them, claiming others are “unsaved” or “fallen.”  Beware of such power-mongers and control freaks.  They are outside of Elohim’s will.

Titus, continued:

Tit 3:12  When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me to Nicopolis, for I have determined to winter there.

Tit 3:13  Send Zenas, the Torah scholar, and Apollos on their journey speedily, that nothing may be lacking for them.

Tit 3:14  Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.

Tit 3:15  All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in faith. Grace be with you all. Amein.

Next Week:  Parashat Ve’Etchanan.