In a previous message (Shepherd of Hermas series), I showed that the parents of John the Baptist (Yochanan the Immerser) kept the commandments in the New Testament, just as Christians should today:
Luke 1:5-6
“There was in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a priest whose name was Zechariah, of the order of ministry of the house of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. They were both RIGHTEOUS (Deuteronomy 6:25) before ELOHIM, and walked in ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND IN RIGHTEOUSNESS OF YAHWEH WITHOUT BLAME.”
And before anyone decides to say, well that was before the RUACH HA’KODESH (The Set-Apart Spirit) was poured out, I would like to prove that the RUACH HA’KODESH was there in the Old Testament, many are refusing Him in favor of the flesh just as our ancestors did!
Isaiah 63:10
“But they rebelled and grieved His RUACH HA’KODESH; therefore He turned to be their enemy and He fought against them. Then He remembered the days of old, of Moses His servant. Just as when He brought up out of the sea the shepherd of the flock, and as he put His RUACH HA’KODESH within Moses…”
Acts 7:50-51
“Behold, has Not my hand made all these things? O you stubborn and insincere in heart and hearing, YOU ALWAYS RESIST THE RUACH HA’KODESH; as your fathers did, SO DO YOU.”
Again, for those who say that the law is done away with, I want to show another witness in the New Testament of Mary the mother of YESHUA obeying the Torah found in the Old Testament, just as the parents of John the Baptist. So how could it be done away with?
Luke 2:21-24
“Then when EIGHT DAYS had passed so that the boy could be circumcised, they called His Name YESHUA, as the messenger had called Him before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification were fulfilled according to the instruction of Moses, written in the Torah of Master YAHWEH that every male who opens the womb will be called a set-apart one of Master YAHWEH. And as a sacrifice it is said in the Torah of Master YAHWEH to give a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Verse 21: “Then when EIGHT DAYS had passed so that the boy could be circumcised”
Joseph and Mary obeyed the law that is found in the Torah firstly with the covenant made with Abraham.
Genesis 17:10-12
“This is My covenant, which you shall keep between Me and you and your descendants AFTER YOU: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between Me and you. And he that is EIGHT DAYS OLD shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or brought with money of any stranger, who is not of your descendants.”
Leviticus 12:3
“And on the EIGHTH DAY the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.”
Verse 22: “And when the days of her purification were fulfilled according to the instruction of Moses…”
Leviticus 12:1-4
“And YAHWEH spoke to Moses and said to him, speak to the children of Yisra’el, saying, if a woman has conceived and bear a MALE CHILD, then she shall be unclean for seven days; according to the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean. Verse 4 and she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying; she shall touch not set-apart thing, NOR COME INTO THE SANCTUARY, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.”
As we see, Mary bore a male child in YESHUA, so she was unclean for 40 days and did not come to the Temple to offer YESHUA as the first-born until after the purifying of her blood from giving birth just as it is written in the Torah. Jubilees tells us why:
Jubilees 3:9-14
“And after Adam had completed FORTY DAYS in the land where he had been created, we brought him into the Garden of Eden to serve and guard it, but his wife they brought in on the EIGHTIETH DAY, and after this she entered into the Garden of Eden. And for this reason the commandment is written on the heavenly tablets in regard to her that gives birth, “If she bears a male child, she shall remain in her uncleanness seven days according to the first week of days, and thirty-three days shall she remain in the blood of her purifying, and she shall not touch any set-apart thing, nor enter into the set-apart place, until she accomplishes these days which for the case of a male child. But in the case of a female child she shall remain in her uncleanness two weeks of days, according to the first two weeks, and sixty-six days in the blood of her purification, and they will be in all eighty days. And she had completed these eighty days we brought her into the Garden of Eden, for it is more set-apart than all the rest of the earth, and every tree that is planted in it is set-apart. Therefore there was ordained, regarding her who bears a male or a female child, the statue of those days that she should touch no set-apart thing, nor enter into the set-apart place UNTIL THESE DAYS for the male or female child are ACCOMPLISHED. This is the Torah and witness which was written down for Yisra’el, in order that they should guard it ALL THE DAYS.”
Verse 23: “Written in the Torah of Master YAHWEH that every male who opens the womb will be called a set-apart one of Master YAHWEH.”
Exodus 13:1-2
“And YAHWEH spoke to Moses, saying, sanctify to Me every FIRST-BORN that opens the womb among the children of Yisra’el, both of men and of animals, for they ARE MINE.”
Verse 24: “And as a sacrifice it is said in the Torah of Master YAHWEH to give a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
Leviticus 12:6-8
“And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring a LAMB of the first year for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove, for a transgression offering to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to the priest; and he shall offer it before YAHWEH and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the LAW OF HER WHO HAS BORNE A MALE CHILD OR A FEMALE CHILD. And if she CANNOT afford a LAMB, then she shall bring TWO PIGEONS OR TWO YOUNG TURTLEDOVES; the one for the transgression offering and the other for the burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for her and she shall be clean.”
Notice that Mary fell into the category of one who could not afford the lamb? Therefore, she brought two turtledoves or two pigeons to make atonement for her according to the Torah. However, even though she could not afford LAMB, she gave birth to A LAMB that is PRICELESS!
Testament of Joseph 19:8
“And I saw a VIRGIN (Mary) was born from Judah, wearing a linen shawl, and a SPOTLESS LAMB WAS BORN FROM HER (YESHUA without transgression, He was perfect!)
As we see that Mary the mother of YESHUA and the parents of John the Baptist who prepared the way for YESHUA obeyed the Torah exactly as it written even in the New Testament, which is further proof that the Torah is NOT done away with. All righteous men and women in scripture obeyed the commandments and had faith, so let you who is listening also do the same.
As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!