What the Torah Can and Cannot Do for Us, Part 3: Torah Cannot Justify Contempt for Israel
What the Torah Can and Cannot Do for Us, Part 3: Torah Cannot Justify Contempt for Israel
Greetings saints of the Most High.
In this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer, I offer a needed clarification regarding comments I made in the previous teaching concerning Judaism, the Oral Torah, and the traditions that have been elevated above Yah’s written Torah. While my concerns regarding manmade traditions remain, I want to make it plain that it is not our place to condemn our Jewish cousins as a people. Torah does not give us license to walk in arrogance, hostility, or contempt toward anyone—especially toward the very people through whom Yah preserved His covenant promises and His oracles.
In this discussion, I walk through several foundational passages that affirm Yah’s everlasting covenant with Israel, the apostle Paul’s clear teaching that God has not rejected His people, and the reality that Gentile believers in Messiah are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel rather than replacing it. I also address the misuse of passages such as “there is neither Jew nor Greek,” showing that these verses do not erase Israel’s covenant identity or support replacement theology. Rather, they affirm that all who are in Messiah stand on equal footing in salvation while still honoring the distinct role Israel plays in Yah’s redemptive plan.
My prayer is that this teaching helps us pursue covenant humility, truth, and prayerful love rather than criticism, pride, and condemnation. Torah should lead us to obedience and righteousness, not self-exaltation over others. And if we are to be faithful disciples of Yeshua Messiah, then we must learn to speak truth without stepping outside the bounds of Yah’s heart and purpose.
In This Episode
In this teaching, I discuss:
- Why I felt it necessary to clarify statements made in the previous installment
- Why it is not our place to condemn our Jewish cousins
- Yah’s everlasting covenant with Avraham and his physical seed
- Paul’s teaching that God has not rejected Israel
- What it means for Gentile believers to be grafted into the commonwealth of Israel
- Why replacement theology is not supported by Scripture
- How “neither Jew nor Greek” has been misunderstood and misapplied
- The enduring distinction and purpose of the Jewish people in Yah’s plan
- Why Torah cannot be used to justify arrogance, contempt, or condemnation
Key Scriptures Discussed
- Luke 23:34
- Psalm 119:126
- Matthew 15:6
- Genesis 17:7
- Titus 1:2
- Romans 11
- Romans 11:17
- Galatians 3:28–29
- Colossians 3:11
- Romans 3:1–2
- Ezekiel 37:16–19
- Exodus 32:9
- Exodus 33:3, 5
- Exodus 34:9
- Deuteronomy 9:6, 13
- Deuteronomy 10:16
- 2 Chronicles 30:8
- Acts 7:51
Key Takeaways
- Torah does not authorize us to condemn people; it calls us to truth, humility, and righteousness.
- Yah’s covenant with Avraham and his seed is everlasting and has not been transferred to another people.
- Scripture teaches plainly that God has not rejected His people Israel.
- Gentile believers in Messiah are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel; we do not replace Israel.
- Passages like “neither Jew nor Greek” speak to covenant standing in Messiah, not the erasure of Israel’s identity or calling.
- The Jewish people were entrusted with the oracles of Yah, and through them the Torah has been preserved.
- Torah cannot be used as a justification for contempt, superiority, or condemnation toward others.
Episode Summary
This episode serves as both a clarification and a correction of tone. While I remain deeply concerned about the elevation of the Oral Torah and religious traditions above Yah’s written instructions, I make clear in this teaching that my previous words were never intended as a condemnation of the Jewish people themselves. As disciples of Yeshua, we are not called to condemn, but to pray, to discern, and to speak truth in alignment with our Master’s example.
From there, I turn to the Scriptures to establish a crucial foundation: Yah’s covenant with Avraham and his seed is everlasting. That covenant has not been revoked, replaced, or handed off to another people. Paul’s discussion in Romans 11 makes this abundantly plain: God has not rejected His people, and there remains both a remnant and a future bound up in Yah’s redemptive purposes for Israel.
I also address the relationship of Gentile believers to Israel, emphasizing that we who are non-Jewish believers are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel, not made into some separate covenant people. This means our salvation is tied to Yah’s covenant dealings with Israel, not detached from them. Because of that, any form of hatred, rejection, or contempt toward the Jewish people places us in opposition to Yah’s plan and purpose.
Why Aren’t We Keeping the Feast of Rosh Chodesh-Thoughts and Reflections on the Torah Reading for the 9th Rosh Chodesh
Greetings, Saints of the Most High! Welcome to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I'm Rod Thomas, coming to you on a crisp fall afternoon in DFW. Thank you for taking the time to fellowship with me. I hope this post finds you and your loved ones well...
And God Remembered Noah — Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 6 — Reboot
And God Remembered Noah This week's Torah reading, "And God Remembered Noah," is from Genesis 8:1-14, the 6th Parashah in our 3-Year Torah Reading Cycle. The Power of the Ruach In Genesis 8:1, Elohim remembered Noah and sent a wind (ruach) over...
Pleasing God-Yah in Perilous Times-Lessons From the Life of Noah-Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 5 (Reboot)
Torah Reading this week is found in Genesis 6:9-7:24. It is a very familiar passage of Torah that bears a good many themes, concepts and spiritual applications. But for us today, I want us to focus on just one central theme, if you will. And that theme has to do...
Marring the Image of the Creator Yehovah Through Rebelliousness-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 4
Greeting and Introduction Greetings saints of the Most High and welcome back to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I'm Rod Thomas coming to you on a beautiful fall Shabbat in the DFW. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to...
Was Eve the First Messianic and the Heart of True Worship — Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 3
Greetings Saints of the Most High. I pray that you, your families, and fellowships are well and blessed. It was my intention to do, at the very least, an audio version of this teaching and discussion. However, since our return from our Kenyan missionary...
My Thoughts and Reflections on Whether Messianics/Netsarim Should Take Part in the Upcoming Electoral Process
Greetings Greetings saints of the Most High. I'm Rod Thomas coming to you from the DFW on a rather stormy first day of the week. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me and as always beloved, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that...
TMTO Update and Thoughts and Reflections on Kenya Missionary-Sukkot Trip
As I am posting these thoughts and reflections, it is the very last Sabbath of the 7th Biblical Month, November 2, 2024. And assuming our contacts in Israel are successful in sighting the renewed moon the evening of this post, we will enter the 8th Month of Yah's...
When Torah Becomes a Witness Against Us — My Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 148
These are my thoughts and reflections on Torah Reading 148. I’ve been led to entitle this discussion: When Torah Becomes a Witness Against Us.” Our reading this week is found in Deuteronomy/Devarim 31.14-30. Key Themes and Concepts Found in our Parashah this...
Be Strong and Courageous — My Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 147
Greetings saints of the Most High. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me here on this blessed day of rest in Yeshua Messiah. And as always, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer...
Operating in Set-Apart Community Relationships — Torah Reading 142 Thoughts and Reflections
Shalom and Greetings Greetings saints of the Most High. Rod Thomas coming to you on a warm by beautiful Sabbath in the DFW. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me here on this blessed day of rest in Yeshua Messiah. And as always...