Phil – you raise some good points; however, what did James mean when he stated that Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath. Could it mean that a “minimum” standard was established, but the with expectation of each person growing in their relationship and convictions – through the reading, understanding and following of Torah as God led them?

Janice – I also have a difficulty with the construction of the the survey. But I am not sure I “know” that Messiah fulfilled the requirements of animal sacrifices. In Acts 21:23-26, Paul agrees to pay for the animal sacrifices of four men who apparently were completing the vows of a Nazarite.

Mark (and many others) – your words are like springs of encouragement – thank you.

I look forward to future discussions.

First of all, the context of Hebrews is about the earthly Levitical priesthood. It was a shadow of the heavenly and was therefore insufficient, since it was the duty of men, fallen men. Just like animal sacrifice for sin, it was a substitute until Moshiach reigns as High Priest in the Heavenly. Why do you think Elohim told Moshe to build everything and to do everything exactly as he was shown?

Second, Acts 15 was never about should gentiles keep Torah or not. If so, it contradicts Exo. 12:49 & Num. 15:16. There is no such thing (biblically) as the “Noachide laws”. They are an invention of those who twist scripture to match their theology. Folks, when Yeshua was talking about His sheep, he didn’t mean it literally. Stop being sheep, stop following the “theology” crowd and start thinking for yourselves with the Ruach (spirit) and Yeshua’s example as your guide.

I have another question I will post at another time concerning the millenial sacrifice.

If based on what many of you all said, one would have thought that James would have told those Gentiles to keep Torah – which he did not.

Why would one want to keep the “law” when the book of Hebrews clearly points to us having a better covenant – and that was written to Jewish believers.

Finally, what laws are you keeping? The rabbis have added so much to what torah taught that what typically happens is that believers end up doing what the rabbis teach – rabbis are unbelievers, though good men. Example – do you keep the Passover Feast? If you do, do you offer a lamb in Jerusalem at the Temple? Of course not. You keep some rabbinic style seder that the Messianic rabbis have adjusted to make it palatable to believers. It is no different than taking Catholic/world teachings and adjusting it to your group’s teaching. All that is being done is “spiritualizing” the text.

Ruth, a Moabite woman, married an Israelite thus she should would be considered a gar (feminine form of ger) under the same Torah as her Israelite husband.