The Messianic Torah Observer

Beloved, this installment of The Messianic Torah Observer takes us deep into Parashat Ki Teitzei, one of the most commandment-rich and, at first glance, challenging readings of the annual Torah cycle. But buried in the middle of its warfare ethics, family laws, property responsibilities, and moral instructions are powerful Kingdom truths that point us directly to Messiah, the nations, and Yah's covenant faithfulness. In this teaching, we will examine Deuteronomy 21:22–23 and see why Paul, in Galatians 3:13, reaches back into this very passage to explain what happened on Golgotha. Yeshua did not become a curse because of His own sin or rebellion. He became a curse for us, redeeming us from the curse that our rebellion deserved. Torah did not hide the work of Messiah from us; Torah instead pointed to it all along. We will also look at the Torah of the captive woman in Deuteronomy 21:10–14 and consider how, from a deeper spiritual reading, this passage foreshadows the nations being brought near unto Yah through Mashiyach. Those who were once strangers to the covenants of promise are now brought into the household of Elohim, but not without the stripping away of the old identity, old garments, and old way of life. Finally, we will turn to Isaiah 54, the Haftarah reading for this week and part of the traditional Seven Weeks of Consolation. Here, Yah speaks comfort to the barren, scattered, and forsaken one, commanding her to sing, enlarge her tent, and trust in His unshakable covenant of peace. As we move through this traditional season of Elul and draw closer to Yom Teruah and the Fall Feasts, this word reminds us that Yah's steadfast love has not departed from His covenant people.

In this installment of The Messianic Torah Observer, we turn our attention to Parashat Re'eh, contained in Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17, and to Moshe's opening admonishment to Yah's covenant people: "See." Re'eh is not merely an invitation to notice something with our natural eyes. It is a divine call to perceive, discern, and rightly assess what Yehovah has placed before us: blessing and curse, covenant faithfulness and covenant compromise, life and destruction. Beloved, this teaching presses into the personal and communal nature of Moshe's instruction. Re'eh begins in the singular, speaking to the individual son and daughter of Yasharal, and then immediately expands into the plural, addressing the covenant community as a whole. In other words, Yah's Torah must be seen personally, embraced intentionally, and walked out faithfully among His people. We also examine the warning of Deuteronomy 13 concerning false prophets and dreamers of dreams. The issue is not simply whether a sign or prediction comes to pass. The greater question is this: where is that voice leading us? Toward YHVH, His Torah, and covenant obedience? Or away from the simplicity of faithfulness into speculation, sensationalism, fear, and compromise? In a season where world events, prophetic claims, geopolitical upheaval, and social unrest are moving faster than many can process, the instruction remains the same: Re'eh. See. Hold the headlines in one hand and the Word of Yah in the other. Test all things. Refuse to be misled. Choose the covenant path that leads to shalom, life, truth, and blessing through Yeshua Messiah.

Beloved, this discussion is not about chasing titles, defending camps, or winning theological arguments for the sake of argument. It is about understanding where Hebrew Roots and Messianic Judaism agree, where they part company, and why that distinction matters to every Torah-honoring disciple of Yeshua Messiah. In this episode, Rod Thomas responds to the First Fruits of Zion article, "Hebrew Roots Is Not Messianic Judaism," and carefully works through the questions of identity, Torah obligation, covenant membership, Jewish distinction, Gentile discipleship, and the body of Messiah. Along the way, Rod offers his own take as a Torah-observant, covenant-keeping believer in Yeshua HaMashiyach who seeks to walk in Spirit and Truth without dismissing either side of the conversation.

Saints, Tu B'Av is one of those days on the Jewish traditional calendar that most of us in the Messianic and Hebrew Roots community have simply walked past without ever realizing it was there. And although it is not one of the mandated Feasts or Moedim of Yehovah, this 15th day of the 5th biblical month bears within it a beautiful redemptive pattern that speaks directly to the redeemed of the Most High. Coming just six days after Tisha B'Av, Tu B'Av reminds us that Yah has a way of turning the darkest seasons of judgment, exile, mourning, and loss into seasons of restoration, joy, and Kingdom expectation. In this teaching, we examine the historical and spiritual significance of Tu B'Av: the lifting of the wilderness death decree, the restoration of the tribe of Benjamin, the removal of barriers that prevented worship in Yerushalayim, and the touching image of the daughters of Jerusalem dancing in borrowed white garments. And beloved, when viewed through Messianic lenses, these elements point us right back to the work of Yehoshua Messiah: condemnation lifted, covenant restoration granted, access to worship restored, and the Bride clothed in righteousness that is not her own.

Beloved, accusations that Torah-honoring believers have embraced a false gospel, fallen from grace, or placed themselves back under the Law are serious and deserve a careful, Word-based response. In this installment of The Messianic Torah Observer, Rod Thomas addresses three common criticisms against the Hebrew Roots and Messianic Torah communities and shows why grace-motivated obedience is not legalism, why Acts 15 does not abolish Torah for Gentile believers, and why Yeshua remains the center and proper interpretive key of the Torah-observant walk.

Beloved, in this second installment of our brief Tisha B'Av series, we turn our attention to what should and should not matter to the modern-day Messianic, Hebrew, Netsari disciple of Yehoshua HaMashiyach. Tisha B'Av is not one of the mandated Feasts of Yehovah. We are not commanded to keep it. But that does not mean the day is spiritually irrelevant. If our Master wept over Yerushalayim and the coming destruction of the Temple, then we who belong to Him should at least understand the grief, history, prophetic weight, and covenant lessons attached to this solemn memorial day.

Greetings Saints. This is the week that pivots. There is one week in the Jewish calendar that moves from mourning to comfort in the space of just 48 hours. It begins with Tisha B'Av, the fast and memorial connected to the destruction of both Temples and other tragedies in Jewish history. But beloved, mourning is not the final word. The very next Sabbath brings Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of Comfort, where Yah declares through Isaiah: "Comfort ye, comfort ye My people." In this teaching, we look at the Biblical calendar signal for the week of July 20–26, the Vaetchanan Torah portion, Isaiah 40:1–26, the Seven Weeks of Consolation, and the comfort we receive through Yeshua Messiah. Yah has not given up on Yasharal. And dear saint, He has not given up on you. Scripture references: Isaiah 40:1–26; Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11; Deuteronomy 6:4–9; Romans 11; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23; Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13.

Welcome, beloved, to this Shabbat Chazon teaching from The Messianic Torah Observer. Today, on the Sabbath of Vision, we slow our rhythm down and consider what Yah may be showing His set-apart people as we approach Tisha B'Av and sit inside Parashat Devarim — Moshe's final words to the generation preparing to enter the Land.

In this discussion, we look at Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22, Isaiah 1:1–27, and John 2:19–21, asking what it means for Yah to show His people the Temple they lost — not as punishment, but as an awakening unto longing, repentance, and restoration. And for those of us who are Yeshua-focused Torah keepers, we see that Temple ultimately embodied in our Master Yehoshua Messiah, the One who was broken, buried, and raised in three days. Halleluyah.

If this teaching blesses you, please take the time this Shabbat to read and meditate upon Parashat Devarim, the Haftarah of Isaiah 1, and John's witness concerning the Temple of Yeshua's body. May Yah use this Sabbath of Vision to show us what must be mourned, what must be repented of, and what He alone is able to restore.