Hebrew Roots

Judaism teaches that there is not a just man upon earth who does not sin: "He said to him, 'Indeed you have taught us, our master, for there is not a just man upon earth, who does good and does not sin'" (Talmud, Sanhedrin 100B) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would not be able to stand against God's judgement: "If the Holy One, blessed be he, had entered into judgement with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, they would not have been able to stand against the reproof" (Talmud, Arach 17A) Since man will always fall short of God's standard, Chesed (Mercy/Grace) was an important principle in early Judaism. Simeon the Righteous was of the remnants of the Great Assembly. He used to say, “On three things the world stands: On the Torah, On the Ministry, and on Chesidim (Acts of Mercy/Grace).” (m.Avot 1:2) The sages of the Mishnah ruled that the world is judged by Chesed: “All is foreseen, but freedom of choice is given; and the world is judged by grace ...

The New Covenant must be examined in light of the succession of Covenants that set the foundation for its arrival. When the all too familiar passages of Jeremiah 31:31, Ezekiel 11:19 and Ezekiel 36:26-27 are read in isolation from the context of their respective chapters, we feel we have a solid grasp of what it represents. Jeremiah 31:31-34 is frequently reviewed because a reference is made in the book of Hebrews. After the narrative makes its strategic inclusion of a few declarative statements found in Jeremiah, it moves on, leaving behind the context of Jeremiah 31 as a whole. When the context is restored and entire chapters are read, elements completely foreign to our paradigm begin to surface. A consistent theme can be identified, appearing throughout the text in every chapter making reference to the New Covenant. While the Book of Hebrews has done well to reveal the spiritual insights behind the changes introduced by the New Covenant, unfortunately it has set a precedent for co...

In contrast to “Messianic Judaism” the relatively recent “Hebrew Roots Movement” is an emerging group primarily consisting of Gentile Christians worldwide covering a range of backgrounds, races and colour united under their devotion to God’s law. Throughout the history of Christianity, accounts can indeed be found of Christians that joined their practice according to varying levels of conformity with the Torah; for example, in the mid second century the Christian churches in Jerusalem and Asia Minor celebrated Passover on the 14 of Nissan in opposition to the Church of Rome that insisted on a transition away from the “Jewish” Passover to Easter Sunday. Melito, Church bishop of Sardis is known to have authored a Christian adaptation of the Jewish “Haggadah”- a text used by Jews to guide the Passover meal and the procedures and prayers involved. In 193 AD a letter addressing the issue was sent by Pope Victor I to Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna and beloved pupil of the Apostle John. Polyc...