Monday, 24 May 2021

ARE THE 613 COMMANDMENTS FOR YOU?

 ARE THE 613 COMMANDMENTS FOR YOU?


The Jewish people are weighed down with 613 commandments as written in the Torah (or the Old Testament).

Today there is a movement of non-Jews trying to replicate the Jews in all their practices, because they say Jesus was a Jew, and Christianity is a descendant of Judaism. They use Jewish names, sing Jewish songs, follow Jewish customs, feasts and traditions.

Go ahead, if you want to, but don't be a hypocrite. Follow it a  100% if not you will be cursed, and deserve to die immediately. Good luck.


Here are the 613.:

THE 613 LAWS of the OLD TESTAMENT

Called the Mitzvot

Taken from : http://www.hisglory.us/


A simplified listing of the Laws of God as they were understood by the Old Testament Hebrews, and the Hebrew people of the present day.
The Hebrew word for "LAW" is Torah. In its most limited definition it refers to the Pentateuch. Yet, the word, Torah, is used to speak of the entire Old Testament as well.


The following list will help in understanding the division of God's Old Testament Law, which the Hebrews have recorded, as 613.

If we combine both Old and New Testament as One Law, the list grows and becomes more comprehensive. Yet, what we find in the New Testament is simply an augmentation of what is already contained in the Old.






















GOD

1.To know that God exists (Ex. 20:2; Deut. 5:6)
2.Not to entertain the idea that there is any god but the Eternal (Ex.20:3)
3.Not to blaspheme (Ex. 22:27-28 ) Cf Lev 24:16
4.To hallow God's name (Lev. 22:32)
5.Not to profane God's name (Lev. 22:32
6.To know that God is One, a complete Unity (Deut. 6:4)
7.To love God (Deut. 6:5)
8.To fear Him reverently (Deut. 6:13; 10:20)
9.Not to put the word of God to the test (Deut. 6:16)
10.To imitate His good and upright ways (Deut. 28:9)


The Law

11.To honor the old and the wise (Lev. 19:32)
12.To learn Torah and to teach it (Deut. 6:7)
13.To cleave to those who know Him (Deut. 10:20)
14.Not to add to the commandments of the Torah.(Deut.13:1)
15.Not to take away from the commandments of the Torah (Deut.13:1)
16.That every person shall write a scroll of the Torah for himself (Deut. 31:19)


SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

17.To circumcise the male offspring (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3)
18.To put fringes on the corners of clothing (Num. 15:38)
19.To bind God's Word on the head (Deut. 6:8)
20.To bind God's Word on the arm (Deut. 6:8)
21.To affix the mezuzah to the door posts and gates of your house (Deut.6:9)


Prayer and Blessing

22.To pray to God (Ex. 23:25; Deut. 6:13)
23.To read the Shema [lit:The Hearing] in the morning and at night (Deut. 6:7)
24.To recite grace after meals (Deut. 8:10)
25.Not to lay down a stone for worship (Lev. 26:1)


Love and Brotherhood

26.To love all human beings who are of the covenant (Lev. 19:18)
27.Not to stand by idly when a human life is in danger (Lev. 19:16)
28.Not to wrong any one in speech (Lev. 25:17)
29.Not to carry tales (Lev. 19:16)
30.Not to cherish hatred in one's heart (Lev. 19:17)
31.Not to take revenge (Lev. 19:18)
32.Not to bear a grudge (Lev. 19:18)
33.Not to put any Jew to shame (Lev. 19:17)
34.Not to curse any other Israelite (Lev. 19:14)
35.Not to give occasion to the simple-minded to stumble on the road (Lev. 19:14) 
(this includes doing anything that will cause another to sin)
36.To rebuke the sinner (Lev. 19:17)
37.To relieve a neighbor of his burden and help to unload his beast (Ex.23:5)
38.To assist in replacing the load upon a neighbor's beast (Deut.22:4)
39.Not to leave a beast, that has fallen down beneath its burden, unaided (Deut. 22:4)


The Poor and Unfortunate

40.Not to afflict an orphan or a widow (Ex. 22:21)
41.Not to reap the entire field (Lev. 19:9; Lev. 23:22)
42.To leave the unreaped corners of the field or orchard for the poor (Lev.19:9)
43.Not to gather gleanings (the ears that have fallen to the ground while reaping) (Lev. 19:9)
44.To leave the gleanings for the poor (Lev. 19:9)
45.Not to gather ol'loth (the imperfect clusters) of the vineyard (Lev.19:10)
46.To leave ol'loth (the imperfect clusters) of the vineyard for the poor (Lev. 19:10; Deut. 24:21)
47.Not to gather the single grapes that have fallen to the ground (Lev. 19:10)
48.To leave the single grapes of the vineyard for the poor (Lev. 19:10)
49.Not to return to take a forgotten sheaf (Deut. 24:19) This applies to all fruit trees (Deut. 24:20)
50.To leave the forgotten sheaves for the poor (Deut. 24:19-20)
51.Not to refrain from maintaining a poor man and giving him what he needs (Deut. 15:7)
52.To give charity according to one's means (Deut. 15:11) 


Treatment of the Gentiles

53.To love the stranger (Deut. 10:19).
54.Not to wrong the stranger in speech (Ex. 22:20)
55.Not to wrong the stranger in buying or selling (Ex. 22:20).
56.Not to intermarry with gentiles (Deut. 7:3)
57.To exact the debt of an alien (Deut. 15:3)
58.To lend to an alien at interest (Deut. 23:21)


Marriage, Divorce and Family

59.To honor father and mother (Ex. 20:12)
60.Not to smite a father or a mother (Ex. 21:15)
61.Not to curse a father or mother (Ex. 21:17)
62.To reverently fear father and mother (Lev. 19:3)
63.To be fruitful and multiply (Gen. 1:28)
64.That a eunuch shall not marry a daughter of Israel (Deut. 23:2)
65.That a bastard [Heb.mamzer = illegitimate son] shall not marry the daughter of a Jew (Deut.23:3)
66.That an Ammonite or Moabite shall never marry the daughter of an Israelite (Deut. 23:4)
67.Not to exclude a descendant of Esau from the community of Israel for three generations (Deut. 23:8-9)
68.Not to exclude an Egyptian from the community of Israel for three generations (Deut. 23:8-9)
69.That there shall be no harlot (in Israel); that is, that there shall be no intercourse with a woman, without previous marriage with a deed of marriage and formal declaration of marriage (Deut.23:18)
70.To take a wife by the sacrament of marriage (Deut.24:1)
71.That the newly married husband shall (be free) for one year to rejoice with his wife (Deut. 24:5)
72.That a bridegroom shall be exempt for a whole year from taking part in any public labor, such as military service, guarding the wall and similar duties (Deut. 24:5)
73.Not to withhold food, clothing or conjugal rights from a wife (Ex. 21:10)
74.That the woman suspected of adultery shall be dealt with as prescribed in the Torah (Num. 5:30)
75.That one who defames his wife's honor (by falsely accusing her of unchastity before marriage) must live with her all his lifetime (Deut. 22:19)
76.That a man may not divorce his wife concerning whom he has published an evil report (about her unchastity before marriage) (Deut. 22:19)
77.To divorce by a formal written document (Deut. 24:1)
78.That one who divorced his wife shall not remarry her, if after the divorce she had been married to another man (Deut. 24:4)
79.That a widow whose husband died childless must not be married to anyone but her deceased husband's brother (Deut. 25:5) (this is only in effect insofar as it requires the procedure of release below).
80.To marry the widow of a brother who has died childless (Deut.25:5)
(this is only in effect insofar as it requires the procedure of release below)
81.That the widow formally release the brother-in-law (if he refuses to marry her) (Deut. 25:7-9)


Forbidden Sexual Relations

82.Not to indulge in familiarities with relatives, such as sensual kissing, carnal embracing, or provocative winking which may lead to incest (Lev.18:6)
83.Not to commit incest with one's mother (Lev. 18:7)
84.Not to commit sodomy with one's father (Lev. 18:7)
85.Not to commit incest with one's father's wife (Lev. 18:8)
86.Not to commit incest with one's sister (Lev. 18:9)
87.Not to commit incest with one's father's wife's daughter (Lev.18:9)
88.Not to commit incest with one's son's daughter (Lev. 18:10)
89.Not to commit incest with one's daughter's daughter (Lev.18:10)
90.Not to commit incest with one's daughter (this is not explicitly in the Torah but is inferred from other explicit commands that would include it)
91.Not to commit incest with one's fathers sister (Lev. 18:12)
92.Not to commit incest with one's mother's sister (Lev. 18:13)
93.Not to commit incest with one's father's brothers wife (Lev.18:14)
94.Not to commit sodomy with one's father's brother (Lev. 18:14)
95.Not to commit incest with one's son's wife (Lev. 18:15)
96.Not to commit incest with one's brother's wife (Lev. 18:16)
97.Not to commit incest with one's wife's daughter (Lev. 18:17)
98.Not to commit incest with the daughter of one's wife's son (Lev.18:17)
99.Not to commit incest with the daughter of one's wife's daughter (Lev. 18:17)
100.Not to commit incest with one's wife's sister (Lev. 18:18)
101.Not to have intercourse with a woman, in her menstrual period (Lev. 18:19)
102.Not to have intercourse with another man's wife (Lev. 18:20)
103.Not to commit sodomy with a male (Lev. 18:22)
104.Not to have intercourse with a beast (Lev. 18:23)
105.That a woman shall not have intercourse with a beast (Lev.18:23)
106.Not to castrate the male of any species; neither a man, nor a domestic or wild beast, nor a fowl (Lev. 22:24)


Times and Seasons

107.That the new month shall be solemnly proclaimed as holy, and the months and years shall be calculated by the Supreme Court only (Ex. 12:2)
108.Not to travel on the Sabbath outside the limits of one's place of residence (Ex. 16:29)
109.To sanctify the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8)
110.Not to do work on Sabbath (Ex. 20:10)
111.To rest on Sabbath (Ex. 23:12; 34:21)
112.To celebrate the festivals (Ex.23:14)
113.To rejoice on the festivals (Deut. 16:14)
114.To appear in the Sanctuary on the festivals (Deut. 16:16)
115.To remove leaven on the Eve of Passover (Ex. 12:15)
116.To rest on the first day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:7)
117.Not to do work on the first day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev.23:6-7)
118.To rest on the seventh day of Passover (Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:8)
119.Not to do work on the seventh day of Passover (Ex. 12:16;Lev. 23:8)
120.To eat "matzah" [unleavened bread] on the first night of Passover (Ex. 12:18)
121.That no leaven be in the Israelite's possession during Passover (Ex. 12:19)
122.Not to eat any food containing leaven on Passover (Ex.12:20)
123.Not to eat leaven on Passover (Ex. 13:3)
124.That leaven shall not be seen in an Israelite's home during Passover (Ex. 13:7)
125.To discuss the departure from Egypt on the first night of Passover (Ex. 13:8)
126.Not to eat leaven after mid-day on the fourteenth of Nissan (Deut. 16:3)
127.To count forty-nine days from the time of the cutting of the Omer (i.e. first sheaves of the barley harvest) (Lev. 23:15)
128.To rest on Pentecost (Lev. 23:21)
129.Not to do work on the feast of Pentecost (Lev. 23:21)
130.To rest on Rosh Hashanah [i.e the feast of Trumpets] (Lev. 23:24)
131.Not to do work on Rosh Hashanah (Lev. 23:25)
132.To hear the sound of the Trumpet [Heb. shofar or ram's horn] (Num.29:1)
133.To fast on Yom Kippur i.e the day of Atonement (Lev. 23:27)
134.Not to eat or drink on Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:29)
135.Not to do work on Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:31)
136.To rest on the Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:32)
137.To rest on the first day of the feast of Tabernacles or Booths.[Heb. Sukkot] (Lev. 23:35)
138.Not to do work on the first day of the feast of Tabernacles. (Lev. 23:35)
139.To rest on the eighth day of the feast of Tabernacles (Lev.23:36)
140.Not to do work on the eighth day of the feast of Tabernacles (Lev. 23:36)
141.To take during Sukkot a palm branch and the other three plants (Lev. 23:40)
142.To dwell in booths seven days during Sukkot (Lev. 23:42)


Dietary Laws

143.To examine the marks in cattle (so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean) (Lev. 11:2)
144.Not to eat the flesh of unclean beasts (Lev. 11:4)
145.To examine the marks in fishes (so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Lev. 11:9)
146.Not to eat unclean fish (Lev. 11:11)
147.To examine the marks in fowl, so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Deut. 14:11)
148.Not to eat unclean fowl (Lev. 11:13)
149.To examine the marks in locusts, so as to distinguish the clean from the unclean (Lev. 11:21)
150.Not to eat a worm found in fruit (Lev. 11:41)
151.Not to eat of things that creep upon the earth (Lev. 11:41-42)
152.Not to eat any vermin of the earth (Lev. 11:44)
153.Not to eat things that swarm in the water (Lev. 11:43 and 46)
154.Not to eat of winged insects (Deut. 14:19)
155.Not to eat the flesh of a beast that is torn (Ex.22:30)
156.Not to eat the flesh of a beast that died of itself (Deut. 14:21)
157.To slay cattle, deer and fowl according to the law if their flesh is to be eaten (Deut. 12:21)
158.Not to eat a limb removed from a living beast (Deut. 12:23)
159.Not to slaughter an animal and its young on the same day (Lev.22:28)
160.Not to take the mother-bird with the young (Deut. 22:6)
161.To set the mother-bird free when taking the nest (Deut.22:6-7)
162.Not to eat the flesh of an ox that was condemned to be stoned (Ex. 21:28)
163.Not to boil meat with milk (Ex. 23:19)
164.Not to eat flesh with milk (Ex. 34:26)
165.Not to eat the of the thigh-vein which shrank (Gen. 32:33)
166.Not to eat the fat of the offering (Lev. 7:23)
167.Not to eat blood (Lev. 7:26)
168.To cover the blood of undomesticated animals (deer, etc.) and of fowl that have been killed (Lev. 17:13)
169.Not to eat or drink like a glutton or a drunkard (not to rebel against father or mother) (Lev. 19:26; Deut. 21:20)


Business Practices

170.Not to do wrong in buying or selling (Lev. 25:14)
171.Not to make a loan to an Israelite on interest (Lev. 25:37)
172.Not to borrow on interest (Deut. 23:20) (because this would cause the lender to sin)
173.Not to take part in any usurious transaction between borrower and lender, neither as a surety, nor as a witness, nor as a writer of the bond for them (Ex. 22:24)
174.To lend to a poor person (Ex. 22:24)
175.Not to demand from a poor man repayment of his debt, when the creditor knows that he cannot pay, nor press him (Ex.22:24)
176.Not to take in pledge utensils used in preparing food (Deut.24:6)
177.Not to exact a pledge from a debtor by force (Deut. 24:10)
178.Not to keep the pledge from its owner at the time when he needs it (Deut. 24:12)
179.To return a pledge to its owner (Deut. 24:13)
180.Not to take a pledge from a widow (Deut. 24:17)
181.Not to commit fraud in measuring (Lev. 19:35)
182.To ensure that scales and weights are correct (Lev. 19:36)
183.Not to possess inaccurate measures and weights (Deut.25:13-14)


Employees, Servants and Slaves

184.Not to delay payment of a hired man's wages (Lev. 19:13)
185.That the hired laborer shall be permitted to eat of the produce he is reaping (Deut. 23:25-26)
186.That the hired laborer shall not take more than he can eat (Deut. 23:25)
187.That a hired laborer shall not eat produce that is not being harvested (Deut. 23:26)
188.To pay wages to the hired man at the due time (Deut. 24:15)
189.To deal judicially with the Hebrew bondman in accordance with the laws appertaining to him (Ex. 21:2-6)
190.Not to compel the Hebrew servant to do the work of a slave (Lev. 25:39)
191.Not to sell a Hebrew servant as a slave (Lev. 25:42)
192.Not to treat a Hebrew servant rigorously (Lev. 25:43)
193.Not to permit a gentile to treat harshly a Hebrew bondman sold to him (Lev. 25:53)
194.Not to send away a Hebrew bondman servant empty handed, when he is freed from service (Deut. 15:13)
195.To bestow liberal gifts upon the Hebrew bondsman (at the end of his term of service), and the same should be done to a Hebrew bondwoman (Deut. 15:14)
196.To redeem a Hebrew maid-servant (Ex. 21:8)
197.Not to sell a Hebrew maid-servant to another person (Ex. 21:8)
198.To espouse a Hebrew maid-servant (Ex. 21:8-9)
199.To keep the Canaanite slave forever (Lev. 25:46)
200.Not to surrender a slave, who has fled to the land of Israel, to his owner who lives outside Palestine (Deut. 23:16)
201.Not to wrong such a slave (Deut. 23:17)
202.Not to muzzle a beast, while it is working in produce which it can eat and enjoy (Deut. 25:4)


Vows, Oaths and Swearing

203.That a man should fulfill whatever he has uttered (Deut. 23:24)
204.Not to swear needlessly (Ex. 20:7)
205.Not to violate an oath or swear falsely (Lev. 19:12)
206.To decide in cases of annulment of vows, according to the rules set forth in the Torah (Num. 30:2-17)
207.Not to break a vow (Num. 30:3)
208.To swear by His name truly (Deut. 10:20)
209.Not to delay in fulfilling vows or bringing vowed or free-will offerings (Deut. 23:22)


The Sabbatical and Jubilee Years

210.To let the land lie fallow in the Sabbatical year (Ex. 23:11; Lev.25:2)
211.To cease from tilling the land in the Sabbatical year (Ex. 23:11) (Lev.25:2)
212.Not to till the ground in the Sabbatical year (Lev. 25:4)
213.Not to do any work on the trees in the Sabbatical year (Lev.25:4)
214.Not to reap the aftermath that grows in the Sabbatical year, in the same way as it is reaped in other years (Lev. 25:5)
215.Not to gather the fruit of the tree in the Sabbatical year in the same way as it is gathered in other years (Lev. 25:5)
216.To sound the Ram's horn in the Sabbatical year (Lev. 25:9)
217.To release debts in the seventh year (Deut. 15:2)
218.Not to demand return of a loan after the Sabbatical year has passed (Deut. 15:2)
219.Not to refrain from making a loan to a poor man, because of the release of loans in the Sabbatical year (Deut. 15:9)
220.To assemble the people to hear the Torah at the close of the seventh year (Deut. 31:12)
221.To count the years of the Jubilee by years and by cycles of seven years (Lev. 25:8)
222.To keep the Jubilee year holy by resting and letting the land lie fallow (Lev. 25:10)
223.Not to cultivate the soil nor do any work on the trees, in the Jubilee Year (Lev. 25:11)
224.Not to reap the aftermath of the field that grew of itself in the Jubilee Year, in the same way as in other years (Lev. 25:11)
225.Not to gather the fruit of the tree in the Jubilee Year, in the same way as in other years (Lev. 25:11)
226.To grant redemption to the land in the Jubilee year (Lev. 25:24)


The Court and Judicial Procedure

227.To appoint judges and officers in every community of Israel (Deut. 16:18)
228.Not to appoint as a judge, a person who is not well versed in the laws of the Torah, even if he is expert in other branches of knowledge (Deut. 1:17)
229.To adjudicate cases of purchase and sale (Lev. 25:14)
230.To judge cases of liability of a paid depositary (Ex. 22:9)
231.To adjudicate cases of loss for which a gratuitous borrower is liable (Ex. 22:13-14)
232.To adjudicate cases of inheritances (Num. 27:8-11)
233.To judge cases of damage caused by an uncovered pit (Ex.21:33-34)
234.To judge cases of injuries caused by beasts (Ex. 21:35-36)
235.To adjudicate cases of damage caused by trespass of cattle (Ex.22:4)
236.To adjudicate cases of damage caused by fire (Ex. 22:5)
237.To adjudicate cases of damage caused by a gratuitous depositary (Ex. 22:6-7)
238.To adjudicate other cases between a plaintiff and a defendant (Ex. 22:8)
239.Not to curse a judge (Ex. 22:27)
240.That one who possesses evidence shall testify in Court (Lev.5:1)
241.Not to testify falsely (Ex. 20:13)
242.That a witness, who has testified in a capital case, shall not lay down the law in that particular case (Num. 35:30)
243.That a transgressor shall not testify (Ex. 23:1)
244.That the court shall not accept the testimony of a close relative of the defendant in matters of capital punishment (Deut. 24:16)
245.Not to hear one of the parties to a suit in the absence of the other party (Ex. 23:1)
246.To examine witnesses thoroughly (Deut. 13:15)
247.Not to decide a case on the evidence of a single witness (Deut.19:15)
248.To give the decision according to the majority, when there is a difference of opinion among the members of the Sanhedrin as to matters of law (Ex. 23:2)
249.Not to decide, in capital cases, according to the view of the majority, when those who are for condemnation exceed by one only, those who arefor acquittal (Ex. 23:2)
250.That, in capital cases, one who had argued for acquittal, shall not later on argue for condemnation (Ex. 23:2)
251.To treat parties in a litigation with equal impartiality (Lev. 19:15)
252.Not to render iniquitous decisions (Lev. 19:15)
253.Not to favor a great man when trying a case (Lev. 19:15)
254.Not to take a bribe (Ex. 23:8)
255.Not to be afraid of a bad man, when trying a case (Deut. 1:17)
256.Not to be moved in trying a case, by the poverty of one of the parties (Ex. 23:3; Lev. 19:15)
257.Not to pervert the judgment of strangers or orphans (Deut.24:17)
258.Not to pervert the judgment of a sinner (a person poor in fulfillment of commandments) (Ex. 23:6)
259.Not to render a decision on one's personal opinion, but only on the evidence of two witnesses, who saw what actually occurred (Ex. 23:7)
260.Not to execute one guilty of a capital offense, before he has stood his trial (Num. 35:12)
261.To accept the rulings of every Supreme Court in Israel (Deut.17:11)
262.Not to rebel against the orders of the Court (Deut. 17:11)


Injuries and Damages

263.To make a parapet for your roof (Deut. 22:8)
264.Not to leave something that might cause hurt (Deut. 22:8)
265.To save the pursued even at the cost of the life of the pursuer (Deut. 25:12)
266.Not to spare a pursuer, but he is to be slain before he reaches the pursued and slays the latter, or uncovers his nakedness (Deut. 25:12)


Property and Property Rights

267.Not to sell a field in the land of Israel in perpetuity (Lev. 25:23)
268.Not to change the character of the open land (about the cities of) the Levites or of their fields; not to sell it in perpetuity, but it may be redeemed at any time (Lev. 25:34)
269.That houses sold within a walled city may be redeemed within a year (Lev. 25:29)
270.Not to remove landmarks (property boundaries) (Deut. 19:14)
271.Not to swear falsely in denial of another's property rights (Lev.19:11)
272.Not to deny falsely another's property rights (Lev. 19:11)
273.Never to settle in the land of Egypt (Deut. 17:16)
274.Not to steal personal property (Lev. 19:11)
275.To restore that which one took by robbery (Lev. 5:23)
276.To return lost property (Deut. 22:1)
277.Not to pretend not to have seen lost property, to avoid the obligation to return it (Deut. 22:3)


Criminal Laws

278.Not to slay an innocent person (Ex. 20:13)
279.Not to kidnap any person of Israel (Ex. 20:13)
280.Not to rob by violence (Lev. 19:13)
281.Not to defraud (Lev. 19:13)
282.Not to covet what belongs to another (Ex. 20:14)
283.Not to crave something that belongs to another (Deut. 5:18)
284.Not to indulge in evil thoughts and sights (Num. 15:39)


Punishment and Restitution

285.That the Court shall pass sentence of death by decapitation with the sword (Ex. 21:20; Lev. 26:25)
286.That the Court shall pass sentence of death by strangulation (Lev. 20:10)
287.That the Court shall pass sentence of death by burning with fire (Lev. 20:14)
288.That the Court shall pass sentence of death by stoning (Deut.22:24)
289.To hang the dead body of one who has incurred that penalty (Deut. 21:22)
290.That the dead body of an executed criminal shall not remain hanging on the tree over night (Deut. 21:23)
291.To inter the executed on the day of execution (Deut. 21:23)
292.Not to accept ransom from a murderer (Num. 35:31)
293.To exile one who committed accidental homicide (Num. 35:25)
294.To establish six cities of refuge (for those who committed accidental homicide) (Deut. 19:3)
295.Not to accept ransom from an accidental homicide, so as to relieve him from exile (Num. 35:32)
296.To decapitate the heifer in the manner prescribed (in expiation of a murder on the road, the perpetrator of which remained undiscovered)
(Deut. 21:4)
297.Not to plow nor sow the rough valley (in which a heifer's neck was broken) (Deut. 21:4)
298.To adjudge a thief to pay compensation or (in certain cases) suffer death (Ex. 21:16; Ex. 21:37; Ex. 22:1)
299.That he who inflicts a bodily injury shall pay monetary compensation (Ex. 21:18-19)
300.To impose a penalty of fifty shekels upon the seducer (of an unbetrothed virgin) and enforce the other rules in connection with the case (Ex. 22:15-16)
301.That the violator (of an unbetrothed virgin) shall marry her (Deut. 22:28-29)
302.That one who has raped a damsel and has then (in accordance with  the law) married her, may not divorce her (Deut. 22:29)
303.Not to inflict punishment on the sabbath (Ex. 35:3) (because some punishments were inflicted by fire)
304.To punish the wicked by the infliction of stripes (Deut. 25:2)
305.Not to exceed the statutory number of stripes laid on one who has incurred that punishment (Deut. 25:3) (and by implication, not to strike anyone)
306.Not to spare the offender, in imposing the prescribed penalties on one who has caused damage (Deut. 19:13)
307.To do unto false witnesses as they had purposed to do (to the accused) (Deut. 19:19)
308.Not to punish any one who has committed an offense under duress (Deut. 22:26)


Prophecy

309.To heed the call of every prophet in each generation, provided that he neither adds to, nor takes away from the Torah (Deut.18:15)
310.Not to prophesy falsely (Deut. 18:20)
311.Not to refrain from putting a false prophet to death nor to be in fear of him (Deut. 18:22) 


Idolatry, Idolaters and Idolatrous Practices

312.Not to make a graven image; neither to make it oneself nor to have itmade by others (Ex. 20:4)
313.Not to make any figures for ornament, even if they are not worshipped (Ex. 20:20)
314.Not to make idols even for others (Ex. 34:17; Lev. 19:4)
315.Not to use the ornament of any object of idolatrous worship (Deut. 7:25)
316.Not to make use of an idol or its accessory objects, offerings, or libations (Deut. 7:26)
317.Not to drink wine of idolaters (Deut. 32:38)
318.Not to worship an idol in the way in which it is usually worshipped (Ex. 20:5)
319.Not to bow down to an idol, even if that is not its mode of worship (Ex. 20:5)
320.Not to prophesy in the name of an idol (Ex. 23:13; Deut.18:20)
321.Not to hearken to one who prophesies in the name of an idol (Deut. 13:4)
322.Not to lead the children of Israel astray to idolatry (Ex. 23:13)
323.Not to entice an Israelite to idolatry (Deut. 13:12)
324.To destroy idolatry and its appurtenances (Deut. 12:2-3)
325.Not to love the enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9)
326.Not to give up hating the enticer to idolatry (Deut. 13:9)
327.Not to save the enticer from capital punishment, but to stand by at his execution (Deut. 13:9)
328.A person whom he attempted to entice to idolatry shall not urge pleas for the acquittal of the enticer (Deut. 13:9)
329.A person whom he attempted to entice shall not refrain from giving evidence of the enticer's guilt, if he has such evidence (Deut. 13:9)
330.Not to swear by an idol to its worshipers, nor cause them to swear by it (Ex. 23:13)
331.Not to turn one's attention to idolatry (Lev. 19:4)
332.Not to adopt the institutions of idolaters nor their customs (Lev. 18:3; Lev. 20:23)
333.Not to pass a child through the fire to Molech (Lev. 18:21)
334.Not to suffer any one practicing witchcraft to live (Ex. 22:17)
335.Not to practice observing times or seasons - i.e. astrology (Lev.19:26)
336.Not to practice superstitions/witchcraft (doing things based on signs and potions; using charms and incantations) (Lev. 19:26)
337.Not to consult familiar spirits or ghosts (Lev. 19:31)
338.Not to consult wizards (Lev. 19:31)
339.Not to practice specific magic by using stones herbs or objects. (Deut. 18:10)
340.Not to practice magical practices in general.(Deut. 18:10)
341.Not to practice the art of casting spells over snakes and scorpions (Deut. 18:11)
342.Not to enquire of a familiar spirit or ghost (Deut. 18:11)
343.Not to seek the dead (Deut. 18:11)
344.Not to enquire of a wizard) (Deut. 18:11)
345.Not to remove the entire beard, like the idolaters (Lev. 19:27)
346.Not to round the corners of the head, as the idolatrous priests do (Lev. 19:27)
347.Not to cut oneself or make incisions in one's flesh in grief, like the idolaters (Lev. 19:28; Deut. 14:1)
348.Not to tattoo the body like the idolaters (Lev. 19:28)
349.Not to make a bald spot for the dead (Deut. 14:1)
350.Not to plant a tree for worship (Deut. 16:21)
351.Not to set up a pillar (for worship) (Deut. 16:22)
352.Not to show favor to idolaters (Deut. 7:2)
353.Not to make a covenant with the seven (Canaanite, idolatrous) nations (Ex. 23:32; Deut. 7:2)
354.Not to settle idolaters in our land (Ex. 23:33)
355.To slay the inhabitants of a city that has become idolatrous and burn that city (Deut. 13:16-17)
356.Not to rebuild a city that has been led astray to idolatry (Deut.13:17)
357.Not to make use of the property of city that has been so led astray (Deut. 13:18)


Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

358.Not to cross-breed cattle of different species (Lev. 19:19)
359.Not to sow different kinds of seed together in one field (Lev.19:19)
360.Not to eat the fruit of a tree for three years from the time it was  planted (Lev. 19:23)
361.That the fruit of fruit-bearing trees in the fourth year of their planting shall be sacred like the second tithe and eaten in Jerusalem (Lev. 19:24)
362.Not to sow grain or herbs in a vineyard (Deut. 22:9)
363.Not to eat the produce of diverse seeds sown in a vineyard (Deut. 22:9)
364.Not to work with beasts of different species, yoked together (Deut. 22:10)


Clothing

365.That a man shall not wear women's clothing (Deut. 22:5)
366.That a woman should not wear men's clothing (Deut. 22:5)
367.Not to wear garments made of wool and linen mixed together (Deut. 22:11)


The Firstborn

368.To redeem the firstborn human male (Ex. 13:13; Ex. 34:20; Num. 18:15)
369.To redeem the firstling of an ass (Ex. 13:13; Ex. 34:20)
370.To break the neck of the firstling of an ass if it is not redeemed (Ex. 13:13; Ex. 34:20)
371.Not to redeem the firstling of a clean beast (Num. 18:17)


High Priest, Priests and Levites

372.That the Priest shall put on priestly vestments for the service (Ex. 28:2)
373.Not to tear the High Priest's robe (Ex. 28:32)
374.That the Priest shall not enter the Sanctuary at all times (i.e.,at times when he is not performing service) (Lev. 16:2)
375.That the ordinary Priest shall not defile himself by contact with any  dead, other than immediate relatives (Lev. 21:1-3)
376.That the sons of Aaron defile themselves for their deceased relatives (by attending their burial), and mourn for them like other Israelites, who are commanded to mourn for their relatives (Lev.21:3)
377.That a Priest who had an immersion during the day (to cleanse him from his uncleanness) shall not serve in the Sanctuary until after sunset (Lev. 21:6)
378.That a Priest shall not marry a divorced woman (Lev. 21:7)
379.That a Priest shall not marry a harlot (Lev. 21:7)
380.That a Priest shall not marry a profaned woman (Lev. 21:7)
381.To show honor to a Priest, and to give him precedence in all things that are holy (Lev. 21:8)
382.That a High Priest shall not defile himself with any dead, even if they are relatives (Lev. 21:11)
383.That a High Priest shall not go (under the same roof) with a dead body (Lev. 21:11)
384.That the High Priest shall marry a virgin (Lev. 21:13)
385.That the High Priest shall not marry a widow (Lev. 21:14)
386.That the High Priest shall not cohabit with a widow, even without marriage, because he profanes her (Lev. 21:15)
387.That a person with a physical blemish shall not serve (in the Sanctuary) (Lev. 21:17)
388.That a Priest with a temporary blemish shall not serve there (Lev. 21:21)
389.That a person with a physical blemish shall not enter the Sanctuary further than the altar (Lev. 21:23)
390.That a Priest who is unclean shall not serve (in the Sanctuary) (Lev. 22:2-3)
391.To send the unclean out of the Camp, that is, out of the Sanctuary (Num. 5:2)
392.That a Priest who is unclean shall not enter the courtyard (Num. 5:2-3) This refers to the Camp of the Sanctuary
393.That the sons or descendants of Aaron shall bless Israel (Num. 6:23)
394.To set apart a portion of the dough for the Priest (Num.15:20)
395.That the Levites shall not occupy themselves with the service that belongs to the sons of Aaron, nor the sons of Aaron with that belonging to the Levites (Num. 18:3)
396.That one not a descendant of Aaron in the male line shall not serve (in the Sanctuary) (Num. 18:4-7)
397.That the Levite shall serve in the Sanctuary (Num. 18:23)
398.To give the Levites cities to dwell in, these to serve also as cities of  refuge (Num. 35:2)
399.That none of the tribe of Levi shall take any portion of territory in the land (of Israel) (Deut. 18:1)
400.That none of the tribe of Levi shall take any share of the spoil (at the conquest of the Promised Land) (Deut. 18:1)
401.That the sons of aaron shall serve in the Sanctuary in divisions, but on festivals, they all serve together (Deut. 18:6-8)


Tithes, Taxes and T'rumah [Hebrew Offerings]

402.That an uncircumcised person shall not shall not eat of the t'rumah (heave offering), and the same applies to other holy things. This rule is inferred from the law of the Paschal offering, by similarity of phrase (Ex. 12:44-45 and Lev. 22:10) but it is not explicitly set forth in the Torah.
Traditionally, it has been learnt that the rule that the uncircumcised must not eat holy things is an essential principle of the Torah and not an
enactment of the Scribes.
403.Not to alter the order of separating the t'rumah and the tithes; the separation be in the order first-fruits at the beginning, then the t'rumah, then the first tithe, and last the second tithe (Ex.22:28)
404.To give half a shekel every year (to the Sanctuary for provision of the public sacrifices) (Ex. 30:13)
405.That a preist [kohein] who is unclean shall not eat of the t'rumah (Lev.22:3-4)
406.That a person who is not a kohein or the wife or unmarried daughter of a kohein shall not eat of the t'rumah (Lev. 22:10)
407.That a sojourner with a kohein or his hired servant shall not eat of the t'rumah (Lev. 22:10)
408.Not to eat unholy things [Heb. tevel] (something from which the  t'rumah and tithe have not yet been separated) (Lev. 22:15)
409.To set apart the tithe of the produce (one tenth of the produce after taking out t'rumah) for the Levites (Lev. 27:30; Num.18:24)
410.To tithe cattle (Lev. 27:32)
411.Not to sell the tithe of the heard (Lev. 27:32-33)
412.That the Levites shall set apart a tenth of the tithes, which they had received from the Israelites, and give it to the Priest [Heb.kohanim]
(called the t'rumah of the tithe) (Num. 18:26)
413.Not to eat the second tithe of cereals outside Jerusalem (Deut.12:17)
414.Not to consume the second tithe of the vintage outside of Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17)
415.Not to consume the second tithe of the oil outside of Jerusalem (Deut. 12:17)
416.Not to forsake the Levites (Deut. 12:19); but their gifts (dues) should be given to them, so that they might rejoice therewith on each and every festival
417.To set apart the second tithe in the first, second, fourth and fifth years of the sabbatical cycle to be eaten by its owner in Jerusalem (Deut. 14:22)
418.To set apart the second tithe in the third and sixth year of the sabbatical cycle for the poor (Deut. 14:28-29)
419.To give the kohein [i.e. Priest] the due portions of the carcass of cattle (Deut. 18:3)
420.To give the first of the fleece to the priest (Deut. 18:4)
421.To set apart a small portion of the grain, wine and oil for the Priest [Heb. kohein] [Heb. t'rumah g'dolah i.e.(the great heave-offering) (Deut.18:4)
422.Not to expend the proceeds of the second tithe on anything but food and drink (Deut. 26:14)
423.Not to eat the Second Tithe, even in Jerusalem, in a state of uncleanness, until the tithe had been redeemed (Deut. 26:14)
424.Not to eat the Second Tithe, when mourning (Deut. 26:14)
425.To make the declaration, when bringing the second tithe to the Sanctuary (Deut. 26:13)


The Temple, the Sanctuary and Sacred Objects

426.Not to build an altar of hewn stone (Ex. 20:22)
427.Not to mount the altar by steps (Ex. 20:23)
428.To build the Sanctuary (Ex. 25:8)
429.Not to remove the staves from the Ark (Ex. 25:15)
430.To set the showbread and the frankincense before the Lord every Sabbath (Ex. 25:30)
431.To kindle lights in the Sanctuary (Ex. 27:21)
432.That the breastplate shall not be loosened from the ephod (Ex.28:28)
433.To offer up incense twice daily (Ex. 30:7)
434.Not to offer strange incense nor any sacrifice upon the golden altar (Ex. 30:9)
435.That the Priest shall wash his hands and feet at the time of service (Ex. 30:19)
436.To prepare the oil of anointment and anoint high priests and kings with it (Ex. 30:31)
437.Not to compound oil for lay use after the formula of the anointing oil (Ex. 30:32-33)
438.Not to anoint a stranger with the anointing oil (Ex. 30:32)
439.Not to compound anything after the formula of the incense (Ex.30:37)
440.That he who, in error, makes unlawful use of sacred things, shall make restitution of the value of his trespass and add a fifth (Lev. 5:16)
441.To remove the ashes from the altar (Lev. 6:3)
442.To keep fire always burning on the altar of the burnt-offering (Lev. 6:6)
443.Not to extinguish the fire on the altar (Lev. 6:6)
444.That a kohein shall not enter the Sanctuary with disheveled hair (Lev. 10:6)
445.That a kohein shall not enter the Sanctuary with torn garments (Lev. 10:6)
446.That the kohein shall not leave the Courtyard of the Sanctuary, during service (Lev. 10:7)
447.That an intoxicated person shall not enter the Sanctuary nor give decisions in matters of the Law (Lev. 10:9-11)
448.To revere the Sanctuary (Lev. 19:30) (today, this applies to synagogues)
449.That when the Ark is carried, it should be carried on the shoulder (Num. 7:9)
450.To observe the second Passover (Num. 9:11)
451.To eat the flesh of the Paschal lamb on it, with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Num. 9:11)
452.Not to leave any flesh of the Paschal lamb brought on the second Passover until the morning (Num. 9:12)
453.Not to break a bone of the Paschal lamb brought on the second Passover (Num. 9:12)
454.To sound the trumpets at the offering of sacrifices and in times of trouble (Num. 10:9-10)
455.To watch over the edifice continually (Num. 18:2)
456.Not to allow the Sanctuary to remain unwatched (Num. 18:5)
457.That an offering shall be brought by one who has in error committed a trespass against sacred things, or robbed, or lain carnally with a bondmaid betrothed to a man, or denied what was deposited with him and swore falsely to support his denial. This is called a guilt-offering for a known trespass (Lev. 5:15-19)
458.Not to destroy anything of the Sanctuary, of synagogues, or of houses of study, nor erase the holy names (of God); nor may sacred scriptures be destroyed (Deut. 12:2-4)


Sacrifices and Offerings

459.To sanctify the firstling of clean cattle and offer it up (Ex.  13:2;Deut.15:19)
460.To slay the Paschal lamb (Ex. 12:6)
461.To eat the flesh of the Paschal sacrifice on the night of the fifteenth of Nissan (Ex. 12:8)
462.Not to eat the flesh of the Paschal lamb raw or sodden (Ex.12:9)
463.Not to leave any portion of the flesh of the Paschal sacrifice until the morning unconsumed (Ex. 12:10)
464.Not to give the flesh of the Paschal lamb to an Israelite who had become an apostate (Ex. 12:43)
465.Not to give flesh of the Paschal lamb to a stranger who lives among you to eat (Ex. 12:45)
466.Not to take any of the flesh of the Paschal lamb from the company's place of assembly (Ex. 12:46)
467.Not to break a bone of the Paschal lamb (Ex. 12:46)
468.That the uncircumcised shall not eat of the flesh of the Paschal lamb (Ex. 12:48)
469.Not to slaughter the Paschal lamb while there is leaven in the home (Ex. 23:18; Ex. 24:25)
470.Not to leave the part of the Paschal lamb that should be burnt on the altar until the morning, when it will no longer be fit to be burnt (Ex. 23:18; Ex. 24:25)
471.Not to go up to the Sanctuary for the festival without bringing an offering (Ex. 23:15)
472.To bring the first fruits to the Sanctuary (Ex. 23:19)
473.That the flesh of a sin-offering and guilt-offering shall be eaten (Ex. 29:33)
474.That one not of the seed of Aaron, shall not eat the flesh of the holy sacrifices (Ex. 29:33)
475.To observe the procedure of the burnt-offering (Lev. 1:3)
476.To observe the procedure of the meal-offering (Lev. 2:1)
477.Not to offer up leaven or honey (Lev. 2:11)
478.That every sacrifice be salted (Lev. 2:13)
479.Not to offer up any offering unsalted (Lev. 2:13)
480.That the Court of Judgment shall offer up a sacrifice if they have erred in a judicial pronouncement (Lev. 4:13)
481.That an individual shall bring a sin-offering if he has sinned in error  by committing a transgression (Lev. 4:27-28)
482.To offer a sacrifice of varying value in accordance with one's means (Lev. 5:7)
483.Not to sever completely the head of a fowl brought as a sin-offering (Lev. 5:8)
484.Not to put olive oil in a sin-offering made of flour (Lev. 5:11)
485.Not to put frankincense on a sin-offering made of flour (Lev.5:11)
486.That an individual shall bring an offering if he is in doubt as to whether he has committed a sin for which one has to bring a sin offering. (Lev.5:17-19)
487.That the remainder of the meal offerings shall be eaten (Lev.6:9)
488.Not to allow the remainder of the meal offerings to become leavened (Lev. 6:10)
489.That the High Priest [Heb. Kohein] shall offer a meal offering daily (Lev. 6:13)
490.Not to eat of the meal offering brought by Aaron and his sons (Lev.6:16)
491.To observe the procedure of the sin-offering (Lev. 6:18)
492.Not to eat of the flesh of sin offerings, the blood of which is brought within the Sanctuary and sprinkled towards the Veil (Lev. 6:23)
493.To observe the procedure of the guilt-offering (Lev. 7:1)
494.To observe the procedure of the peace-offering (Lev. 7:11)
495.To burn meat of the holy sacrifice that has remained over (Lev.7:17)
496.Not to eat of sacrifices that are eaten beyond the appointed time for eating them (Lev. 7:18)
497.Not to eat of holy things that have become unclean (Lev. 7:19)
498.To burn meat of the holy sacrifice that has become unclean (Lev. 7:19)
499.That a person who is unclean shall not eat of things that are holy (Lev. 7:20)
500.A Priest's daughter who profaned herself shall not eat of the holy things, neither of the heave offering nor of the breast, nor of the shoulder of peace offerings (Lev. 10:14, Lev. 22:12)
501.That a woman after childbirth shall bring an offering when she is clean (Lev. 12:6)
502.That the leper shall bring a sacrifice after he is cleansed (Lev.14:10)
503.That a man having an issue shall bring a sacrifice after he is cleansed of his issue (Lev. 15:13-15)
504.That a woman having an issue shall bring a sacrifice after she is cleansed of her issue (Lev. 15:28-30)
505.To observe, on Yom Kippur, the service appointed for that day, regarding the sacrifice, confessions, sending away of the scapegoat, etc. (Lev. 16:3-34)
506.Not to slaughter beasts set apart for sacrifices outside (the Sanctuary) (Lev. 17:3-4)
507.Not to eat flesh of a sacrifice that has been left over (beyond the time appointed for its consumption) (Lev. 19:8)
508.Not to sanctify blemished cattle for sacrifice on the altar (Lev.22:20)
This text prohibits such beasts being set apart for sacrifice on the altar
509.That every animal offered up shall be without blemish (Lev.22:21)
510.Not to inflict a blemish on cattle set apart for sacrifice (Lev.22:21)
511.Not to slaughter blemished cattle as sacrifices (Lev. 22:22)
512.Not to burn the limbs of blemished cattle upon the altar (Lev.22:22)
513.Not to sprinkle the blood of blemished cattle upon the altar (Lev. 22:24)
514.Not to offer up a blemished beast that comes from non-Israelites (Lev. 22:25)
515.That sacrifices of cattle can only take place when they are at least eight days old (Lev. 22:27)
516.Not to leave any flesh of the thanksgiving offering until the morning (Lev. 22:30)
517.To offer up the meal-offering of the Omer on the morrow after the first day of Passover, together with one lamb (Lev. 23:10)
518.Not to eat bread made of new grain before the Omer of barley has been offered up on the second day of Passover (Lev.23:14)
519.Not to eat roasted grain of the new produce before that time (Lev. 23:14)
520.Not to eat fresh ears of the new grain before that time (Lev.23:14)
521.To bring on wave loaves of bread together with the sacrifices which are then offered up in connection with the loaves [Pentecost feast] (Lev. 23:17-20)
522.To offer up an additional sacrifice on Passover (Lev. 23:36)
523.That one who vows to the Lord the monetary value of a person shall pay the amount appointed in the Scriptural portion (Lev.27:2-8)
524.If a beast is exchanged for one that had been set apart as an offering, both become sacred (Lev. 27:10)
525.Not to exchange a beast set aside for sacrifice (Lev. 27:10)
526.That one who vows to the Lord the monetary value of an unclean beast shall pay its value (Lev. 27:11-13)
527.That one who vows the value of a his house shall pay according to the appraisal of the Priest (Lev. 27:11-13)
528.That one who sanctifies to the Lord a portion of his field shall pay according to the estimation appointed in the Scriptural portion (Lev. 27:16-24)
529.Not to transfer a beast set apart for sacrifice from one class of sacrifices to another (Lev. 27:26)
530.To decide in regard to dedicated property as to which is sacred to the Lord and which belongs to the Priest (Lev. 27:28)
531.Not to sell a field devoted to the Lord (Lev. 27:28)
532.Not to redeem a field devoted to the Lord (Lev. 27:28)
533.To make confession before the Lord of any sin that one has committed, when bringing a sacrifice and at other times (Num.5:6-7)
534.Not to put olive oil in the meal-offering of a woman suspected of adultery (Num. 5:15)
535.Not to put frankincense on it (Num. 5:15)
536.To offer up the regular sacrifices daily (two lambs as burnt offerings) (Num. 28:3)
537.To offer up an additional sacrifice every Sabbath (two lambs) (Num. 28:9)
538.To offer up an additional sacrifice every New Moon (Num. 28:11)
539.To bring an additional offering on the day of the first fruits [Pentecost] (Num. 28:26-27)
540.To offer up an additional sacrifice on [Feast of Trumpets] or Rosh Hashanah (Num.29:1-6)
541.To offer up an additional sacrifice on the day of Atonement or Yom Kippur (Num. 29:7-8)
542.To offer up an additional sacrifice on Feast of Tabernacles [Heb. Sukkot] (Num. 29:12-34)
543.To offer up an additional offering on the eighth day after the feast of Tabernacles called (Heb. Shemini Atzeret), which is a festival by itself
(Num. 29:35-38) This eighth day is an anticipation of the New Testament Sabbath which would be instituted on the first day of the week, which is also the eighth day.
544.To bring all offerings, whether obligatory or freewill, on the first festival after these were incurred (Deut. 12:5-6)
545.Not to offer up sacrifices outside (the Sanctuary) (Deut. 12:13)
546.To offer all sacrifices in the Sanctuary (Deut. 12:14)
547.To redeem cattle set apart for sacrifices that contracted disqualifying blemishes, after which they may be eaten by anyone. (Deut. 12:15)
548.Not to eat of the unblemished firstling outside Jerusalem (Deut.12:17)
549.Not to eat the flesh of the burnt-offering (Deut. 12:17). This is a Prohibition applying to every trespasser, not to enjoy any of the holy things.
550.That the sons of Aaron [i.e. his descendents] shall not eat the flesh of the  sin-offering or guilt-offering outside the Courtyard (of the Sanctuary) (Deut.12:17)
551.Not to eat of the flesh of the sacrifices that are holy in a minor degree, before the blood has been sprinkled (on the altar), (Deut. 12:17)
552.That the Priest shall not eat the first-fruits before they are set down in the Courtyard (of the Sanctuary) (Deut. 12:17)
553.To take trouble to bring sacrifices to the Sanctuary from places outside the land of Israel (Deut. 12:26)
554.Not to eat the flesh of beasts set apart as sacrifices, that have been rendered unfit to be offered up by deliberately inflicted blemish (Deut. 14:3)
555.Not to do work with cattle set apart for sacrifice (Deut. 15:19)
556.Not to shear beasts set apart for sacrifice (Deut. 15:19)
557.Not to leave any portion of the festival offering brought on the fourteenth of Nissan unto the third day (Deut. 16:4)
558.Not to offer up a beast that has a temporary blemish (Deut.17:1)
559.Not to bring sacrifices out of the hire of a harlot or price of a dog (apparently a euphemism for sodomy) (Deut. 23:19)
560.To read the portion prescribed on bringing the first fruits (Deut.26:5-10)


Ritual Purity and Impurity

561.That eight species of creeping things defile by contact (Lev.11:29-30)
562.That foods become defiled by contact with unclean things (Lev.11:34)
563.That anyone who touches the carcass of a beast that died of itself shall be unclean (Lev. 11:39)
564.That a lying-in woman is unclean like a menstruating woman (in terms of uncleanness) (Lev. 12:2-5)
565.That a leper is unclean and defiles (Lev. 13:2-46)
566.That the leper shall be universally recognized as such by the prescribed marks So too, all other unclean persons should declare themselves as such (Lev. 13:45)
567.That a leprous garment is unclean and defiles (Lev. 13:47-49)
568.That a leprous house defiles (Lev. 14:34-46)
569.That a man, having a running issue, defiles (Lev. 15:1-15)
570.That the seed of copulation defiles (Lev. 15:16)
571.That purification from all kinds of defilement shall be effected by ceremonial washing (Lev. 15:16)
572.That a menstruating woman is unclean and defiles others (Lev.15:19-24)
573.That a woman, having a running issue, defiles (Lev. 15:25-27)
574.To carry out the ordinance of the Red Heifer so that its ashes will always be available (Num. 19:9)
575.That a corpse defiles (Num. 19:11-16)
576.That the waters of separation defile one who is clean, and cleanse the unclean from pollution by a dead body (Num.19:19-22)


Lepers and Leprosy

577.Not to drove off the hair of the scall (Lev. 13:33)
578.That the procedure of cleansing leprosy, whether of a man or of a house, takes place with cedar-wood, hyssop, scarlet thread, two birds, and running water (Lev. 14:1-7)
579.That the leper shall shave all his hair (Lev. 14:9)
580.Not to pluck out the marks of leprosy (Deut. 24:8)


The King

581.Not to curse a ruler, that is, the King in the land of Israel (Ex. 22:27)
582.To appoint a king (Deut. 17:15)
583.Not to appoint as ruler over Israel, one who comes from non-Israelites (Deut. 17:15)
584.That the King shall not acquire an excessive number of horses (Deut. 17:16)
585.That the King shall not take an excessive number of wives (Deut. 17:17)
586.That he shall not accumulate an excessive quantity of gold and silver (Deut. 17:17)
587.That the King shall write a scroll of the Torah for himself, in addition to the one that every person should write, so that he writes two scrolls (Deut. 17:18) 


Nazarites

588.That a Nazarite shall not drink wine, or anything mixed with wine which tastes like wine; and even if the wine or the mixture has turned sour, it is prohibited to him (Num. 6:3)
589.That he shall not eat fresh grapes (Num. 6:3)
590.That he shall not eat dried grapes (raisins) (Num. 6:3)
591.That he shall not eat the kernels of the grapes (Num. 6:4)
592.That he shall not eat of the skins of the grapes (Num. 6:4)
593.That the Nazarite shall permit his hair to grow (Num. 6:5)
594.That the Nazarite shall not cut his hair (Num. 6:5)
595.That he shall not enter any covered structure where there is a dead body (Num. 6:6)
596.That a Nazarite shall not defile himself for any dead person (by being in the presence of the corpse) (Num. 6:7)
597.That the Nazarite shall shave his hair when he brings his offerings at the completion of the period of his Nazariteship, or within that period if he has become defiled (Num. 6:9)


Wars

598.That those engaged in warfare shall not fear their enemies nor be panic-stricken by them during battle (Deut. 3:22, 7:21,20:3)
599.To anoint a special Priest (to speak to the soldiers) in a war (Deut. 20:2) This is today's equivalent to a military chaplain.
600.In a permissive war (as distinguished from obligatory ones), to observe the procedure prescribed in the Torah (Deut. 20:10)
601.Not to keep alive any individual of the seven Canaanite nations (Deut. 20:16)
602.To exterminate the seven Canaanite nations from the land of Israel (Deut. 20:17)
603.Not to destroy fruit trees (wantonly or in warfare) (Deut.20:19-20)
604.To deal with a beautiful woman taken captive in war in the manner prescribed in the Torah (Deut. 21:10-14)
605.Not to sell a beautiful woman, (taken captive in war) (Deut.21:14)
606.Not to degrade a beautiful woman (taken captive in war) to the condition of a bondwoman (Deut. 21:14)
607.Not to offer peace to the Ammonites and the Moabites before waging war on them, as should be done to other nations (Deut.23:7)
608.That anyone who is unclean shall not enter the Camp of the Levites (Deut. 23:11)
609.To have a place outside the camp for sanitary purposes (Deut.23:13)
610.To keep that place sanitary (Deut. 23:14-15)
611.Always to remember what Amalek did (Deut. 25:17)
612.That the evil done to us by Amalek shall not be forgotten (Deut.25:19)
613.To destroy the seed of Amalek (Deut. 25:19)

Monday, 26 April 2021

Is there a Rapture?

 













Is there a Rapture?

Firstly, this word "rapture" is NOT found in the English version of the bible, NOR in the Latin translation of the bible (called the Vulgate and translated in 382AD).


So where did people get the word "rapture" from the bible?


Many refers the verse 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as speaking about the rapture. In fact, futurists like to quote religiously on this verse and teach on a future rapture which I shall call it the "rapture theory". 


1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 


It is important to take note that this "rapture theory" that is taught in churches was only invented about 200 years ago around the late 18th century. Some writers wrote about this in small articles and later it became a fundamental doctrine in the modern contemporary church in Europe and then in America. From there the theory spread to the rest of the church world.


Prior to that, there was NO "rapture theory" ever since the time of Jesus and his disciples, and definitely NOT in the 1st century church.



Scofield popularize the "rapture theory"

In the early 20th century, Cyrus Scofield produced the Scofield Reference Bible that was widely circulated as a study bible, and in that bible he added his own notes and annotations within the sideline of the pages. It was there that he promoted the "rapture theory" and dispensationalism.
This reference bible became a best seller with more than 2 million sold at the end of World War 2. The dispensationalists used his references to teach on the "rapture theory" in their study of eschatology or end times.


See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scofield_Reference_Bible



Why was the "rapture theory" suddenly became popular?

This  theory became a popular topic when the whole world went to war during World War 1 and World War 2 in 1914 and 1939 respectively. People were taught that these wars were signs of the coming great tribulation. They went on to debate whether the rapture would happen before the great tribulation or after the great tribulation, thus calling it Pre-tribulation and Post-tribulation. If the rapture happens in the midst of the tribulation, it will be called Mid-tribulation.


It should be noted that all of these ideas of "rapture theory", Pre-trib, Post-trib and Mid-trib, were a result of using the scriptures out of its original Context to confirm their presumptions.


With that in mind, we shall look at these verses and its passage properly particularly the 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and 5.


1Th 4:13  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 

1Th 4:14  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 

1Th 4:15  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 

1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Therefore encourage one another with these words. 


Firstly, Paul wrote these words for the main purpose of encouragement (verse 18) for the believers (verse 13) in Thessalonica. He didn't write it and said it was for the futuristic church that is expecting tribulation and rapture.


Secondly, Paul wrote in verse 16 and 17, that they will be always living with the Lord in the "air". It doesn't say in "heaven" or on "earth", but in a space or realm that is neither "heaven" nor "earth". We shall come back to this "air" later. Futurists like Scofield said that the so-called rapture is to a new heaven and a new earth, making it a physical place of living. Well, Paul said no, it is in the air.


Thirdly, Paul speaks of a resurrection in verse 16. Resurrections were not uncommon events in the bible. There were resurrections in the Old Testament. Examples are resurrection of the widow’s son in Zarephath (1 Kgs 17:17–22), resurrection of the Shunammite’s son (2 Kgs 4:18–37), resurrection of the man thrown into Elisha’s grave (2 Kgs 13:20).

In the New Testament, we have resurrection of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:41), resurrection of the young man at Nain (Luke 7:14), resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:38–44), resurrection of unknown saints during the crucifixion (Matt 27:52–53), resurrection of Christ (Matt 28:1-6), resurrection of Tabitha/Dorcas (Acts 9:36–42), resurrection of Eutychus (Acts 20:7–12).


So when Paul wrote about resurrections, he was not particularly speaking about the rapture and future resurrection of the dead. Biblically and historically, there had been many resurrections and particularly, at the cross where Jesus was crucified, many dead saints came back to life or resurrected as recorded in Matthew 27:52.



A serious mistake

It is a grave mistake that people can isolate 1 or 2 verses of the bible and build an entire doctrine around these verses. This is a dangerous way to read the bible.


Question: So how do we proceed to interpret this if not for the "rapture theory"?

Answer: It is important to take note that Paul did not stop writing at the end of 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, and take a break and then continue on into chapter 5. Paul did not write in chapters and verses. He just wrote line upon line in one continuous letter. So let us look at how chapter 4 develops in chapter 5. See 1 Thessalonians 4:17 - 5:2


1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Therefore encourage one another with these words. 

1Th 5:1  Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 

1Th 5:2  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 



So Paul is encouraging the audience that concerning the timing of these events in 1 Thes 4:13-18, they already knew what to expect, and that Paul need not repeat in writing to them again.


What is Paul speaking about here to his audience? A future rapture? a future tribulation?


NO, he is talking about "THE DAY OF THE LORD COMING LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT".


Paul is telling them that they already knew about this event (the day of the Lord, not the rapture theory) because this event is coming as a thief in the night.



Do you know where did the believers learnt that the day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night?


It is from Matthew 24, where Jesus himself told them explicitly and openly, until it has become common knowledge. So Paul is telling his audience that this knowledge is so widespread and common, that they have no need for Paul to write to them again. They have been hearing this from Jesus and his disciples. It was their common expectation to look out for the signs leading to the event of the Day of the Lord.


See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_of_the_Lord



Let us come back to the  phrase "caught up in the air".


What is this "air" in 1 Thessalonians 4:17

1Th 4:17  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 

This word "air" has its original Greek word "aemi" meaning the "breath" (or breath of God).

So it also has a spiritual meaning representing the dimension or the realm of the spirit / breath


Paul is saying that in the Day of the Lord, the believers who are alive will meet up with Jesus in a new dimension, the realm of the spirit or breath, representing the essence and presence of Jesus. This is like being ushered into the presence of Christ in his new Messianic Age. It is a new spiritual era. 

A new realm of living in the spirit, and not only in the physical. We are  transferred into the spiritual realm, from Moses to Jesus. This is the Age that is to come for the believers.


As we read on in 1 Thessalonians 5:3-8, we see that Paul was reinforcing the Day of the Lord is like a thief in the night.

1Th 5:3  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 

1Th 5:4  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 

1Th 5:5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 

1Th 5:6  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 

1Th 5:7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 

1Th 5:8  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
 

This is exactly what Jesus taught them in Matthew 24.

History records that the atrocities caused by the Roman armies on Jerusalem were so sudden and swift that many who procrastinated leaving Jerusalem (because they doubted Jesus's warnings), were not able to escape anymore when that window of opportunity was gone.


Verse 6 is a reminder for the believers to be prepared and not slumber.

Verse 8 points them to Jesus who is their hope of salvation. The Son of Man will redeem them from the coming judgement.


Come back to the crux of the matter:


1Th 5:9  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 


This is the reason for Paul to write to them in 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5, to save them through Jesus Christ.

There is a wrath that is coming, and that is the wrath on Jerusalem, but the believers are not meant to receive the wrath but salvation.


We continue:

1Th 5:10  (Jesus) who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 

1Th 5:11  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 


The greatest desire of God is expressed here, and that is we might live with him.

We should take note that most of the New Testament is about not going back to the Mosaic System, not going back to the Temple sacrifices and ceremonies, because God doesn't want them to go back. 

God wants them to live together with Christ under the new kingdom, the Messianic Age.

They need to wake up to a new Age, a new spiritual realm or reality of who they are in Christ, and walking with Christ because He lives in them in their spirit (or breath).


A brief reference from the Harper Study Bible:

[... 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written around AD50 - AD51, within a short time of each other; These 2 letters comprise the earliest epistles of Paul found in the New Testament. Paul instructs believers to be busy about the ordinary tasks of life, since their expectation of the immediate return of Christ had caused some to grow careless about daily duties. ...

Apparently they had misunderstood what he had said. His emphasis on the imminence of the Lord's coming resulted in some of them thinking that the day of the Lord had already started. Others thought he was coming so soon that they stopped work and waited idly. They had missed the point that Jesus will come as a thief in the night and at a time when people do not expect him. ... 

One statement in this letter seems to suggest that the Thessalonians had been led astray by wrong teaching from unauthentic sources. He begs them not to be shaken or alarmed, "either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the  effect that the day of the Lord is already here" (2:2). ...]


Anyone who reads these letters to the Thessalonians will realize that they were expecting the coming of the Day of the Lord. If the Day of the Lord is more than 2000 years in their future, it is futile for Paul to write to them like this, because they will be all dead by then, and furthermore it doesn't concern them at all.


Clearly the believers were taught wrongly after receiving the 1st letter from Paul and that prompted Paul to write the 2nd letter very quickly.


2Th 2:1  Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 

2Th 2:2  not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 



Paul wrote to elaborate about the coming of the day of the Lord, and the gathering together unto him. Don't be troubled. Don't be alarmed. Paul had to comfort them.

Then Paul added,

2Th 2:3  Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, 

2Th 2:4  who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God. 



Temple 

Look at the word "temple" in verse 4. This verse, together with the book of Revelations, and Matthew 24, speaks of an existing standing Temple that is in Jerusalem.

Futurists think that the Temple will be rebuilt, and then 2 Thessalonians 2:4, will be fulfilled.

Actually, Paul was talking to the audience within that generation, about the existing Temple at Jerusalem. The Romans had not yet destroyed it in AD52, when Paul wrote these letters to the Thessalonians. It was only destroyed in AD70, just as Jesus prophesied it would be in Matthew 24:2


Today, in Israel, there is a Zionist movement talking about rebuilding the destroyed Temple. They are talking about chasing the Muslims out of their Dome of the Rock (their mosque), that was built on top of the land of the destroyed Temple. 

Sadly, many Christians subscribing to this futuristic rapture theory are pro-Zionism, thinking that the Temple will be rebuilt and then the rapture happens. 

What are they doing? They are trying to squeeze modern events into their own interpretation of prophetic scripture.



Events preceding the day of the Lord

According to 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, there is a sign that preceded the day of the Lord, and that is the appearing of the man of sin (also called the son of perdition), and this man will call himself God and sit as God in the temple.

Qn: Who is this "man of sin" or "son of perdition"?

An: I don't know. There are a few assumptions, but nothing concrete. However, we do know that the same phrase "perdition" is used of Judas who betrayed Jesus in John 17:12. Whoever it was, it is a man who betrayed his own people, an evil person, and a man of sin.


One explanation on man of sin.

One explanation says John of Giscala could be the man of sin, and that historically the Jewish priesthood did not leave Jerusalem but held back the Roman siege that started in AD68. Then some Jewish zealots betrayed and murdered the high priest Anarus, together with 12,000 of the Jewish priests. The leader of these Jewish rebels was John of Giscala. 

These zealots then fought among themselves, and without a  trained army like the Romans, they eventually lost the battle to defend Jerusalem. John was  later imprisoned by the Romans in AD70, when they took over the Temple and the city of Jerusalem.

In short, this John established himself in the Temple, the one standing when Paul wrote, and put himself above Rome and above God, thereby taking the place of God in the Temple. All this happened, right then and there, and exactly as Paul had said the "man of sin" would do.


See:

Another explanation says that the man of sin or son of perdition was Caesar Nero because grammatically the spelling of Caesar Nero was the Roman numerals 666 as in the book of Revelations. Before Nero became emperor, he was suppressed by the then Caesar Claudius, so when Claudius was no longer the emperor (taken out of the way as in verse 7).

Nero became known as the "man of sin" who persecuted the Jews, and declared himself to be God.


Conclusion

Qn: So what is the future?

Ans: The  future shows that the kingdom of God is continuing to expand until the knowledge of the glory of the Lord covers the earth as the waters cover the sea. So we need to wake up to who you are in Christ, and wake up to the knowledge of Christ in you for he is our righteousness.

Rather than waiting for the manifestation of the kingdom, realize that the kingdom has come in Christ and Christ is in me.

Christ is our hope of glory. He is not the hope of our salvation anymore. That was the prophetic word for them in their last days before the destruction of Jerusalem. 

We have the hope of glory manifesting out of us. The kingdom of God is within me, and things are going to get better.

10 Changes made to the bible

 For General knowledge:

(please view using Web version, and not mobile version). 



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKp4yWGTfXo




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX62bRIG-OI

Saturday, 24 April 2021

Parable of the 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish virgins


















Parable of the 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish virgins

This parable is part of the conversation that Jesus had with his believers and a continuation of Matthew 24 discussion, even though it was placed in chapter 25 instead of chapter 24. Remember the book of Matthew does not have chapters and verses, but it was later placed in by translators for easy referencing and quotation.


So to understand this parable, you have to look within the Context of Matthew 24, because it is part of the verbal discourse that Jesus had with his disciples, and particularly in answering their questions in Matthew 24:3


Let's look at Matthew 25:1-13

Mat 25:1  “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 

Mat 25:2  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 

Mat 25:3  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 

Mat 25:4  but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 

Mat 25:5  As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 

Mat 25:6  But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 

Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 

Mat 25:8  And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 

Mat 25:9  But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 

Mat 25:10  And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 

Mat 25:11  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 

Mat 25:12  But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 

Mat 25:13  Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 




One of the most misinterpreted and misunderstood parable by modern bible teachers.

This parable found in Matthew 25, has been preached by so many preachers in so many different ways, and in ways which are totally contradictory to the intention of the message in the story.

Evangelists have treated it as either your be saved or damned.

Motivators have treated it as always be prepared or missed out.

Preachers have used this for emotional altar calls, as to either repent or perish.

Charismatics have used this parable as to the importance of having the Holy Spirit as the oil or missed heaven.

Some denominations have decried other denominations as not worthy of entering the kingdom and only they are eligible.

And on and on, spewing disunity, hatred, insolence, arrogance, disputes, anger and fear to believers far and near.

It's no wonder that many are leaving religious church organizations, because they cannot find God in their midst.


A futuristic parable?

Some (dispensationalists and futurists) have treated this story unfairly and incorrectly when they interpreted this as a futuristic rapture. If you do that, it is going to open up more theological questions and problems, which are too numerous and unanswerable.

Futurists say that the virgins represent the church, and that half of them have the oil, and the other half do not have the oil. The half that had the oil, are those who are ready to be raptured, as compared to the other half that did not have the oil, as those who are not ready to be raptured.

The half that had the oil represents those who have the Holy Spirit because oil represents the Holy Spirit. The half that did not had the oil means they did not have the Holy Spirit.

Note that the half that had the oil (Holy Spirit) did not share it with the other half that had no oil.

And futurists said that the bridegroom's arrival represents the "rapture" that is to come.


My line of Questioning:

a. How do you buy the Holy Spirit (oil) if the oil represents the Holy Spirit? Can the Holy Spirit be bought?

b. Who determines which "church" has more of the Holy Spirit (oil), and which "church" does not have more of the Holy Spirit?

c. Who is the judge of the amount of Holy Spirit that is in the "church" or Christian?

d. Don't ALL Christians have the Holy Spirit, because ALL Christians have Jesus?

e. Why are the 5 wise virgins so stingy as not to share the oil (Holy Spirit) with the 5 foolish virgins?

f. I thought the "amount" of Holy Spirit is not measurable, and not quantifiable? Isn't the Holy Spirit infinite and cannot be exhausted?

g. Does that mean that when Jesus "returns" (as they called Second Coming), half of the church/Christian will be saved and the other half will be unsaved?

h. Do you know that futurist preachers will falsely use this parable message, especially in altar calls, at the end of the sermon, and people will rush to the front for prayer, out of FEAR, and "just to make sure" they get to heaven, and that they can make it when the bridegroom arrive. I have been very guilty of this mistake and grave error.


My Answer

I would like you to see how the futurist's interpretation is theologically wrong, and it opens up lots of wrong theology and even more questions. It is more vague and can literally be very, very damaging to the community of believers.

This story of the 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 has been used in so many ways by evangelists, motivators, bible teachers, sunday school instructors, and all of them use it out of Context.

The  RIGHT way of interpreting this parable in Matthew 25, is to read it WITHIN the Context of the continuation of Matthew 24, when Jesus was still speaking to his audience.


How do I KNOW?

Matthew 25:1 starts with the word "THEN".

Mat 25:1  THEN the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 

The Timing of Matthew 25 is in the immediate timing of Matthew 24. 

There is NO break, NO interval, NO change of timing. The timing is ALL within the lifetime of Jesus audience as in Matthew 24 (especially Matthew 24:34).

This parable story is within the impending judgement of Jerusalem that was coming in AD70, and this happened within the lifetime of the disciples that were his audience. Jesus did NOT change audience and start talking about the futuristic church (where half will be saved and half will be unsaved/lost).


The audience is Jewish, and it is about Israel.

The audience that was listening to Jesus message in Matthew 24 and 25 were Jews.

Only Jews can understand what Jesus was talking about, and the futuristic church was not all Jews!

The believers in our modern era comprise of Jews and non-Jews.


How do I know that Jesus was talking to Jews?

It is because Jesus used the language and imagery that Jews can understand easily.

When Jesus told describes the image of the virgins waiting for the bridegroom, he is reminding them of the words of their prophet Isaiah that said God is their bridegroom and the Jews will be his bride. God will clothed the Jews with garments of salvation and righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Isaiah 62:5).

Isa 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isa 62:5  For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. 



So who are these Virgins?

God calls the nation of Israel, virgin. He calls the Jews, virgin.

Amo 5:1  Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel: 

Amo 5:2  “Fallen, no more to rise, is the virgin Israel; forsaken on her land, with none to raise her up.” 


The virgin is Israel, and Isaiah and Amos calls Israel, God's virgins. Amos is a lamentation (cry) of God towards the house of Israel, the virgin.

This word "virgin" should not be interpreted to mean Mary the virgin, who gave birth to Jesus as the Messiah. It is obviously wrong interpretation.


Another verse (out of many) is in Jeremiah 31:3-4

Jer 31:3  the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 

Jer 31:4  Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. 


God is going to rebuild his people after the destruction of Israel by the Babylonians, the Medes and the Persians. God called out to virgin Israel and said he will rebuild them.


Jesus used metaphors

So when Jesus spoke about the parable of the 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish virgins, Jesus was using the metaphor virgins to refer to the Jews in the nation of Israel. (Note: God has never referred non-Jews as virgins).

Jesus also used this metaphor of a Jewish wedding feast or ceremony which can be easily understood by his Jewish audience. These are stories that Jews can easily understood and identify.

Jesus likened their last days (the end of the Mosaic Age), as like a Jewish wedding ceremony.

They were all waiting for the bridegroom to come and start the wedding feast, when suddenly the bridegroom appears. They do not know the day nor the hour.

This is similar to Matthew 24:36-51, where "no one knows the day and the hour".

Mat 24:42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 

Mat 24:44  Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

Mat 24:50  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 


This coming of the bridegroom is the coming of the Son of Man (Jesus).

This is the coming judgement that is in line with the Context of Matthew 24. Jesus is ushering a new era, a new Age, a new kingdom, a new Messianic rule on humanity. 

For those who are prepared for it (like the 5 wise virgins), then they will enter into this Messianic Age, the new kingdom of heaven, as compared to those who were not prepared for it, and were left out.

This is similar to Matthew 24, where some will be taken, and some were not. Some fled to safety, and some did not. Some entered into the new Era, and some did not.


This coming of the Son of Man is not the "rapture"

Jesus did not come to take the 5 wise virgins and kill the 5 foolish virgins.

There was no killing or eliminating of those 5 foolish virgins, as compared to what the rapture theory proposed.

Instead the bridegroom, Jesus came to take the 5 wise virgins into the marriage feast / marriage ceremony. It was not a physical place or a new world. It was a new kingdom era. Jesus brought them out of the old Mosaic Age into the new Messianic Age.

Note: This is what Revelations is all about, the ushering of the new Age where we live with Jesus forever now and forever more. The marriage Jewish ceremony is the same as this spoken of in Matthew 25.


Rev 19:7  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;

Rev 19:9  And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”



John Wesley commentary on Matthew 24 is about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD



















John Wesley commentary on Matthew 24 is about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD


John Wesley (1703-1791), was an  English cleric and the leader of the Methodist movement. 


Matt 24:2…There shall not be left here one stone upon another…


John Wesley: This was most punctually fulfilled: for after the temple was burned. Titus the Roman general, ordered the very foundations of it to be dug up; after which the ground on which it stood was ploughed by Turnus Rufus. (This should be about Terentius Rufus, mentioned in Josephus', Wars of the Jews 7:2:1)



Matt 24:5:For many shall come in my name…


John Wesley: First, false Christs, next, false prophets, Ver. 11; at length, both together, Ver. 24. And indeed never did so many impostors appear in the world as a few years before the destruction of Jerusalem; undoubtedly because that was the time wherein the Jews in expected the Messiah.



Matt 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world…


John Wesley: Not universally: this is not done yet: but in general through the several parts of the world, and not only in Judea. And this was done by St. Paul, and the other apostles, before Jerusalem was destroyed. And then shall the end come - of the city and temple. Josephus' "History of the Jewish War" is the best commentary on this chapter. It is a wonderful instance of God's providence, that he, an eyewitness, and one who lived and died Jew, should, especially in so extraordinary manner, be preserved, to transmit to us a collection of important facts, which so exactly illustrate this glorious prophecy, in almost every circumstance.



Matt 24:15: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation…


John Wesley: Daniel’s term is, "the abomination that maketh desolate," Dan 11:31; that is, the standards of the desolating legions, on which they bear the abominable images of their idols. Standing in the holy place - Not only the temple, and the mountain on which it stood, but the whole city of Jerusalem, and several furlongs of land round about it, were accounted holy; particularly the mount on which our Lord now sat, and on which the Romans afterward planted their ensigns. He that readeth, let him understand - whoever reads that prophecy of Daniel, let him deeply consider it.



Matt 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:


John Wesley: So the Christians did, and were preserved. It is remarkable, that after the Romans, under Cestius Gallus, made their first advance toward Jerusalem, they suddenly withdrew again, in a most unexpected, and indeed impolitic manner. This the Christians took as a signal to retire, which did, some to Pella, and others to Mount Libanus.



Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:


John Wesley: They did so; their flight was in the spring. Neither on the Sabbath on many accounts inconvenient: besides that many would have scrupled to travel far on that day. For the Jews thought it unlawful to walk above two thousand paces (two miles) on the Sabbath day.



Matt 24:22 And except those days should be shortened…


John Wesley: By the taking of Jerusalem sooner than could be expected. No flesh would be saved - the whole nation would be destroyed. But for the elect's sake - that is, for the sake of the Christians.



Matt 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.


John Wesley:  Our Lord gives this as further reason why they should not hearken to any pretended deliverer. As if he had said: Expect not any deliverer of the Jewish nation; for it is devoted to destruction. It is already before God a dead carcass, which the Roman eagles will soon devour.



Matt 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.


John Wesley: The expression implies that great part of generation would passed away, but not the whole. Just so it was. For the city and temple were destroyed thirty nine or forty years after.