It's nearly 2am on the Sabbath and I was trying to lay in bed and pay attention to some assassin movie when God started stringing passages together in my mind. I hope that this post acts as something akin to a timeline or narrative that paints a picture to put certain passages into the right doctrinal context. There are certain passages that come up with mainstream Christian theology that tradition has passed down improper context, and Messianic theology takes them one by one and usually restores context. Instead of watching assassin movies and eating ruffles, God impressed in upon me to get out of bed and thread these passages together. Ultimately, These passages have one common denominator, and that is that many Jews/Pharisees believed that if you didn't obey their version of the Law of Moses (which usually includes the traditions of the elders being regarded as Commands of God) in order to be saved, you were unclean.
Let's look at the issue in scripture. I'm going to do my best to do this in the right order of coherent context. Scripture wasn't written the moment it happened, but in retrospection to give an accounting of events transpired.
Acts 15:1 Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.
Men were saying not only was works being done, but to be SAVED, to come into the faith you had to FIRST obey the CUSTOM of Moses. Not the Law of Moses I.E Commands of God, but the CUSTOM, the HABITS, the TRADITIONS. The issue outright from the start is Pharisaic traditions and regarding those that keep them as clean, and those that do not as unclean.
The parties involved were these "some men" who were saying that people are unclean if they're not circumcised in the manner of the customs, which prompted a dispute with some of the believers among the Pharisees that agreed that circumcision and Law observance is to happen
I'm going to pause there an start building the context that lead to this. If we rewind prior to this event, we know that this dispute about being unclean and making bread unclean was addressed by the Savior
The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5 The Pharisees and the scribes *asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” 6 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’
8 Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”9 He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. Mark 7:1-8
They regarded eating with unwashed hands as unclean, they forbid it. They also washed themselves coming back from the market where unclean people sold unclean things. The Pharisees were regarding people as unclean that do not follow the traditions of MEN, which they equated to being equal with the commands of God. Alright, bring that back to Acts 15 where some men were saying this
Acts 15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”
Now there is a group of Pharisees that are investigating the claim of "some men" from Judea who were saying that anyone that doesn't obey our customs is unclean. They investigated the matter and had come to the conclusion that it is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Law of Moses.
Paul gives us more insight on this event and how it affected Peter
Galatians 2
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?
"Some men" and their pushing tradition and regarding gentiles as unclean, lead a group of these influential Pharisees astray. Peter, fearing these influential Pharisees stopped eating with Gentiles in order to compel the Gentiles to succumb to the TRADITIONS OF THE PHARISEES. This results in Paul rebuking Peter. We don't have word as to how much weight that rebuke held. What we do have though is God rebuking Peter in a manner that held
Acts 10
On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he *saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
Peter became hungry and was desiring to eat. While they were making preparations, we don't know if that meant slicing bread for sandwiches or the set up for the washing of the hands, but when Peter ate HE HAD BEEN WITHDRAWING FROM THE GENTILES REGARDING THEM AS UNCLEAN. He has this vision from God who tells him not to consider unclean what He has made clean- Using the imagery of cleaning and unclean animals at the hour Peter would be withdrawing from Gentiles regarding them unclean.
Acts 10 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.
As Peter was asking God "what does that even mean, What are you trying to say to me???" Gentile men from a Gentile house appeared to him and requested that at the time when he would have been separating from Gentiles and regarding them as unclean, that he come to this famous Gentiles place.
Acts 10:27As he talked with him, he entered and *found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean.
The Commands of God NEVER call the Gentile unclean and it NEVER says to not associate with a foreigner, THOSE ARE PHARISAIC TRADITIONS. If the Torah was not for Gentiles, then would God say over (Leviticus 18:26 ) and over (Leviticus 22:18-21) and over (Leviticus 24:16) and over ( Leviticus 24:22) and over (Numbers 9:14) and over (Numbers 15:15-16) and over (Numbers 15:29-30) and over (Deuteronomy 16:13-15 ) and over (Deuteronomy 26:10-11) and over (Deuteronomy 31:9-13) and over (Ecclesiastes 12:13) again that it is? Peter preaches the Gospel to them and there is an OUTBREAK OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Peter then understands while standing in the room full of Gentiles who have the Spirit of God poured out on them, who were being regarded as unclean by "Some men'' and Pharisees, being told that they had to be circumcised and follow Customs and Traditions and the Commands of God all to be saved and favored by God- did NONE of that and were harboring the indwelling Spirit of God just as they were.
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
The group that had come with Peter of the Circumcision, are amazed seeing the same thing that Peter is seeing. After seeing this happen, He goes back to the group of Pharisees who heard about the whole thing and they have questions.
Acts 11:1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Some of this circumcised believing group was upset that Peter had violated the traditions, just like many of the Pharisees were upset at the Savior Yeshua for violating the traditions of handwashing. Peter retells the whole story and the result is this
8 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
This brings us to the conclusion of the totality of the Jerusalem council and the matter of if Gentiles can be saved and THEN learn the commands of God, or if they had to follow the Commands of God the way the Pharisees do it- In order to be saved. That conclusion is that they should start with 4 commands that won't get them removed from the assembly and that they are to come and learn the Commands of God each Sabbath when it is preached.
Acts 15:21 For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”
However, that doesn't settle the matter completely. That only deals with the group of believing Pharisees. Not the unbelieving ones that are still telling Gentiles that they have to convert, follow the customs, get cut, and follow the Law of God.
Which brings us to Paul writing to the Gentiles in Colossians encouraging them to not be pressured by these Pharisees that are pressuring them to convert and to stop keeping the Sabbath or the commands because they're not "Jewish". They're trying to dissuade the people they regard as unclean for not converting, from obeying the commands of God, performing them without the traditions of the elders which they regard as being equal to the commands themselves. Let's look in Colossians 2 with Paul's warning/ encouragement to new converts
Col 2 Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day— 17 things which are a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.
Don't let them tell you that you can't eat bread because you didn't buy a copper pot and say their specific prayers over the water, just like they tried to do with Christ. They're performing rituals and motions but they're not attached to the HEAD, the MEANING , the SOURCE of what those things mean which is CHRIST who rebuked them for doing those things INSTEAD of the COMMANDS OF GOD. He continues
20 If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” 22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.
Paul is directly calling out these Pharisees and teaching people to not obey them or their teachings! It's not the commands of God that are the self made religion, it's the customs and traditions of the elders. Having died with Christ, you don't need this man-made push for ritualistic conversion to be saved because you are saved. Your act of circumcision for the purpose of conversion would be severe treatment of the body and self -abasement... you don't need to do that for Salvation. Don't let them tell you a different Gospel contrary to having faith, believe, Christ will lead you and the Spirit of God will guide you in walking according to His Law and what His righteousness means instead of the filthy rags of flesh.
We know this is what Paul means because the angry mob tries to kill him for it.
Acts 21;27
When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, “Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
So you have one group of Pharisees saying that you have to convert to their traditions to be saved, and then you have Paul and the rest saying that you're saved THEN you keep the commands of God, not before. With keeping this idea of eating and not eating and matters of conscience that might offend another in mind, let's look at Romans 14
13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.- Romans 14:13-23
Paul is addressing Eating and not Eating things that are food- this does not apply to things that God has said are not food. What is the process of eating and not eating? Fasting. Times of fasting is being addressed in Romans 14 when it refers to days and we can see this because the Pharisees made a complaint to Christ.
8 John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting; and they *came and *said to Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” 19 And Jesus said to them, “While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. - Mark 2:18-20
In Romans 14, Paul is addressing that in Christ all foods are clean, He's addressing that everything that God has already deemed food by scripture in the word of God is food of faith; and eating things that are not food, not to be eaten according to the Word of God, is unclean and not of faith. Now with this Pharisees traditions of saying that they get to define things that God says are food in faith, and deciding which days to fast, and saying that in order to be saved you have to convert and follow the Traditions and the Law of God first before being saved- This is a gospel that is different than the gospel that the Apostles were preaching which taught that you were saved first, and then obedient to the Law of God and under no obligation to keep Pharisees traditions/ Oral law. Now read Galatians with the knowledge that Paul is NOT preaching against God's Law/ his commandments, but these Pharisees
6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ -Galatians 1:6-7
Paul goes on to cite the very incident in Acts 15
Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also. 2 It was because of a revelation that I went up; and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 3 But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage- Galatians 2:1-4
So there it is. The full on Pharisees vs Gentiles matter and the case of Pharisees traditional law vs God's Law. Pharisees trying to be justified by works to be saved, and people of faith justified by faith that results in works.
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