When we listen to a bible teaching, we are to be like a Berean and examine that teaching with scripture to see if it lines up with what the bible says or not and only accept what is true. This would be so even if we were taught by one of the apostles:
Acts 17
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Remember this is before the new testament was written / canonized so the Bereans were comparing the apostle Paul's teachings with the old testament: The Torah, the prophets, the writings (abbreviated as Tanakh) so nothing they taught about Messiah Yeshua contradicted the Torah and Yeshua never taught against Torah otherwise He would have been rejected as along with the apostle Paul.
In a previous post in this blog from february The "seed of the woman" and other parroted teachings , I addressed the issue of "pastors" (and others) parroting teachings they believe sounds good but contradicts scripture. Numerous teachings have become doctrines because those "pastors" accept other "pastors" teachings at face value without studying and making sure the teaching lines up with what the bible actually says. Since most "christians" do not study their bibles for their selves, they accept these new doctrines as fact and contradict anyone that comes against those new and unbiblical doctrines.
This past weekend, I activated my real facebook account in order to watch some live facebook feed videos from a well known prophecy teacher Amir Tsarfati that spoke at JD Farag's Calvary Chapel in Hawaii. Amir spoke of the "seed of the woman" and how "Genesis 3:15 speaks of a virgin birth of Messiah" (a false teaching as we will see).
Strongs H2233
- seed, sowing, offspring
- a sowing
- seed
- semen virile
- offspring, descendants, posterity, children
- of moral quality
- a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
- sowing time (by meton)
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seedH2233 and her seedH2233; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
First of all, if this is about physical seed and not meaning posterity or offspring, it gives credibility to the satanic serpent seed doctrine which is definitely not biblical.
I believe it was either Chuck Missler or Chuck Smith (the late founder of Calvary Chapel) that introduced this new teaching: "Genesis 3:15 is about the virgin birth because women do not have seed" and Amir, being associated with Calvary Chapels, blindly parrots this erroneous teaching. In the chat on sunday, I pointed out that this teaching is wrong and Genesis 3:15 is definitely about Messiah Yeshua but not about His virgin birth and gave the verse Genesis 4:25 to show his error:
Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seedH2233 instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
In the next session, Amir ridiculed me and made remarks that "a woman keeps insisting Genesis 3:15 is not abut the virgin birth but I know biology and women do not have seed" and mocked me over it. Amir also stated I did not believe in the virgin birth which was not at all what I said. All I stated was that Genesis 3:15 was about Messiah but was not about His virgin birth. In my previous post in february regarding the erroneous "seed of a woman" teaching ( The "seed of the woman" and other parroted teachings ), I stated that Messiah Yeshua was virgin born which is revealed in other old testament scripture but Genesis 3:15 was not one of those verses. Amir stated "Genesis 4:25 is about Eve getting another seed from Adam resulting in Seth" which is not at all what the verse says. Everyone else in chat blindly agreed with Amir and one person even posted "I forgive you" to me. The masses blindly follow anything that scratches their itchy ears without verifying it with scripture as the Bereans of long ago would have done. No wonder there is so much apostasy and deception in the churches today.
Sunday afternoon, Amir private messaged me over this. I stated that he should look up Strongs number H2233 for seed and he said, "I speak Hebrew so I don't need Strongs". I replied 'I speak english and sometimes use a dictionary' and basically he said he was right because he knew Hebrew and I was wrong so apparently he claims english bibles are not the Word of God? or maybe because I'm female? He was very condescending and very rude. I messaged him back later asking about Genesis 16:7-11 and now it is wednesday afternoon and he never responded back.
Genesis 16
7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seedH2233 exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
The same word for seed, Strongs H2233 , was used in the same context regarding Hagar as it was for Eve so if it meant as a prophecy for the virgin birth in Genesis 3:15, then what does it mean regarding Hagar? This erroneous parroted teaching may lead to people accepting the muslim "virgin born" (so they will claim) antichrist during the tribulation. This false teaching will also lead people to accept "mandela effects" and other such nonsense when what they remember from their "pastors" and "teachers" is pointed out to not align with what the bible says. This very well could be used to discredit the bible and discredit Yahweh and Messiah during the tribulation.
When Chuck Missler taught that Genesis 3:15 meant a virgin birth, he, as he always said, was to not believe what he said but verify it with scripture to see if it was what scripture said. Unfortunately most people refuse to study for their selves and show themselves approved unto God and studying scripture in truth:
2 Timothy 2
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Remember, when this was written, the only scripture was the OLD TESTAMENT
We are in the very end of the age and deception will be rampant as warned about throughout scripture, The bible says there will be false prophets and people who flock to the false prophets. I'm not saying Amir is a false prophet -he is mistaken and he needs to acknowledge his mistake and correct it. If he continues to teach this erroneous teaching after being shown he is in error, he does so knowing it is false and it will make him a false teacher if he continues with it.
This one example shows how erroneous teaching creep into the churches. It is very saddening that people defend teachings that sound so good their itchy ears and refuse to examine those teachings to make sure they line up with what the bible really says. It is even more upsetting so many "pastors" and "teachers" run with what is taught by others that sounds good without examining the teaching in light of scripture for their selves. If they are in honest error, they will correct their faulty teachings but if they continue to teach the false after being shown it is false, then they are false teachers regardless of how popular they are or how much you like them.
People need to get into a bible study and study the BIBLE and not some book or commentary written by a pastor or someone else on a topic. We are to be reading the BIBLE - not what someone claims the bible says. Unfortunately most "bible studies" chose to study a book written by a pastor and not the bible! (why they are called "BIBLE studies" is beyond me - it is a deception)
This is the time of deception and strong delusion and the only way to protect ourselves from the deception is by comparing everything taught with what the bible says. It's very unsettling to listen to some of the popular and mainline "pastors" who are obviously taking their faulty teachings from other "pastors" instead of doing their own studies and teaching what the Holy Spirit wants them to teach. If they taught what the Holy Spirit leads them to teach, much of the error and faulty doctrines would be corrected instead of parroted and accepted at face value.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Timothy 4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
It amazes me how many times I hear the same "bible" teaching over and over again that is not what the bible says about it. One popular "teacher" comes up with something new that sounds good and instead of checking it out with the bible, it is parroted over and over again sometimes for decades before it is pointed out to be wrong.
One of the common teachings from the 1970's by Hal Lindsey was that the "biblical generation was 40 years because that is how long they wandered in the wilderness". Any basic reading of the bible would show that this is false because Ancient Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years so those over age 20 would die off. The generation was also affected by the times Yahweh became angry with them and nearly wiped all of them out.
Another incorrect teaching that is commonly parroted by those that should know better was that Lot was a compromiser and that is why he chose to live in sodom. Lot of course sinned, as every person does, but the bible never mentioned any of his sins and Yahweh called him righteous. I pointed out in a previous post (Post: Righteous Lot)
There is another teaching that is often parroted that is making the rounds again. That teaching is that this verse is speaking of Yeshua's virgin birth because "women do not have seed" :
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seedH2233 and her seedH2233 ; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
While Yeshua's virgin birth is real and is a fact and there are numerous prophecies in the Old Testament that prophecy of it, Genesis 3:15 is NOT a prophecy about it!
While this verse is a prophecy about Yeshua, it says nothing of His virgin birth. The erroneous teaching that claims it does says "women do not have seed therefore this is a prophecy about Yeshua's virgin birth". Yet when Seth was born, Eve used the same word for his birth:
Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seedH2233 instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.
Strongs H2233
- seed, sowing, offspring
- a sowing
- seed
- semen virile
- offspring, descendants, posterity, children
- of moral quality
- a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
- sowing time (by meton)
Some try and make a case that the term "the seed of a woman" is only about Yeshua and a prophecy about a virgin birth when it is NOT as shown when Eve used the same word for Seth. The same word, seed, is also used by the angel to Hagar about Ishmael so obviously seed is being used to mean posterity and has nothing to do with the virgin birth of Yeshua
Genesis 16
9 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.
10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seedH2233 exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
While Yeshua's virgin birth is real and is a fact and there are numerous prophecies in the Old Testament that prophecy of it, Genesis 3:15 is NOT a prophecy about it!
When we hear a teaching, we are to be like the Bereans and take that teaching and compare it with scripture to see if it is true or not. We are to not take ANY teaching from ANY person at face value.
Acts 17
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Many people parrot what they hear without examining to see if what they are parroting has any element of truth to it. This is especially true on religious matters: "december 25 is Jesus' birthday", "Jesus cleansed it" (meaning it is acceptable to eat what He said not to) and "Jesus nailed it [The Law] to the cross" and they claim those who teach the importance of following Torah (The Law) are "Judaizers".
Both Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) and the apostle Paul taught we were to obey the Torah but not the traditions of men that are attached to the laws.
Paul wrote most of the New Testament. When he was in ministry, the ONLY bible that existed was the Old Testament. It was not until many decades / centuries later. The first New Testament canon (books of the Bible recognized by any Christian church as genuine and inspired) was not put together until 170AD and was not finalized until about 400AD. When the Berean's compared Paul's teachings with scripture, the scripture they compared it to was the Old Testament --- and his teachings did not contradict Torah otherwise they would have rejected him as false:
Acts 17
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
Messiah said we are to obey Yahweh which clearly means obey Torah:
John14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
1 John 5
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus
In fact, Messiah said He will reject those who do not obey Torah even if they "do things for Him":
Matthew 7
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. G458
Strong's number G458 iniquity (transliterated as anomia) is :
anomia
1) the condition of without law
a) because ignorant of it
b) because of violating it
2) contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness
So it is clear that we are to obey Torah so what is a Judaizer that Paul warns about? Both Messiah Yeshua and Paul explain what Judaizing is - only most people do not study for their selves and only parrot what their ignorant or false teachers teach. Many "teachers" only parrot what they have been taught which was probably parroted from another "teacher". In other words, much of what is called Christianity is TRADITION - people parroting what they were taught handed down for generations.
Yeshua did not say the Pharisees were wrong for obeying Torah. What Messiah said was they were wrong for hanging traditions on the law that they expected people to obey (when they them selves were not obeying them) Messiah said we were to EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees:
Matthew 15
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men
Matthew 5
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
There is a vast difference between Mosaiac Judaism and talmudic / rabbinic Judaism even in the time of Yeshua. Mosaic Judaism follows Torah that was from the beginning of the world and given again to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Talmudic /rabbinic Judaism is what most people consider to be "real" Judaism is a false religion that is based on Torah PLUS traditions just like false Christianity such as catholicism is based on the bible PLUS traditions.
Talmudic / rabbinic Judaism adds so much onto the law, it has become a burden. For example, in Orthodox Jewish homes, they have three sets of dishes: one for meat meals, one for milk meals, one for Passover. They also have two refrigerators and two dish washers: one each for meat, one for milk because the rabbis took the Torah commandment to not boil a kid in its mothers milk (which was a pagan fertility tradition) to mean you could not eat meat and milk together - not even turkey (turkeys do not give milk) and milk products. There are so many traditions and "fences" put around this one Torah rule they have made it to mean something the law never said. They ignore the fact that Abraham fed Yeshua and the angels with Him meat and milk together and King David fed his people meat and milk together.
The apostle Paul made a clear distinction between obeying Torah and following the TRADITIONS of his fathers.
Galatians 1
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
If you read and study scripture and trust Yahweh to show you His truth, He will show you the error of so many teachers and you can see for yourself that the judaizers were those who re-interpret Torah and hang traditions on the law that Yahweh never commanded. The same can be said about what is called "christianity" today: how many people bow down to idols, use worship objects, celebrate pagan holidays, eat what Yahweh calls an abomination, violate the Sabbath, and do things all in the name of Yeshua that He said not to? The very same rebellion that happened in Ancient Israel is happening in the church today and false talmudic / rabbinic Judaism continues on. Yeshua says the road is narrow and FEW find it - too many would rather follow traditions of their fathers instead of finding out what Messiah Yeshua wants us to do:
Matthew 7
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
