The Oral Law (Part 2)
The Oral Law is a collection of Jewish traditions that have been passed down orally, but it is not based on the written covenant and has led to a misunderstanding of Jewish law and the Jewish people.
Robert Wurtz II preaches about the dangers of relying on the Oral Law, emphasizing that the covenant the Children of Israel were bound to was the written covenant sealed in blood, not a manual for interpretation created centuries later. The Oral Law, depicted as elevating a man above Moses, distorts the word of God and hinders the Jews from embracing the perfect law that converts the soul. Wurtz urges believers to understand the falsehood of the Oral Law to effectively lead Jews to their Messiah with love and compassion, emphasizing the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance in these conversations.
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There are a multitude of arguments that can be presented that refute the authenticity of the Oral Law, but perhaps the most practical one I have come up with is that the thing which the Children of Israel was legally bound to was the written covenant that was written down, rehearsed and agreed upon by the people, and finally the covenant was sealed in the blood of sprinkling. To then offer a "manual" (as it were) for the interpretation of that covenant some 100+ years after Christ is as great of error as to believe in the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. This was supposed to be a covenant that was rehearsed to the people 4 times each and it was to "supposedly" be memorized and transferred to each generation. If the enemy had a "Bible commentary" it would be the Oral Law that he has used to cut the LIGHT down coming off the Old Covenant and the Tenach.
Consider this quote from Menahoth 29b:
Rav Judah said in the name of Rav, When Moses ascended on high he found the Holy One of Blessing, engaged in affixing coronets to the letters. [6] Said Moses, "Lord of the Universe, Who stays your hand?" He answered, "There will arise a man, at the end of many generations, Akiba b. Joseph by name, who will expound upon each tittle heaps and heaps of laws." "Lord of the Universe," said Moses; "permit me to see him." He replied, "Turn around." Moses went and sat down behind eight rows [and listened to the discourses upon the law]. Not being able to follow their arguments he was ill at ease, but when they came to a certain subject and the disciples said to the master "Whence do you know it?" and the latter replied "It is a law given to Moses at Sinai" he was comforted. Thereupon he returned to the Holy One of Blessing, and said, "Lord of the Universe, you have such a man and you give the Torah by me!" He replied, "Be silent, for such is my decree." Then said Moses, "Lord of the Universe, you have shown me his Torah, show me his reward." "Turn around," said He; and Moses turned around and saw them weighing out his flesh at the market-stalls. "Lord of the Universe," cried Moses, "such Torah, and such a reward!" He replied, "Be silent, for such is my decree." [7]
This depicts Akiba to be greater than Moses and creates a story with which to pass off the whole farce. It is almost blasphemy of the word of God to suggest a man who believed in a false prophet could actually be "greater" than Moses. The passage itself is an indictment on those who promoted the concept (Akiba, etc.). It wreaks with cultish deception. It is the Oral Law that in a sense codified the traditions that made the word of God of none effect by the Rabbi's. To this fact I must sharply disagree with Dr. Ron Moseley in his condoning of such a book or at the least to present it with any validity at all. It is clearly standing in the way of the Jews and the perfect law that converts the soul. The Jews are VICTIMS of such a horrible teaching and this revelation SHOULD NOT be used as ammo to fuel anti-semitic causes! It is for the purpose of bringing an awareness to help win the Jews to their Messiah. There is literally nothing more unChristlike than hatred and especially of the Jews. For us as believers in Christ these things may seem almost laughable; but they are a deeply entrenched and rooted system of beliefs that exist in Judaism and we have to deal with that reality. Putting together your own personal study of the Oral Law and its falsehood is a vital tool in the hand of anyone trying to lead a Jew to their Messiah. You have to learn their language and you must use caution in addressing the sensitive areas that they are dealing with concerning Christians (in a later lesson we will look at some of those). However, it must begin with the illumination of the Holy Spirit and once that is in place YOUR apologetic will come into play as a necessity to help point them in the direction of truth once their eyes begin to come open.
*notes
Daniel Gruber, Rabbi Akiba's Messiah Elijah Publishing c1999
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0411/4_49/68738707/p2/article.jhtml?term=
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction to the Oral Law
- A. Definition and purpose
- B. Critique of the Oral Law's authenticity
- II. The Written Covenant vs. the Oral Law
- A. The written covenant as the basis for Jewish law
- B. The Oral Law as a later development
- III. The Story of Akiba and the Oral Law
- A. The passage from Menahoth 29b
- B. The implications of Akiba's supposed greatness
- IV. The Impact of the Oral Law on Judaism
- A. The codification of traditions
- B. The effect on the Jewish people
- V. Conclusion
- A. The importance of understanding the Oral Law
- B. The need for apologetics in leading Jews to Messiah
Key Quotes
“To then offer a 'manual' (as it were) for the interpretation of that covenant some 100+ years after Christ is as great of error as to believe in the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.” — Robert Wurtz II
“It is almost blasphemy of the word of God to suggest a man who believed in a false prophet could actually be 'greater' than Moses.” — Robert Wurtz II
“There is literally nothing more unChristlike than hatred and especially of the Jews.” — Robert Wurtz II
Application Points
- As believers in Christ, we must understand the Jewish perspective and use this knowledge to lead Jews to their Messiah.
- The Oral Law has codified traditions that have made the word of God of none effect, and we must be aware of this reality in our apologetics.
- We must use caution in addressing sensitive areas that Jews are dealing with concerning Christians, but we must also be willing to speak the truth in love.