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The Yahushaic Covenant Volume 1

 

 

Excerpt from

The Yahushaic Covenant Volume 1
by Rav Sha'ul

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The Unskilled or Unqualified Judge
by Rav Sha'ul

  

Now we are going to sink our teeth into deep “meat” of His Word and spiritually mature doctrines.

We are all called to be trained as Righteous Judges.  I say “trained” because no one is immediately appointed to the role and most never reach that level of maturity in His Law.  Trained is the key word… and that training takes a lifetime and few ever reach that point of maturity where they are appointed by Yahuah as a judge.

We are now going to address the qualifications and qualities of a Righteous Judge vs. Unrighteous or Untrained judge.  This is a very important topic.  We need to understand and address the division and contention that is caused by unqualified immature judges in the assembly today.  The ‘Unrighteous Judge  and the ‘Untrained Immature Judge’ are those not appointed by Yahuah as a judge over His Law.   They are the ones who judge by the letter not the intent.  These unqualified judges elevate themselves (self appointed) over everyone else and judge by the letter of the  Law.  In doing so these immature ‘children in the faith’ become not a doer of The Law but a Judge over The Law… a very dangerous role to play.  Below is James 4:11 with my comments inserted to shed light on this scripture in context.

James 4:11
Do not speak evil against one another, brothers (by using your own personal standards or the letter of the Law without understanding intent in judgement).  The one who speaks against a brother or (unrighteously) judges his brother,  speaks evil against the Law (because the Law is spiritually appraised by intent not the letter) and judges the Law (unfairly).  But if you judge the Law (by the letter not intent), you are not a (righteous seeking) doer of the Law but a (untrained) judge (addicted to the mild of the word which is the letter of the Law).

All those who step outside of Yahuah appointing them a judge and judges another brother by the letter without knowing intent "speaks evil agsinst the Law!  The Law is spirituall appraised not by the letter but by intent.  Actually very few people are ever found mature enough in understanding intent and appointed a judge by Yahuah.  Yahusha addressed the truth that we are to judge, but taking that responsibility has many pitfalls because it is reserved for most mature in Yahuah.  I want to be clear because we are taught the false doctrine that “thou shalt not judge”.  Please read:

We must learn to be Righteous Judges

This false doctrine that we are not to judge at all "Thou Shalt Not Judge" is a sound bite doctrine taken from Yahusha’s own words in Matthew Chapter 7.  Let us look closer at this scripture in context.  We are in fact taught by Yahusha that we are to judge by The Spiritual Intent of the Torah alone (true righteousness) so that our judgment will stand.  Below is the scripture in context with my comments:

Matthew 7
1 “Judge not (self righteously), that you be not judged (by others self righteousness). 2 For with what judgment you judge (it doesn’t say not to judge this is a warning), you will be judged; and with the measure you use (letter or intent), it will be measured back to you (this is saying to judge fairly and just by The Law of Yahuah alone based on Spiritual Intent not the letter). 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye (first judge your own life by The Law)? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly (keep the Law to develop “eyes to see” Spiritual Intent) to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Yahusha is warning us that most people who judge are hypocrites and not qualified to judge the Law of Yahuah by intent.  Most are untrained in Spiritual Intent).
Now Yahusha restates what he just said in a parable (physical to spiritual parallel)
6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and again and render you.”

What Yahusha is saying (using metaphors to veil the Kingdom as always) is this:

“Judge not self righteously, that you not be unrighteously judged in return.  Evaluate your own life in context of The Law and study it from the standpoint of intent before you are qualified to judge your brother.  Properly judge between that which is “holy” and “dogs”, “pearls” and “swine” defined in The Law of Yahuah through intent… if you don’t judge properly by the Righteous Intent of  His Law, your poor self righteous ‘by the letter’ judgment will not stand (be trampled under their feet) and self righteous judgment will be turned against you and Yahuah will heap your unrighteousness back onto your head and judge YOU in return by the letter i.e. the same measure you used to judge others.”

Yahusha's warning is extremely important as he warned us not to judge at all if we have a “plank” in our own eye.  That “plank” in everyone’s eye is the lack of understanding the “righteous intent” behind the letter of the Law.  He is speaking of those unqualified spiritually immature children of Yahuah who have yet matured in their Spirit.  The Apostle Paul addresses this same thing below:

Galatians 6 – Complete Jewish Bible
1 Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong (breaking the letter of the Law). You who have the Spirit (of the Law those qualified to judge intent) should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too (because if we misjudge, the same standard we use will be used against us). Bear one another’s burdens (do not disguise condemnation as judgment) — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds. For if anyone thinks he is something (like a judge) when he is really nothing (but a spiritually immature child a slave to the letter of the Law), is fooling himself. So let each of you scrutinize his own actions (in light of Spiritual Intent and not appoint  ourselves judges). Then if you do find something to boast about (that you have matured in your understanding of intent over the letter), at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done (achieved maturity and liberty) and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else (by pointing out their sin based on the letter of the Law.  that is what the spiritually immature do, they judge everyone by the letter to make themselves appear more righteous); for each person will carry his own load (maturity and liberty and growth is personal between each believer and our Father). But whoever (the immature child who is learning spiritual maturity by keeping the letter of the Law) is being instructed in the Word (by the more mature appointed elders and anointed teachers) should share all the good things he has with his instructor (not go about judging his instructor for the instructor’s liberty). Don’t delude yourselves (that you are qualified to judge just because you are now keeping the letter of the Law): no one makes a fool of Yahuah (judges are appointed by Yahuah)! A person reaps what he sows (if you judge by the letter you will be judged by the letter). Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature (a slave to the letter of the Law), in order to meet its (the Laws) demands, will eventually reap ruin (because the Law is spiritually discerned 1 Corinthians 2:14); but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit (seek the spiritual intent of the Law through obedience to the letter) will reap from the Spirit everlasting life (because the Law is designed to produce spiritually perfection through intent). So let us not grow weary of doing what is good  (keeping the letter of the Law); for if we don’t give up (and seek the meaning or intent of The Law), we will in due time reap the harvest (the harvest he is speaking of here is spiritual maturity and liberty.  It takes many years of obedience to the letter of the Law to develop spiritual maturity). 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us (who are spiritually immature) do what is good to everyone (not going about judging everyone by the letter), and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful (we should instead of setting about to judge everyone we should be out feeding the poor and taking care of the widows and orphans.  That… the spiritually immature CAN do… because they are not yet qualified to work as Righteous Judges or Anointed as Teachers.  Those are appointed positions by Yahuah and takes many years to achieve.)

So what Paul is talking about in Galatians 6 is unqualified judges and how they should remain silent and not assume the role of a judge but instead continue on in the letter of the Law in obedience until they reap the harvest of that obedience which is maturity in the Spirit.  Until that time, they should do other types of good work such as attending to widows and orphans.  Being a teacher or a judge is an appointed position reserved for the most mature. 

Paul talks about this again in 1 Corinthians 2 below:

1 Corinthians 2
13 which things we also speak, not in words (of the Law) taught by human wisdom (the letter of the Law), but in those (words of the Law) taught by the Spirit (of Holiness which teaches us the intent behind these words), combining spiritual thoughts (our intent) with spiritual words (Yahuah’s intent behind the letter). 14 But a natural man (again speaking of the spiritually immature addicted to milk or the letter of the Law) does not accept the things of the Spirit of Yahuah (for they are still infants in maturity), for they (the spiritually discerned intent of the letter of the Law) are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them (being just a child in maturity), because they are spiritually appraised. 15But he who is spiritual (a mature appointed son who understands spiritual intent of the Law) appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.…

What we see both Yahusha and the Apostle Paul addressing the immature children of Yahuah who simply are not qualified yet to judge anyone.   Paul says in Galatians 6 verse 1 is “those who have the spirit” should set them right in a spirit of humility.  Paul is speaking to the spiritually mature son who has had his spiritual senses trained by years of obedience to the letter of the Law.  Paul again warns us that spiritual maturity takes years of living in obedience to the letter of the Law.  Only the most mature sons are qualified to judge once appointed to that position by Yahuah.  The rest of us are in training and should hold our tongue.

Galatians 4
 1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is spiritually immature, he is no different from a slave (to the letter of The Law), although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and tutors (the letter of The Law, teachers, and mature elders) until the time set by his father (that the child addicted to milk becomes a full mature son capable of solid food and understands spiritual intent of the Law).

So everyone starts out as a very spiritually immature child at the time they realize the Law is not done away with.  But yet, as soon as we bring the Law into our lives, we immediately think we are qualified to go out and judge others by the letter of the Law. 

There are 4 types of "judges" defined in scripture:

1.     The Unrighteous Judge

2.     The immature (unskilled) Judge

3.     The Gossip or Rebellious Judge

4.     The Mature Righteous Judge

We all (whether we want to admit it or not) have fallen into the first 3 categories and even now probably have progressed no further than #2.  We, most of us, are still immature in the Spirit in need of keeping the letter of the Law to have our spiritual senses trained to perfection.  Very few, only those who have lived on this earth 50 years or more and have lived the Torah for most of their life are ever qualified to pass judgment by His Law as I will show.

Let me define each of these four “spirits” that drive people to judge.

 The Unrighteous Judge - Those who abolish the Law and judge solely on their own personal moral standards. Without the Law as their foundation, everything is up to personal interpretation and personal moral standards.  That is why there are so many different denominations in Christopaganism.  These differing denominations all battling out over who is right with no common standard of righteousness (The Law) to settle their disputes.  These are the unrighteous judges mainly found in mainstream Christopaganism.  I call Christianity “Christopaganism” because that is what it is, it is paganism based on the Babylonian system and demi-gods called Christos.

The Immature Judge - Those who have accepted the Law but are still infants in spiritual maturity addicted to the milk or “letter” and not trained in the “intent” or solid food. They judge by the letter and by physical sight and not by spiritual intent or “eyes to see”. These are those with the spirit of a Pharisee who tear down others to build themselves up.  I am going to address these judges today as most everyone I see around me falls into this category.

The Gossip or Rebellious Judge – These are an abomination to Yahuah.  Those who are rebellious, who rebel against the elders and teachers and seek out to undermine their authority and destroy their credibility. These are those who go behind your back with the intent to destroy your reputation by bearing false witness, who harbors "ill will" and hatred in their heart.  You know... the WOLFES in sheep's clothing, consumed with bitterness who seeks out to destroy. They are cowards who come in the form of "love", you know the old saying "God bless their soul"... then they commence to destroy the person with their words... oh but they do it in "love"; at least that is what they tell you. These are not true children of Yahuah and those who entertain their “tales” (gossips are “tale bearers” or bearers of tall tales) and engage with them in such gossip will not inherit The Kingdom.

The Mature Righteous Judge - Then there are those who have walked with Yahuah for years (at least 10 or more years in the Torah and 50 or more years on Earth) in obedience to The Torah which is a TRAINING AID in spiritual maturity and intent. These are Righteous Judges. They restore the assembly, build it up, and cause it to grow.  These are those with the qualifications to be considered an “Elder” in the assembly.  I am going to discuss the qualifications and qualities of these very rare individuals.

You will know when you have encountered the Unrighteous Judge because you will be judged by personal standards and not the intent of the Law.

You will know when you encounter an Immature/Untrained Judge because you will be condemned using the letter of the Law not the intent.  They use the letter of the Law to say "hey look at me! Look how righteous I am" by pointing out your failures.

You will know when you encounter the Gossip or Rebellious Judge because the attack will come out nowhere and be directed at your "reputation" and "character" with the intent to destroy you and separate you from the assembly.  Those too cowardly to confront you directly but go behind your back to slander your good name.

You will probably never realize when you encounter a true Righteous Judge because it will come in the form of teaching and instruction in love. That is true judgment.

All of these are addressed in scripture…  I am going to teach the "intent' behind the letter and demonstrate that only the MOST mature in age and in keeping the letter of the Law are given liberty which is the ‘fruit of keeping the Law by the letter.’ Those who mature to this point now operate with The Spirit of Holiness and the intent behind the Law... not in the flesh (letter) with a heart of stone seeking out to "stone everyone" around them.

Very few have matured to the position of “elder” walking in obedience to His Torah long enough to serve in the spiritual capacity of “High Priest” or “judge”.  You see, there is a reason why even in our secular courts judges are older in age and much wiser having practiced the Law for many years.  Even then these men are appointed to that position they aren’t automatically qualified to judge just base on years serving the Law/constitution.  This is a very good physical to spiritual parallel of Righteous Judges in the body of Yahusha.  Same goes with High Priests and Elders, they too are appointed and older in age and wiser before they can hold such a position as to judge.  These elders in our assembly and body of Yahusha are those who understands and has compassion on the weak and misguided, being beset with weakness themselves and trained over a long period of time, and can righteously judge the assembly and the Law by intent.

We see the “spirit” behind such elders when Paul discusses the role of the High Priest in judgment:

Hebrews 5
1For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to Yahuah, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; 2 he can deal gently (judge) with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;…

Who are these “ignorant and misguided”?  They are the spiritually immature children in the spirit who have received the Law into their lives and have yet lived it long enough to develop “eyes to see” the intent behind the words.  These immature in spirit have yet to be appointed by Yahuah as mature sons.  The spiritually mature sons differ greatly in their approach than the spiritually immature child.    These mature sons are the men who (usually at least around the age 50 or older) do not seek to judge at all! You will not see them on social media condemning others out of turn or engaging in fruitless debates and getting defensive in the process. The mature sons are the ones we go to for answers and seek out for instruction. These men, our Elders, “instruct us” in His Word and lead us to understand spiritual intent.  Their judgments comes in the form of instruction not condemnation. We come away from these elders (true Righteous Judges) encouraged and empowered with more spiritual understanding and never realized we were being Righteously Judged by them. Their judgments are righteous and done in love and understanding with the intent to build up Yahuah's family and Kingdom by instructing us to do better, to understand more, to apply ourselves to our training, to be patient, to learn spiritual truths through physical examples.

At this point in history we all are guilty of erring in the same fashion as did Israel and Pharisees, the spiritually immature (I am speaking of all those who have lived no longer than 40 years on this Earth and those who have not walked the Torah for at least around 10 years) think the Law is righteousness in itself.  These immature children operate by the letter not intent. They do not realizing the Law is a tutor, and guide... the Law is INSTRUCTION in righteousness not righteousness in itself. The Law was given to train within us a righteous seeking mindset as the Law is written on our hearts.  The Law teaches us of spiritual things through physical shadows and rehearsals.

2 Timothy 3:17
 All Scripture is inspired by Yahuah and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of Yahuah may be (spiritually) adequate, equipped for every good work.  

The Law is a tutor or training aid to achieve spiritual perfection which is Righteousness based on intent.  But I have met very few, really only a handful, of mature sons in my life who have been trained by the Law to know spiritual intent and have matured from the milk/letter of the Law to the meat/intent behind the letter.  Full sonship is only given by Yahuah at an appointed time:

Galatians 4
 1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is spiritually immature, he is no different from a slave (to the letter of The Law), although he owns the whole estate. 2The heir is subject to guardians and tutors (the letter of The Law, and elders, true appointed teachers, and judges) until the time set by his father (that the child addicted to milk becomes a full mature son capable of solid food and understands spiritual intent of the Law). -----

So we have to go through a lifetime of sanctification of our minds/spirit guided by the letter of the Law BEFORE we are appointed by Yahuah and given spiritual understanding and liberty.  We are not appointed full mature sons when we are born again; we are simply babes in the Spirit in need of MUCH growth in spiritual things. 

Let me tell you a parable of The Stove!

“As children we are given a command, “thou shalt not touch the stove!”. This is the letter of The Law and as children we aren’t given any more information about the stove other than “do not touch it”! However, there is “intent” behind that command and as we grow and mature we learn that the stove can either be hot or cold.

The intent behind the command “thou shalt not touch the stove!” is to prevent us as children from harm IF the stove is hot. As children we don’t know why it might be hot or if it is hot or not. So we just simply obey the letter of Law and do not touch the stove. But as we grow and mature we realize how the stove works and “why it is hot” and that in fact we CAN touch the stove if it is cold. We learn that if we touch the stove and it is hot we get burned and it is very painful.

Eventually once we are mature enough we are given “liberty” to touch the stove if we want. It is not that the command is no longer valid and true.  We just better understand the letter of that law to mean “don’t touch the stove if it is hot” and we still obey that law. It is our responsibility then to determine if it is hot or not; and it is our choice to touch it or not. If we do touch the hot stove and get burned… it is OUR fault and we have no one to blame but our own bad judgment.”

So is The Law of Yahuah.

As we mature we are granted “liberty” but that comes with GRAVE responsibility. The Law is not righteousness in and of itself, it is a training aid that teaches true righteousness which is found in the intent of your heart. The Law was designed to teach us through physical examples, rehearsals, laws, and ordinances what it means to love Yahuah, our neighbor, and ourselves.

As we mature we are granted “liberty” but like I said comes with GRAVE responsibility. We see the Apostle Paul proclaim this truth that the Law is a guide unto righteousness not righteousness in and of itself, instead The Law is designed to train us and equip us spiritually:

2 Timothy 3:17
 All Scripture is inspired by Yahuah and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of Yahuah may be (spiritually) adequate, equipped for every good work.

The Law is a roadmap to achieve spiritual perfection in each of us which is the desired destination or outcome.

The map is not the destination!

The Law of Yahuah was given so that we would come to understand the Spiritual Righteousness of Yahuah through physical parallels. The goal in each of us is to mature from a child to a son.

Hebrews 5
 12 For even though by this time (of keeping the letter of the Law) you ought to be teaching others (the Spiritual Intent of The Law), you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles (behind the letter) of Yahuah’s Word. You have come to need milk (physical adherence to the letter of The Law), not solid food (Spiritual Meat which is the intent behind the letter). 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk (requiring ritual observance to the letter) is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (spiritual intent), for he (who is stuck on the milk/letter of the Law) is a mere infant (not ready for spiritual meat not understanding intent) 14 But solid food (intent behind the letter) is for full-grown men (mature sons), for those whose senses and mental faculties (spiritual eyes/ears) are trained by practice (keeping the letter) to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

So Paul is explaining that the immature child is the one who is stuck in ritualistic adherence to the letter which he calls “milk”.  The more mature are those who by keeping the letter of the Law and seek the intent behind it have their spiritual eyes/ears opened to spiritual truths the Law was designed to teach us.  The process we all go through whereby we mature from children addicted to milk to mature sons ready for meat is called ‘sanctification’. This is the process by which we grow in the knowledge of Yahuah and our minds are purified and we develop spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear. We mature in our understanding of intent which is what the letter of the Law was designed to accomplish.  Even the Messiah Yahusha had to grow into the knowledge and obedience of Yahuah and through that obedience to the letter Yahusha was “made perfect” spiritually:

Hebrews 5
8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation
Luke 2:52
And Yahusha grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with Yahuah and man

If this is true of Yahusha it is definitely true of every son of Yahuah.  Growth in wisdom, stature, and obedience for all of us comes with YEARS of seeking Yahuah through the letter of His Law and only then are we too “made perfect” in our spiritual maturity. 

As it relates to judgment... the immature judges others by what they "see" outwardly based solely on the letter of the Law.  They do not understand “spiritual intent” and have not yet been appoint by Yahuah as a mature son or a Righteous Judges. The Righteous Judge takes the person aside and works with them in love to establish the 'intent' and judges not with their physical eyes, but with their Spiritual "eyes to see" the intent of the heart of the person and the intent of Yahuah in giving the letter of the Law.

Most of us just "read" the Law and think we understand it, we don't carefully examine the intent behind the Law.  Those immature untrained judges do not understand nor do they preserve the righteous intent for which the commands were given: which is to develop maturity and understand in spiritual things.  You see, the Law is not two dimensional (black letters on a white page) it is 3 dimensional as it has a level of depth call spiritual intent.  Most of us even today delude our own hearts thinking that religious observant to the letter of the Law is where true righteousness is found.  We then judge others in our immaturity and cause division and do not bear fruit but rather drive everyone away with our condemnation disguised as “judgment/reproof!  The result is that those who do not seek the intent behind the letter are barren  both in fruit and in spiritual growth.

 James 1
 25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless spiritual law, the  law that leads to liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it (the spiritual intent of the Law which produces liberty), being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer (who obeys the letter to achieve its righteous outcome of spiritual intent), he shall be blessed in his doing (those who walk long enough by the letter will be appointed sons and given the blessing of liberty).  26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (by ritually keeping the letter or milk of the word) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart (to think he is qualified to judge the Law), this person’s religious service (trying to teach and judge others) is worthless (they do not bear fruit but create division and contention in the assembly).

I challenge everyone today... Think REAL hard... name 5 people whom YOU have brought into The Kingdom who because of your loving instruction now keeps His Sabbaths, and accepts His Law, and has rejected Christopaganism.  Think of 5 people who would gladly proclaim that YOU were the instrument in their coming to know the Truth.  That is what real fruit is... not judging everyone around you putting everyone down to elevate yourself up as "righteous" in your own eyes.

What I am saying to all of you is this...

 If you "think" you are qualified to judge then you are NOT.  You are immature in thinking that you are qualified and by virtue of you thinking you are qualified proves that you are not yet a judge.  Because judges are APPOINTED by Yahuah not self appointed.  

If you are not approaching 50 years on this planet and decades of keeping the letter of the Law yourself then you simply do not yet have the qualifications to be an “elder/judge”.  However, If you are respected as an elder, and an anointed teacher, and people come to you looking for guidance and instruction and you yourself FEAR judging His people and you avoid condemning anyone...  If you have walked on this planet long enough and lived the letter of the Law long enough that others truly seek you out and respect your anointing; then guess what? You have been appointed a full son by Yahuah and called to the position of Righteous Judge.  Being a judge, like being a High Priest, is not something a man takes upon himself but is appointed to those roles by Yahuah.

Intent trumps letter

The Law is not righteousness in and of itself, it is a training aid that teaches true righteousness which is found in the intent of your heart.  The Law was designed to teach us through physical examples, rehearsals, laws, and ordinances what it means to love Yahuah, our neighbor, and ourselves.  These commands, laws, and ordinances are summed up in the 10 Commandments.

·       We love Yahuah by worshipping Him the way He desires to be worshipped as defined in His Law.  The foundation of the love of Yahuah is found in the first 5 commandments 1-5 in The Big 10.

·       We love our neighbor as ourselves by obeying the next 5 commandments 6-10 in The Big 10.

·       We love ourselves by keeping His dietary laws which are good for our health and bodies.

The Law was given originally by “the letter” as all mankind was spiritually immature as “children” in the eyes of Yahuah.  Just like the parable of The Stove the letter was lacking intent.  Now in The Yahushaic Covenant we are expected to mature and seek out the “intent” behind each law, ordinance, and command and grow spiritually.  As we mature Yahuah grants us “liberty” on an individual basis.  

 We mature in our understanding of intent which is what the letter of the Law was designed for.

James 1
21 So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil (by keeping the letter of the Law), and receive with humility the Spiritual Word implanted in you (written on your heart by Yahuah which teaches us intent) that can save your lives. 22 Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it (our spiritual senses are trained through obedience to the letter of the Law)! 23 For whoever hears the Word but doesn’t do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror, 24 who looks at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. (training in spiritual intent is accomplished by physical adherence to the letter) 25 But if a person looks closely into the perfect (Spiritual) Torah, which gives freedom (liberty to the spiritually mature), and continues (to seek intent through obedience to the letter), becoming not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work it requires (and therefore will be trained and equipped in spiritual perfection 2 Timothy 3:17), then he will be (spiritually) blessed in what he does (with liberty in context). 26 Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant (by keeping the letter of The Law) but does not control his tongue (exercises unrighteous or immature judgment) is deceiving himself (to think he is qualified to judge), and his observance counts for nothing (he becomes a hypocrite and guilty of breaking the Law).

What the Apostle Paul is teaching in all his writings is that obedience to the letter of the Law was always indented to produce spiritually perfected sons of Yahuah.  Spiritual perfection is found in the intent of the heart not the letter of the Law. 

Yahusha taught intent behind the letter

Yahusha came not to abolish the letter, but to complete the Law teaching intent behind the letter.  This is the message that Yahusha brought to us as he taught us “how to study” the letter of the Law by seeking the intent behind the letter in the “sermon on the mount”.  In Matthew Chapter 5 Yahusha declares he did not come to abolish the Law but rather to transpose the Law from letter to intent thereby fulfilling the purpose of the Law to produce mature spiritual sons of Yahuah:

Matthew 5
17 “Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Torah or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish (the letter) but to complete (the Law by transposing it to spiritual intent). 18 Yes indeed! I tell you that until heaven and earth pass away, not so much as a yud or a stroke will pass from the Torah — not until everything that must happen has happened. 19 So whoever disobeys the least of these instructions and teaches others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But whoever obeys them (the letter) and so teaches (the spiritual intent) will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

We see Yahusha do just that, teach the INTENT of the Law.  What Yahusha is saying is our righteousness must exceed that of the existing teachers of the Torah and Pharisees who obeyed the very letter.  This is accomplished in us through transposition.  For those who are trained in spiritual intent (true righteousness) our righteousness will surpass that of the teachers of the Law and Pharisees who only had a “form” of righteousness” defined by the letter of the Law.  Then Yahusha continues teaching us what he means by showing us that “intent” trumps “the letter”.  Yahusha uses some very extreme examples to teach “intent”:

Matthew 5
21 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Do not murder,’ and that anyone who commits murder will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you that anyone who nurses anger against his brother will be subject to judgment…
27 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that a man who even looks at a woman with the purpose of lusting after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
31 “It was said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a get.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and that anyone who marries a divorcee commits adultery.
33 “Again, you have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Do not break your oath,’ and ‘Keep your vows to Yahuah.’ 34 But I tell you not to swear at all — not ‘by heaven,’ because it is Yahuah’s throne; 35 not ‘by the earth,’ because it is his footstool; and not ‘by Yerushalayim,’ because it is the city of the Great King. 36 And don’t swear by your head, because you can’t make a single hair white or black. 37 Just let your ‘Yes’ be a simple ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ a simple ‘No’; anything more than this has its origin in evil.
38 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to stand up against someone who does you wrong. On the contrary, if someone hits you on the right cheek, let him hit you on the left cheek too!
43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven.

Se we see that Yahusha taught the transposition of The Law from letter to intent.  INTENT trumps LETTER.  That doesn’t mean the letter has been done away with and no longer valuable.  It is our training aid in teaching us righteous intent.  Remember my parable of The Stove!

Paul discusses later in Galatians 6 how destructive we can be as children going about causing division and gossiping.  We should avoid judging at all until we are mature sons qualified to judge by intent and appointed a son by Yahuah.

Galatians 6 – Complete Jewish Bible
1 Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit (those qualified to judge intent) should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves (being mature) so that you won’t be tempted too. Bear one another’s burdens (don’t condemn each other in the form of reproof and judgment) — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds. For if anyone thinks he is something (like judge) when he is really nothing (but a spiritually immature child a slave to the letter of the Law), is fooling himself. So let each of you scrutinize his own actions (in light of Spiritual Intent). Then if you do find something to boast about (that you have matured in your understanding of intent over the letter), at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done (achieved maturity and liberty) and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else (that is what the spiritually immature do, they judge everyone by the letter to make themselves appear more righteous);

The immature are not to judge, the mature not to misuse liberty

Paul goes into great detail in Romans 14 about the dangers of the immature child exercising judgment and the responsibility of those mature sons to be very careful with their liberty around these immature unqualified judges.  The Apostle Paul is addressing the very issue of unqualified judges vs. Righteous Judges and the dangers those who are more spiritually mature will encounter if they are not careful with their liberty.  The unqualified judge will judge them by the letter not realizing that liberty exists in the context of intent. 

Below Paul uses “food” and eating mean vs. vegetables as a physical to spiritual parallel of maturity vs. immaturity.  Paul spoke in the mystery language that Yahusha spoke in and veiled the Kingdom.  Those who do not understand this mystery language condemn Paul as though Paul is talking about the dietary laws when that is not at all what Paul was talking about.  Let’s read it…

Romans 14
1 (speaking to the spiritually mature) Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters (which is what immature children in the faith do. They argue over things they do not yet understand). One person’s faith allows them to eat anything (they have developed teeth to eat meat of the word which is spiritually discerned, i.e. intent), but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables (he is a child spiritually addicted to milk or the letter not understanding intent). The one who eats everything (the spiritually mature son who understands the spiritual law from the intent) must not treat with contempt the one who does not (have the spiritual chops to understand intent but is still a slave to the letter), and the one who does not eat everything (still addicted to milk or the letter of the Law) must not judge the one who does (have the spiritual chops and understand intent and walk in liberty), for Yahauh has accepted them (and appointed them mature sons and granted them liberty). Who are you (the spiritually immature who are still slaves to the letter of the Law) to judge someone else’s servant (you are still a slave to the letter yourself!)? To their own master, servants stand or fall (the immature are not called to a position of spiritual maturity required to judge anyone for their liberty). And they (the mature with liberty) will stand (justified), for Yahuah is able to make them stand (by granting them that liberty in the first place).
Now Paul gives a few examples of quarreling over disputable matters he mentioned earlier in verse 1.  Matters Paul said we should not argue over because they are matters of personal liberty and maturity between Yahuah and his sons individuall)  First Paul discusses the on-going debate over which feast is more holy, Passover or Yom Kippur / Atonement.  Some people consider Passover the most holy day and others consider Atonement the most holy day.  On Passover you feast, and on atonement you fast. With that understanding let’s continue with Romans 14)
One person considers one (feast) day more sacred than another; another considers every (feast) day alike (in sacred holiness). Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind (because it is personal matter of maturity). Whoever regards one (feast) day as special does so to Yahuah. Whoever eats meat (on feast day like Passover) does so to Yahuah, for they give thanks to Elohim; and whoever abstains (fasts on Yom Kippur) does so to Yahuah and gives thanks to Elohim. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. (we do what we do for Yahuah) ..
10 You (spiritually immature child enslaved to the letter of the Law), then, why do you judge your brother or sister (you are not yet qualified to judge by intent)? Or why do you (spiritually mature son who understands spiritual things and intent) treat them (the spiritually immature child) with contempt? For we will all stand before Yahuah’s  judgment seat.
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to Yahuah (based on our personal level of maturity and liberty).
13 Therefore let us stop passing (unrighteous or unqualified) judgment on one another (without spiritual maturity which is base on intent not the letter). Instead, make up your mind (you who have liberty and matured to understand intent) not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister (who is spiritually immature and enslaved by the letter… do not exercising your liberty in front of them).
Now Paul again uses eating meat as a metaphor for spiritual maturity.  Paul does this many times milk/solid food or meat/vegetables.  Paul is not talking about the dietary laws!  We must take the next passage IN CONTEXT of what Paul was discussing which is not the dietary laws but spiritual maturity.
 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Messiah Yahusha, that nothing (speaking of spiritual intent) is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards (speaking of spiritual intent) something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean (because whatever is not of faith is sin verse 23). 15 If your brother or sister (weaker in faith still addicted to the letter and not yet trained in intent) is distressed because of what you eat (of the meatier spiritual doctrines because you have a mature understanding of intent and liberty), you are no longer acting in love (if you exercise that liberty in front of them). Do not by your eating (display of liberty) destroy someone for whom Yahusha died (because they are not yet spiritually trained by keeping the Law). 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good (understanding spiritual intent and liberty) be spoken of as evil (by the weaker in maturity as they will judge you unrighteously and go about gossiping and accusing you falsely of breaking the Law). 17 For the kingdom of Yahuah is not a matter of eating and drinking (the letter of the Law), but of (spiritual righteousness produced by obedience to the Law which is) righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit of Holiness, 18 because anyone who serves Yahusha in this way (spiritual intent of the Law) is pleasing to Yahuah and receives human approval.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of Yahuah (though unrighteous judgment) for the sake of (metaphorically speaking) food. All food (whether it be milk, solid, meat, or vegetable… Paul is speaking in parallels here not about the Dietary law) is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble (so be careful with your spiritual liberty in front of them). 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and Yahuah (maturity and liberty is to be kept personal between you and your Father). Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what Yahuah approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat (exercise liberty), because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.[

So Paul in Romans 14 is using “meat” and “food” as metaphors for spiritual maturity and liberty.   Paul uses this same metaphorical language in 1 Corinthians 3.  He again addresses the reality that those spiritually immature are still living as slaves to the physical letter he calls “worldly” and are mere infants in spiritual intent found in The Yahushaic Covenant:

1 Corinthians 3
1 Brothers and sisters (speaking to the spiritually immature), I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit (intent of the Law) but as people who are still worldly (slaves to the letter of the Law)—mere infants in The Yahushaic Covenant. 2 I gave you milk (the letter of the Law), not solid food (spiritually mature intent of the letter), for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly (in need of keeping the letter of the Law). For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you (proving your immaturity in spiritual growth), are you not worldly (bickering and judging based on the letter)? Are you not acting like mere humans (not mature spiritual sons)?

We see again in Hebrews 5 Paul use “food” as a metaphor for spiritual maturity

Hebrews 5
12 For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others (
the Spiritual Intent of The Law), you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles (i.e. the letter) of Yahuah’s Word. You have come to need milk (physical adherence to the letter of The Law), not solid food (Spiritual Meat which is the intent behind the letter). 13 For everyone who continues to feed on milk (requiring ritual observance to the letter) is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (which is based on spiritual intent, maturity, and liberty), for he (who is stuck on the milk) is a mere infant (not ready for spiritual meat not understanding intent) 14 But solid food (intent behind the letter) is for full-grown men (mature sons), for those whose senses and mental faculties (spiritual eyes/ears) are trained by practice (keeping the letter) to discriminate and distinguish (spiritually) between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law (i.e. be trained as a Righteous Judge)

So today we see that Yahusha, Paul, James, and many others taught that Righteous Judgment is only to be exercised by those MATURE in both physical age and The Torah.  Those who have had their spiritual senses trained by obedience to the letter and have been APPOINTED Righteous Judges by Yahuah. 

No one is qualified to be a “judge over The Law” simply because they now keep The Torah.  The spiritual growth from the point of being “born again” is directly related to your physical growth from physical birth.  The pace at which we grow physically is a parallel of spiritual truth.  In otherwords, if you accepted The Law in your life 3 years ago, you are a 3 year old in spiritual growth and understand spiritual things about as much as a 3 year old physical child understands the world around him.

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