False Teachers Once True

The first person I ever heard teaching about Torah was Monte Judah of Lion and Lamb Ministries. I had recently found a radio station on iTunes called Solace Radio and he was one of the 'programs' they supported. It was then that I eventually learned of other Torah Teachers of the Hebrew Roots mindset, such as:

• Mike Clayton 
• Bill Cloud 
• Brad Scott 

This began the new learning process for me and my husband about ten years ago. Later we heard of Mark Biltz, Perry Stone, Rico Cortes, and others that many in 'the group' seemed to know, like and agree with. In my zeal for more about this Torah teaching idea I searched the internet and found a few web sites that rounded out this new world we had entered: 119 Ministries; Jim Staley's Truth or Tradition; Michael Rood's A Rood Awakening, for examples.

Through the various teachings and insights of them all, my husband and I became firmly rooted in the Hebrew origins of Scriptures and continue in study of His Word to this day. We gleaned many a nugget and felt the joy and blessing from the Creator as we carnal Gentiles started leaving the old Babylon worldly system. Yet we were believing in men and not taking what they were saying back to Scriptures at that time. We, like many Christians before us, were following the leader, without question.

We started wondering about those people and what they were teaching and what, exactly, were we learning. Once we understood the Old Testament was just as important as the New Testament, the more we read and studied Scriptures for ourselves the more we realized they were straying from His Path and taking us with them. Most had left Churchianity years ago but were still dragging religious baggage with them, trading the cross symbol for the star of David. Others were trading religions: Christianity for Judaism. We do acknowledge that they served their purpose as Stepping Stones that got my husband and I lined up with our Creator and His Path of righteous living, but I will not recommend any of them so that those new to the Hebrew origins of Scriptures will not be tempted to follow false teachings. Many will sit back and listen without consulting the Creator on all things.

As the years went by and without intentionally doing so, we measured ourselves against people who helped open our eyes to the truth about Yah's Instructions for His Creation, but when those teachers seem to have gone down a rabbit trail or adopted Jewish traditions it was time to leave them and move on, continuing in our studies, reading Scripture and staying on YHWH's Path of Righteousness. Many who were seeing the truth still fell into a religious comfort zone, traps set by Satan.

Mike Clayton was a great teacher and able to put the Word of YHWH into simple stories for those new to reading the Old Testament. He was easy to understand and seemed a trustworthy teacher to have along the Hebrew Roots journey. I copied a few of his teachings and shared them here and there because they were perfect for getting folks interested in Torah. But since then Mr. Clayton has changed his name to Mikell, doesn't use the Name of our Creator, thinks Israel has already been gathered and puts too much emphasis on today's Jews. He's taken many trips to Israel and offers tours. All these things do not make him a bad person, but like many he has been tripped up by Judaism, trading his Christian religion for a Jewish one. This is not someone who should continue teaching the Word of "G-d" because he is no longer teaching the whole Truth. I do not doubt that Mike Clayton loves YHWH and truly believes he is doing the right thing, but he is also mixing and mingling doctrines of man with the pure word of our Creator. If you come across his teachings on your journey I know you will find some nuggets worth gleaning but do not let your guard down else you get sidelined by that same rabbit trail. Always take what you learn back to Scriptures and the Set Apart Spirit of our Creator will show you the truth of all things.

My same sentiment goes for Bill Cloud: If you come across his teachings on your journey I know you will find some nuggets worth gleaning but keep your guard up else you travel down that same rabbit trail. Always take what you learn back to Scriptures and the Set Apart Spirit of our Creator will show you the truth of all things.

Mr. Cloud is another one of those likable down-home fellas who came out of Churchianity after learning that Torah is YHWH's set of Instructions for everyone - not just the Jews. But, like many others, he allowed the religion of Judaism to replace the religion of Christianity as he continued to adopt traditions of man. This may be because he was taught by a rabbi. I began to question his view of Torah years ago when I attended one of his seminars on a Sabbath day and noticed he had an assortment of CDs and Books displayed on a table, all for sale, on the Sabbath. I had learned enough about Yah's instructions to know that this wasn't right. All it takes is one contrary thing to raise an eyebrow of mine and spur me into research mode. These guys were valuable stepping stones in my journey and taught me how to read and study Scriptures for myself as I began to take their teachings back to the Word of our Creator, so they served their purpose in that respect.

If you think you need to learn the Hebrew Language then Brad Scott is the guy for you. I think he pushes the language topic a little too far, however, knowing Hebrew idioms and poetic prose does indeed help us to better understand Scriptures and clear up errors in translations. It is not necessary for us to be speaking and reading the Hebrew language as a whole in today's world, yet I believe it will be the language restored when we enter Y'shua's kingdom. I am content to wait until then. Mr. Scott goes beyond simply teaching the Word of Elohim and makes Scriptures seem as a mystery that needs to be understood by seeking deeper meanings. We are to be seeking YHWH as if looking for treasures and not picking and choosing a Hebrew word to analyze for an hour or two. That is one of those famous rabbit trails readily available in any Hebrew Roots group. I am not accusing Mr. Scott of being a bad guy, but his teaching strays off course when he relies on science to prove a point. If you come across his teachings on your journey I know you will find some nuggets worth gleaning but do not become distracted else you end up down that same rabbit trail. Always take what you learn back to Scriptures and the Set Apart Spirit of our Creator will show you the truth of all things.

I no longer recommend these teachers or websites because I hate it when a 'fellow believer' tells me to "eat the meat and spit out the bones". I shall never offer that advice to anyone. The bones are snares cast by Satan and I would never point someone in that direction. If I find something true and worthy of sharing in a site that is riddled with bones, I will not send someone there looking for it, but will dig out the nuggets and share them as a quote without leading anyone astray.

I post this topic hoping to bring awareness to those of you who are still relatively new to YHWH's Path and learning to live according to His Instructions (aka Torah). You will more than likely hear of these popular teachers in the Hebrew Roots learning curve and watch the videos. I will simply say avoid them and continue reading Scriptures for yourself. These teachers have come to represent, in my view, bait dangling on a hook: it looks good and we're hungry for His Word, but once they get you hooked they will take you to the wide gate along the broad way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. (Matthew 7:14) There is almost no avoiding these 'teachers' when one awakens after hearing and recognizing the Good Shepherd's voice. We are called to come out of Babylon, that pagan religious mindset, which means leaving all religions behind and returning to the Faith once delivered. 

One more mark against good men teaching traditions: They should not be advertising their 'studies' for sale, or providing shofars, tzitzits, shabbat candles or prayer shawls for sale, nor asking for donations, as this is not what was taught by Y'shua. This behavior reminds me of the flea market and money exchange that was set up in God's House in Jerusalem. On one particular Sabbath day Y'shua entered and tossed them all out. 

Stop Looking for Deeper Meanings Lest You Drown

I have heard it said that Scripture interprets itself and have found it to be true. Yet, there are still many who believe we are to search for 'deeper meanings' and peel away the 'layers' to uncover stuff that might be there. 

'Types and Shadows' are not deeper things. They are examples written of (foretold) in the OT and usually revealed (fulfilled) in the NT, or yet to be fulfilled - this would be an example of Scripture interpreting itself and why we read the book as a whole. 

The Father and His Son both spoke in parables in attempts to get our attention and inspire us to 'think'.  I used to harp on which version of Scriptures you should read from but have since learned that His Spirit will reveal the truth in all things as long as we spend time in His Word every day. There are still a few versions I would stay away from, but I'll save it for another study. However, there are a few things we should to take into consideration regardless of which version of Scriptures we read from, for example:

• Some meanings have been lost in various translations
• Hebrew idioms and poetic prose have been overlooked
• Not all writings from the old days are included in the bible choices of today

Yahweh's Word has been messed with for a long time:

Mark 7:5 ~ The scribes and the Pharisees ask Y'shua, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the traditions of the elders? His short answer is: "You hypocrites... You have left the Commandment of Elohim and have embraced the tradition of men. ... And you despise the Word of Elohim because of the tradition that you have handed down..."

This entire chapter is a great discussion of 'oral versus written law' which would later be recorded in the Talmud some 200 years later. Matthew 15:3 records the same... the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem ask Y'shua why his disciples transgress against the traditions of the elders. He asks them, "Why do you transgress the Commandments of Elohim because of your traditions?"

Written Torah was pitted against the oral traditions of the Pharisees who were nullifying the Word of YHWH by their traditions - Yahshua would not instruct his followers to do likewise. What we have ended up with is Jewish Tradition and Christianity with all of its denominations.

The Talmud

Quoted from the Jewish Virtual Library:

The Oral Law is a legal commentary on the Torah, explaining how its commandments are to be carried out. Common sense suggests that some sort of oral tradition was always needed to accompany the Written Law, because the Torah alone, even with its 613 commandments, is an insufficient guide to Jewish life. For example, the fourth of the Ten Commandments, ordains, "Remember the Sabbath day to make it holy" (Exodus 20:8). From the Sabbath's inclusion in the Ten Commandments, it is clear that the Torah regards it as an important holiday. Yet when one looks for the specific biblical laws regulating how to observe the day, one finds only injunctions against lighting a fire, going away from one's dwelling, cutting down a tree, plowing and harvesting. Would merely refraining from these few activities fulfill the biblical command to make the Sabbath holy? Indeed, the Sabbath rituals that are most commonly associated with holiness-lighting of candles, reciting the kiddush, and the reading of the weekly Torah portion are found not in the Torah, but in the Oral Law. Without an oral tradition, some of the Torah's laws would be incomprehensible.

Can you see where the term 'legalism' was wrongly applied by Christians to Torah, the written Word of Yah, as an excuse to ignore the Old Testament, while at the same time being totally blind to the fact it was the acts of the scribes and Pharisees which made their opinions 'legal'? That is the foundation of Judaism, another religion that perverts our heavenly Father's Instructions for all of humanity.  Notice also how 'they' have added rituals to Yah's simple command in regards to keeping the Sabbath day set apart.  Our Creator's Instructions do not include lighting candles, reciting prayers or reading weekly Torah portions which are from Oral Law: traditions which Y'shua did not support.

I do not encourage the use of the talmud nor do I support folks who use it as a teaching guide. Rabbis believe "Without an oral tradition, some of the Torah's laws would be incomprehensible" and this is simply not true. As we continue to read and study Yah's Instructions, it is His Spirit that reveals the truth and teaches us how to apply His Word to our lives in today's world. The talmud provides insight to the 'Jewish mindset' (not the Hebrew mindset) via the early rabbinic system (the beginnings of Judaism = a religion). It is a collection of writings that covers 'Jewish law and tradition'. Rabbis believe we cannot understand "Torah" without it and that is simply not true. They were guilty of putting a 'fence around Torah' back in day and many religious leaders have followed suit. My main point is to advise caution when it comes to the traditions of man. When we continue to read and study Scriptures daily, His Spirit will reveal the Truth wherein we gain knowledge and understanding, without the influence of traditions or man's opinions about "God". Y'shua called the scribes and Pharisees hypocrites because they transgressed against the Commandments of Elohim by way of their traditions which later became recorded in the Talmud. This is a big reason why I do not recommend using the Talmud in an attempt to teach, shed light or verify the Word of YHWH.

The Mishna
Quoted from the Jewish Virtual Library:

Mishna is the name for the sixty-three tractates in which Rabbi Judah set down the Oral Law, where Jewish law is systematically codified. Indeed, in order to know everything the Torah said on a given subject, one either had to read through all of it or know its contents by heart. Rabbi Judah avoided this problem by arranging the Mishna topically. All laws pertaining to the Sabbath were put into one tractate called Shabbat. The laws contained in Shabbat's twenty-four chapters are far more extensive than those contained in the Torah, for the Mishna summarizes the Oral Law's extensive Sabbath legislation.
One of the Mishna's sixty ­three tractates contains no laws at all. It is called Pirkei Avot (usually translated as Ethics of the Fathers) ....  in which their most famous sayings and proverbs are recorded.
During the centuries following Rabbi Judah's editing of the Mishna, it was studied by generation after generation of rabbis. Eventually, some of these rabbis wrote down their discussions and commentaries on the Mishna's laws in a series of books known as the Talmud. The rabbis of Palestine edited their discussions of the Mishna about the year 400: Their work became known as the Palestinian (Jerusalem) Talmud.  More than a century later, some of the leading Babylonian rabbis compiled another editing of the discussions on the Mishna. By then, these deliberations had been going on some three hundred years. The Babylon edition was far more extensive than its Palestinian counterpart, so that the Babylonian Talmud became the most authoritative compilation of the Oral Law. When people speak of studying "the Talmud," they almost invariably mean the Babylonian version.

Did you catch that? They took the command to keep the 7th day set apart and turned it into 24 chapters! They would rather present their interpretation as proper and dissuade anyone from reading Torah for themselves. Heaven forbid we would have to read His Word to learn how to apply it to our lives today! What do you think it means to 'search for YHWH as if looking for treasure"? Maybe we are to read Scriptures for ourselves and, in faith, rely on His Spirit to reveal the truth that has been covered up by man's imagination. Division is a tactic used by Satan.  Here we have rabbis dividing the Word of Yahweh into two versions of the Talmud. Christianity has been divided into many denominations.

Kabbalah

Quote from the Jewish Virtual Library:

Mysticism and mystical experiences have been a part of Judaism since the earliest days. The Torah contains many stories of mystical experiences, from visitations by angels to prophetic dreams and visions. The Talmud considers the existence of the soul and when it becomes attached to the body. Jewish tradition tells that the souls of all Jews were in existence at the time of the Giving of the Torah and were present at the time and agreed to the Covenant. There are many stories of places similar to Christian heaven and purgatory, of wandering souls and reincarnation. The Talmud contains vague hints of a mystical school of thought that was taught only to the most advanced students and was not committed to writing.
In the middle ages, many of these mystical teachings were committed to writing in books like the Zohar. Many of these writings were asserted to be compilations of secret ancient writings. Like most subjects of Jewish belief, the area of mysticism is wide open to personal interpretation. Some traditional Jews take mysticism very seriously. Mysticism is an integral part of Chasidic Judaism, for example, and passages from kabbalistic sources are routinely included in traditional prayer books.
The mystical school of thought came to be known as Kabbalah, meaning "to receive, to accept." The word is usually translated as "tradition." 
Kabbalah is one of the most grossly misunderstood parts of Judaism. I have received several messages from non-Jews describing Kabbalah as "the dark side of Judaism," describing it as evil or black magic. On the other end of the spectrum, I receive many messages wanting to learn more about the trendy doctrine popularized by various Jewish and non-Jewish celebrities.
I do not mean to suggest that magic is not a part of Kabbalah. There are certainly many traditional Jewish stories that involve the use of hidden knowledge to affect the world in ways that could be described as magic. The Talmud and other sources ascribe supernatural activities to many great rabbis. Some rabbis pronounced a name of G-d and ascended into heaven to consult with the G-d and the angels on issues of great public concern.  However, this area of Kabbalah is not something that is practiced by the average Jew, or even the average rabbi. 

(end quote)

In short: The Talmud is man's opinion over the Word of Yah; 

and the Kabbalah is a book of Magic tricks

And when folks say there are deeper things to be found in Scriptures and layers to be peeled away I cannot help but think that this type of thinking comes from Jewish Tradition, specifically mysticism.  One will not understand Scriptures the first time they sit down and start reading. It takes time to absorb all the information, make the connections and begin to see the Big Picture.  The Big Picture begins to emerge once we gain some understanding as Scriptures interpret themselves and that light goes on and we see something as if for the first time - that "Ah Ha!" moment. That moment is when the Ruach haKodesh reveals a truth. 

Thank you Yahweh! 

We are most capable of understanding the instructions left for us by our Creator and without the temptation of discovering deeper meanings.  He does expect us to make an effort, such as reading Scriptures and studying in fellowship with other Set Apart believers. When we show Him our intent and abide by His Instructions, best we can in this day and age, He gives us understanding as we are comforted with the truth revealed to us by His Ruach haKodesh. This would be akin to Y'shua explaining to his Apostles the gist of the parables wherein they gained understanding. Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, rabbis, preachers and all the church fathers lose their perceived power, importance, money and control over the common folk when the common folk start reading Torah for themselves.

Sneaky Little Traditions

Traditions have been handed down through the generations and Satan has blindsided us in our excitement to obey our Creator. So I ask, are we doing something because we think it's right or because we know it's right? Are we pleasing ourselves or are we pleasing YHWH by obeying His Command? His Instructions in Righteous Living are not traditions. If we're not careful to see the difference between His original intentions and what man has added over the years, we will inadvertently begin to 'worship' the created thing instead of the Creator. If we do things our own way we are doubting the Word of Yah and have fallen into the same trap set by Satan in the Garden.

Romans 1:25 - They exchanged the truth of Yah for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...

Here is an example of a command, simple to understand, and later turned into a tradition: 

Numbers 15:38 we find the instructions to make fringes on the corners of a garment and to attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. These fringed corners with an attached cord of blue served to help one remember all the commandments of YHWH, to live by them and not follow after our own heart and eyes in lustful urges. These fringes were not beaded, braided, knotted, wrapped or multicolored or to be anywhere but the four corners of a garment. This command was given after a man was found gathering wood on the day of rest. He was made an example of and, in contrast, perhaps willingly disobeyed the command not to do this.

A few verses earlier YHWH says if anyone unwittingly fails to observe any one of the commandments they were instructed to provide a burnt offering; if an individual sinned unwittingly they were to bring a sin offering. Our loving Father was still training up His children. When they accidentally did the wrong thing He allowed them to be forgiven by bringing the appropriate offering to the priest. It makes sense the He would add a little reminder after the fact, The Fringes Command (aka tzitzits), for His people so they would not to do things as they saw fit, but to abide by every word of YHWH. He did something similar after the Nadab and Abihu incident, about drinking too much wine.

So then, if we are abiding by His Instructions, would we substitute one thing for another; add to His Command or do something we think is better? That didn't work out so well for Nadab and Abihu, or the man who decided to gather fire wood on the day of rest. We must not continue to make it up as we go along. His Instructions are set in stone and for all of us.

Making fringes on the corners of a garment and adding a blue cord is the command. The knotting and wrapping of strings is tradition. 

Tradition has turned "fringes" into ornamental tzitzits complete with mystic overtones by wrapping and knotting them, denoting numbers and applying the system of gematria, which is numerology, which is from pagan traditions. That is the 'tradition' I am pointing out.  I do not deny the command or that Set Apart believers, including Y'shua, wore garments with fringed corners.

Mark 7:5

The scribes and the Pharisees ask Y'shua, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the traditions of the elders? His short answer is: "You hypocrites... You have left the Commandment of Elohim and have embraced the tradition of men. ... And you despise the Word of Elohim because of the tradition that you have handed down..."

Mark 7:8 

You have disregarded the commandment of Elohim to keep the tradition of men.” He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the commandment of YHWH to maintain your own tradition.

Mark 7:13

Thus you nullify the word of Elohim by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.

Romans 1:25

They exchanged the truth of Elohim for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise...

Jeremiah 9:12

Yahweh replied: Because they forsook the Teaching I had set before them. They did not obey Me and they did not follow it but followed their own willful heart and followed the Baalim, as their fathers had taught them.

Definition of tradition:

1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable

2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction

3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions

4: characteristic manner, method, or style

Here is the 'traditional way' to make tzitzits and I share this post from Aish so you can see for yourself how far Yah's command has been perverted from His Instruction and to caution you against purchasing or making these for yourself.  Quote: Each string actually consists of two threads twisted together, and must be spun especially for the sake of Tzitzit. Therefore one should buy Tzitzit that carry a proper rabbinic supervision. Once you've purchased the strings, it's not so difficult to attach them yourself. It's fun and meaningful. The process of putting Tzitzit on the garment is as follows:

• use four strings, one which is longer, to wrap around the others 
• tie the four ends together, to ensure that each string will end up with one end on each side.
• insert the strings into the hole, and be sure to say "Le'shem mitzvat Tzitzit."
• tie a double-knot
• wind the longer string around the others 7 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 8 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 11 times
• tie a double-knot, and wind the longer string around the others 13 times
• tie a (fifth and final) double-knot (end quote)

Compared to the instruction in Numbers 15:38, 

this reads like a lesson in witchcraft!

Colossians 2:8 

Beware, or else any man make you naked by philosophy and by vain deception, according to the doctrines of men, according to the rudiments of the world and not according to the Mashiyach...

For the record, I presently do not own a four cornered garment of which to fringe the corners and add a cord of blue. I do think about it and plan to make such a garment, as either a linen or cotton tunic, either fabric would fringe nicely, and I do have a length of blue cord in my sewing box... some day I will do this, but in the meantime I won't substitute tradition for His Word.

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Codes vs YHWH

Here are a few examples of Scriptures which have been twisted by man's imagination resulting in traditions that have been handed down and accepted by many in the Hebrew Roots phase of their lives, as I once did:

• Mezuzahs - The Instruction is to take to heart His Instructions, the laws and the rules, and as it is written in Deuteronomy 6:9 "inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Tradition has it that you write 'the prayer Shema Yisrael' and place it inside a decorative case (mezuzah) which is then attached at an angle to the door frame of an entry way. Then you touch it and/or kiss it each time you pass by it.
• Shabbat observance A Seven Day count which does not always fall on a Sun. or Sat. and teaches how YHWH counts the days, months and years.
• Feast Days (Yah's Moedim) Many specifics relating to His Set Apart times for us cannot be adhered to since the temple and priesthood no longer exist. Also we need take into consideration that Y'shua gave himself as the sacrifice for our atonement from sin, so there is no need of any other offerings to be made.  
• Ram's Horns (shofars) and the two Silver Trumpets and who is to use them:
  Numbers 10:
  Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work.... and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Step back and take some time to read Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy again, without looking for some deeper meanings. Read these books as a light surface reading, then read them again... read them one more time, without referring to your Strong's concordance or the Hebrew Greek Interlinear.  See if Yah's Set Apart Spirit has enough to work with in revealing the truth to you.  Don't let objects of Jewish traditions or man's imagination become a distraction, a stumbling block or a snare.  Don't wear those designer tzitzits just because you love to wear them or other's think they are cool. They are not a badge proving your worth nor do they make you a representative of the Most High. Don't envy the guy with the shiny ram's horn or kiss that icon in the doorway. YHWH does not require this type of behavior and we are not honoring Him by doing things the way we think they should be done.