First, we will need to clarify some statements made about the commandments and the word. It is stated according to man’s traditions. 

1. Christians only need to keep the Ten Commandments (-ve 1 if you are not a seventh day Adventist).

   There is no scripture that states this. The Ten Commandments are the only ones written by God on the tablets that were given to Moses. There is no scripture that states that the believer only needs to keep these ten. The scripture always points to the law, which is made up of over five hundred commandments that were given by God. This statement about keeping the Ten Commandments “only” is a doctrine of man (a tradition of man).

2. The law was given to the Jews only and not for the gentile church.

   There is no scripture that supports this statement. This statement is based on what is written in Acts 15:19-20. They point to the three commandments given by the Apostle and say as gentiles we only need to keep these three. If this is the case, by logic it means that all the other commandments can be transgressed. So we can now be a false witness, we can now curse our parents, we can now commit adultery, we can now kill, etc. We will further explain this in this paper. This is a doctrine of man.

3. Christians only need to keep the moral law as the ceremonial law is done away with.

   Again, there is no scripture that states the ceremonial law is done away with. The commandments that point to animals being sacrificed for our sins are no longer necessary as the perfect sacrifice came and He said it is finished – meaning He (Yeshua) fulfilled all that was written about Him. Again, scripture makes no distinction in the law being moral or ceremonial and this side (ceremonial) of the law is no more; this is a doctrine of man.

4. Christians only need to keep the two greatest commandments as mentioned in Matthew 22.
   TTGM believes that the majority of Christians understand it to be just two commandments; as a result, we have decided to dedicate an entire page to respond to this doctrinal position – VISIT HERE to see out comments. 

5. On the Word. Whenever we interpret the word, our interpretation must not contradict other verses in the scripture. If there is a contradiction we must seek to deliver an interpretation that brings all the text on the subject into perfect harmony. Why? God does not contradict Himself. There is one way, one law, one judgment, and one God.

   For example, Christians will bring texts with an interpretation that supports their point of view on not keeping the entire Torah, however, in light of other texts that contradict their viewpoint (in the following verses); they are totally silent.

6. The 10 commandments were written by God and Moses wrote the rest of the law for the people. It is only the 10 commandments the believer must follow.

   The above statement is correct but not entirely accurate. Yes, God wrote the 10 commandments, but every word written by Moses was given to him by God; letter by letter, each and every letter. It is written.
   (Exod 24:4 [KJV])
   And Moses wrote ALL the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

(John 14:15 [KJV]) – Here our Lord told us to obey the Torah/commandments
If ye love me, keep my commandments (Read RED highlight on the page to understand more about this verse – John 14:15). 

(Rom 3:31 [KJV]) – Here Paul is making it clear we must continue and not do away with the law
Do we then make void (do away) the law (Torah) through faith? God forbid (No we do Not): yea, we establish (continue with emphasis) the law (Torah).

(Matt 19:17 [KJV]) – Here the young man asked Yeshua how to gain eternal life
And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into (eternal) life, keep the commandments (Torah).

(Matt 5:17 [KJV]) – Our Lord Yeshua did not come destroy the law (commandments); His purpose was to fulfill it (fulfill means to do what is written). 
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

(Matt 5:18 [KJV]) – Heaven and earth are still here so the one jot or tittle of the law still stands.
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.

(John 14:21 [KJV]) – Keeping the commandments is a demonstration of your love for God, If you do not keep them, you do not love God.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

(1John 5:2 [KJV])
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

(Rev 14:12 [KJV]) – The true saints keep the commandments of God.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God (Torah), and the faith of Jesus.

(Rev 12:17 [KJV])
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

(1John 2:4 [KJV]) – The word is clear, if you say you know Him (Lord Lord) and keep not His commandments/law/Torah, you are a liar.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

The silence of people that say no to the Torah is deafening re the mentioned verses above 

If you have a contradiction in your interpretation of the word and cannot explain the word that speaks against your belief, YOU MUST BE WRONG in your understanding of the doctrine.

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Now we look at some of the verses that our “No Torah” people use to support their point of view (interpretation). We will then explain them to remove the contradiction in the minds of the contradicted.  

(Acts 15:1 [KJV]) – The law states that you must be circumcised. However, you must read the actual law to understand it (many do not study the law).
And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

When the apostles heard this instruction they would have gone to the law and examined it. After looking at the law they would have seen that it would not apply to the gentiles who were grafted in. Why? They (Gentile Christians) were not purchased by any Israelite or were they of the seed of Abraham. So they would not have qualified to keep the law as written. Read the law for yourself Gen17:10-14

(Gen 17:10 [KJV])
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed (gentile Christians are not of Abraham’s seed) after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

(Gen 17:13 [KJV])
He that is born in thy house (gentile Christians are not part of the house of Abraham), and he that is bought with thy money (gentile Christians are not purchased into Abraham’s house, they are purchased by Christ), must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.

It is important to note that to this day committed Jews to the Torah still circumcise their babies.

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People point to this verse to say that the apostle was speaking about the law and how it was not bearable.

(Acts 15:10 [KJV])
Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

Could this be true? Let us look at what is written concerning the keeping of the commandments. We see here keeping the commandments is not grievous.

(1John 5:3 [KJV])
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Also, some say the commandments cannot be kept, but again let us see if anyone in scripture could keep them. Here we have John the Baptist’s parents keeping all the commandments.

(Luke 1:6 [KJV])
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Now ask yourself this what is the apostle talking about? What part of the law was a yoke not easy to bear?  As you can see, the commandments are not grievous and also they could be kept blameless (not perfectly as we all have sinned and come short). Are you going to believe the lies of men’s lips or the truth of God’s word? 

What the apostle is talking about is the law of sacrificing of animals. If you study the law that requires the sacrificing of animals you would see that this was an arduous undertaking, a truly burdensome process. This process of the law is no longer required as Christ has taken the place for us, His chosen people. So logically, we are still to obey not committing adultery, not bearing false witness, not to covet, not to curse our parents, not to uncover the nakedness of our next of kin, not to marry a man with a man etc.

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Some teach in the following verse that the apostle is saying that the converted Gentiles do not have to concern themselves with the law.

(Acts 15:19-21 [KJV])
Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

This verse must be understood in the context of the time it was written. The early church was predominantly Jewish. The converted Jews still visited the synagogues (see Paul’s visits to the synagogues as his custom was, also Yeshua visited and preached in the synagogues). The synagogue was part of the life of the early Jewish believers, before and after conversion to a belief/faith in Yeshua. The early gentile believers would visit the synagogues to understand the scripture. Watch presentation 1 which explains why the early church fathers moved away from the “way” of God. – see presentation 1.

So what was the apostle saying?

1.  “that they abstain from pollutions of idols”
The apostle was pointing to the Tora command here, as it is written.
(Lev 19:4 [KJV])
Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God.

2. “and from fornication”

Again, the apostle was pointing to the Tora command here, as it is written.
(Lev 19:29 [KJV])
Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.

Note: The word for fornication is the same as whoredom. Fornication is not sex before marriage as the church erroneously teaches today. We are commanded not to partake in whoredom/fornication.   

3. “and from things strangled, and from blood”

Again, the apostle was pointing to the Tora command here, as it is written
(Lev 7:26 [KJV])
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings.

Note: when you strangle an animal and eat it the blood is still in it. And we are forbidden by God to eat any manner of blood.    

As you can see three times the apostle instructs the body of believers based on the commandments written in the Torah. Then he mentions the following verse, what is he saying here? The newly converted gentiles would go to the synagogues and learn about the complete law (Torah). It was read, and when you hear it, you will learn how to follow it.

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
(Acts 15:21 [KJV])
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

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Some teach that the following verses show that we can now eat “unclean food”. First off it is important to note that common or unclean flesh is never referred to as food/meat that can be eaten; nowhere in scripture. What Peter is having here is a vision to eat what God called unclean. But why the vision, what was it for?

(Acts 10:11-16 [KJV])
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

The answer: The Jews likened the Gentiles to be unclean (similar to animals) and they should not be in any communion with them. What God was showing Peter, was that three “unclean” converted gentiles were coming to see him and he should not turn them away. Look at what Peter said about the vision.

(Acts 10:28 [KJV])
And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company (Jews did not commune with gentiles), or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me (in the vision Acts 10:11-16) that I should not call any man common or unclean (as Jews did with gentiles).

In conclusion, God’s message to Peter was not to start eating common or unclean flesh, but rather, he should now commune with Gentiles and not turn them away because he (Peter) saw them as unclean.

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Some teach that you only have to obey the following and you will be saved. Why? It does not include anything about keeping the law of God.
(Acts 16:31 [KJV])
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

&

(Rom 10:9 [KJV])
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

The answer: We are to teach the nations what our Lord Yeshua said. After we teach the nations what our Lord commanded then we tell them that they need to believe in Yeshua with all their heart. Today people are told that they are in the Lord and are given hardly any biblical instruction and few know what is true.

Here is the truth.
First, when you come to God you must come in humility,  it is written.
(Matt 18:3 [KJV])
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Second, you must be taught about God and His law/commandments, for it is written.
(Matt 5:19 [KJV])
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.

Third, the message must go to the nations (the people who have humbled themselves)
(Matt 28:19 [KJV])
Go ye therefore, and teach (about Christ and His commandments) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Last, after the people have been taught about God, His Son, His Spirit, His law, and His purpose (salvation/rescue from our sins that brings eternal death and damnation). Then they can decide if they will follow; they will be in a position to make a decision because they have been informed. And the only way to get eternal life is to put their full belief in Yeshua and what He said to do. What did He say? He said, “If you love me, Keep my commandments” – John 14:15. After you have given up your all to Him, then He will give you His Holy Spirit; and He (Holy Spirit) will seal you forever. You will be raised in glory on that coming day.
(John 14:15-16 [KJV])
If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter (Holy Spirit), that he may abide with you for ever;

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Some teach that the following verses speak to the entire law being no more. But are the verses saying that? 
(Col 2:14-16 [KJV])
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:

On the ordinances, the apostle is speaking about that part of the law that speaks to the penalty. What is against us? The penalty for sin – when we sin it is stated we will die. Yeshua’s death removed the law of sin and death, it is no longer against us that believe in Him. It is written.
(Rom 8:2 [KJV])
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Now we look at let no man judge you in meat, or in drink or in respect of an holy day (eg: Sabbath). Is this saying that you can now transgress the law?

Here is a logical example we can use to help with your understanding. If the law states that you should not exceed the speed limit by more than 50 mph on a given highway. Should you then drive on that highway and it is said, let no man judge you on your driving; is this statement saying it is now permissible and okay for you to drive faster than the designated speed limit?  No, all it is saying is that what you do or how you do it should not be judged by anyone. God will judge you on what you have done, but transgressing the law of God is sin and will always be sin. Transgression of the law is death and will always be death; for it is written, the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23).

Let no man judge you of the sabbath days (see above paragraph). Again we ask is this text saying that we no longer need to keep the sabbath. Read the following verse concerning what the believers in Yeshua did on the sabbath day; for it is written.
(Luke 23:56 [KJV])
And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Answer: The believers kept the commandment of the Sabbath as commanded; should you not too keep this commandment too?
(Lev 23:3 [KJV])
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.

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To the people who are silent on the scripture that does not support their point of view, we ask that you write the author of this page at thsealy@truthgospel.org or “friend” him on Facebook at “Bajan Eagle” and share verses you wish for him to explain to you on this subject (or any other). Also, if any of his logic is in error feel free to contact him. TTGM always endeavors to be in harmony with all of God’s word and we are here to help you do the same.

Be blessed in understanding.