Andre Widodo
© Talmidim Ha'Mashiach Ministries
Shalom,
1.) How important is the HALAKHAH [הָלָֽכָה]?
It is so important that Rabbi Sha'ul explains it in Ephesians 5:15-16
Ephesians 5:15-16
Look carefully then how you WALK [הָלָֽכָה - HALAKHAH], not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
2.) What did Rabbi Sha'ul want us to do?
Rabbi Sha'ul wanted us to IMITATE him as he IMITATED the Messiah.
1 Corinthians 4:16 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Therefore I urge you to IMITATE me.
1 Corinthians 11:1 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
try to IMITATE me, even as I myself try to IMITATE the Messiah.
3.) What kind of HALAKHAH did Rabbi Sha'ul walk?
Rabbi Sha'ul walked the HALAKHAH of PHARISEE [פְּרוּשִׁים - P'RUSHIM]
Acts 23:6 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
But knowing that one part of the Sanhedrin consisted of Tz’dukim and the other of P’rushim, Sha’ul shouted, “Brothers, I myself AM a PARUSH and the son of P’rushim; and it is concerning the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being tried!”
Note:
In Acts 23:6, be noticed that Rabbi Sha'ul use PRESENT TENSE form in expressing his identity after become believer in Messiah. He did NOT use PAST TENSE form. That means, after he believed in Yeshua the Messiah, Rabbi Sha'ul continued his living as a PHARISEE [PARUSH]
Acts 26:5 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
They have known me for a long time; and if they are willing, they can testify that I have followed the strictest party in our religion — that is, I have lived as a PARUSH.
Philippians 3:5 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
b’rit-milah on the eighth day,
by birth belonging to the people of Isra’el,
from the tribe of Binyamin,
a Hebrew-speaker, with Hebrew-speaking parents,
in regard to the Torah, a PARUSH,
4.) So, if Rabbi Sha'ul wanted us to walk the PHARISEE HALAKHAH as he IMITATED the HALAKHAH the Messiah, what HALAKHAH did Yeshua walk?
Yeshua walked the PHARISEE HALAKHAH as there are twice in the Scripture Yeshua advised His followers to walk the PHARISEE HALAKHAH.
Matthew 23:2-3 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
“The Torah-teachers and the P’RUSHIM,” he said, “sit in the seat of Moshe. So whatever they tell you, TAKE CARE TO DO IT. But don’t do what they do, because they talk but don’t act!
Matthew 5:20 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P’RUSHIM, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
So, have you been walking the right HALAKHAH as Rabbi Sha'l did, as Yeshua our Messiah did?
Remember...
Ephesians 5:15-16
Look carefully then how you WALK [הָלָֽכָה - HALAKHAH], not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
A man should carefully see how he does the WALK [HALAKHAH], and to the way in which he walks. He must walks circumspectly, with his eyes see toward Rabbi Sha'ul and Yeshua the Messiah. We, as talmidim [disciples], must walk with diligence, caution, accuracy, and exactness, to the uttermost of our strength and power; and with wisdom and prudence.
This is the meaning of "Walking in the dust of our Rabbi" or, in other word, "Covered in the dust of our Rabbi."
Do NOT walk like fools, whose eyes are not upon their ways; who walk in their own ways, which are crooked, and ways of darkness, and lead to destruction; who walk after the flesh, and naked, without the garments of a holy life, love to fight, and full of falseness; and with lamps, but no oil in them.
But, walk as wise men (PHARISEE HALAKHAH), who walk according to the rule of G-d's Word (G-d's Torah), make the Messiah as the pattern, have the Spirit for the guidance, in wisdom, and in love within; and as pilgrims and strangers in this world, looking for a better place which is Messianic Kingdom [OLAM HABA]; and so as to promote the glory of G-d and win the good souls.
