Obey Christ and the Pharisees

Excerpts from a Sabbath-keeping Church of God forum:

If you want to obey Christ, then follow Christ's command to DO as the Pharisees said to do and respect their God-given authority.

Yeshua clearly said the Pharisees - however imperfect- sit in Moses' Seat (even though He was aware they rejected Him at that time). Yeshua clearly said DO AS THEY - the Pharisees - SAY.

shall we obey everything the Pharisees have to say? even when they place burdens upon others which are part of their own tradition and not the law of God? certainly not!

The Pharisees alone have the right to proclaim and determine the holy days/dates from Moses' Seat. He didn't disagree with them on their observances of Passover/Shavuot, and where He did disagree was made evident. He clearly disagreed with the Sadducees (who too many in the Church still follow), since the Pharisees strongly disagree with their observance of Shavuot. Yeshua sided, like Paul did, with the Pharisees - all things considered.

The Pharisees
Who isn't aware of the sins of the Pharisees? Especially the Accuser of the Brethren? But does that mean the truths they teach, even if they don't live them, are no longer true?

You speak of the "Jews" as though they are still sitting in Moses' seat. Aren't the "Jews" the ones who deny Messiah came in the flesh?

The Jews - specifically rabbinic Judaism, the continuation of the Pharisess - do still sit in Moses' Seat and will continue to do so UNTIL Shiloh comes, the King of the Jews, and regathers all 12 tribes and reigns. The Scriptures are plain and clear.

Did the general Jewish rejection of Yeshua catch Christ by surprise? Or the Father? Did God make a mistake in Genesis where He said the scepter will not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes and regathers the people? Yeshua is not on King David's throne yet, He has not regathered the people, and is not yet reigning as King of the Jews, the King of Israel.

Do you think the Pharisees accepted Yeshua at the time He acknowledged their God-given authority? Did that stop Him from upholding God's Word that the scepter would remain among JEWS? No. Like Paul, He knew it all had a purpose, was part of the plan being worked out.

I have more than answered every objection, every argument, every twist and turn possible since some appear driven to shamefully wrest authority from the Jews on these matters (specifically proclaiming the holy days/dates) rather than submit to the Word of God, the government of God that has ordained the Jews responsible for these matters.

Passover and Pentecost Differences Settled!

The Oracles of God
God's empowered the Jews - despite themselves - to preserve His Word. They are the only people on Earth that God has blessed and ordained to fulfill such a calling! God will not retract His Word or renege on this gift and responsibility that He's graciously bestowed upon Judah.

The apostle Paul was inspired to write for the record - after Yeshua's death and resurrection - that "the oracles of God" were committed to the Jews. The sacred calendar is clearly a part of "the oracles of God" (Ex. 12:2; Lev. 23:4). The purpose of the sacred calendar is for the Jews to determine and declare when the holy days of God are to be observed.

Jesus clearly revealed which Jews were responsible for these holy matters. Jesus declared that "the scribes and the PHARISEES sit in Moses' seat" of AUTHORITY (Matt. 23:2). God has ordained that the Jews preserve His Word on the Law, Prophets and Writings - despite themselves (Rom. 3:2-3). God will not renege on giving Judah this special calling and precious gift (Gen. 49:10, Rom. 11:29).

1John 4:
4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

What if the Jews, specifically the Pharisees whom God has chosen, are less than perfect? Does it make God's purpose for them null and void? Paul answers: "GOD FORBID!"

Romans 3
1What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
2Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Romans 11
28 Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Who is currently sitting in Moses' seat? I've never given this issue much thought, but it occurs to me that followers of Christ are currently sitting there -- anyone who follows after Christ. We have the authority because Christ gave us this authority.

The Jews are currently sitting in Moses' Seat - just as God has ordained and Christ confirmed. I have given this much prayerful thought and study and the Scriptures are clear and consistent on it. God has not given any authority to fickle Church of God groups to proclaim or determine the holy days/dates - He gave that responsibility to the Jews, even though God knew, as Yeshua and Paul knew, many of them would be temporarily enemies of the gospel.

no human, or organization of humans (including the "Jews") have authority over us. Christ is our intercessor to the Father, and no other.

Acts 15 reveals there is a proper Church of God authority, and the Bible clearly reveals the Jews have GOD-GIVEN authority over us to bless us with the proper days/dates for the holy days. God has ordained it. Those who love and obey God submit to this fact and don't have a problem with it. Of course Yeshua is our intercessor, that is non sequitor and nobody has said otherwise.

The biblical record reveals God has only authorized the Pharisees to chair "Moses' seat" and judge with his authority on these matters.

Psalm 60
Judah is My lawgiver.

Psalm 108
Judah is My lawgiver.

Those who would attempt to usurp their God-given position would do well to remember Gamaliel's advice about fighting against God. God has clearly given certain responsibilities to His Jewish servants to fulfill and that's what they'll continue to do until the King of the Jews reigns in Jerusalem with these honors.

Genesis 49
10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.