Obedient and truth-seeking disciples of Yeshua will want to love him by keeping his commandments (John 14:12), and by teaching and doing everything he commanded (Matt 28:20). They will be following Paul’s example to imitate Yeshua the Messiah (1 Cor 11:1) as well heeding John’s admonition “to walk just as [Yeshua] walked” (1 John 2:6). This applies to the important biblical ritual of communion as well. How can we celebrate communion just as Yeshua did it? How closely is your typical mainstream Christian church following Yeshua’s commandments when it conducts a communion or the Lord’s supper? We shall discover the answer below.
With regard to obeying YHVH’s commands, symbols and memorializations figure prominently in YHVH Elohim’s spiritual economy. Why is this? They are teaching aids. Physical humans need physical things to help them to comprehend spiritual truths and ideals. Using symbols, commemorations and memorializations is a method of teaching and relates to pedagogy, which is “the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.” A effective teacher endeavors to build bridges of understanding between what the student knows and what the teacher wants to teach the student— between the known and the unknown, between what the student understands now and what the teacher wants his students to learn. A successful teacher learns the skill of building bridges of understanding with his students to bring them to a higher level of understanding. The same is true of YHVH Elohim as we works with humans to teach them about spiritual things.
On a spiritual level, YHVH Elohim, our Heavenly Teacher, employes similar pedagogic or teaching techniques as he endeavors to bring men to a higher level of understanding heaven’s spiritual truths and realities. The use of symbols and memorials as teaching tools is essential to this process of teaching and learning.
The Bible is full of symbols and memorials that represent or point to something else and act as teaching aids to assist humans in learning about Elohim and what he requires of us. For example, the very name of the Creator, YHVH (Yehovah), is a memorial, symbol or remembrance (Heb. zeker from zakar) of who Elohim really is (Exod 3:15). His name is a way for humans to connect with him. The same is true of each of our names. Our name is a label, a pointer, a symbol of who we are, but it’s not really us. Similarly, eating unleavened bread during the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a memorial (Heb. zikrown from zakar) of coming out of Egypt and putting sin out of one’s life (Exod 13:9). The twelve stones on the high priest’s breastplate were memorials (Heb. zikrown from zakar) of the twelve tribes of Israel (Exod 28:12). The grain offering that was made on the altar of sacrifice in the Tabernacle of Moses was a memorial (Heb. azkarah from zakar) or remembrance that prophetically pointed to Yeshua the Messiah’s death on the cross and the fact that he is the bread of life (Lev 2:2). Blowing shofars on the Day of Trumpets is a memorial (Heb. zikrown from zakar) of many things past, present and prophetically including the second coming of Yeshua and the firstfruits resurrection (Lev 23:24). In fact, the whole Tabernacle of Moses, the Levitical priesthood, the sacrificial system, the Sabbath and biblical feasts is a complex system of memorials, remembrances and symbols to point humanity to the higher, upward spiritual path, which eventually brings him to Yeshua the Messiah. This is so abundantly clear in the Bible. Why don’t more people see this? Why do so many Christians and their leaders have such an apathy, even antipathy for these things? It’s mind boggling, especially in view of the fact that these teaching aid memorial and symbols were ordained of Elohim himself!
The overarching purpose and meaning of the Hebrew word zakar and its derivatives is something that “gets men to think about something, to meditate upon something, to pay attention to something, to remember something, to mention something, to declare or proclaim something or to commemorate something” (see The TWOT on the meaning of zakar).
Why do people need to remember something or to stop and think about something? Simply this. In the busyness of life, people forget a lot of things that they should remember, meditate on, ponder, be thankful for and learn from. The fact that people tend to forget important things is the whole reason we have national holidays, statues, gravestones, war medals, a national flag and anthem, birthdays and anniversaries, photo albums and other manmade traditions. These are culturally important to humans and add meaning and depth to life. They help us to stay connected to past, significant events. They aid us in remembering where we have come from and who we are. None of us just spontaneously combusted, or appeared out of nowhere as if some cosmic hand just dropped each of us down onto this planet non-contextually and without a past history. Biblically, the same can be said of a Torah scroll, the Bible itself, the Sabbath, the biblical feasts, the cross as a symbol of something, the ritual of baptism and Passover, which had embedded in its observance the Lord’s supper (1 Cor 11:20), communion (1 Cor 10:16) or the Lord’s table (1 Cor 10:21). All of these remembrances or memorials are designed to cause us to pause and stop and to reflect on something that is beyond us (in the past or future) or above us. The memorialization of past events should cause us to better appreciate those who have gone before us—our past history—and be thankful for our present blessings. Such reflections can help us not to repeat the mistakes of past generations and at the same time learn from their wisdom. Simultaneously, things that memorialize future events (like the Sabbath and the biblical feasts) should encourage us onward and upward in our spiritual journey. They strengthen our faith and give us hope for tomorrow. Symbolic rituals like baptism and communion can help us to connect to present realities that relate to our upward spiritual walk and our relationship to Yeshua the Messiah—our Master and Savior.
What Does Communion Memorialize?
So what does the Christian ritual or sacrament of communion called “the Lord’s supper” memorialize? To its credit, the mainstream Christian church understands the basic meaning of communion quite well. But let’s review this basic understanding, while, at the same time, adding some Hebraic or whole Bible background information. This will hopefully help us to appreciate more fully this glorious sacrament, which, sadly, due to its frequent occurrence in many churches, can become banal ritual that is easily taken for granted.
The winds of false doctrines are blowing ferociously in the Messianic/Hebrew roots movement as money-grubbing false teachers peddle heresies based non-biblical sources and lead people away from the Truth of the Bible and the basic message of the gospel. This is the leaven of the Pharisees, false doctrines and hypocrisy that Yeshua warned his true disciples against. He prophesied that the deceptive delusions of false teachers claiming to be speaking for him would intensify as his coming draws near. Beware! This teaching is a wake up warning to all those who have ears to hear and eyes to see!
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Shalom Torah-truth seekers and lovers of Yeshua the Messiah. The emails are coming in asking us about the dates for the upcoming biblical feasts of YHVH based on the visible crescent new moon and abib/aviv barley in the land of Israel. Well, the reports have come in from Devorah Gordon at https://www.facebook.com/datetree/ and others from Israel, so now we know.
Our family will be celebrating the Passover seder starting the late afternoon and going into the evening of Sunday April 13. The first high holy day Shabbat of the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be on Monday April 14, and the last high holy day Shabbat of the Feast of Unleavened Bread will be on Thursday, April 20.
If you have any more questions about YHVH’s biblical feasts or the biblical calendar, please go to the search button at the top this page and type in key words such as “biblical calendar” or “biblical feasts” or “Passover” or “Feast of Unleavened Bread”. Numerous articles and videos that I have made in the past will come up and likely answer all of your questions. Instead of having to re-invent the wheel over and over again by answering the same questions the people have over and over again, I have made these articles and videos available for your convenience to freely access whenever you like.
May YHVH bless you as you learn to walk as Yeshua and his disciples did. A whole new world of revelation will open to you, your faith in Yeshua will be strengthened and your love and understanding of the Word of Elohim will be deepened beyond measure.
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. (1 Thess 5:1–8)
It’s time to get spiritually clean!
Repent of Sin and Get Under the Lamb’s Blood. As the children of Israel applied the lamb’s blood to the door posts and lintels of their house, so we must apply the sin-cleansing and Satan-defeating blood of Yeshua afresh to our lives (i.e. to our thoughts as represented by the door lintel and and to our hands or actions as represented by the door posts). This occurs as we repent of our sins, and pray for and receive YHVH’s forgiveness. He will then cover our sins over or wash away our sins by Yeshua’s blood (1 John 1:9; Rev 1:5).
In Egypt at Passover time, YHVH judged all those who had failed to put the lamb’s blood on the door posts of their houses. In other words, they weren’t under the blood of the lamb, but were still under the penalty of sin, which is death (Ezek 18:4; Rom 6:23). Any unrepented of sin in our lives brings the curse of death on us. To the degree that one has sin in their life is the degree to which the spirit of death has a legal claim on us. Now is the time to repent of sin by confessing it and seeking Elohim’s forgiveness under the blood of Yeshua and then forsaking that sin through YHVH’s grace (1 John 1:9).
Here are some things of which to repent.
Pride. Do you always think that you’re right? Your opinion is what matters the most? Do you have a hard time with those who don’t see it your way, when you don’t get your way? Do you have a fit when people disagree with you? Do you criticize others and put others down (especially those who are closest to you)? Do you belittle, mock, scorn and ridicule others? Do you focus on other people’s faults? Do you have a hard time identifying any sins that you have committed? Are you proud of your humility? Are you proud of how Torah-observant you are (compared to others)? Are you overly defensive when someone corrects you or challenges your opinion? Do you blame others when things don’t go right instead of taking personal responsibility for your actions? Are you proud of (instead of grateful to YHVH for) your achievements in life? Do you constantly have to be talking about yourself? Is much of what you do, say and think focused on yourself? These are all signs of pride. Pride is self-idolization. Elohim hates pride and calls it an abomination (Prov 6:16–17).
Ungratefulness and selfishness. Are you ungrateful? Are you discontent about your place in life? Do you always want more? Are your material possessions and personal belongings really important to you? Do you have a hard time giving things away? This is a form of self-idolatry, pride and idolization of things.
The love of this world over love of YHVH and the things that matter to him. This is a form of idolatry. In this case, we’re concerned with what others think more than what Elohim thinks about things. Therefore, our thoughts and actions are geared at trying to please ourself and others instead of pleasing Elohim (Jas 4:4; 1 John 2:15).
Sins of the mouth include mean, selfish, unkind, angry, impatient, egotistical words and gossip. This is idolization of self. What matters most is what I have to say, how I feel, my opinions and I have the right to say what I want when I want. This is also pride.
The lack of the fear of Elohim. Are you more concerned with what others think than what YHVH Elohim thinks about something? Anything in our lives that we put ahead of Elohim is idolatry.
Ask yourself this: In everything that I do and say, am I advancing the kingdom of Elohim and bringing glory to Yeshua or am I doing the opposite? Am I being a river of life to all those around me, or am I dragging them downward by being a purveyor of negativity and darkness? Are my words, thoughts and deeds leading people to the light of YHVH Elohim and to Yeshua or away from them?
Tell the Redemption Story. It is the responsibility of parents and elders to pass on to the next generation the Passover story (Exod 12:24–27). Explain how the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt (a metaphor for the world), to Pharaoh (a metaphor for Satan), and how YHVH delivered the Israelites from the judgment of the destroyer (YHVH’s judgment against sin) because they put the blood of the lamb on their doorposts (a picture of Yeshua’s sin-atoning death on the cross). In reality, this is the basic gospel message. This is what the Passover seder is all about and why we celebrate it.
Celebrate the Feasts. Prepare your heart and mind to obey YHVH by keeping his appointed times of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Are you willing to obey his commands pertaining to these observances? How much do you love him (John 14:15)? How much do you want to know him (1 John 2:6–7)? Celebrating YHVH’s feasts help us to love him and to know him better.
Examine Yourself. At this time of the year, we must each examine ourselves to insure that we will not be partaking of the cup of redemption (i.e. the communion cup) unworthily (1 Cor 11:28).
Rediscover the Cross. It is time to rediscover the cross of Yeshua again and your place at its foot. It is also time to rediscover the power of the resurrected Yeshua in one’s life. Marvel at the miracle of the resurrection and consider the fact that you have access to Yeshua’s resurrected life through faith in him and through the work of his Set-Apart Spirit as you obey the Word of Elohim.
A Time of Spiritual Awakening and New Beginnings. Passover occurs in the spring at the beginning of the biblical year. Spring is a time of new beginnings physically and spiritually. It’s the time of year to take stock of one’s life, assess any weaknesses and deficiencies you have, and then resolve to make the necessary changes. It is the time to make improvements through the power of YHVH’s grace, his Word, his Spirit all through a vibrant, daily relationship with Yeshua our Master and Savior.
The Season for Spiritual Housecleaning. It’s Time to Deleaven. Passover is time of spring cleaning and deleavening our physical houses (Exod 12:15–20) and removing the leaven of sin from our spiritual houses as well (Pss 26:2; 139:1, 23–24). We must root out and eradicate the old sin habits from the crevices and dark areas of our life. In Scripture, leavening represents sin, pride, hypocrisy and false doctrine. Do the sinful practices, evil habits and illicit delicacies of Egypt still hold sway on us? Do any unclean spirits or filthy habits still have control over us? It is time to take control of these sins and eliminate them and become wholly consecrated unto YHVH-Yeshua, his Word, his plans and purposes. It is time to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matt 6:33). One can’t serve two masters at the same time (i.e. the world and the flesh) and expect to be pleasing to YHVH (Matt 6:24). It’s time to forsake all these things that drag us down spiritually and pull us away from our Father in heaven. It’s time to move onward and upward spiritually!
Time to Renew Our First Love For Yeshua. Take this time to rediscover the glorious beauty of Yeshua our Heavenly Bridegroom (Rev 2:4–5). Now is the time to rekindle our passion and zeal for Yeshua and to repent of spiritual lukewarmness (Rev 3:15–21).
President Trump at today’s US cabinet meeting asked that a prayer be made before the meeting commenced. Listen to this prayer where Father God, Jesus, Yah and the Bible is mentioned, and where Elohim’s guidance is asked for. MAKE AMERICA HOLY/RIGHTEOUS AGAIN! This is a small step, but, at the same time, a giant step in the right directions in light of the recent past. Pray for President Trump and our leaders! What are YOU doing to help make America Holy/Righteous Again? We all have a part to play in this no matter how small or large or our role may be. Combined, our efforts can and will make a difference for the kingdom of Elohim! Who can despise the day of small beginnings (Zech 4:10).
YHVH Elohim “married” the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai on the day of Pentecost. The circumstances around this event bear striking parallels not only to what happened on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter two, but also relates to Yeshua’s marriage to his bride at his second coming. Who is and who is not Yeshua’s bride and and how does this related to you? How can you ensure that you will a wise virgin bride of Yeshua in his coming kingdom as opposed to merely a foolish virgin onlooker? This video answers these questions and much more!
This and other videos by Nathan are available as podcasts on Spotify and Apple podcast under “Hoshana Rabbah.”
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The Bible is a book based on covenants, not theology. YHVH Elohim, the God of the Bible, relates to his creation including humans through covenantal and not theological relationships. In his sovereignty, he has chosen to bind himself to the legal arrangement of covenantal or contractual agreements. When we view the Bible, the Word of Elohim, through this paradigmatic lens, many disjointed and seemingly incongruent aspects of man’s theological philosophies realign themselves and fall neatly into place. This is never truer than with the Abrahamic, Mosaic and New Covenants, which are neither opposed to each other in any way nor does one progressively supplant the other. Rather, they are a continuous and ever expanding flow of heaven’s grace toward man resulting in man’s potential adoption into the family of Elohim as YHVH’s resurrected, glorified and immortal sons and daughters.
As with any covenant or agreement, all is predicated not on the capricious whims or the vicissitudes of one party or the other, but on law. For YHVH Elohim, the Creator of everything, his covenantal agreements are founded on his Torah-law, which is a reflection of his holy and righteous character. Because he is the Creator, the Greater Power, the Initiator and Source of all life, power and knowledge, it is he who sets the terms of the covenants, not men. Because he is good and all love, these terms are always to men’s favor and benefit. He makes the covenant and then gives humans the free choice to enter into a covenantal relationship with him or not. These covenants set in motion the eternal law of cause and effect. The consequences for men are either blessings or curses, life or death depending on how humans collectively and individually respond to the Creator’s covenants and legal terms thereof. The covenants that YHVH made starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden in the Book of Genesis forward to the New Covenant at the other end of the Bible follow a similar theme: accept the Creator’s covenantal arrangements and be blessed with life, disobey and be cursed with death. This is the recurring theme of the Bible. It is that simple!
YHVH made his first covenant with the Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. This covenant was conditional: if they followed a few simple rules, they would be blessed with immortal life. If not, they would be cursed by being cut off from YHVH resulting in death. Next, YHVH made a covenant with Noah promising never again to destroy humanity by a flood, while at the same time giving humans several basic commandments to follow. This covenant would ensure the preservation of life on earth until he was ready to choose a people through which he could redeem humanity back to himself after the first humans broke relations with him in the Garden of Eden. After Noah, YHVH chose Abraham to birth a nation from which would be born a Savior who would redeem man from the penalty of death thus offering humans a path of reconciliation back to YHVH. The covenant that YHVH made with Abraham provided the basic framework for man’s salvation. Man was simply required to have faith in and obey YHVH. The descendants of Abraham became the nation of Israel, which after having been set free from enslavement in Egypt gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai where they entered into a special, covenantal relationship with YHVH Elohim. This was the next step in YHVH Elohim’s progressive process in redeeming humanity back to him after man was cut off from him at the Garden of Eden because of sin.
Marriage and family are always at the center of YHVH’s covenantal arrangements with people. Redemption from death, the consequences of sin, starts with marriage and family and radiates out like the spokes of a wheel and outward. The consequences—negative or positive—of familial relationships and the influences these have on its surroundings are also like the ripples made when a pebble is dropped into the middle of a lake. The bigger the “rock” or family, the bigger the waves that will touch further shores. The first family failed in its mission to be fruitful and multiply into a larger family that would become the immortal, glorified children and family of Elohim. So YHVH started over with Abraham and his pebble-sized family. Ultimately, his descendants—the nation of Israel—became a huge rock that shook and then overturned Egypt, the most powerful nation of its day, with the resulting waves shaking all of the land Canaan and the Near East and ultimately the whole world.
Because marriage and family is the model that YHVH follows to redeem the world back to himself, and because marriage is based on covenantal agreements, YHVH chose this model as an allegorical prototype in his relationship with Israel. He would bind himself to Israel in a spiritual, covenantal “marital” relationship, then geographically place Israel strategically in the center of the world where the trade routes of three continents cross, and then commission them to be his kingdom of priests spreading the message of a man’s redemption far and wide.
The prophet Ezekiel, in allegorical symbolism, describes YHVH’s relationship with Israel by likening it to an abandoned child that a man found, adopted, raised and then eventually married.
Thus saith the Adonai Elohim unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Adonai Elohim, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Adonai Elohim. (Ezek 16:2–14)
Now that we have the overall pictorial outline of YHVH’s relationship with Israel, let’s pick up the story at the point where he is ready to marry his nation-bride. He formulated a marriage covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai as we are about to see. But even before that, while Israel was still enslaved in Egypt, YHVH made his intentions clear about his marrying her.
Then YHVH said to Moses, “Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” And Elohim spoke to Moses and said to him: “I am YHVH. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as El Shaddai, but by My name YHVH I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am YHVH; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your Elohim. Then you shall know that I am YHVH your Elohim who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I am YHVH.’ (Exod 6:1–8)
In these several verses, YHVH lays out his plans for his bride-to-be in seven “I will” statements. They are:
1– I will bring you out (v. 6).
2 – I will rescue you (v. 6).
3 – I will redeem you (v. 6).
4 – I will take you as my people (v. 7).
5 – I will be your Elohim (v. 7).
6 – I will bring you into the land (v. 8).
7 – I will give it to you as a heritage (v. 8).
Laying all of his proverbial cards on the table, YHVH makes known his intentions for his people. When he said, “I will take you as my people” (v. 6), this is poetic Hebraic marriage talk. In other words, “I intend to take you as my lawfully, wedded wife.” Israel’s ultimate destiny is a glorious one—to become like the shine like the stars in heaven among and above the panoply of the nations (Gen 22:17; 26:4; Exod 32:13; Deut 1:10; Dan 12:3)!
Again, marriage and family have always been at the front and center of YHVH’s plan of redemption for humans. Even today, the Bible reveals that redeemed believers are preparing to be the spiritual bride of Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of YHVH Elohim.
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Messiah. (2 Cor 11:2)
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, “Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he saith unto me, “These are the true sayings of Elohim.” (Rev 19:7–9)
What are the prophetic implications of and spiritual parallels between YHVH’s first marriage to ancient Israel at Mount Sinai and YHVH-Yeshua’s upcoming marriage to his bride—the saints who love him and keep his (Torah) commandments and have faith in Yeshua (John 14:15, 21; Rev 12:17; 14:12)? Why is Torah-obedience important in the Yeshua–bride equation? Do not all true Christians automatically become the bride of Christ? This may be a popular mainstream church concept, but it does not equate with the truth of the Bible when it comes to rewards in the kingdom of Elohim. Yes, it is true that all true Christians will receive the gift of eternal life, but beyond there are rewards. The levels of rewards are based on the works of righteousness that a Christian performs during their physical life. This is not a popular truth that is broadly proclaimed in churches on Sunday morning. Why? Because it sounds too much like a works-based salvation. Yes, one’s salvation is not based on works; it is by faith through grace. It always has been from the time of Abraham to this day as Paul clearly states in several places (Gen 15:6 cp. Rom 4:3, 5–6, 16, 22; Eph 2:8–9). But rewards in the in YHVH’s eternal kingdom are based on one’s works as Yeshua clearly reveals,
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. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:19–20)
The Scriptures contain numerous other passages that confirm this eternal truth—that rewards are based on good works, which are, in turn, based on Torah-obedience. No matter how one attempts to slice the Word of Elohim into disjointed pieces by inventing theologies that say otherwise, eternal rewards, beyond the basic gift of salvation and eternal life, are based on works of righteousness!
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. (Matt 16:27)
And, behold, I [Yeshua] come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev 22:12)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Cor 5:10)
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. (1 Pet 1:17)
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (Rev 2:23)
YHVH Elohim as a Righteous Judge has always judged people according to their deeds whether good or bad, and he is not a respecter of persons (Deut 10:17; Job 34:19; Matt 22:16; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Col 3:25; 1 Pet 1:17)!
Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. (Ps 62:12)
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 17:10)
Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer 32:19)
Likewise, Yeshua will choose his bride based on her level of righteousness or her righteous deeds.
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ “ And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” (Rev 19:7–9 NKJV, emphasis added)
What are the righteous deeds of Yeshua’s wife-to-be? The Bible defines its own words. Righteousness is based, not on man’s traditions or what a church, denomination or a pastor says, but on YHVH’s Torah-law! YHVH’s Torah-law defines righteousness.
