Precept 3 – No Adding or Subtracting to His Word

Understanding that there is no adding to, or subtracting from, YHVH’s (the LORD’s) word will keep us from turning off His narrow way.

You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deu 4:2

“Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. Deu 12:32

Psalms also carries forward this same thought.

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. Pro 30:5-6

Yeshua never even eluded that He was adding to or talking away from the law or the prophets. He hated that the scribes and Pharisees added so many doctrines and commandments of men to His Father’s ways. Yeshua said,

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, “this people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Mat 15:7-9 and Mar 7:8-9

The Jews, short for Judah which was only one of the twelve tribes of Israel, kept many of YHVH’s ways; the Sabbaths, the feasts and many others, but many kept  them with an uncircumcised or unrepentant heart and they constantly added to His ways. In contrast, many “Christians” today have subtracted practically all of our Father’s ways. We have interpreted Paul, as saying that Yeshua has “done away” with the Law of Moses. What could be further from the truth? Paul himself, speaking to the Jews says,

For “the name of God is blasphemed among the gentiles because of you,” as it is written. For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision (speaking of the oral law which Yeshua hated), are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Rom 2:24-29

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 1Co 7:19

We will not have the praise of God if we do not keep His ways; for there is no adding to, or subtracting from, His word. All His ways are unchanging, just as He and His word, His oracles, are unchanging. Knowing this precept is another firm foundation for understanding and wisely interpreting YHVH’s word; we must follow only His oracles, nothing more and nothing less!

Continue to Precept 4

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