Was this not to know me?

Many are attempting to “Keep The Feasts” today, some with a sincere desire to please YHWH, however I have had many concerns and have had to travel through much controversy, arguments between this group and that group…this calendar that calendar, the whole if your not “Keeping them your not going to be saved” your in sin and on and on…nothing unfortunately but chaos, confusion hurt and many just wanting to walk away from it all. So I have been in study, and have had no peace about this whole issue….and have just plain been exhausted from the whole matter…but Abba YHWH is so good….from Him and Him alone come answers and authority. If one looks to Him through His Son…one will find all that is required of us…not according to Traditions, man made Laws, Elders, Pastors, Rabbis (Except Rabbi Yahushua) no not from opinions, private interpretations or the latest religious fads and trends….No, the truth is and was and always will be found in His word…and through His Word…

First let’s see what He originally said as to what where when and how!

Deuteronomy 16:16 American King James Version
Three times in a year shall all your males appear before YHWH your Elohim in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before YHWH empty:

First of all, the Men shall appear 3 times in the place YHWH will choose and already chose we will see that later, and the empty handed is not money like some claim that send me envelopes telling me to send them my “Feast” money….we will see what they had to bring….

Let’s answer where He chose…and notice forever

Deuteronomy 12:5 King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But unto the place which YHWH your Elohim shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his dwelling place shall you seek, and there you shall come:

Deuteronomy 12:11 Then to the place YHWH your Elohim will choose as a dwelling for his Name--there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to YHWH.
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Deuteronomy 12:13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please.
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Deuteronomy 12:18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of YHWH your Elohim at the place YHWH your Elohim will choose--you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns--and you are to rejoice before YHWH your Elohim in everything you put your hand to.

Okay He has made it very clear He chooses the place, and for us not to do things “anywhere we please” so where did He choose….
Answer from YHWH’s word

2 Chronicles 33:4 He built altars in the temple of YHWH, of which YHWH had said, "My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever."

2 Kings 21:7 He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which YHWH had said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever.

An interesting side note in the Kingdom it will also be kept in Jerusalem…why not anywhere we want like now?

Zechariah 14:16-17 16Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, YHWH Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, YHWH Almighty, they will have no rain

Also the Sukkot, or hut or booths are to be built by…King James 2000 Bible (©2003) Leviticus 23:42
You shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are born Israelites shall dwell in booths:

Also known as “Native born, home born to Israel”

It has bothered me greatly that many teach that those who don’t go to this camp ground or that one or gather for The Feasts are in disobedience….in order to truly “Keep The Feast” it would have to be according to what is written and we now have a few problems…one being they were and in the future will be kept in Jerusalem…the second is we do not do animals sacrifices and again even those can only be done in Jerusalem with a Levite Priest…also the tithes must be eaten there….

I have found very clearly why we can’t do all these now…because they disobeyed His Laws this was promised…..

Leviticus 26:31 King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will
not smell the aroma of your sweet odors.

Leviticus 26:40- 45 40If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land. 43The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I amYHWH their Elohim. 45But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their Elohim: I am YHWH.

2 Chronicles 7:14 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
The land is Jerusalem not America etc..

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before YHWH, and he will lift you up.

2 Chronicles 6:37 and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their captivity and say, 'We have sinned, we have done wrong and acted wickedly';

WE are to be repenting, and seeking His face, we are scattered and in captivity this is why we cannot properly fulfill the Feasts…
Please hold on and hear the whole matter, it is my fear people are missing the entire point of the whole situation and this is very serious!!

Deuteronomy 12:11 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Then there shall be a place which YHWH your Elohim shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto YHWH:

The purpose was to bring your offerings there…all not some or what we pick and choose “all”…

Isaiah 1:13 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Uh oh…wow this doesn’t sound good. YHWH is angry…fortunately I am now understanding why….so now let me get to the heart of the matter!

Matthew 9:13 King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But go and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

1 Samuel 15:22 American King James Version
And Samuel said, Has YHWH as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of YHWH? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

Matthew 12:7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent.

Mark 12:33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
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Psalm 51:16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

They were missing the whole point….what does He want and require?

Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of Elohim rather than burnt offerings.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of Elohim are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O Elohim, you will not despise.
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Proverbs 21:3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to YHWH than sacrifice.

Jeremiah 7:22 For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices,
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Jeremiah 7:23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your Elohim and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.

Now that we have established a foundation based upon His word in context let’s begin humbly…this is a serious matter.

The Feasts were to bring the sacrifices to the temple etc…but He has put a stop to that as He requires mercy and kindness and doing right…He took it away so we can’t bring animals sacrifices any more, now we have to offer up through Yahushua spiritual sacrifices that He wanted in the first place…He gave us His Son as The Sacrifice…
Let’s look at the man who asked a question and see what he lacked…

Matthew 19:16- 16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Elohim: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Yahushua said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Yahushua said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Now, it wasn’t about him having possessions etc…the act of selling (sacrifice) what is yours , and giving it to the poor…is Mercy and act of kindness…the ultimate of loving thy neighbor as thyself!!

This is what the Pharisees lacked as well….

Matthew 23:23 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Jeremiah 22:3 This is what YHWH says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

So again…YHWH took away the ability to properly Keep the Feasts….as the tithes and sacrifices can only be brought there…now we must come through His Son and offer up spiritual sacrifices…acts of kindness, mercy, the praise of our lips… now this brings an answer to my own question recently…about a particular verse…

Malachi 2:9 King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as you have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

I now see to be partial in the Law/Torah is to do what we want while neglecting the weightier matters….

He warns :

Matthew 5:20 King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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.
Well we know they tithed right down to their herbs and that was commended….but they “omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith”

YHWH tells us what it means to “Know HIM”

Jeremiah 22:16 American Standard Version
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Was not this to know me? saith YHWH.

Jeremiah 9:24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am YHWH, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares YHWH.

WE are supposed to do what pleases him…and be like Him….

This might be the real reason many hear “I never Knew you”
They cast out demons, they prophesied etc but omitted the weightier matters of the Law!

Matthew 7:23 American King James Version
And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity

Plainly put to “omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith” is iniquity….we can’t ignore that!

He says the same thing about our “Fasts”

Isaiah 58:5-6 5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to YHWH?
6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of YHWH shall be thy rereward.

Those trying to “Keep The Feasts” may be guilty of the very same things….Some may ignore the poor so they can go to a Feast that they cannot truly nor properly keep (Isaiah 1:13) and you cannot bring your sacrifice nor offering to the Temple, you now would give a spiritual sacrifice and that would be to feed the poor, to clothe them to pray for them if your going to fast do it for them with out anyone knowing it, visit the sick, the ones in prison and feed them the word with out a price tag.
Many of the Feats now, instead of being about bringing sacrifices to the Temple for YHWH because you can’t, are slowly becoming social/entertainment vacations, and some have now evolved into the “Leader, Rabbis, Pastors, Teachers” feeling they are “Doing the work of a Levite” entitling them to the tithes and offerings to build their ministries etc. Some of the Feasts even use it for an opportunity to “sell their items” dvd’s etc… they have basically become either a “Fun Fest” or “End time survival training”
This is one place I am going to be quite frank. If you want end time survival training..living in a tent roughing it…Then visit some of the tent cities where the homeless live it because they have too! Where is our Mercy? I am ashamed of even myself….
If things are not done His way, then He wont accept them and they become Your Feats…done in vain!
Amos 8:10King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.

If we keep the Law and neglect the weightier matters, then we keep the Torah with partiality (Malachi 2:9) and we too will be unaccepted, unknown, out-side of the Kingdom.

Isaiah 66:4 King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before my eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

We learned what He does delight in…lets do it!
Jeremiah 9:24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am YHWH, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares YHWH.
I am not saying no one is doing what is right…each of us must look to scripture to see if what we are doing is right…..to see what He wants!
I know this parable has been highly spiritualized however notice he wanted Mercy…but he lived a life of no mercy…He lacked the weightier matter.
Luke 16:19-31 19There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

I think we all need to grow in Mercy, acts of kindness doing good etc.
I found it interesting that each time Yahushua was rebuked by a Pharisee it was while he was doing a merciful kind act. Example:
Matthew 12:8-14 8For the Son of man is Master even of the sabbath day.
9And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 11And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. 13Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

And finally let me leave you with Jonah. He prayed for mercy while in the whale…received the mercy…went to preach to the people…and then sat and waited to see if they would be destroyed…when they were not he was upset…???
I am hearing comments from the “Feast Keepers” that those who don’t are in sin…are disobedient some how…are not “Keeping the Law”….be careful…if your neglecting the weightier matters your not keeping the Law either…
At best The Feasts can only be memorialized…at worst to say some one is “in sin” for not keeping them when you can’t is dangerous grounds…I have seen to many doctrinal wars online…and many have been badly hurt by stray “bullets” of were right your wrong, were saved your not…we keep the law you don’t…we know the true name, no we do..it’s this it’s that…I personally am going to follow Yahushua, He is my Rabbi as I wait for the deliverance of YHWH…I want to live out this faith…I want to be busy doing what delights HIM!! Praise HIM…I hope this helps some one out there some how…..this is written with love we are to “feed sheep” not beat them, shave and shame them nor starve them…I am also not condemning those that choose to Keep them as best they can if they feel they need too….but don’t neglect the weightier matters….Shalom to all Brethren….

Ecclesiastes 12:13 American King James Version
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Which ones?
Matthew 19:17-22 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, Elohim: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Yahushua said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Yahushua said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
I have things to improve on as well!!

"...22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions..."
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BOTH:
I think we all need to grow in Mercy, acts of kindness doing good etc.
AND:
“Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain” (Jer. 10:2-3, KJV).

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FROM SCRIPTRUE:
FROM WATCHMAN NEE:
These, then, are the matters at which we must look. Oh, I know I shall appear to some to be overstating things, but this is necessary in order to drive home my point. For "if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). Ultimately, when we touch the things of the world, the question we must ask ourselves always is: "How is this thing affecting my relationship with the Father?"
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In the book of Genesis we find in Eden no hint of technology, no mention of mechanical instruments. After the Fall, however, we read that among the sons of Cain there was a forger of cutting instruments of brass and iron. A few centuries ago it might have seemed fanciful to discern the spirit of antichrist in iron tools, even though for long the sword has been in open competition with the ploughshare. But today, in the hands of man, metals have been turned to sinister and deadly uses, and as the end approaches the widespread abuse of technology and engineering will become even more apparent.

The same thing applies to music and the arts. For the pipe and the harp seem also to have originated with the family of Cain, and today in unconsecrated hands their God-defying nature becomes increasingly clear. In many parts of the world it has long been easy to trace an intimate relationship between idolatry and the arts of painting, sculpture, and music. No doubt the day is coming when the nature of antichrist will be disclosed more openly than ever through song and dance and the visual and dramatic arts.

As for commerce, its connections are perhaps even more suspect. Satan was the first merchant, trading ideas with Eve for his own advantage, and in the figurative language of Ezekiel 28,which seems to reveal something of his original character, we read: "By thy traffic thou has increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up" (verse 5). Perhaps this does not have to be argued, for most of us (martyrs in YHVH, not worldly chrstndumb) will readily admit from experience the Satanic origin and nature of commerce. We shall say more of this later.

But what of education? Surely, we protest, that must be harmless. Anyway, our children have to be taught. But education, no less than commerce or technology, is one of the things of the world.
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AND
who wants to give up the things of the world?

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As for me and my house, ........................