09/08/2026
Why Do Some Thirst for Bo***ge?
After nearly 15 years as part of a Messianic congregation, it still surprises me when I encounter learned people who do not understand the difference between Mosaic Law and Rabbinic tradition. It really should not surprise me any longer, but for some reason it does.
I had a brother in Messiah reach out to inform me that blowing the Shofar on Feast of Trumpets is prohibited when this Holy Day falls on Shabbat. He just wanted to give me a little “FYI” and inquire what I planned to do.
What I plan to do is exactly what I always plan to do. Tell the truth. Nobody in my congregation should be the least bit surprised at this because I say ad nauseum that when it comes to Scripture, opinions mean nothing! Only Scripture can interpret Scripture. This then becomes not a question only a Rabbi could handle but rather any Messianic follower of Yeshua with a year or more of time to mature could answer.
In its most rudimentary form, the answer is simple. In fact, all one has to do is answer the question with a question. That question is “where in Torah does it say that?” Right here is where the debate should end. Because the simple answer is --nowhere! In fact, you will read in Leviticus 23:24 that this day is to be a Holy Convocation, a blowing of trumpets…”. Numbers 29:1 basically says the same thing it is a “Holy Convocation, a day of solemn rest and blowing of trumpets…”. Pretty cut and dry when you understand that Scripture Commands that we sound the Shofar! Nowhere can you find a parenthetical mention that if Tishri 1 falls on Shabbat we ought to exclude the blowing of trumpets. Surely G-d could have easily mentioned that if it were the case, right?
So where does this come from if not from Scripture? It comes from Rabbinic teachings, which today can be found in the Talmud. Talmud is or can be interesting and have value in understanding the Jewish mindset of its time and historical background. It is many things, but what it is not, is authoritative in the life of a Messianic believer regardless of their having Jewish blood or not. Rosh Hashanah 4:1 and 29:1 deal with this issue. In fact, they actually demonstrate the opposite of the claim some make that we shouldn’t blow the Shofar on Shabbat. Talmud teaches that in the time of the Holy Temple the Shofar was indeed sounded on Shabbat. Even post destruction of the Temples, in certain cities that had a Bet Din or house of judgement, in those cities, the Shofar could be sounded. You see, the issue is not even anything to do with the very thing that is prohibited. The issue is in the “carrying” of the Shofar! The fear was that if one had to carry the Shofar beyond a certain distance then it would be considered “work” and therefore a violation of the Sabbath. Furthermore there were concerns over if a person tried to learn how to blow the Shofar on this day that it could constitute a violation.
Yeshua in Matthew 12:5 makes the point that His Priests violate the Shabbat and profane it yet are held guiltless!
Ultimately this is the issue Yeshua and even Paul had with the Pharisees… they held the traditions of the fathers, aka the Talmud today, OVER the authority of Torah! Not so coincidentally this is what the church world does today. They claim those who have hearts to walk in obedience to Moses as Yeshua taught in Matthew 23:1-3, Matthew 28:16 and following and other places that we somehow are the legalistic ones. In fact, it is the church that are the modern day Pharisees in that they adhere to the traditions of the “church” fathers over Torah! They obey the churches switching of the 7th day observance of Shabbat to the 1st day observance. They obey the church mandate to celebrate the risen Messiah on a pagan day under the name of a pagan goddess and call it holy while ignoring the correct way G-d Himself told us to observe this day in Leviticus 23, Feast of First Fruits. On and on it goes.
The Rock of Israel Congregation in Hickory, North Carolina for the whole 15 years of its existence have always striven to follow Yeshua according to the way the first century believers would have. We study the entire word of G-d from the perspective of the first century, 2nd Temple period lens of Judaism. We reject traditions of men whatever the source whether Talmud or church tradition. Neither hold authority that in any way shape or form, trumps Torah. We hold to the Truth and do our very best to walk the way Messiah Yeshua walked (1 John 2). And since He was indeed the most Torah observant Jew that world has ever seen, this is our model. We fully acknowledge and agree that salvation is not earned, it is a free gift and not of works. But we also understand that we are indeed saved UNTO good works, or Torah obedience per James Chapter 2.
We will unapologetically be sounding the Shofar this year despite it falling on Shabbat. We understand this may offend some inside of, and outside the community. We make no apologies for honoring the Commands of G-d. We choose to please the Father in Heaven and not men upon the earth. Shalom!
