Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Replacing Replacement Theology

Weekly Sidra: Ha'azinu (Give ear) Torah Portion: Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 Haftorah Shabbat Shuva Hoshea / Hosea 14:2-10 Mica / Micah 7:18-20 18 Who is a Hashem like You, Forgiving iniquity And remitting transgression; Who has not maintained His wrath forever Against the remnant of His own people, Because He loves graciousness! 19 He will take us back in love; He will cover up our iniquities, You will hurl all our sins Into the depths of the sea.  20 You will keep faith with Jacob, Loyalty to Abraham, As You promised on oath to our fathers In days gone by. (Micah 7:18-20) There are two types of Replacement Theology.  There is the “Christian” version which states that the church replaces Israel because Israel broke the covenant.  There is also the “Jewish” version.  This one claims that Jews are obliged to follow Torah completely while non-Jews have to only follow the Seven Laws of Noah (Benei Noach). Both of these versions have one thing in common.  They are both incorrect.  They view one path of salvation for Jews by keeping Torah and one path for Christians through “Jesus” only and no Torah. Ha’azinu (Give Ear) is the penultimate sidra in the Torah, but it is the last one we read on a full Shabbat.  This Shabbat also represents Shabbat Shuva.  Shuva means return and this is the final Sabbath to return in...