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To: Tamar1973

No, I read it. If it was possible to keep all of G-d's laws, then sacrifice and repentance would never be necessary.

I also read the following verses:

15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

In verse 16 G-d tells us FIRST to love Him, second to walk in His ways, and then to follow His commands and laws. The following passages tell of the consequences. A very similar passage is found in the book of Joshua and probably other books of the Bible.

I ask again, have you or anyone you know of beeen able to keep ALL of G-d's laws?


323 posted on 05/18/2005 9:50:54 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (G-d is not a Republican. But Satan is definitely a Democrat.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

actually no. many laws are negative commands which by the very nature of not doing these things one does not sin. quite a few others, Temple related services and worship apply only when the Temple service is active (it should be restored speedily). others are only applicable in the land of Israel itself. the foundation of your question seems to be asking, if you cant keep all why keep any? i could be wrong about that. however, if that is the point, using the text that you quote one could only conclude that the more laws one keeps the more one approaches what G-d wants whereas ignoring them entirely places one in the category of death and evil. it is interesting that i had quoted the same Deut. that you did a few posts earlier. one of the "ethical" texts in the Mishna which doesnt teach laws per se but how one should live says this:

He [Rabbi Tarfon] used to say, it is not upon you to complete the task, but you are not free to idle from it. If you have learned much Torah, you will be given much reward. And faithful is your Employer that He will reward you for your labor. And know that the reward of the righteous will be in the World to Come." http://www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter2-21.html

do as much as you can as well as you can. your loyalty and intent matters. those who are going up in observance are rewarded. those who do little when they are capable of more will have to account for their behavior.


326 posted on 05/18/2005 10:17:52 AM PDT by APRPEH (genocide and protection of the establishment are core priorities of the UN)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
I ask again, have you or anyone you know of beeen able to keep ALL of G-d's laws?

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the last Lubavitch rebbe managed to. I have no way to know for certain, however.

334 posted on 05/18/2005 12:47:04 PM PDT by Celtjew Libertarian (Shake Hands with the Serpent: Poetry by Charles Lipsig aka Celtjew http://books.lulu.com/lipsig)
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To: Blood of Tyrants
"I ask again, have you or anyone you know of beeen able to keep ALL of G-d's laws?"

http://www.shechem.org/torah/avot.html

See, Pirkei Avot ("Sayings of the Fathers"), esp. Ch. 2:21.

16. Rabbi Joshua said: The evil eye, the evil desire and hatred of his fellow creatures put a man out of the world.

17. Rabbi Yosi said: Let the property of your fellow man be as dear to you as your own. Prepare yourself for the study of the Torah, for the knowledge of it is not yours by inheritance. Let all your deeds be done for the sake of Heaven.

18. Rabbi Shimon said: Be careful in the reciting of the Shema and in prayer. When you pray do not make your prayer a form of routine but a plea for mercy and supplications before G-d, for it is written (Joel 2:13), "For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing." Do not be wicked in your own mind.

19. Rabbi Elazar said: Be eager to study the Torah. Know what to respond to a heretic. Know before whom you toil and who is your employer who shall pay you the reward of your labor.

20. Rabbi Tarfon said: The day is short, the task is great, the laborers are lazy, the wage is abundant and the master is urgent.

21. He used to say: It is not incumbent upon you to finish the task. Yet, you are not free to desist from it. If you have studied much in the Torah much reward will be given you, for faithful is your employer who shall pay you the reward of your labor. And know that the reward for the righteous shall be in the time to come.
345 posted on 05/19/2005 1:34:01 AM PDT by stradivarius ("If a donkey brays at you, don't bray at him." - George Herbert)
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