Luke 24:36-44 reads,

Christ again shows, even after his resurrection, that it is appropriate to eat flesh, seeing that he ate broiled fish after his resurrection, given to him by his disciples.

It should therefore be clear that the view or teaching that Christ's followers are to live life exactly as our first parents did while in the Garden of Eden prior to their sin is neither Christ's nor Yahweh's teaching. Christ's teaching in Matthew 19:8 is that divorce was not permitted in the beginning, but was permitted subsequently after human hearts became hard - on account of human sin, permitted only in the case of a wife's sexual immorality. Christ did not teach his male followers to never divorce their wives, but permitted them to do so in the case of sexual immorality of the part of the wife. He therefore did not teach his followers a word that was different to that taught the children of Israel by Yahweh through Moses, but the very same word. Also, Christ did not teach his followers never to eat flesh on the ground that human beings were not permitted to eat flesh until after the flood. Just as Yahweh permitted Noah and his descendants to eat flesh, and commanded the children of Israel to eat flesh in certain instances, and demonstrated the appropriateness of eating flesh by personally eating flesh served him by Abraham, so also Christ taught and did. For Christ both gave others flesh to eat and ate flesh himself.

It would therefore seem that the view or teaching that followers of Christ should not do things that were not done by our first parents in the Garden of Eden prior to their sin is an added teaching or requirement not originating from either Yahweh or Christ. And noting Yahweh's words by Moses to the children of Israel not to add to his words or deduct therefrom, followers of Christ should be careful about adding their own laws or restrictions onto those Yahweh and Christ have given. Where Yahweh and Christ have not imposed a restriction one should not impose a restriction. And where Yahweh and Christ have imposed a restriction one should not remove the imposed restriction. In other words, followers of Christ should follow the example Christ set for them. For just as Christ came to the earth not to speak his own words or do his own works, but those of the Father, so also followers of Christ should not speak their own words or do their own works, but those of Christ. And just as the Father dwelt and dwells in Christ, on account of Christ faithfully abiding by his Father's will, so also does Christ dwell in his followers who faithfully abide by his will and do not do their own works or speak their own words.

In the context of marriage and polygyny it is seen that Matthew 19 does not discuss this matter at all. One who therefore attempts to rely on Matthew 19 to place a restriction against polygyny on the followers of Christ, a restriction Christ did not place on his own followers, is not only adding to Christ's words, but is speaking his own words and doing his own works. In such words and works devoid of Christ's authority Christ does not abide in the one who engages in them when so engaged in.

Yahweh's word on polygyny is very clear. Exodus 21:7-11 reads,

21:10 clearly shows that Yahweh allows Israelite men to take a wife in addition to the one the man already has. He also states that the man who takes an additional wife must continue providing his existing wife with food, clothing and sex. In other words, the act of taking an additional wife should not be accompanied by putting away the existing wife, but the existing wife must continue to be treated as a wife should be treated, even as she was previously treated.

Deuteronomy 21:15-17 reads,

Yahweh again gives his word on how a man should manage matters in his household when he has more than one wife. This again shows that he allows Israelite men to have more than one wife, only that they are to abide by his word for those who have more than one wife.

Earlier on we saw in Malachi 3:6 that Yahweh does not change. The word he gave the sons of Jacob in the days of old, in ancient years, words such as these in Exodus 21:7-11 and Deuteronomy 21:15-17, are the very same words that continue to apply at the time of the coming of the messenger of the covenant - Christ! And seeing that Christ clearly showed that he does not speak his own words nor does his own works, doing only Yahweh's works and speaking only Yahweh's words, it is indeed the case that just as Yahweh permits Israelite men to have more than one wife, so also does Christ.

2 Samuel 12:7-12 reads,

It should be noted that Yahweh says that among his gifts to David were his master Saul's wives (widows) as his own wives. In other words, among the blessings Yahweh gave David, in addition to his anointing as king over Israel, his deliverance from the hand of Saul, Saul's house, the house of Israel and Judah, were several wives! Yahweh further adds that if what he had given David was insufficient for David he would have given him more similar things, meaning even more wives if those that he had already given him were insufficient for him! It should therefore be clearly noted that it is indeed a blessing for a man to have a wife - even more than one wife.

In Matthew 7:7-11 Christ says,

Seeing that Father Yahweh in heaven only gives good gifts to his children, it is indeed established that the several wives that Yahweh gave David were indeed good gifts from Yahweh.

In 2 Samuel 12:9 Yahweh lists the evils David did. These were basically murder and adultery, for he sexually lay with another man's wife and then murdered the man, and subsequently formally took the new widow as his wife. It was not evil in Yahweh's sight for David having several wives - wives Yahweh himself gave him. But it was evil in Yahweh's sight for David taking as his wife a woman who was already another man's wife, for this is adultery. In other words, the issue here was the manner David acquired his new wife, not the fact of David having more than one wife, which he already had at this point in time.

Learning from Yahweh's dealing with David, and also that Yahweh changes not, and that Christ and Yahweh are one, with Christ doing what he sees Yahweh doing and speaking what he hears from Yahweh, Christ's followers should understand that it is not evil for a man to have more than one wife. It is evil if he takes as his wife a woman who is already another man's wife, for this is adultery. But if he takes as his wife a woman who is not another man's wife, even taking this woman as wife in addition to a wife he already has, it is not evil. In fact, as in David's case with the several wives Yahweh gave him, it may indeed be a blessing from Yahweh in the man taking an additional wife or wives!

Earlier on it was noted in Genesis 1:26-27 that Yahweh created man, both male and female, in his own image and likeness. It was also noted in Malachi 3:6 that Yahweh does not change. The way he was in the days of old, the ancient years, is the way he is today and is also the way he will be in future. He does not change. Therefore, when we notice a certain aspect of Yahweh's nature at a given point in time we should understand that this aspect of Yahweh's nature existed in the past and will continue to exist in future, for he does not change.

Jeremiah 3 reads,

It should be noted that Jeremiah 3 portrays Yahweh as having been married to two sisters - Israel and Judah! In other words, Jeremiah 3 portrays Yahweh as a polygynist - a man married to more than one wife at the same time!

It should also be remembered that Yahweh created man, both male and female, in his own image and likeness. Seeing that Yahweh's image here in Jeremiah 3 is one of Yahweh being a polygynist, and seeing that he made humans in his own image and likeness, it should indeed be understood that human beings were made with the capability of practising polygyny, even as Yahweh is a polygynist! Polygyny is clearly an attribute of Yahweh, an attribute he created human beings with!

Seeing that polygyny is clearly an attribute of Yahweh, polygyny should not be portrayed as evil, or misconstrued as adultery. Matthew 19:16-17 reads,

Seeing that Yah'shuah (Jesus) affirms that the person who is good is Yahweh himself, it should be noted that whatever is associated with Yahweh's nature is good. And seeing that polygyny is indeed an attribute of Yahweh, it is indeed concluded that polygyny is good, and is not evil, neither is it adultery, as has been misconstrued by some.

Jeremiah 3 also talks about divorce. It shows that Yahweh divorced his wife Israel on account of the latter's repeated adultery. For Israel committed adultery by prostituting herself with many lovers, including stones and stocks. In other words, Israel was idolatrous, rather than faithfully worshipping only Yahweh. And for her repeated faithlessness, treachery and idolatry, Yahweh put her away with a bill of divorce!

It should be remembered that in Matthew 19 Christ said that divorce is permitted in the case of hardness of heart. Seeing that Yahweh's heart is not hard it is indeed concluded that the hard heart in this marriage was that of Israel. For Israel sinned against Yahweh, in faithlessness, treachery and idolatry. And on account of her hard heart and resultant sins Yahweh put her away by divorcing her!

It should also be noted that Yahweh is good. His action in divorcing his adulterous, faithless, treacherous and idolatrous wife was therefore a good and righteous action! In other words, it should not be concluded that divorce has no place in the marriage relationship of a husband and wife. Where a wife has behaved in a manner giving rise to divorce and persists in that behaviour then the appropriate course of action, as seen from Yahweh's conduct with his marriage to Israel, is to divorce the errant and unrepentant wife!

It should also be noted that in Israel's case her adultery was not physical adultery, but spiritual adultery. In other words, just as there is physical sexual immorality, there is also spiritual sexual immorality. Spiritual adultery includes traits such as faithlessness, treachery and idolatry. It should therefore be noted that Yahweh's conduct has shown that a husband can indeed divorce his wife for her spiritual adultery.

It should therefore be seen, from the examination above, that Yahweh did not change his word on polygyny with the coming of Christ. Just as he allowed the Israelites to practice polygyny prior to Christ's coming, so also he continued to allow them to practice it in the presence of Christ, and also after his death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Yahweh's word on polygyny did not change with Christ's coming, especially considering that Yahweh does not change, and also that polygyny is an intrinsic part of Yahweh's own nature, he himself having been married to two sisters, Israel and Judah, as seen in Jeremiah 3, or otherwise known as Oholah and Oholibah, as seen in Ezekiel 23. Seeing that Yahweh made humans in his own image and likeness, and seeing that he is indeed polygynous, it is concluded that he made humans polygynous, with humans capable of living polygynous lifestyles, even as he is polygynous.

It has been shown above that the view or teaching that Yahweh's words to the children of Israel is different from Christ's words to them, and with Christ's words being applicable today, rather than Yahweh's earlier words, is not really consistent with both Christ's words and Yahweh's words as seen in Scripture. Additional words in the Scripture clarify this matter.

In Matthew 5:17-19 Christ says,

5:17"Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. ^5:18For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. ^5:19Whoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Those who rely on Yah'shuah's words clearly understand that nothing is to pass away from the law prior to the passing away of heaven and earth! In other words, Yah'shuah clearly identified the TIME when aspects of the law would cease to apply, clearly stating that it would not be prior to the passing away of heaven and earth.

But some say that Christ's ministry in the flesh fulfilled all that there was to fulfil in the law and the prophets, such that his followers are no longer required to observe the law, seeing that Christ observed it in their stead. Is this view scripturally consistent?

In Luke 24:36-49 we read,

Luke 24:44 shows that the things that were fulfilled that are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms are those concerning him. This implies that those things written is these documents that do not concern him were not necessarily fulfilled by Christ's suffering and rising from the dead the third day. In fact there are matters is these documents that are to be fulfilled at times that have yet to arrive, and therefore were not fulfilled in Christ's first coming. It should therefore not be concluded that everything that there was to be fulfilled was fulfilled in Christ's first coming. Only those matters that concerned his first coming were fulfilled. Matters concerning his second coming have yet to be fulfilled, yet these are indeed recorded in these documents. It is therefore the case that not everything has been fulfilled, but only those things that were meant to be fulfilled at their appointed times that have already been fulfilled.

It should therefore not be concluded that Christ's ministry removed Yahweh's requirement on human beings to observe his law, with Christ supposedly having observed the law in their stead. For the time when aspects of the law will pass away has yet to come, relying on Christ's words in Matthew 5:17-18.

One of the words concerning Christ in the law of Moses is found in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. It reads,

Peter, speaking as recorded in Acts 3:17-26, said,

Seeing that Yahweh requires the children of Israel to listen to the words of the prophet that he would raise up from among them, and seeing that Yahweh indeed raised up that prophet, who is Yah'shuah (Jesus), any child of Israel who does not listen to Yahweh's words through Yah'shuah's mouth risks destruction from among the people of Israel! In Luke 24 we note that Christ said that the things that were fulfilled from the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms were those that concerned him - concerning his suffering and rising from the dead the third day. Peter's words in Acts 3 affirm that what was fulfilled of the prophets' words concerned Christ's suffering. Therefore, listening to Christ's words and believing them, we should understand his words to mean exactly what he said. We should not misconstrue them to mean what they do not - that what was fulfilled meant the doing away of the law of Moses, such that those required to observe the law of Moses no longer were required to so observe the law subsequent to Christ's suffering and resurrection.

Revelation 20 describes the time of Yah'shuah's return to earth, of Satan's incarceration for a thousand years, of the resurrection of the just and their rule with Yah'shuah for a thousand years, of the second resurrection of all those who were not in the first resurrection, of their judgement, and of the lake of fire, the second death. After this comes Revelation 21:1-8, which reads,

Revelation 21 clearly confirms Yah'shuah's words in Matthew 5:17-18, that the time things - "the first things" pass away is with the passing away of the first heaven and the first earth, which do not pass away prior to the lake of fire - the second death! Yahweh himself - "he who sits on the throne" - says that he makes all things new after the passing away of the first heaven and the first earth, and further affirms that his words are "faithful and true"!

If one is to believe Yah'shuah's words in Matthew 5:17-18, John's witness of the vision he saw in Revelation, the heavenly voice as spoken about in Revelation 21, and Yahweh's own words as recorded in Revelation 21, one can come to no conclusion other than to say that nothing has passed away from the law yet, and nothing will pass away from the law prior to the time described in Revelation 20 and 21! In other words, the law, in its entirety, is still applicable in this present day that we are living in!

It is said by many that the law contains lesser commands - lesser commands, such as the Old Covenant, superseded by the New Covenant when Yah'shuah came in the flesh. But this view is CONTRARY to Yah'shuah's words in Matthew 5:17-19. He says in Matthew 5:19 that those who break the lesser commands and teach others to so break them shall be called LEAST in the kingdom of heaven!

Many who teach that the Old Covenant has been superseded, annulled, done away with, etc. rely on their understanding of PAUL'S words for their views and teachings. But is human understanding of Paul's word greater in authority than the clear words of Yahweh and Yah'shuah? And if Paul's views are correctly presented, views to the effect that the Old Covenant or the Law was annulled or done away with, is this view valid in the face of both Yahweh and Yah'shuah's words that the Old Covenant or the Law will not pass away prior to the passing away of heaven and earth - the first or current heaven and earth?

In other words, WHO is our authority? Is it Yahweh and Yah'shuah? Or is it our understanding or misunderstanding of Paul's words? Or is it Paul?

Matthew 22:35-40 reads,

Loving Yahweh entails both believing him and abiding by his words, even and especially in the face of contrary words. In other words, when faced with a situation of either believing Yahweh or a contrary word, in our love for Yahweh it is Yahweh that we should believe and not contrary words, irrespective of the source of these contrary words, even when such contrary words are presented as having originated from Yahweh - which they manifestly could not have seeing that they are contrary to Yahweh's clear words!

Therefore, when faced with a situation of either believing Yahweh and Yah'shuah's clear words in Revelation 21 and Matthew 5, or contrary words suggesting that the Old Covenant or Law has been done away with, one should not believe the contrary words but should believe Yahweh and Yah'shuah's clear words. The Old Covenant or the Law has NOT YET been annulled or done away with. Aspects of it will pass away at the general time when heaven and earth pass away and Yahweh makes all things new!

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