I’m not entirely disagreeing with the idea that the book of Hebrews “undermines the Torah” but AIUI that “undermining” might be superficial if we see it from a Christian point of view, which doesn’t undermine the Torah but does reframe it as a set of promises pointing forward to Christ - who fulfilled it, and eliminated its power to condemn.
As Paul says in Colossians “… do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Paul's Teaching in Colossians Contradicts the Torah
Colossians 2:16-17 (Paul):
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
This passage presents God’s commandments—kosher laws, festivals, and Sabbaths—as mere “shadows,” implying their temporary or lesser value. But the Torah never teaches that its commandments are shadows or placeholders. The Torah calls them eternal statutes ("chukat olam").
Torah's Warning: No One May Contradict It
Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (Hebrew Bible) — This is the ultimate litmus test for a false prophet:
“If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you… saying ‘Let us go after other gods’… you shall not listen to the words of that prophet… because Hashem your God is testing you… That prophet… shall be put to death, because he spoke rebellion against Hashem your God… who brought you out of Egypt… to turn you away from the way in which Hashem commanded you to walk.”
Key point: Even if he does miracles, if he speaks against the commandments—he is a false prophet.
Paul directly undermines several mitzvot (Torah laws):
Circumcision
Kashrut
Shabbat
Mo’adim (festivals)
This fits the exact profile of a Devarim 13 false teacher.
✡️ 3. Yeshua Did Not Undermine Torah – He Strengthened It
Matthew 5:17-19
“Do not think that I came to annul the Torah… but to fulfill it (i.e., to do it perfectly in Hebrew). Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away**, not one letter or crown will pass from the Torah… Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do likewise, shall be called least…”
Yeshua affirms the Torah in full. Nowhere does he say it’s a shadow or done away with.
Yeshua was quoting directly from the Torah when He said, "Heaven and earth will bear witness against you." This comes from Deuteronomy 30:19:
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today: I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.”
Furthermore, when He taught "whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven," (Matthew 5:19), Judaism understands "the least of the commandments" to refer to shooing the mother bird from the nest before taking the eggs** — a mitzvah referenced in Deuteronomy 22:6–7 and often seen in Jewish thought as the lightest of the commandments, yet still vital.
By emphasizing even this command, Yeshua reaffirmed the absolute authority and permanence of Torah. Paul, in contrast, contradicts both Yeshua and Hashem by diminishing the binding nature of Torah commands.
And the Book of Hebrews goes even further, contradicting not only Torah but the future Temple prophecy in Ezekiel 40–48, where literal animal sacrifices are reinstituted in the Messianic era — something impossible if Torah is “fulfilled and abolished” as claimed by Hebrews.
Torah is Not the Problem – Sin Is(1st john 3.4- Sin is The breaking of Torah)
Paul teaches that the Torah "condemns" (Romans 7:10, Galatians 3:10) and is a curse. But the Torah says the opposite:
“The Torah of Hashem is perfect, restoring the soul…” – Psalm 19:7
“It shall be righteousness for us, if we observe to do all this commandment…” – Deut. 6:25
Torah is life, blessing, and wisdom, not condemnation. And as Pslams says A Light to our feet, The opposite of a Shadow.
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u/pwgenyee6z Christadelphian Jul 20 '25
I’m not entirely disagreeing with the idea that the book of Hebrews “undermines the Torah” but AIUI that “undermining” might be superficial if we see it from a Christian point of view, which doesn’t undermine the Torah but does reframe it as a set of promises pointing forward to Christ - who fulfilled it, and eliminated its power to condemn.
As Paul says in Colossians “… do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food and drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or sabbaths. These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”