You shall have no image...

Many people gaze upon the inspirational portraits of a man they call Jesus. But, is that really an accurate representation of our Messiah? No. It is not. And, I will explain why I believe this.

Most of the images you see in many evangelical and catholic churches are from a period known as the Renaissance Period. The Renaissance Period occurred in the Europe between the years 1450 and 1600.

The Renaissance Period included art, music, humanistic expression and many other forms of "artistic" expression. It was a time where artist of all disciplines were able to freely express themselves, in any manner they so desired. This included blaspheming the Most Holy God, Blessed be He.

Many of the art renderings of the Messiah are, in fact, self-portraits of the artist, himself. Many of whom were homosexual. This was also during a time when it was fashionable for men to wear their hair long, like women. In fact, in many instances, you are looking at the person who actually painted the image, not our Blessed Messiah.

Now, let's ask the question; did Master Yeshua really look like this? Many will say; "Yes, He did. Because, He took the vow of the Nazarene. Which permitted Him to wear His hair long." I say; No. He did not. And, to make my point, let's turn to the Bible and see what God said rather than men.

In I Corinthians 11:14 the Word of God says, quote; "Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him,..." End quote.

The Bible clearly teaches that a man is not to have long hair. God says long hair on a man brings him "dishonor."

And, people will still tell me that Yeshua took the vow of the Nazarene. With that in mind, let me ask this. Didn't Yeshua teach us by His example? Didn't He lead the same kind of life that He wants us to lead? If so, then why would Yeshua, who is also God, tell me to do something that He would not do Himself, i.e.; get a hair cut?

If Yeshua told me to get a hair cut, or suffer dishonor, but He refused to cut His own hair, that would be hypocrisy. And, if Yeshua is a hypocrite, then He is also a liar. And, we all know that is not the case. The fact that Yeshua is Righteous and Holy, He is not, and cannot be a hypocrite. The hypocrisy lays with man, not Father God, Blessed be His Holy Name.

Now, if you have read any of this web page, you know that I believe Yeshua was, is and always shall be a Jew. As such, I believe He kept the laws set forth in the Torah...and still does. I believe this, because that is exactly what the Bible teaches. So, let's look at what the New Testament says about the hair on a man.

The Bible say; "But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene." Matthew 2:22&23.

Yeshua was fleeing from Archelaus and lived in Nazareth for a while. But, He was not a Nazarene. Read your Bible. Jesus was from Galilee (born in Bethlehem)...not Nazareth.

But, that is a subject for another day. Let's get back to what the Bible said about a man who was a Nazirite and wished to grow his hair long FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE. Which Yeshua was not.

Now, let's see what the Torah says about a man who takes the vow of the Nazarene. You may be asking; "The Torah!? Why the Torah? That's Old Testament. We are no longer bound by the law, because of Grace."

If that is what you are saying, please let me say this. The 10 Comandments are in the Torah. If you have any other questions about the Torah, please read my book: "Is God On Plan "B" Now?" found in this web page. But, for now, let's get back on the subject.

Number 6:5 says: "All the days of his vow of separation no razor shall pass over his head. He shall be holy until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD; he shall let the locks of hair on his head grow long."

However, Numbers 6:18, says; "The Nazirite shall then shave his dedicated head of hair at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and take the dedicated hair of his head and put it on the fire which is under the sacrifice of peace offerings."

The Torah...the Law...required the hair to be cut before entering the tent of meeting (the Synagogue). Even if Yeshua was a Nazarene, He could not teach in the Synagogue with long hair. The Law forbids it. And, in the New Testament, Yeshua is found teaching in the Synagogue at least six times.

Now, let's look to a part of the Old Testament which is often quoted...incompletely. That would be the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments misquoted? Oh, yes. Misquoted!!

All of the copies of the 10 Commandments I have seen hanging in evangelical and catholic churches, and peoples homes, they are incomplete. I call them censored. People keep what the like, and censor out what they don't like.

Still talking about having pictures of someone we call Jesus, let's take a look at exactly what the Most Holy God says in His second commandment.

In Exodus 20:4, the Most Holy God said, quote; "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." End quote.

Look at the Words spoken by God to Moses. God said; "YOU SHALL NOT...MAKE ANY LIKENESS OF WHAT IS IN HEAVEN ABOVE..." Period. End of discussion. Any questions?

Father God, the Mighty Sovereign, the King of kings, the Creator of the universe said the pictures we see in churches and homes are FORBIDEN. Yes, forbidden.

In closing, let's take one more look at the Words of Master Yeshua.

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." John 14:15

"He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." John 14:21

"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." John 15:10

Did Master Yeshua lead by His example? Yes, He did.

Did He dishonor Himself with long hair? No, He did not.

Did Father God tell us not to have images of God, Messiah, angels or anything else that live in Heaven. Yes, He did.

Next time you walk into a church, or someones home, or perhaps even your own home and see one of these images, you need to ask yourself a question. Am I being obedient to Father God, or am I bringing dishonor to myself and blaspheming Father God?

Only you can answer the questions I have put before you. I hope you pray hard and study your Bible before answering.

May Adonai richly bless you and may Master Yeshua return soon. Shalom.

Steven W. Chumbley

B'eit Adonai Yisrael

House of the Lord of Israel

May re-print freely