Subject: 7 Laws of Noah
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 1998 00:12:48 +0000
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"<heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>

From:         Heather Montalbano
To:            heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Subject:       7 Laws of Noah

What are the 7 laws given to Noah?  I didn't know any laws were given 
to Noah.  

Thanks, 

Heather


                    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++


The U.S. Congress officially recognized the Noahide Laws in
legislation which was passed by both houses. Congress and the
President of the United States (then Ronald Reagan) indicated in
Public Law 102-14, 102nd Congress, that the United States of America
was founded upon the Seven Universal Laws of Noah, and that these Laws
have been the bedrock of society from the dawn of civilization. They
also acknowledged that the Seven Laws of Noah are the foundation upon
which civilization stands and that recent weakening of these
principles threaten the fabric of civilized society, and that
justified preoccupation in educating the Citizens of the United States
of America and future generations is needed. This Public Law
designated March 26, 1991 as Education Day, U.S.A. for this purpose.

                    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


                             The Seven Laws of Noah 


By David Hall, Messianic Leader 

According to the Rabbis, God made a distinction between His chosen
people Israel and the rest of the world. To the world at large, God
gave only the seven "Laws of Noah", which if kept would cause the
non-Jewish people to be accepted as righteous in God's sight. 

According to the rabbis, there are a total of seven
which correspond closely to the ten commandments given by God's own
voice at the mount in the wilderness. The seven laws of Noah are as
follows; (Talmud Sanh.56a)

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                  The Seven Laws of Noah


 The first ten years following Yeshua's (Jesus') earthly life,
primarily Jews comprised the body of Believers, according to Acts and 
historians. They attended synagogue, as usual, and practiced their 
faith as Yeshua had instructed them. They were to live Torah as he 
taught them, while awaiting for his Kingly return. These instructions were not
complicated or difficult! However, as seen throughout history, when a
group begins to grow and be taught in distant lands the personal
agenda and lifestyle of those assuming leadership can become the
guiding force. The original teaching and philosophy of the group can
become confused and seriously compromised. The early Believers outside
of Israel and eventually in Israel fell victim to this process. 

One of the roles of the Messiah is to bring the people back to Torah.
He is to clarify the Law, which he did, so the people can live as God
had intended them. 

Unfortunately, in time, the Jewish Church became flooded with pagan
Believers who wanted to retain some of their heathen lifestyles and
beliefs. By the time the Church Council of Nicea is held in 325 A.D.
and the Roman emperor Constantine is named head of the Church, the
pagan Gentiles had seized control of what was left of the Jewish
Church. 

When Christianity was named the Roman empire's religion, anyone who
wanted a position in the government became a Christian. They brought
with them their pagan lifestyles and beliefs. 

Again, after the Messiah's death and resurrection, the "Church" was
comprised of only Jewish Believers for the first 10 years. It is not
until Acts 10 that a conflict begins to develop. Gentiles are becoming
Believers and the question arises, "What obligations are the Gentiles
under?" Do they go through a Jewish conversion? Are they obligated to
perform all the Law? This was the first major theological problem the
Jewish Church had to confront. However, they did arrive at an answer.
Unfortunately, most Churches of today ignore or are ignorant of the
conclusion of the Jerusalem council. 

With having set the scene, we can now study "The Obligations of the
Gentiles". 

The problem of what obligations the Gentiles are responsible to
perform had reached the point that Shaul (Paul) and Barnabas are sent
to Jerusalem to get a ruling on the matter: 

     1Some men came down from Antioch and were teaching the brothers:
     Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by
     Moshe (Moses), you can not be saved. 2This brought Shaul and
     Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Shaul and
     Barnabas were appointed along with some other Believers, to go up
     to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
     Acts 15:1-2 

Once they arrive in Jerusalem the issue is debated. 

     4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church
     and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God
     had done through them. 5Then some of the Believers who belonged
     to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, The Gentiles
     must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moshe. 6The
     apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much
     discussion, Kefa (Peter) got up and addressed them: Brothers, you
     know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the
     Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and
     believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them,
     just as He did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and
     them, for He purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do
     you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a
     yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
     11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Yeshua that
     we are saved, just as they are. 12The whole assembly became
     silent as they listened to Barnabas and Shaul telling about the
     miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles
     through them. Acts 15:4-12 

Finally Ya'acov (James) speaks: 

     13When they finished, Ya'acov spoke up: Brothers, listen to me.
     14Shimon (Peter) has described to us how God at first showed His
     concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for Himself. 15The
     words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is
     written: 

          16After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent.
          Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17that the
          remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who
          bear My Name, says the Lord, who does these things 18that
          have been known for ages. 

     19It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it
     difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20Instead we
     should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted
     by idols, from sexual immorality, from meat of strangled animals
     and from blood. 21For Moshe has been preached in every city from
     the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every
     Sabbath. Acts 15:13-21 

The council's decision was sent out to all the communities of
Believers. It is repeated in Acts 21:25: 

     As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our
     decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols,
     from blood, from meat of strangled animals and from sexual
     immorality. Acts 21:25 

Ya'acov names four categories the Gentile Believers are to keep: 

1. abstain from food polluted by idols
2. abstain from sexual immorality
3. abstain from strangled animals
4. abstain from blood

These four categories plus other instructions in the writings from the
elders are Judaism's "Seven Noachide Laws". They are: 

1. no idolatry
2. no sexual immorality 
3. no blasphemy
4. no bloodshed
5. no theft
6. no eating of non-kosher food
7. establish just courts

Because the Gentiles that were accepting Yeshua as God's Jewish
Messiah lived pagan and idolatrous lifestyles, the Jewish Believers
had to decide which instructions of God the Gentiles should start to
live. 

Let us step through the council's decision and see how we know they
are the Seven Noachide Laws. Keep one thing in mind, each of these
seven categories actually contain many specific commandments in Torah
that give the details of how to perform them. 

1. no idolatry

The council's decision was to abstain from food polluted by idols.
Pagans offered animal sacrifices to their gods as did the Israelites
to their God. The reality is there is only one true God. By eating
meat sacrificed to pagan gods, you would be encouraging pagan
practices and making the statement that you really do not believe
there is one true God. The point being, Believers are to leave behind
pagan practices when they come to the Lord. They are to live godly
lifestyles based on Torah. Believers should not have any kind of
physical representation of any god in their house. This includes
representations of the one true God. You are not to pray or worship
anyone or anything other than the one true God. God is a spirit. How
can we make an image of Him? These commandments are listed in Shemot
(Exodus). 

     3You shall have no other gods before me. 4You shall not make for
     yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on
     the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5You shall not bow down
     to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous
     God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the
     third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing
     love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my
     commandments. Shemot 20:3-6 

The view of the council is in agreement with Yeshua. They both state
all should abstain from meat polluted by idols, which coincides with
the first Noachide law of no idolatry. 

Yeshua, 

     Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You hold to the
     teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to
     sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual
     immorality. Revelation 2:14 

     Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually
     immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who practices
     falsehood. Revelation 22:15 

The verses in Revelation were chosen because Yeshua appeared to
Yochanan (John) after Yeshua's death and resurrection. With this,
people can not say, it was before his death and it does not apply now.
Too many people actually believe Yeshua spent the last 3 ½ years of
his life teaching Torah and instructing his disciples to keep and
preach the commandments only for the Law to pass away after his death
or resurrection. What a perversion of his teachings. God's
instructions are until heaven and earth disappears. 

     151Yet you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true.
     152Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established
     them to last forever. Mizmor (Psalm) 119:151-152 

     159See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O Lord,
     according to your love. 160All your words are true; all your
     righteous laws are eternal. Mizmor 119:159-160 


In Revelation the criticism of eating meat sacrificed to idols was
addressed to the fellowships of Pergamum and Thyatira. If the date of
90-100 A.D. is correct for the writing of Revelation, a fact should
become obvious; by the end of the first century A.D., parts of the
Church was already corrupted by paganism and idolatry. 

Shaul: 

     9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually
     immoral people- 10not at all meaning the people of this world who
     are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In this
     case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing
     you that you must not associate yourself with anyone who calls
     himself as brother but issexually immoral or greedy, an idolater
     or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not
     even eat. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11

The instruction of no idolatry also relates to the third Noachide Law,
no blasphemy. To believe in more than one god is to deny the Lord's
description of Himself, the one and only God, all powerful and
supreme. This is one definition of blasphemy. 

2. no sexual immorality

Both the council and the Noachide laws have the instruction of no
sexual immorality. Fortunately, sexual immorality is understand by
most Believers. But, where is sexual immorality defined? The Law.
Sexual immorality includes but is not limited to: 

1. homosexuality - Vayikra (Leviticus) 18:22, 20:13
2. incest - Vayikra 18:1-18
3. rape - Devarim (Deuteronomy) 22:23-29
4. adultery - Shemot 19:14, Vayikra 18:20, Devarim 22:22
5. bestiality - Vayikra 18:23, 20:15
6. premarital - Devarim 22:23-29
7. sex with a woman during the time of her uncleanness
   - Vayikra 18:19, Yechezekel 22:10

Yeshua: 

     20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman
     Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she
     misleads my servants in to sexual immorality and the eating of
     food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of
     her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a
     bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with
     her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. Revelation
     2:20-22 

Shaul: 

     7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: The
     people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan
     revelry. 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them
     did - and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 1
     Corinthians 10:7-8 

3. no blasphemy

No blasphemy comes from the commandment given in Vayikra 24:14 and
Bemidbar (Numbers) 15:30. The council's decision of not eating meat
sacrificed to idols is part of blasphemy. (For a more in-depth
definition of blasphemy see the article in Encyclopedia Judaica vol. 4
page 1073 entitled Blasphemy.) 

Yeshua takes this one seriously: 

     But whoever blasphemes the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven: he
     is guilty of an eternal sin. Mark 3:29 

Shaul tells Timothy of an action he had to take: 

     20Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over
     to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1:20 

What was their blaspheming? 

     17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are
     Hymenaeus and Phi1etus, 18who have wondered away from the truth.
     They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they
     destroy the faith of some. 2 Timothy 2:17-18 

     14Alexander the metalworker did me great deal of harm. The Lord
     will repay him for what he has done. 15You too should be on your
     guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 2
     Timothy 4:14-15 

4. no bloodshed

This instruction should not be a big surprise to anyone. From the
first murder of Abel by Cain you can find God's outrage when someone
is murdered. (See Bereishit (Genesis) 4:9-11 .) 

Yeshua: 

     But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murders, the
     sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters
     and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning
     sulfur. This is the second death. Revelation 21:8 

Shaul: 

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the
knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what
ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of
wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder,
strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters,
insolent, arrogant and boastful; 31they are senseless, faithless,
heartless, ruthless. Romans 1:28-30 

5. no theft

There seems to be no specific verse from Yeshua, after his death,
instructing the Gentiles or the Church not to steal. Fortunately,
there are verses showing that Yeshua did tell the Jews not to steal
before his death and numerous verses from his disciples after his
death. The following verse is repeated in Luke 18:20. 

Yeshua: 

     You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery,
     do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor
     your father and mother. Mark 10:19 

In first Kefa (Peter) he is writing instructions to all the Believers
scattered throughout the world which includes Gentiles and it is after
Yeshua's death. In those instructions he tells them not to be a thief.

     Kefa, an apostle of Yeshua the Messiah, To God's elect, strangers
     in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
     Asia and Bithynia, 1 Kefa (Peter) 1:1 

     14If you are insulted because of the name of Messiah, you are
     blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If
     you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other
     kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer
     as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear
     that name. 1 Kefa 4:14-16 

Shaul: 

     9Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
     God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor
     idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual
     offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor
     slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1
     Corinthians 6:9-10 

     9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to
     try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal
     from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in
     every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior
     attractive. Titus 2:9-10 

What example of Yeshua is shown if Believers conduct their lives in
the same manner as the pagans? What effect has God had in their lives
if they do not change their lifestyles and obey His commandments? 

6. do not eat non-kosher food

Up to now most people probably do not disagree with the Noachide Laws.
Most will recognize the practicality of them and most Believers live
up to the first five Noachide Laws. But, keep kosher food Laws? 

The Hebrew word kosher means acceptable and in this case refers to the
foods that Jews are to eat. Many are familiar with some of the kosher
food laws. For example, cows are acceptable, but not pigs. Vayikra 11
and Devarim 14:1-21 list most of the kosher and non-kosher foods. 

Let us first approach this from a logical argument. Jewish Believers
are to keep the Law which includes kosher foods. If the Gentiles do
not eat kosher, then Jewish Believers could not eat at a Gentile
Believer's home. The Jewish Believers would also have to provide all
the food for the festival meals. However, if both Gentile and Jewish
Believers ate kosher foods , they could have full fellowship. Is it
fair to expect a Jew to eat non-kosher food, which is disobeying God's
commandment and causing him to sin? This is tempting someone to sin to
have fellowship with you. 

     6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me
     to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung
     around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7Woe
     to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such
     things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
     Mattityahu (Matthew) 18:6-7 

The council said to abstain "from the meat of strangled animals and
from blood". Once you have an acceptable animal it must be killed
correctly and the blood, as much as possible, is drained out of the
animal. If the animal is strangled the blood can not be immediately
drained. Whereas, if the jugulars are cut according to custom, the
blood is immediately drained by the still beating heart. The use of
salt draws out the remaining blood from the animal. They also rinse
the meat with water. The animal is to be killed as painlessly as
possible. The method of killing and the draining of blood go together.

Once an acceptable animal is killed, its blood is to be drained from
it and poured on the ground and then covered with dust. 

     10Any Israelite or any alien living among them who eats any
     blood--I will set my face against that person who eats blood and
     will cut him off from his people. 11For the life of a creature is
     in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for
     yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for
     one's life. 12Therefore I say to the Israelites, None of you may
     eat blood, nor may an alien living among you eat blood. 13Any
     Israelite or any alien living among you who hunts any animal or
     bird that may be eaten must drain out the blood and cover it with
     earth, 14because the life of every creature is its blood. That is
     why I have said to the Israelites, You must not eat the blood of
     any creature, because the life of every creature is its blood;
     anyone who eats it must be cut off. 15Anyone, whether nativeborn
     or alien, who eats anything found dead or torn by wild animals
     must wash his clothes and bathe in water, and he will be unclean
     till evening; then he will be clean. 16But if he does not wash
     himself, he will be held responsible. Vayikra 17:10-16 

This ties in with the first Noachide law of no idolatry and the
council's statement to not eat meat sacrificed to idols. Pagans do not
drain the blood from their meats. They also do not take the time to
kill the animals as painlessly as possible. Which would lead one to
the logical conclusion that Gentile and Jewish Believers are to eat
kosher meat. They are to do everything possible to avoid the intake of
blood. 

Let us assume for the sake of argument that if any animal was killed
correctly and the blood was drained from it, that a Gentile Believer
could eat it. The only problem today, and back in the first century
A.D., the prescribed method of killing humanely and draining as much
blood as possible from the anima, is only done by Jews. And they only
kill and drain the blood of kosher animals. So buying meat in a
grocery store that is not kosher will not meet the standard of "no
blood", only kosher meat will. 

A quote from "The New Manners & Customs of the Bible Times" by Ralph
Gower on page 56 printed in 1987 will show that the meaning of Acts
15:20 is talking about the kosher food laws. The truth is known, just
not taught. 

     "Meat without blood 
     Acts 15:20. The first-century Christians were encouraged to
     follow the Jewish food laws concerning the draining of blood from
     the animal. It is difficult to know for sure why the Jews were
     forbidden to eat blood. It might have been purely ritual because
     life and blood are identified and the life belongs to God
     (Leviticus 17:14); the blood was therefore used as a means of
     atonement with God. The prohibition against eating blood might
     have been based on an earlier practice that was intensely cruel.
     Because meat would not keep, some tribespeople cut parts from an
     animal and then kept the animal alive until more meat was
     required. The draining of blood prevented such practices. The
     prohibition might have been a health law to prevent blood-borne
     infections and diseases." 

In Revelation 18:2, which most assume is in the future, Yeshua talks
about unclean birds. The idea of what is and what is not kosher
(clean) still exists in the future. 

     With a mighty voice he shouted: Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the
     Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every
     evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
     Revelation 18:2 

Shaul quotes from Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 52:11: 

     Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.
     Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. 2 Corinthians
     6:17 

And there are more verses to show that the kosher laws exist in the
millennium. Chapters 40-48 in Yechezekel deal with the millennial
Temple and the end of chapter 66 of Yeshayahu is also millennial. 

     They (the priests) are to teach my people the difference between
     the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between
     the unclean and the clean . Yechezekel 44:23 

     The priests must not eat anything, bird or animal, found dead or
     torn by wild animals . Yechezekel 44:31 

     17Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the
     gardens, following the one in the midst of those who eat the
     flesh of pigs and rats and other abominable things--they will
     meet their end together, declares the Lord. 18And I, because of
     their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather
     all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory.
     Yeshayahu 66:17-18 

7. establish just courts

This instruction is a natural conclusion of the previous six. How will
it be decided if someone is guilty of either idolatry, sexual
immorality, blasphemy, bloodshed, or stealing. Only a "just" court
will give the correct decision and if necessary the correct
punishment. Yeshua is able to give the correct decision every time
because he can see a person's true heart or motivations and know the
facts of a case. And what is the standard by which Yeshua will judge
people? Torah - God's Word.

Yeshua: 

     I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse,
     whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges
     and makes war. Revelation 19:11 

     17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
     18Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom
     I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim
     justice to the nations. 19He will not quarrel or cry out; no one
     will hear his voice in the streets. 20A bruised reed he will not
     break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads
     justice to victory. 21In his name the nations will put their
     hope. Mattityahu 12:17-21 

God's definition of justice is observance of the Law. He has embodied
all the attributes of justice within the Law. The courts were
established to administer decisions based on the correct application
of the Law. Just as our Supreme Court was established to administer
decisions based on the Constitution. 

Shaul: 

     11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with
     anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or
     greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.
     With such a man do not even eat. 12What business is it of mine to
     judge those outside the church?Are you not to judge those
     inside?13G-d will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from
     among you. 1If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he
     take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the
     saints? 2Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?
     And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge
     trivial cases? 3Do you notknow that we will judge angels? How
     much more the things of this life! 4Therefore, if you have
     disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little
     account in the church! 5I say this to shame you. Is it possible
     that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute
     between believers? 1 Corinthians 5:11-6:5 

Many have been taught that Believers are not to judge Believers.
Obviously that is wrong. We are not to take cases between Believers
into the civil courts of the land. They should be handled inside the
community of Believers. 

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