The Hebrew Roots Movement is a modern religious group that teaches believers in Jesus Christ must return to the “Hebrew roots” of the faith by keeping the Torah—observing the Sabbath on Saturday, following dietary laws, and keeping the appointed feasts. Many reject the authority of the apostle Paul, deny the sufficiency of grace, and subtly reintroduce the Law of Moses as binding on the New Testament church. Some even deny the Trinity or reduce Jesus (Yeshua) to a created being.
This is a dangerous mixture of Judaism and a twisted form of Christianity. Paul calls it “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6–7).
The Law Was a Shadow, Not the Substance
The Law was never meant to be eternal. It was a shadow. In Colossians 2:16–17, Paul writes,
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
The feasts, Sabbaths, and dietary laws pointed to Jesus. Once the substance comes, we don’t go back to the shadow.
In Hebrews 10:1, we’re told,
“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices… make those who approach perfect.”
If we are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), why return to the old covenant that was unable to save?
Christ Fulfilled the Law
The Hebrew Roots movement claims believers must still keep the Torah, but this directly contradicts the teaching of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17,
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
He fulfilled the Law completely—every righteous requirement was satisfied in Him. Paul confirms in Romans 10:4,
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
That’s not symbolic—it is definitive. Christ is the telos, the completion and purpose of the Law. Once we have Him, we are not under the Law.
We Are Not Justified by the Law
The Hebrew Roots Movement elevates the Law and in doing so, diminishes the work of the cross. Paul addresses this directly in Galatians 2:21,
“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
And in Galatians 3:10,
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’”
The law is a curse to those who rely on it for righteousness.
Then verse 11:
“But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’”
The Hebrew Roots movement brings people back under bondage to something that could never save. This is not liberty—it is legalism.
Paul Was Not a False Apostle
One of the more dangerous aspects of this movement is the claim that Paul’s writings are invalid, because they teach freedom from the Law. But Peter addresses this in 2 Peter 3:15–16, calling Paul’s writings “Scripture” and warning that “untaught and unstable people twist [them] to their own destruction.”
Rejecting Paul is not a theological disagreement—it is rebellion against the Word of God.
False Brothers, False Teachers
In Acts 15, the early church addressed this same issue. Some Judaizers claimed Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Law. Peter stood up and said,
“Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10)
The council’s final word, led by the Holy Spirit, declared that Gentiles were not to be bound to the Law of Moses. The matter was settled. Anyone teaching otherwise is in error. Paul even says in Galatians 5:4,
“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”
Jesus Is Our Sabbath, Our High Priest, Our Righteousness
The Law pointed to Jesus. The Sabbath rest was fulfilled in Him:
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God… For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:9–10).
The priesthood was replaced:
“For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law” (Hebrews 7:12).
The temple, the sacrifices, the feasts—all were shadows. Jesus is our Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), and our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30). Going back to the Law is not a deeper revelation—it is a denial of Him.
My Final Thoughts
The Hebrew Roots Movement may seem like a return to something ancient and authentic—but it is a return to bondage. It exalts the Law and diminishes grace. It clings to shadows and rejects the substance. It divides the Body, distorts the Gospel, and places a yoke that Christ already removed. Biblical Christianity is not Torah plus Jesus—it is Christ alone. Not by works, not by feasts, not by Sabbaths.
“By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
Let us walk in the liberty for which Christ has made us free, and not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). The Law was our tutor to bring us to Christ—but now that we are in Him, we are no longer under a tutor (Galatians 3:24–25). Let no one deceive you into thinking Christ is not enough.
