Brood of Vipers?

TWO SCHOOLS OF PREVAILING THOUGHT AMONG JEWS OF THE FIRST CENTURY

To the ears of most modern followers of Jesus, the mere mention of the term Pharisee invokes echoes of John the Baptizer and Jesus of Nazareth shouting caustically, “You brood of vipers!”  One could surmise the cousins painted all Pharisees and scribes with a broad brush; but in actuality, they castigated a small group of the religious elite of their day, whose practice was in opposition to Moses and the prophets. The importance of this cannot be overstated, for without it, we completely misunderstand Jesus’ controversy with them.

First century rabbis were essentially divided between two camps: the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel.[1] American Christians might perhaps best relate this difference to two viewpoints of the Christian faith, let’s say Protestant and Catholic. Just as Protestants and Catholics have the same foundational beliefs, but vastly different practices of walking it out, so it was with the House of Shammai and the House of Hillel.

Followers of Shammai, generally, were known for legalistic viewpoints. In other words, they adhered mostly to the letter of the law and/or the rulings of the rabbis. More about that as we go.  In contrast, followers of Hillel were more lenient, seeking to express the spirit of the law.

Hillel’s position was far more merciful. A story is told in rabbinical literature[2] that a non-Jewish man approached Rabbi Shammai and asked him to teach him the five books of Moses, Genesis-Exodus-Leviticus-Numbers-Deuteronomy, while standing on one foot. After being dismissed by Rabbi Shammai with disgust, he appealed to Rabbi Hillel, who, by the way, refused the title “rabbi.”[3] The kind teacher stood on one foot and said gently to the non-Jew, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it.”  Yeshua put it in a similar fashion: “Whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Mat. 7:12)

The legalistic House of Shammai may well be the “synagogue of Satan” (Rev. 2:9, 3:9) to which John the Revelator refers. The House of Shammai is most certainly the primary object of Yeshua’s stern warnings found in the 23rd chapter of Matthew. Please click to read Yeshua’s charges. Note, in particular, his accusation, “you shut up the kingdom of Heaven” (vs. 13). Count the number of times Yeshua says, “woe to you”! He did not hesitate to blast rulings and traditions that contradicted Moses and/or piled unnecessary burdens on the people.

At first glance, the chapter seems to open with Yeshua contradicting himself:

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.” (Mat 23:2-3) 

Yeshua instructs His audience to “do and observe” what the scribes and Pharisees say, then rails at the religious leaders for their ludicrous and heinous rulings! This could confuse a 21^st century reader who doesn’t understand the purpose of Moses’ “seat.”

The synagogues featured a raised platform, called a bimah, from which the weekly Torah portion (parsha) and the haftarah are read. In antiquity the bimah was made of stone, but in modern times it is usually a rectangular wooden platform approached by steps.^[10]

The bimah was not unlike pulpits today. But, unlike most pulpits today, the books of Moses and selections from the prophets were to be read every Sabbath. This practice can clearly be seen in the New Testament.

Acts 15:21  For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

Acts13:27  For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.[note: Moses was a prophet]

Luke 4:16  And [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.

Yeshua did not contradict Himself when He instructed the people to “do and observe” what the scribes and Pharisees said—what they SAID from the bimah is what they READ to the people, the words of Moses and the prophets!  God’s instruction through Moses was to be read every Sabbath to the people.

What is really interesting is that the exact portion of scripture was read each Sabbath in every synagogue in the First Century. This valuable tradition of being on the same page remains in place today in the majority of Jewish, Messianic, and Hebrew Roots congregations worldwide. Ezra and the men of the Great Assembly who returned to Jerusalem from 70 years of Babylonian captivity, divided the books of Moses into 54 segments and assigned them positions in a yearly cycle that commences each year on the Sabbath following the close of Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles]. On October 22, 2022, the torah portion B’Resheet[4] [In the Beginning] will be proclaimed in assemblies around the world. [If you would like to follow me,[5] we will not only progress through the annual torah portion cycle, we will also read through the entire bible in a year, starting with Genesis 1:1 on October 19. I think you are going to be amazed what will be revealed as we traverse the bible together in this year of Jubilee, 5783 on the Hebrew calendar.

The men of the Great Assembly devised the annual reading cycle to prevent the remnant that had returned from the Babylonian exile, and their offspring, from ever being exiled again. Judah didn’t learned from their brothers, the northern kingdom, the so-called House of Israel, who was first to go into exile around 722BCE due to gross idolatry, including child sacrifice. This northern kingdom is still today in exile, having been scattered by the king of Assyria throughout the whole earth, they remain today, assimilated among the nations and mostly unaware of their identity. Judah, on the other hand, who had taken up the idolatrous ways of the northern kingdom, returned after 70 years in Babylon by the hand of a merciful God.

For the reading cycle to remain in place all these years, it must have been God-breathed. While some “tradition” is suspect, not all needs to be thrown out.  Some of God’s instructions for the Feast Days are so sparce they beg to be fleshed out with liturgy, food, decor, song, and dance. Thus, rich and meaningful customs have grown up in Jewish communities throughout history and the world that enhances the beauty of God’s appointed times, solidifies communities, and acts a teaching aids that are particularly effective to ground children and youths in God’s cycles of righteousness.

An excellent example is Jewish tradition for the Passover seder [order of service]. We will highlight one, the afikomen.  During the service, three pieces of matzah (unleavened bread) are placed inside a bag with three compartments [which, to Christians, can be seen as emblematic of Father, Son, and Holy Spirt]. Early in the Seder, the middle piece of matzah is removed, broken in half, and one half is hidden. This hidden matzah is called the afikomen. At the end of the meal, the children are sent out, with the promise of reward, to locate the hidden afikomen, which is then broken into small pieces for everyone to eat as dessert. Christians can readily see, although most Jews are still blind, that the afikomen pictures Yeshua’s broken body going into the grave and then being resurrected, and his body, the “bread of life,” being taught to the nations. There are many other such pictures of Yeshua in a traditional Passover event; but that is a story for another day.

Yeshua’s use of symbolism spawned church tradition. At the last meal, the Passover, with his disciples, he broke the bread and declared it, “my body.” He took up the cup and declared it “the blood of the covenant, poured out for many.” (Mark 14:22,24).  Thus, eating the Passover meal has been reenacted in the form of communion services in congregations throughout the earth. The liberty afforded believers includes the freedom to develop traditions, so long as they are neither burdensome nor legislated, or, most important of all, do not violate the word of God–which was Yeshua’s chief controversy with the religious elite.

Yeshua declared, “…for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.”  (Mat. 15:6) This is at the core of every “woe to you!” in Matthew chapter 23. According to Yeshua, the elite who added to or took away from God’s word are in grave peril. Instead of welcoming converts, the very purpose of God’s family, the proud religious elite wanted to exclude them. [That, by the way, is what is at the root of the hatred between Jews and Samaritans.] And when they made a convert, they required him to obey regulations that God never imposed, rules that were cumbersome to their own people as well. Peter said, “Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?” (Acts 15:10)

It wasn’t God’s law Peter was talking about, it was man-rules and regulations. God’s instructions were never intended to be a burden. Before his death Moses reminded the children of Israel that God’s law “is not too hard for you.” (Deut. 30:11) Yeshua echoed by stating, “My yoke is easy; my burden is light.” (Mat. 11:30)

The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10) when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  11) “For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. 12) It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’  13)  Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14) But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deut. 30:9-14)

How is it “in your mouth” and “in your heart”?  It is to be in the mouths of the leaders of every assembly on Shabbat. The leaders of God’s people should be those on whose hearts are written His law. As they walk it out, they become examples of holiness, a light in a dark world, imitated by their children and congregations. It takes time for the uninitiated. We have to learn new habits and routines. It takes an effort but, oh, it is SOOO worth it!

While rabbinical rules surely began as helpful instructions, ultimately they became cumbersome. The Mishnah, a collection of Jewish traditions, known also as the Oral Torah, contains thousands of additions to God’s instructions. What most people do not understand is that in the New Testament, both are called “law.” To understand the controversies between Yeshua and his followers and the religious elite, one must be able to distinguish between God’s law given to Moses and the laws instituted by the rabbis, not a simple task for the uninitiated.

To give a few examples, when Yeshua’s disciples were charged with breaking the Sabbath by walking through a field of grain and eating the kernels, it was a rabbinical rule they were accused of breaking, just as it was when the man whom Yeshua instructed to pick up his mat and get up and walk was rebuked by the Pharisees. There are no rules in the books of Moses forbidding harvesting grain to eat as a snack or for lunch or picking up a mat on the Sabbath.

Another very important example is the law Peter mentions when defending his trip to the house of Cornelius. “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10:28)

Again, this was a man-made prohibition and, further, it was the polar opposite of God’s intent to bring the nations of the earth into relationship with Him, teach them His principles that they might enjoy the blessings of peace, safety, health, financial well-being, and sound relationships and to teach these things to their children.

It’s easy to see that one of the chief reasons Yeshua had to come to earth as a man was to blast open the doors that had been cemented by well meaning, but mistaken and overly zealous rabbis. They weren’t by the way, the only religious leaders who made wrong interpretations and caused God’s people to err. The church fathers made some pretty serious mistakes, as well.

Shalom!

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[1] https://israelmyglory.org/article/hillel-the-kind-pharisee/ accessed 10/10/2022

[2] Telushkin, “Hillel, If Not Now, When?,”  Schocken Books of Random House, New York, 2010 p. 19, Shabbat 31a.

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_the_Elder#cite_note-32 accessed 10/13/2022

[4] The student will likely encounter numerous and varied spellings of the first torah portion, including B’resheet, B’raishiyt, Bereshit, etc.  Transliteration is the process of forming words by sounding out the original, which can be accomplished with varying combination of English letters.

[5] https://bneyyosefna.com/byna-bible-reading-plan-for-5783-2022-2023/

Hanukkah – Foreshadow of Current Events?

by Cathy Helms 

In the book of Leviticus and elsewhere are seven celebrations which the God of Israel firmly calls “My feasts” (Leviticus 23).  Our Father is undertaking in our day to restore these Feasts to His entire body, including those of us who have been grafted in by grace through faith. Two other annual traditional celebrations commemorate God’s intervention to deliver His people from evil and wicked governmental strongholds, much like what we have been experiencing the last two years. Purim [pooREEM] memorializes the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman in the Book of Esther. Hanukkah, which we will focus on in this document, venerates a David-and-Goliah military triumph in 164BCE.

As we look into this annual celebration, let us also note the parallels to our day and take comfort that God is sovereign and Yeshua is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The edicts that have been handed down to us in the last two years and the outrageous attempts to get us to go along with the diabolical agenda of the World Economic Forum are right out of the playbook of Antiochus!  Let’s also ask ourselves why Yeshua would have walked 70 or more miles in the cold and rain to be at the Temple at this particular time, to observe a feast which is not biblically prescribed.  Let’s also ask if there is reason for us to participate in it, and if so, how Abba might have us do so.

“Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the [religious leaders] surrounded Him and said to Him, ‘How long will You keep us in doubt? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’” (John 10:22-24)

Modern translations can sometimes obscure plain meaning. A translation for a Jewish readership states very clearly, “Now it was the Feast of Hanukkah…” The word (חֲנֻכָּה)  means “dedication” or “consecration.” To answer the question of why Yeshua was at the Temple for the Feast of Dedication, we have to look into the circumstances that led to this annual celebration.

The History Behind Hanukkah

In between Malachi’s prophecy and Matthew’s Gospel were four hundred so-called “silent years,” when the prophets’ voices were stilled.  The number four is a hint to Messianic significance; Yeshua lived in the 4^th millennium.  The number four also means “seal” and “covenant.”   What does our Heavenly Father want to tell us about this supposedly “silent” period? Listen! The voice of history is speaking!

The books of First and Second Maccabees, preserved in the Apocrypha, which is part of the Catholic Bible, provide the historical record. Antiochus IV ruled over Mesopotamia and the Middle East, including Judea, the southern kingdom, long after the norther kingdom of Israel was exiled and scattered. In other words, Judea was the only visible remnant of the whole house of Israel. Antiochus was a successor to one of the generals who received a part of the domain of Alexander the Great after his death. These rival kingdoms constantly waged war against another, subjecting their subjects to shifting control and fortunes. During this same time period, Rome was conquering vast areas and was well on its way to becoming the chief empire of the world.

Antiochus, a foreshadow of anti-Christ, went so far as to claim to be God. He even added “Epiphanes” (“God manifest”) to his name.  Coins minted at the time proclaimed “King Antiochus…God made visible.” The Greeks sought to Hellenize conquered nations by forcing them to abandon their language, customs, and faith, many times at the threat of death, to the supposedly superior Hellenistic culture.  Many Jews capitulated; but a stubborn remnant, with the help of God, as Antiochus would find, proved undefeatable, to the glory of God.

The Maccabees

Before Antiochus came to power, a devout and highly respected Levite, Onias, was High Priest.  Second Maccabees reports that because of his love for God and his total dedication to obeying the LORD’s commandments, Jerusalem enjoyed a time of great peace in his day. Even foreign kings honored the Temple and donated precious gifts of tribute.

However, Onias had a wealthy brother, Jason, who was convinced that the Jews were hopelessly stuck in time and wanted to see them adopt the liberal, progressive ways of the supposedly enlightened Greeks.  Coveting the role of High Priest, Jason aligned himself with Antiochus and offered to finance the king’s campaign against Egypt, Antiochus’ next target in view, provided the king would grant him that honored role. Antiochus soon replaced Onias, who was murdered, with Jason. As a result, Jason also became head of the Sanhedrin, a group of 70 rabbis with power equivalent to the United States Supreme Court today.

Jason proceeded full steam ahead to “reform” Israel with outrageous practices.  He built a Greek gymnasium in the holy city of Jerusalem and hosted nude athletic games opened by ceremonies in which sacrifices were made to Greek gods.  Under his leadership, many Jews even went so far as to undergo painful reverse circumcision. [Think what surgeries of reversal are being undertaken today.] Yet, in spite of mounting cultural pressure, the remnant clung to the commandments, statutes, and ordinances given by God to Moses.

It wasn’t long before the king would look for an even higher bidder for the position of High Priest. Enter Menelaus, who was not a Levite, and who believed that even Jason’s evil reforms were lacking for the prosperity of the nation. When Menelaus was named High Priest, a man outside the sons of Aaron, it sent shock waves throughout Judea. [Let me remind the reader that making priests of the common people was one of the cardinal sins of Jeroboam, first ruler of the Northern Kingdom (1 Kings 13:33). It was for the reason that the northern kingdom insisted in maintaining the “ways of Jeroboam” that God whistled for the king of Assyria to remove it from His presence (1 Kings 15:29).]

To fund Antiochus’ war chest and usurp Jason, Menelaus raided the Temple treasury, adding insult to injury. [Is the US treasury being raided today?] Initially, Menelaus’ idea of progress was not to abolish Jewish Law, but rather to liberalize it. Eventually, what the Torah called profane, he called acceptable; what the torah called good, he called evil. When Menelaus convinced Antiochus to forbid circumcision, as well as the keeping of the Feasts of the LORD, the practice of eating “clean” foods, and the designation of sacred places, the remnant tore their clothes and cried out to God with ashes on their heads.

In the month of Kislev (our November/December) in the year 167 BCE, the Sanhedrin codified Menelaus’ ideas into law and even the study of Torah became illegal. To add further insult, the Temple was dedicated to the Greek god Zeus and his image; “the abomination that makes desolate” (Dan 11:31), was installed on the altar.   On the 25th day of Kislev the sacrificial offering of pigs was begun and the blood of these unclean animals was sprinkled in the Holy of Holies. It is believed this outrageous idea also originated with Menelaus.

But when cult prostitutes were introduced on the Temple Mount, it was the last straw. [Think of drag queens being introduced to our chidren!] Mattathias, a true priest, of the tribe of Levi, fled Jerusalem to his hometown of Modi’in. Mattathias had five sons, one of whom was called Maccabee, or “The Hammer.”  We read of his deep grief in 1 Maccabees chapter 2.

“Why was I born to see the ruin of my people and the ruin of the holy city and the holy place taken over by foreigners? Jerusalem’s temple has become like a woman raped! Her treasures stolen! Our infants have been killed in the streets! Our young people have been killed in battle! Jerusalem’s beauty has been spoiled. Our freedom has been taken away. We have become slaves. Look around! Our beautiful holy place, which we honor, has been destroyed. We have nothing left to live for!” (1 Maccabees 2:1-14)

The king’s officials, ordered to force the Israelites to abandon their covenant with God, soon arrived in Modi’in in an attempt to persuade the people to sacrifice to false gods.  Many of the Jews went along with them, but Mattathias and his sons refused. At first, the officials tried flattery and bribery.  But though the officials promised wealth and honor, the remnant stood firm:

“You’re a highly respected leader in this city, and you have the support of your sons and relatives. If you will be the first to come forward and obey the king as ordered, then you and your sons will receive the title ‘Friend of the King.’ You will be honored with silver, gold, and many other gifts.” Mattathias refused and shouted vehemently, “Though all the nations in the king’s empire obey the king and abandon the religion of their ancestors, my sons and I will keep the terms of the promise God made to our ancestors.  It’s unthinkable for us to desert the teaching and instruction of God. We won’t obey the king’s orders, and we won’t worship in any other way!” (1 Macc. 2:19-22)

At this, one man boldly rushed forward in front of everyone to be the first to show allegiance to the Greek gods. Enraged, the aged Mattathias rose up and slew both that man and the officer who offered the bribe. Then, smashing the altar with supernatural strength, he ran throughout the city, shouting, “Everyone who is devoted to God and willing to stand up for God’s law, follow me!” He and his sons fled to the mountains, leaving their possessions behind.

Another group of resistors had hidden themselves in caves in the desert where they found themselves discovered and surrounded by the king’s troops on a Sabbath day. After refusing to exchange obedience for their lives, they were slaughtered. This event proved only to strengthen the resolve of Mattathias and his sons who swore to fight to the death to defend their faith, even on the Sabbath. Joined by others who had also fled the persecution, a small army emerged. Reminiscent of the Levites after the golden calf incident, they attacked and killed Jews who had compromised. They tore down altars dedicated to false gods and forced circumcision upon those who had rebelled against the practice. Righteous anger ignited and fueled a guerrilla war that would see thousands of enemy troops taken down over the next three grueling years.

Before Mattathias died of natural causes in 166 BCE, he charged his sons,

“We’re living in disastrous and violent times.  Offer your lives for the sake of the promise God made to our ancestors.  Remember our ancestors.  If you do what they did, you will be also be highly honored by God….Everyone who stays in covenant will have the strength they need to do whatever God has called them to do.” 1 Maccabees 2:51-64

After his father’s death, Judah “The Hammer,” with his brothers’ wholehearted approval, rose up to lead the remnant. And just as the God of Israel enabled David to defeat Goliath, so did He strengthen the tiny, ill equipped army of God to defeat the mammoth forces of Antiochus.  Maccabees 1:3-8 reports:

“Judas brought his people widespread honor.  He wore his breastplate like a hero… He was like a lion in everything he did, like a young lion when it roars at its prey….He made life bitter for many kings, but he made Jacob’s descendants happy with everything he did…   He turned God’s anger away from Israel. His name became known throughout the world. He united those who were about to be destroyed.”

Against all odds, within three years the Maccabees had emptied Judea of enemy troops and restored sovereignty to the nation. Outnumbered and outclassed, the Maccabees defeated the Goliath of their day. The lesson for us, as we approach 2023 is clearly that the remnant can overthrow the oppressor. If God be for us, who can be against us? Our God is undefeated and He always leads us to triumph (2 Cor. 2:14). As it was in the days of Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Haman, and Antiochus, our victory is sure, “Not by might, not by power, but by My spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 4:6)

Sadly, over time, whether due to ignorance or rebellion, the victory of the Maccabees gave way to the subjugation of Rome. We will not take time to go into the details; but we can say that a parallel exists to King David when he first attempted to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. Just as the tragic result of Uzzah’s death was due to David’s lack of understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of the Levites, so it would be with the Maccabees. Except that as Levites, they should have known better. This family, who would become later known as the Hasmoneans, to their great shame, chose a king from among themselves instead of rightfully handing the monarchy back to the tribe of Judah after their supernatural victory. This grave error made way for Herod, of the Hasmonean dynasty, to be on the throne and to issue the decree for all male children two years old and younger to be put to death at the time of Yeshua’s birth.

Faith Unto Death

As remarkable as was the victory of the Maccabees, even more remarkable was the grace given to those who would be martyred for their faith. Antiochus went so far as to try to force the Jews to eat pork, an abomination according to God (Lev. 11, Deut. 14).   Dispatching soldiers to arrest a devoted mother and her seven sons, he determined to make an example of them. One by one, the mother watched her sons courageously die unspeakably horrible deaths (2 Maccabees, chapter 7).   When only the youngest remained, the king tried in every way to bribe him.  When that failed, the king implored the mother to persuade her son.  In Hebrew, she urged him to stay strong and die willingly. When the young man refused to compromise, the enraged king ordered torture even more heinous than that of his brothers. Nonetheless, entrusting his soul to God, the youth died with dignity and, afterward, his mother was put to death and joined her sons in peace. In the end, Antiochus admitted that the God of Israel fought against him.

Re-Dedication of the Temple

With joy unspeakable, the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple, cleansed it, removed the Greek idols, and rededicated it on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164 BCE, exactly three years to the day after its desolation. A feast of eight days ensued, actually the delayed keeping of Sukkot [Feast of Tabernacles], because the faithful had been unable to do so for three years.

Recall that the number 400 represents “seal,” and “covenant.”  The stories that emerge from those four hundred “silent” years reveal that those who kept the covenant were sealed for God’s purposes—whether grace to live victoriously or grace to die with honor, it was all for the glory of God.

Yeshua at the Temple

So, why did Yeshua walk 70 or more miles to appear at the Temple at the time of the Feast of Dedication? In chapter 7 of John, we are told that previously, in the fall, at the Feast of Tabernacles, he delayed His coming because the religious leaders “sought to kill him” (John 7:1).  In other words, he intentionally chose to avoid them by arriving late at Sukkot, at a time when they did not expect him. Why, then, would He risk their ire to appear at the time of Hanukkah?

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him.  (John 10:24-31)

Based on the chronology that presented in the Gospel of John, this could well have been the winter prior to Yeshua’s crucifixion. Yeshua was well aware of His crucifixion appointment, which had been heralded for thousands of years since the night that Israel was delivered from Pharaoh, when Israel and the mixed-multitude painted the blood of the lamb on their doorposts.  The Maccabees’ war was long over, but Yeshua’s greatest battle was before Him. As he walked that long cold road to Jerusalem, did he see in his mind’s eye the events leading to the crucifixion? The stripping of his clothes, the beatings, the betrayal, the mocking? Did he see Himself sweating those great drops of blood, crying out in agony to His Father in Gethsemane, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me!” (Luke 22:42)

The Son of God was flesh and blood as we are. He suffered the same pain of a smashed thumb that we do. Did He wrestle with His own will as the time of His suffering drew near? Did He come to rededicate Himself at the Temple Mount at the very place where Isaac had carried the wood—and allowed himself to be bound and placed on the altar?  Did he go to strengthen Himself by tracing Abraham’s steps to Mount Moriah with Isaac, the fire, and the wood?  It’s something to think about.

But, notice, Yeshua plainly tells the religious leaders, “you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice… and they follow me.”

Yeshua had said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Mat. 16:24-27)

The Takeaway for 2022 and beyond

This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on the 18th of December and ends at sundown on December 26th.  Hanukkah is an eight-day opportunity for us to revisit the miracles of God’s deliverance, not just at the time of the Maccabees, but throughout Israel’s history. It is a time to compare the world in the day when God allowed His holy place to be desecrated, with where we stand in history, particularly in the United States of America, which no one can deny is being desecrated. Let’s ask: Who is currently playing the role of the evil Antiochus, Jason, and Menelaus? Who is playing the role of Onias, the devout and revered High Priest? Who is playing the role of Mattathias, the aged but strong, bold, and courageous father of the Levites? And, who is taking center stage as Judah Maccabee, “the Hammer”?

Hanukkah is a time to celebrate our Champion, Savior, and Deliverer, and to take comfort that He who fought for the children of Israel in the day of Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, and the Maccabees is fighting for us today. May our prayer these eight days be that the light of the truth that burned so fiercely in their hearts would burn also in the United States of America in our day. And when the King appears, may we have no reason to be ashamed. Amen. To the glory of God and Yeshua ha Moshiach, our Savior and King!

Please note the following sources:

♦  The books of First and Second Maccabees

♦ “From Epiphanes to Epimanes” by Tim Case, located at http://www.LewRockwell.com

Note: Some quotes edited for clarity and brevity.

©Cathy Helms 2006, edited and updated 2014 and 2022. All rights reserved.

Joseph is ALIVE!

Very interesting things are happening in our day!

 

Vayera 2016 [And I appeared]

Torah Portion:  Exodus 6:2-9:35

Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

New Testament:  Rev. 3:10-13, Luke 21:19, 2 Cor. 7:9, 10

 

In today’s lesson, the God of the Hebrews, as He calls Himself six times in the Book of Exodus, makes Ten Declarations. The first and the last are identical.

1. I am יהוה 
2. I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
3. I will rid you of their bondage.
4. I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.
5. I will take you to Me for a people.
6. I will be your God.
7. You shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
8. I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
9. I will give it to you for a heritage.
10. I am יהוה

Nothing But the Truth

Twenty years ago I realized that I had fallen for a lie. It was the so-called American Dream. My parents’ mantra had been, “You are smart. You are a hard worker. You can be anything that you want to be.” The culture told me, “Work hard, make a plan, set a goal, meet the goal, be happy.”  Well, I did those things and the end result was that though I had everything a person could desire, nice home, fat retirement account, net worth of $1 million plus, I was pretty miserable.

The misery was beyond my understanding. My career was the envy of every other Realtor in the county where I worked.  Along with the builder that I represented, I had been handed an absolute goldmine. With seven solid years behind us, we were poised to open a 500 lot golf course subdivision in a highly desirable area just outside of Charlotte, NC. Yet, all I could think about at the awards banquet in December 1994 was the dread of having to trudge through another year with a smile on my face.

I can never thank God enough for introducing Himself to me the following June as “the God who sees” and the “the God who provides.” A few months later I locked the office door for the last time and went home. Before I left, as I took down the framed certificates and awards, and piled the trophies into boxes, I remember thinking that if it was all piled up and set ablaze, the evidence of an 18 year career would disappear in a minute or two.

Years later, I realized that my problem had been an identity crisis. I had been trying to make myself into something and the result was an idol on a billboard that I bowed down to every day but could never satisfy. My blessed Father intervened and sent me 9000 miles away from family and culture for two years to Zimbabwe begin to teach me who I am in Him as a citizen of the Kingdom. He began by challenging me to read through the Bible, large sections every day, year after year. Soon, broad themes began to unfold that I had never been introduced to in church.

Like keeping Sabbath, for example. By assembling every passage concerning the subject, I began to get an idea of how precious it is to God and understand how wounded He is that we have disregarded His instructions concerning it. Here is the compilation. That exercise was such an eye opener for me that it soon became a habit for me to assemble everything He has to say on many other subjects. (It is a very simple procedure with free software from E-Sword.)

When one isolates “the whole counsel of God,” as Paul puts it (Acts 10:27) on any subject, God’s expectation usually comes into sharp focus. At times, it clashes with what we have been taught and, admittedly, that can be pretty scary. But, I told God in the fall of 1995 after I realized how deceived I had been about the American Dream, “I never want to be deceived again! I want the TRUTH and I don’t care how much it costs me.”

I had no idea then what I was saying. And I have to tell you that I have since then encountered things that I didn’t really care to learn, which made it necessary for God to whisper to me, “My child, do you still want the TRUTH?

Yes, indeed, the search for truth can be a bit frightening. It requires testing what one believes to be true against the perfect Word of God. It also means testing other paradigms that may seem strange. But, we can do that with confidence that God is our Helper. Jesus told His disciples He would send the Comforter to “guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

Think on that one for a minute. The disciples had walked with God-in-the- FLESH for 3-1/2 years and yet there was still truth for them to encounter? The Bible clearly defines truth. The psalmist wrote, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. (Ps. 119:160)   “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth. (Ps. 86:11).

Jesus prayed for His disciples, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).  Jesus quotes the psalmist, thereby putting His seal on the conclusion.

Why is the search for truth so important? It is because truth brings freedom from bondage, sickness, pain, heartache, and burdens. Eight times Moses exhorts the children of Israel that God gave His instruction, “that it may go well for you.” (Deut. 4:40, 5:16, 5:33, 6:3, 6:18, 12:25, 12:28, 22:7)

Eight, in Hebrew thought is the number of new beginnings. So, we should pay very close attention. Moses was instructing the Joshua Generation who were about to go into the land that God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that if they obeyed, things would go well for them. But, like their forefathers, whose carcasses were strewn in the desert, they did not listen.

David was a great warrior king with a shepherd’s heart who loved God and loved God’s people. He was filled with the Holy Spirit (Ps 51:11) and had much favor from Heaven. With all of that, we have to wonder why he had to suffer so much in regard to family matters.

Two of David’s sons tried to wrest the throne from him, to his great grief and their destruction. One of his sons raped one of his daughters. His son Solomon totally disgraced himself and all Israel by having 700 wives and 300 concubines that ultimately led him to build temples to foreign gods and sacrifice his children to Molech. This resulted in God splitting the Kingdom and giving the Ten Tribes into the hands of a king who would set up TWO golden calves! What a mess!

Perhaps David’s family history would have been different if he had paid more attention to God’s instructions. For example, it is forbidden for a king to “multiply wives.” (Deut.17:17) God intended man to have only one wife from the Garden of Eden; yet, David had at least nine. Had he meditated on the miserable account of Jacob’s dysfunctional family, which consisted of four wives and their children (a cultural norm, but not God’s best), David could have avoided the competition, jealousy, and contempt in his own household.

But, are we any better? What chaos, pain, heartaches, grief, and burdens have we made our children suffer because we would not listen?

The Torah commands a king to personally write his own copy of the Torah and to read it all the days of his life (see Deut. 17:18-19). While David may have failed to keep this commandment, we can be assured that King Messiah most certainly kept it!!

Should we do any differently?

If we are willing, the Holy Spirit will lead us into “all truth.” But, we have to be willing to eat the unleavened bread, the word of God minus traditions and opinions. Truth is Jesus and Truth is His Word. They are one and the same,  the “whole counsel of God.” Not that I think in any way that I have arrived at “all truth.” I have had to backtrack several times in my quest, after being alerted by the Holy Spirit that I had settled for “tradition” or “opinion” rather than truth. May our prayer and resolve be to never stop short of it.

Faith like Abraham’s is costly. It requires giving up culture, father’s house, comfort zone, the right to choose where to live, where to go, and what to do when you get there. It means walking by the voice of God alone [His written word and His personal, private, jealous guardianship] regardless of what anyone else says. It is not easy, nor is it comfortable. But, it is well worth it because, even in the face of chaos or confusion, when you know you are in alignment with His Word, and when you know you have heard His voice, you can remain steady in the trial, even at Mount Moriah.  “…Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws” (Gen. 26:5). What a legacy!

I am fond of  saying that we who have multiple copies of God’s word, wondrous tools to dig into it, and more leisure time than any previous generation to take advantage of these things, are the most blessed people who have ever lived on the planet. Dear friends, to whom much is given, much is required! We will be held accountable for all of the contents of our Bibles.

In closing, “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” (John 21:7) exhorts us to keep God’s commandments. Could that be one reason Jesus so loved him so much?

• And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:3)
• Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 John 2:4)
•   …and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. (1 John 3:22)
• Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (1 John 3:24)
• By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. (1 John 5:2)
• For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. (1 John 5:3)
• And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. (2 John 1:6)

How did we miss this for so long?

Please, please consider putting away the daily devotions and commentaries for a while. Let the TV rest for a season. Leave the computer, magazines, and cookbooks. Come aside for a while and immerse yourself in the Bible–and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

I will close with the beloved disciple’s fervent prayer. “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul” (3 John 1:2).

Thank you for stopping by today!

 

Verse List: Sabbath

My experience in the twenty-plus years that I have been pursuing Sabbath-keeping bears out that if I want a peaceful home, if I want Yeshua to fight my battles and be my rear guard, it is up to me to prepare for and honor His holy day. The promise is that if we do so, He will cause us to delight in Him and to ride on the high hills of the earth (Isaiah 58:13-14) and give us a name better than sons and daughters (Isaiah 56:1-8). In this post  you will find a collection of all of the verses and passages that speak of the Sabbath and the Seventh Day, some 200 references. I invite you to spend time meditating on them. You might be surprised, as was I,  at the calamity which Abba says came upon Israel and Judah for their lack of taking the fourth commandment seriously.Could it be that as Christians, the source of our sickness, financial lack, family chaos, national woes, and strength of our enemies be because we refuse the 4th commandment?

Examining Replacement Theology

image courtesy of hebrew4christians.com

Replacement Theology  comes in two primary forms, supersessionism  and dispensationalism . Both assume that the church is God’s sole agent in the earth due to the Jews having missed their Messiah. Both further assume that for Jews to be saved they must leave their Jewish practices and convert to Christianity. Unfortunately, these  assumptions are a major reason why Christians are turning against Israel today. (please click to read)

Held up to Scripture, neither brand of Replacement Theology fits the patterns and promises that God has given us in His Word. For example, the Scripture says, “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Where do the prophets foretell that God will forsake or replace His chosen people? Where can we find a covenant with the gentiles?

Three times Scripture declares that God’s covenant with Israel is for “a thousand generations.” This is crucial because Jesus, Moses, Paul, and the author of the Book of Hebrews all endorse the principle that a matter is established by “the mouth of two or three witnesses.” (see Deut. 17:6, 19:15, Mat. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1, 1 Tim. 5:19, Heb. 10:28).

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. (Deut. 7:9)

Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” (Psalm 105:5-11)

O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones! He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.” (1 Chron. 16:13-18)

The books of the prophets are filled with references that at the end of days God will gather His people from the ends of the earth and return them to the Promised Land. This regathering will be from all twelve tribes, not just the Jewish people, one tribe. Replacement theology entered into Christian doctrine because, for most of history, “Israel” was understood to be the equivalent of “the Jews.”

But, ever since the Jews began their return to the homeland, God has been awakening people all over the earth to the fact that anyone who is in covenant with Him has been grafted in to redeemed Israel. This is exactly what Paul teaches in the book of Ephesians when he declares that though the “uncircumcised,” who are “saved by grace through faith,” were once “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,” they are now “fellow saints and members of the household of God built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.”

What many have missed until now is that the name of the household of God is Israel. God calls Himself “the God of Israel”over 200 times. The redeemed remnant of Israel is the Body of Jesus/Yeshua, not to be confused with the modern state of Israel, although many there are certainly a part of redeemed Israel. Redeemed Israel includes all of the saints from Genesis to Revelation.

If God is our Father, and, if He is the Father of the Jews, then we are family, even if we don’t see eye to eye. Many Jews believe in Messiah and are panting for His appearance. The reason they don’t recognize our Jesus is mostly our fault, as we discussed in Torah portion Miketz 2015. Have they made mistakes, too? Yes! We have to stop pointing fingers. We have to repent, forgive, and reconcile. We have to forgive like Joseph did. We have to start acting like family as this world grows darker. We need each other! When Messiah comes, He will straighten out the errant thinking on both sides of the “narrow way.”

Note that Paul asserts that the “household of God” is built on the prophets, on Jesus, and on the apostles. With this statement, Paul  presents three witnesses. Therefore, any interpretation of Paul’s writings that does not align with Jesus and the prophets needs to be reevaluated.

Starting with Moses, the prophets foretell that in the end of days God will give Israel a heart to obey Him.

“And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today. (Deut. 30:1-8)

A new heart for God’s people is what the New Covenant is all about, according to both Jeremiah and the writer of the Book of Hebrews.

“… I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.  Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel… “Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’ For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him…(see Jer. 31:1-10)

 

‘Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people’ (Jer. 31:31-33).

The writer of Hebrews quotes Jer. 31:31-33 almost verbatim: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Heb. 8:8-10).

The writer of Hebrews declares that the problem was with God’s people, not with His covenant. Quoting Jeremiah, he explains that God will correct the problem by giving His people new hearts. We know this part of the New Covenant is still yet to be fulfilled because both writers declare that when it happens we will have no need to teach our families and our brothers, for everyone will know Him. “And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” ( Jer. 31:34, Heb. 8:11-12)

What a glorious day that will be! We also know that this is a future fulfillment because God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as the stars of the sky and the sand of the sea. The Jewish people claim to be roughly 14 million in number today, approximately .2 percent of the world’s population. Does that sound like the sand of the sea? Where are the rest of Abraham’s seed? Please consider watching “The Lost Sheep” by 119 Ministries.

The prophet Ezekiel also bears witness that God will give His people a new heart. “But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. I will make the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations” (Ezekiel 36:21-28).

Actually, Ezekiel alone gives us three promises of a new spirit and a new heart. (11:19, 18:31, 36:26)

Jeremiah promises that when Israel receives her new heart, she will return to God with her whole heart.“I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart” (Jer. 24:6-7).

Even more exciting, when this happens, God promises to do something with His whole heart! “I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.“ (Jer. 32:41)

Isaiah paints Israel as barren widow, “briefly forsaken,” who will bear much fruit from the “Lord of Hosts,” her “husband” and “maker.” (read chapter 54). Hosea tells us that Israel will be betrothed to Him “forever” in “righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”  (see Hosea 2:19-20).

So, as you see, we find many witnesses in the prophets that God has not abandoned Israel or “chosen” someone else. Does Jesus Himself give any indication that God’s plan for Israel would cease or be replaced? To the contrary, He demonstrates that the Old Testament is His source of doctrinal authority when He says, “The Scripture cannot be broken,” (see John 10:35).

Further, He declared emphatically that He did not come to abolish God’s law. As far as Jesus is concerned, God’s law will exist so long as Heaven and Earth remain. “”Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat. 5:17-19).

In His oft quoted pleading with His Father prayer that His followers would be one as He and the Father are one, Jesus also prayed, “I have given them your word…sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth…for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth (see John 17:14-19). Here Jesus quotes Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Jesus viewed the Old Testament as true and eternal.

It was the Old Testament that Jesus used to reveal Himself to His disciples on the road to Emmaeus after His resurrection. “Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures,” (Luke 24:27). The church has largely failed to convince the Jews that Jesus is their Messiah because the church does not present the Messiah that the Jewish Scripture portrays. For more about this, please see the Torah portion Miketz 2015 for  shadows of the Messiah in the Joseph narrative.

Jesus rebuked the priestly aristocrats, the Sadducees, saying “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God,” (see Mat. 22:29). What about us? Do we understand the Scriptures? Do we even understand what the Bible identifies as “Scripture”?

Biblical scholars agree that Paul’s letters could not have been written until at least forty years after Jesus’ ascension and the gospels were not written until at least 70 C.E. The point is that at least one-quarter of the New Testament is direct quotations or references to the Old Testament. Thus, we have to understand that the purpose of the writers is to expound and explain what the writers longed to see, like, for instance, the mystery of the gentiles being grafted into the faith.

Whenever the New Testament uses the term “Scripture” and “Scriptures,” with the exception of one verse, it always references the Old Testament. Oddly enough, that single usage involves a warning from the Apostle Peter in regard to Paul’s letters. You can view that along with the entire list of other usages of “Scripture” and “Scriptures” here.

In conclusion, Replacement Theology stems from a lack of understanding that the covenants and promises given to Abraham, whose seed we are (Gal. 3:29), are eternal. Redeemed Israel is the “one new man” (Eph. 2:15), including both Jew and Gentile who enter into covenant with the God of Israel by repenting of their sins, forsaking the traditions of men that make the word of God of no effect, and walking in His ways.

I know what you are thinking. “But, what about Paul?” That subject is a bit too complex to include here; but, please consider an excellent video by 119 Ministries entitled “The Pauline Paradox Series-Part One”

Please also consider: “Sunburned” part 1  and part 2

Thank you for stopping by!  Shalom!

Toldot 2015 [Family History]

Torah: Genesis 25:19-28:9

Haftarah: Malachi 1:1-2:7

New Testament: Romans 9:6-16, Hebrews 11:20, 12:14-17

This week, in between the stories of Esau selling his birthright and Rebekah convincing Jacob to deceive Isaac into believing he is the elder son, we find a sidebar that seems strangely out of place.

Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you.

Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands.

And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” (Gen. 26:1-5)

Vayera [ and He Appeared] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1 through Gen 22:24
Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37
New Testament: Acts 7:2-3, John 8:28-59, Jude 1:1-8, James 1:2-6

Returning to our quest to understand what caused God to passionately pursue Abraham. Thus far, we note the following:

Lech Lecha [Go Out For Yourself] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1 through 17:27
Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27 through 41:16
New Testament Portion: Mat. 8:21-22, Acts 7:2-6, Romans 11:24-26, 1 Peter 3:5-6, Rev. 7:9-10

In the span of two weeks, we have traversed the first 2000 years of human history in which the world was created in seven days, Adam and Eve succumbed to the guile of Satan and were exiled from the Garden of Eden. Subsequently, the world became so wicked that the Creator repented that He had made humans and sent a worldwide flood from which only Noah and his family were saved.