November 2017
Vayetze
Brit Hadashah Reflections 07
Torah portion Genesis 28 : 10–32 : 3
Haftarah portion Hosea 12:13–14:10
Brit Hadashah Matthew 14:1 - 15 : 39
Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua
One of the sons of Herod the Great, who was the ruler of Galilee and Perea on behalf of the Roman Emperor, had just had Yeshua’s cousin, John, beheaded at the revengeful whim of his sister-in-law, Herodias. The disciples of John came to tell Yeshua what had happened. Displaying His complete humanity, Yeshua sought solace in private. He took a boat to grieve in some quiet place. But a multitude of people followed around the Lake on foot. When Yeshua saw them, He was ‘moved with love’ for them, all 5,000 men, plus women and children, and healed their sick.
Out of their concern, the disciples suggested that they should just ‘close the meeting’ and send the people away to get food for themselves. “No, you feed them here” Yeshua said. The story is well known. The five loaves and two fish were ‘multiplied’ to feed everyone present, and have plenty left over.
Now there is an interesting Messianic message in this event. God had promised to send a “Prophet like Moses” (Deuteronomy 18). Moses was regarded as a ‘Messiah’ in that he freed the people from oppressive slavery in Egypt. He provided ‘manna’ on their wilderness journey. One of the expected characteristics of the Jewish Messiah was that He would free the people from oppressive servitude and provide bread, just like Moses did. Satan knew this and the first temptation he presented to Yeshua at the beginning of His ministry (Matthew 4) was to turn stones into bread, because he knew He could do it. In our reading today Yeshua miraculously provided bread for the people out of His compassion for them. It was an act of Messiah, but not then quite realized by all those who witnessed it.
He then spent time alone again and sent His disciples in a boat across to the other side of the Lake to Gennesaret. A storm arose, threatening the lives of the disciples. Yeshua used this occasion to again demonstrate His Messianic credentials, by miraculously walking on the water, drawing from them their conclusive declaration “Truly, You are the Son of God”. What a moment.
Chapter 15 of our text opens with another challenge from the Scribes and Pharisees. This time for not washing hands before eating. A perfectly good practice of cleanliness, but NOT a commandment of Torah. It was another of the ‘fences’ which the Rabbi’s had constructed around Torah which ensured that they did not unintentionally eat something which was forbidden! Yeshua was able to use their tradition by showing them how they had craftily circumnavigated the fifth commandment by “Corban” (given to God), saying that if their money was used for Temple purposes, they were ‘off the hook’ in looking after elderly parents. Yeshua uses a quotation from Isaiah to press the point. “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of men” Owch!! Couldn’t be talking to us today, could He?
Then we have words from Yeshua which have been used by gentile believers to try to negate the Torah dietary commandments, but which are nothing of the kind. “Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man”. At Peter’s request, Yeshau explains more fully what He means in verses 16 -20. It is about the challenge of the Pharisees about unwashed hands, not about food in general. All Jewish believers of the first century, including the Apostle Paul (see Acts 28:17 two years before his death in Rome) were Torah observant disciples of Yeshua.
A final ‘refelection’ relates to Yeshua’s encounter with the Canaanite woman of great faith in the coastal region of Northern Israel. It is to this lady that Yeshua declared, as He had done with His disciples in Matthew 10, that His mission on earth was exclusively to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. (Notwithstanding that, He still healed the lady’s daughter). It is well that we remind ourselves that Yeshua was ministering principally to these Jewish folk for all His time on earth. The parables, examples, phraseology and conversation was taken out of His earthly Judaism. We are prone to misunderstand what He was saying when we attempt to ‘gentilize’ Him. And, furthermore, He will return to this earth one day as King of the Jews, reigning from Jerusalem. A day when our Bible tells us “All Israel will be saved”. Amazing.
Our reading closes with another miraculous provision of bread to a great gathering of people in the Galilee region.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Toldot
Brit Hadashah Reflections 06
Torah portion Genesis 25 : 19 – 28 : 9
Haftarah portion Malachi 1: 1 – 2: 7
Brit Hadashah Matthew 12:1 - 13 : 58
Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua
We ended last week by ‘reflecting’ on the heavy ‘yoke’ which the Pharasaic Rabbi’s had made for the people by constructing ‘fences’ around the Torah to make certain that none of the commandments was unintentionally broken. Chapter 12 opens with an example of such a ‘fence’. The Sabbath instructions include “doing no customary work”. Harvesting grain is “customary work”. They observed Yeshua’s disiciples plucking grain to eat as they passed through a field of grain on the Sabbath. “Gotcha” they said. There are many other ‘fences’ which observant Jews feel compelled to observe today, which non-Jews see as unnecessary and restrictive. It is a matter of regret that many gentile believers ridicule the Torah of God on the basis of some of these ‘fences’. In so doing, “the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater!” Yeshua was quick to illustrate, from the Scriptures, the unreasonable nature of some of these ‘fences’. In other places in the Scriptures He refers to them as “the traditions of men”. He declares that “He (in His role of Messiah) is Lord of the Sabbath.” And in saying that, He is telling them that what He is teaching is the true Torah of God, which is what they should be observing.
And if we count ourselves disciples of Messiah Yeshua, so should we!
The Pharisees then wanted some ‘sign ‘from Yeshua that He was indeed the Messiah of God. His response was short and pointed. These Pharisees knew the Scriptures. “The only sign you will get is the sign of the Prophet Jonah” He said. They understood that perfectly, but He knew that it would be some time before they would actually see that sign. Now here we have a problem for gentile believers today. The ‘sign’ is ‘the sign” right? Accepting that is not difficult for us because we have the historical account in verification. We also know that Yeshua was put into the tomb the day before the Sabbath of “Unleavened Bread”. It is all very clear. Why then do we persist in celebrating that on the pagan festival of Easter? Agile Christian theologians have tried to make the ‘sign’ work, with an Easter observance, but it never will. God has clearly indicated (Deuteronomy 12) that He would not be worshipped in the high places of pagan worship. When, if ever, will we wake up?
Matthew chapter 13 is the great chapter of “Kingdom of God” parables. Our Bibles use the phrase “Kingdom of Heaven”. They are the same. Even today, Jews will not use the word “God” or His proper Name YHWH (another ‘fence’ to comply with the third commandment regarding ‘taking the name of the Lord in vain’). The Torah does not forbid the use of His name. But it forbids profanity. Hence the ‘fence’.
Yeshua said that He spoke in parables in order to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah. The main issue regarding these parables of the Kingdom, is that all the “Kingdom is like … ” are examples taken from their everyday life, in agriculture and the home. Easily understood. The sower of seed, which does not all fall on fertile ground. The wheat and tares growing together. The small mustard seed which grows into a big bush. The leaven which affects the whole dough. A treasure hidden in a field. The pearl of great price. The dragnet of the fisherman.
Today, there would be other examples which may be cited, but in Yeshua’s day, every one of them had real meaning to the hearers. And the resulting message is the same today as it was then. The Kingdom of Heaven is worth all it might cost you, and there is a cost! It is a privilege to be included, and worthy of our best endeavours to secure. All the more reason to order our lives in accord with the instructions God Himself has laid down for our understanding. The solemn warning of Matthew 7:23 should be ringing in our ears as we seek to be part of God’s Kingdom. Simply put, there is no mystery about it, it is the Kingdom where God reigns. Yeshua came to seek the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”. We talked last week about how they got lost. But, praise God, many were found again and restored to a place of right living.
There is a salutary lesson to end our refection today. Yeshua went back to Capernaum (His own country the Bible says). He taught them in their local synagogue. No doubt the message would be no different to that which He taught in other towns and villages. But in Capernaum they said “Where did this fellow get all this knowledge, He is the carpenter’s son isn’t He? We know His mother, His brothers and His sisters. Who does He think He is?” Their familiarity bred contempt. They discounted His message, and it would be true to surmise that they missed out on great blessing as a result. Let us not fall into the trap of familiarity.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Shayei Sarah
Brit Hadashah Reflections 05
Torah portion Genesis 23 : 1 – 25 : 18
Haftarah portion 1 Kings 1: 1 - 31
Brit Hadashah Matthew 9:1 - 11 : 30
Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua
After the episode with the demons and the pigs, Yeshua returned, across the Sea of Galilee, to Capernaum, which is referred to as ‘His own city’. His healing ministry was well known, and a man who was paralysed was brought to Him. Recognizing their demonstration of faith by so doing, Yeshua saw an opportunity to both heal the man and demonstrate His credentials as the Messiah of God. In paraphrase, He said “Cheer up son, your sins are forgiven”. Discerning the thoughts of some of the religious Scribes, that He had overstepped the mark with that statement, He said “Would you prefer that I just told him to get up and walk?” Which He then did.
In their eyes, Almighty God alone had the power to forgive their sin. Yeshua appropriated that power to Himself, and backed it up with the miraculous healing of paralysis. He was demonstrating that He had power to do both. That He was in fact “One” with the Father. Healing is the most recognizable act of the power of God. Forgiving sin is the most valuable. Upon seeing the faith of the paralysed man, Yeshua gave him the most valuable gift He could. He forgave his ‘sin’. To demonstrate that, He then healed him.
Chapter 9 contains other examples of miraculous healing. Verse 35 tells us that Yeshua spent much time teaching, preaching and healing people of every sickness and disease, in their synagogues. There is no doubt in my mind that at the same time, those who, by faith, were healed, were also forgiven of their ‘sin’. The ‘sin’ of which they were forgiven is made clear in the next chapter of our text.
A ‘disciple’ is a student and close follower of another person. His goal was to be, to act, even to dress and learn mannerisms which reflect the character and attributes of his Master. Yeshua empowered His disciples (‘Talmidim’ in Hebrew) to also demonstrate this miraculous healing gift. He then commissioned them to go into the towns and villages of the region and seek out “the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. We discover later that He told a Canaanite woman that His mission on earth was ONLY to the house of Israel. So how did these Israelites get lost? The short answer is through ‘sin’ which separates one from God. But the specific ‘sin’ from which they were required to repent (turn away from) was the sin of living a life of “Torahlessness”. (see Matthew 7:23) You see, to live righteously, as required by Torah, covers everything that we normally associate as ‘sinfull”. Yeshua is “the living Torah”, sinless, perfect, without blemish. And that is exactly how the first century believers would understand this passage of Scripture. Our difficulties today arise from having being taught that Torah is obsolete!
In chapter 11 we find John the Baptizer languishing in prison. John had incurred the wrath of Herod Antipas by criticizing his choice of his Sister in Law as a wife. Just like every other citizen, John had the expectation that the Messiah would be forceful in ridding them of their tyrannical Roman invaders. There had been no news of uprising or overthrow of government. Everything seemed to be rolling along without change. So John sent two of his own disciples to find out what was happening. Yeshua told them what to say to John. Verses 4-6, contain references to the Isaiah Scroll, which John would immediately recognize, which speak of the time when Messiah comes. Yeshua is confirming to John that He is indeed the One. Then Yeshua told the crowd of followers about the role of John the Baptizer. “What did you expect him to look like?” He said. “He is nothing like the stereotype” Then He quoted from Malachi 3:1 to identify John as the forerunner to Messiah.
Finally, for this ‘reflection’, we have those oft quoted words of Yeshua, “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me…”. The ‘yoke’ is almost invariably a metaphor for Torah in the Scriptures. The “Talmud” and the “Mishnah” are Rabbinic rulings which have put a ‘heavy yoke’ of restriction surrounding the Torah to ensure that the commands are not accidentally broken. And it IS a heavy yoke. Yeshua is telling His followers that “His ‘yoke’ is easy and His burden light”. It is the same Torah, but is meant as an aid to righteous living, so that all in the community can enjoy life to the full, in harmony and in love. God intended the Torah to provide safety and peaceful co-existence for all. The judgmental Rabbinic rulings and interpretations, ‘the traditions of men’, caused many to abandon that altogether. And so they got ‘lost’. Yeshua’s mission was to restore them into right relationship, with the Father, and with each other.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Vayera
Brit Hadashah Reflections 04
Torah portion Genesis 18 : 1 – 22 : 24
Haftarah portion 2 Kings 4: 1 - 37
Brit Hadashah Matthew 7:1 - 8 : 34
Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua
“Judge not, that you be not judged.”
What an opening to this week’s reading. Yeshua did plenty of judging. Paul did plenty of judging. We are told elsewhere in the Scriptures to judge the prophets, and to be careful of the company we keep (which is a form of judgement). So what does this mean? In the context of this discourse, which we call ‘the sermon on the mount’, it means to take your eye off what others are doing and concentrate on your own position. Time here does not allow for a complete reflection on that sermon, but sufficient to say, read it ALL in one reading, and you will discover that the general thrust is about repentance from past allegiances (to the traditions of men) and to turn (repent) to the correct observances of the Torah which God gave to Moses, on another mountain, centuries earlier.
Yeshua then states that the gate is narrow, and difficult is the way that leads to life. What a challenge that should be to the ‘greek mindset’ of those who preach a prosperity gospel in our day if they took heed to the words of Yeshua. “Come to Jesus and all your problems will be solved” is the disingenuous message of those who should know better. “Make a verbal proclamation of faith and you are in” is the equally deceptive call. Where in our churches today do we hear the call to repentance? To turning around. To right living.
Look carefully at chapter 7 verses 22,23. Probably the most judgemental words in the whole of the Scriptures. Do you think, as I do, that there may be many very disappointed people when ‘the roll is called up yonder’? Even though the consistent message throughout the Scriptures is that God requires obedience to His instructions for righteous living (Torah) from ALL who are His. Many of our churches today persist in teaching that the Torah of God is obsolete. Well, let us look just one more time at Matthew 7:23. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice Torahlessness (‘anomia’ in greek). How plain is that? It is more than plain, it is frighteningly plain.
Now, the first century audience of Yeshua would not have had the slightest difficulty in understanding the message. Torah observance was the way of life for them, from which they had become diverted. Most of us (gentile believers) were taught from childhood that Torah was obsolete. It is only when one reads the Scriptures through Hebraic eyes that the truth becomes crystal clear.
And what does Yeshua tell us is our reward? We will be likened to a wise man, who built on rock and not on sand. So when trials and tribulation appears, we will be established on solid foundations. What a privilege. Following this discourse, there are two examples of divine healing recounted. The first, a leper, was Jewish. When he was healed Yeshua told him to go and show himself to the local priest. This was pure, simple Torah observance. (Torah reflection “Tazaria” on Leviticus 13 for my comment).
The second was a Roman Centurion, a man of authority in Capernaum. His great faith was used to intercede on behalf of his faithful servant. Yeshua used this occasion to prophecy that many non-Jews would be included in the Kingdom of heaven. The basis of that inclusion is by faith alone. However, it is reasonable to conclude that such faith would manifest itself in more than mere words. On the basis of the earlier statement in Matthew 7:23 above, such faith should lead us to live, to actually practice, the life prescribed by God Almighty for those who are His. The Apostle Paul referred to this (Romans 11) inclusion as a ‘grafting in’ to the natural Olive Tree, which is Israel.The text continues with even more people healed, drawing Matthew to remember the prophecy in Isaiah 53 about Messiah bearing our sickness in His own body.
But there is one more observation to be made from the very last verse of our passage. It seems unthinkable that a whole town would band together to implore Yeshua to leave them. To go away and not come back. The reason would appear to be that they had been persuaded by the swine herders, into whose pigs the demons had entered before they were drowned, that Yeshua was bad for business! It is true today isn’t it. If you are running a business that trades on the Sabbath, and people were persuaded to observe the Sabbath commandment (very few of us do), it would be very bad for that business. BUT our first century believers had no difficulty in keeping that commandment. It was their way of life.
Shabbat Shalom
RS