August 2026

01-August-2026

Re’eh

Brit Hadashah Reflections 42

Torah portion Deuteronomy 11 : 26 – 16 : 17

Haftarah portion Isaiah 54 : 11 – 55 : 5

Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua

Possibly the most exciting and certainly a most challenging passage of Scripture this week as we begin to learn of the extraordinary ministry of the disciples of Yeshua in the early days of their empowered lives. Talk about boldness? Fearless in their exploits. The prophet Daniel said “they that know their God shall be strong, and do great exploits” (Daniel 11:32) And the ‘Preacher’ said “whatever your hands find to do, do it with your might.” (Ecclesiastes 10:9) Well these men became living proof of the life of faith. Why? Because they KNEW their God.

A man, lame from birth, carried to the same spot each day to beg alms of those entering the Temple. Can you hear him? “Spare a mite sir?” How many times each day would those words have passed his lips? Eyes cast down not wanting to look at the faces of those who rejected him. How many people (like me!) hurried on without a glance? But on this day, Peter and John stopped. “look at us” Peter demanded. And a short time later, this elated man walked with them, leaping and praising God, into the Temple. They were soon surrounded by a large crowd. Only a short few weeks earlier Peter had denied even knowing Yeshua. Now, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, he preached a message of repentance to the expectant crowd. What a change. It often amazes me, but it ought not to, that we barely recognize that his audience was entirely Jewish. For that reason Peter was able to show them, from the Scriptures how Yeshua was the fulfilment of God’s promise to raise up for them “a prophet like Moses”. He was, and He still is, the fulfilment of that promise. (“To the Jew first, and also to the Greek”)

If that were the end of their day witnessing to the love of Yeshua they would have thought they had a good day, wouldn’t they? But it was not. Because as they spoke to the large crowd assembled in Solomon’s Porch, the Captain of the Temple, no less, together some priests and Sadducees turned up. (Note here that the Sadducees do not believe in ‘resurrection’) They were incensed and threw Peter and John into jail! Who says God is not in control? Most of us would say “How terrible”. But God WAS in control then, and He is in control now.

The very next day “their rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the High Priest, Caiaphas John, Alexander and all the family of the High Priest gathered to see ‘justice done’.” But what they heard was the gospel of Yeshua, preached boldly, clearly and without compromise, and that in the presence of the man, now walking, who only one day earlier was crippled, begging in the Temple. The outcome was staggering in its manifestation. The text makes clear that they all ‘marvelled’ at what they heard. They were truly convinced that Peter and John had been with Yeshua in His resurrected form. BUT they thought their standing in the community was being threatened if they made that confession. So they chose their rank and status above the truth. Dear friends, can you see, as I can, that the same obstinacy prevails today? And that not only in the hierarchical community of Judaism. It is costly, in this life, to confess Yeshua as Lord. It cost these Apostles their very life later on, but it did not stop them from being fervent witnesses to the saving grace of God which was wrought by the death and resurrection of Yeshua.

The work of the Kingdom continued and those who were now enjoined to the “ekklesia” shared things in common. Several decided to sell such land possessions as they had and present the proceeds as gifts to their community. It was a voluntary act of love. There was no pressure upon anyone. BUT, we are told of a couple, Ananias and his wife Sapphira who also sold a land possession but only gave a portion of the proceeds to the community. There was nothing wrong in doing that, except that their offering was presented in a manner which portrayed that they were giving ALL the proceeds, as others had done. It was a devious, insincere, act on their part and the Apostle Peter was aware of their deception. He pronounced it to be “lying to God”. Ananias fell down dead, on the spot, before Peter. Sapphira, his wife, unaware of this, turned up three hours later and she too confirmed by her declaration that she had co-conspired with Ananias to hold back part of the proceeds of the sale. She too dropped dead at the Apostle’s feet.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” Hebrews 10:31

May you find peace and joy in faithfully serving Him who alone is worthy of our praise. To Him be all the glory.

Shabbat Shalom