The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Numbers 6:25 (KJV)
Face – An idiom says a lot about a culture. In America, we have the idiom “two faced” when describing someone’s hypocrisy. If a person said different things to different people in order to win favor, we’d consider them to be two faced. We recognize that they are showing one face to one person and another face to the other. But in the Hebrew, our God has two faces. Continue reading “The Faces of God”
And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
Exodus 12:22 (KJV)
Bason – Have you ever heard of a Threshold Covenant? Not many have. Our culture is so far removed that when reading simple words like “bason” we completely overlook the implication of what is actually happening. Passover is approaching on the 14th and we’ll be remembering a time in which YHWH saved Israel through His grace. But very few of us realize that YHWH is establishing a Threshold Covenant with His people. Continue reading “Threshold Covenant”
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee;
Numbers 6:24 (KJV)
Keep – The priestly blessing upon the children of Israel is one of the most powerful blessings I’ve encountered in the Bible. My eyes well up with tears upon hearing these words. I have to pause after each verse and take it all in. When I hear this verse, my first thought ventures to Yeshua’s words about all those who are in His hand, no man can remove. Yes, may YHWH keep me! So willing am I to hold Him to this, but then I read this word in Hebrew – shamar. Continue reading “Keep Yourself in Check”
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luke 24:25 (KJV)
O Fools – April 1st was a day to recognize the foolish, to play jokes, and act silly, so I thought it fitting to touch on whom Yeshua considers foolish in this world. The word here in Greek is anoētos which doesn’t quite line up with our idea of silliness or playfully foolish. It’s much more severe. Continue reading “Defining a Fool”
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
Follow me – The words used by Yeshua to select his disciples seem so simple, don’t they? Just follow Him. He’s heading to the kingdom, so I’ll head that way too. But while focusing our attention on the end goal, some of us might forget about what’s happening here and now – our daily walk. Upon accepting the invitation of “follow me”, the disciple was to conform his life to become like the Rabbi in every way. Continue reading “Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery”
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Psalm 111:10 (KJV)
Fear – God is mighty and terrible (Deut. 7:21), He is a consuming fire (Deut. 4:24), and He is vengeful (Ps. 94:1). But are these what David is referring to when he says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom? Continue reading “The Beginning of Wisdom”
For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:8 (KJV)
New – Boy don’t we love these words! If there’s a new covenant, then surely we can dismiss that old one which was full of laws and regulations. We might conclude that Yeshua created a new covenant for a new time – the age of Christianity. If this was the case, then the author of Hebrews would have surely used the Greek word neo denoting something “new in time”. But this isn’t the word being used. The Greek word here is kainos which has a different meaning. Continue reading “A Renewed Covenant”
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36 (KJV)
Believeth not – Do you think it mattered if Noah actually believed God was going to open the depths of earth and the skies above to bring a flood? Do you think it mattered if Joshua believed God would mysteriously destroy Jericho after blowing trumpets and shouting at it? The answer is “no”. All that mattered was for them to perform what God instructed. Their job was to listen and obey. They were not asked to take counsel with God on whether or not this approach would work, or how exactly the waters might flood the earth – they were given a command and expected to follow through. Continue reading “Disobedience is Rewarded with Punishment”
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3:36 (KJV)
Believeth – What does it mean to believe? Greek theology would have you interpret belief as an internal state of cognition. As long as your neurons transmit the correct signals of belief that Yeshua is the Son of God, then all is well. You will receive everlasting life. And thus we have the doctrine of the separation between faith and works – a Greek theological doctrine. But to the Hebrew, there is no separation. Faith without works is dead. Continue reading “Believing is Obedience”
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
Make disciples – How does one make a disciple? Perhaps many of us would envision ourselves carrying out the Great Commission by going forward to educate people about Christ. We might set up schools in foreign countries, start up Bible classes, or pass out tracks on the street corners. The sole purpose would be to educate others about Yeshua in a form of information distribution, and as George W. Bush said during his presidency, no child would be left behind. Continue reading “No Child Left Behind”