Shem-Tov

therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. Matthew 23:3 They – You may want to digest this one sitting down.  Open your favorite English Bible to this passage.  Notice that Yeshua is giving instructions about the…

A Year of Brokenness

Oh, you thought this was about spiritual brokenness before God.  Well, it sort of is.  But mostly it’s about the results of everything breaking.  First, the vacuum cleaner.  Not really a big deal.  After holding it together with duct tape (yeah!) and wood screws, it finally quit.  Result: paying for a new vacuum cleaner.  Then,…

Stay in Step

“A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” Luke 6:40 Fully Trained – If we examine the Greek text, we are likely to conclude that Yeshua’s remark is just commonsense.  Of course a pupil isn’t superior to his teacher.  Of course the goal…

A Matter of Origin

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36 Of – Peter Leithart argues that we have fundamentally misunderstood the intention of the Kingdom because we have converted this New Testament concept into something that fits our culture.[1] We don’t think in terms of kings and kingdoms these days.  We think in terms…

Playing Opposites

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23 Sin – Kenneth Bailey makes an interesting observation about this verse.  “We expect [Paul] to say ‘whatsoever is not of faith is unbelief.’  But for Paul the opposite of…

Merit Badge

And because he put his trust in YHWH, He reckoned it to his merit. Genesis 15:6 (JPS translation) To – Yesterday we looked at the passage in Deuteronomy that suggests our meritorious deeds matter.  We discovered that tsedaqah (righteousness) is a very old expression of God’s accounting.  But one further point must be made.  In…

Meritorious Behavior

It will be therefore to our merit before YHWH Eloheinu to observe faithfully this whole instruction, as He has commanded us. Deuteronomy 6:24 (JPS translation with name corrections) Merit – After the Reformation, verses like this one are difficult to integrate.  Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that Christianity created the chasm between the “old”…

The Sleeper Awakes

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Takes It To Heart – “Blessed are those who mourn.”  At least that’s the way we usually read Matthew 5:4. …