Yetzer Ha'ra

Before I left for Africa, there was a lot of discussion about the Jewish idea of the yetzer ha’ra and the difference between this concept and the Christian idea of sin and the sinful nature. I recorded three graduate lectures concerning this topic.  You can listen to them here. I hope you find them useful…

Reflections on Yetzer Ha'ra

Perhaps one of the most significant differences between Christian orthodoxy and Jewish rabbinic teaching concerns the idea of sin. These lectures and comments on the Talmudic view of the yetzer ha’ra are offered as a way to open the discussion for those who are concerned about this difference. Lecture 1. Download the Audio Lecture 2….

How Far?

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18  NASB Neighbor – Proxy Christianity is a wonderful way to avoid the real world.  It allows me to simply pay for someone else to share in…

Guarding God’s Word

Tradition is a fence for the Torah; tithes are a fence for riches, vows are a fence for abstinence; a fence for wisdom – silence.   Rabbi Akiva, Pirke Avot 3:17B Fence for riches – Rabbi Akiva was one of the most famous and most adored of all the ancient rabbis.  His martyrdom at the hands…

Second Best

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16  NASB To the Jew first – Paul was not ashamed, but don’t cut his sentence short.  He was not ashamed of the good…

A Heart for God

However, Rahab the harlot and her father’s household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day; for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Joshua 6:25  NASB In the midst – Rahab’s life changed when those two spies came to visit. …

Homeward

I am at the Johannesburg airport getting ready to board the flight to London and then on to the USA.  I suppose I need Twitter now. Before I get on-board, I just wanted to apologize if any one of you felt offended by my comment that I didn’t find the same reception in the US…