One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 NIV Teach us – Do you find it odd that the disciples asked Yeshua to teach them to pray? We know, of course, that they…
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “through Isaac your descendants shall be named.” Romans 9:6-7 NASB Not all Israel – Daniel Boyarin’s study of the invention of heresy as a way to establish religious…
I will sow her for Myself in the land. I will also have compassion on her who had not obtained compassion, and I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they will say, ‘You are my God!’” Hosea 2:23 NASB You are my God – Who is a Gentile? Before you answer with the…
The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39 NASB Your neighbor – “Who is my neighbor?” The scribe’s question brought about the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. We all know the story. But perhaps we haven’t considered all the implications. Ira Stone helps us see one additional consequence:…
And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan. Joshua 3:17 NASB Nation – Gringo. WASP. Chink. Gook. Cracker. Dego. There’s a long list of racial slurs…
“For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:21 NASB Moses – Typical Christian exegesis of the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 concentrates on the requirements (or lack thereof) for Gentile believers. But this fixation on what Gentiles must believe and…
For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. Romans 7:14-15 NASB Bondage – What if we read Paul’s letter to the Romans not as…
To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of…
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; Acts 9:15 NASB Gentiles – Footnotes matter. So often we find information in those tiny print words at the bottom of the page that makes all the difference in the…
Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. Acts 11:1 NASB Also– Put aside the last 2000 years of theological manipulation. Read this statement as a believing Messianic Jew in the first century. It should totally confuse you. It might even make you mad—or cry! How in the…
