Mosheh, Yeshua and Yochanan
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:3 NASB
Not Burdensome – Rules are heavy. Regulations weigh us down. So when John says that God’s commandments are not burdensome, we should be reminded of two other men who say that same thing. The first is Mosheh. “For this command which I am commanding you today; it is not too hard for you” (Deuteronomy 30:11). The second is Yeshua. “For my yoke is pleasant and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). Now comes John. Don’t you think that John’s reference to bareiai ouk eisin (literally “heavy not are”) reminds us of the words of both Yeshua and Mosheh? The commandments of Mosheh and Yeshua and now John aren’t crushing rules and demanding regulations. They are the joyful evidence that we love God.
“It is easier to deceive ourselves in this matter than it is to deceive others. If we tell them that ‘we love God’, they will look for some visible evidence; we should look for some visible evidence ourselves.”[1] This is precisely what Sha’ul has in mind when he calls us to “provoke to jealousy” those Jewish brothers who have not yet accepted Yeshua as their Messiah. If we don’t display Torah observance, if we make the commands of the Father burdensome, what motivation do we offer these brothers for believing we serve His Son? Who was Yochanan’s (John’s) audience? Wasn’t it Gentiles who were followers of the Way? Gentiles who had the opportunity to demonstrate by their actions that they followed the same God of Israel, YHWH the only true God? And how would these Jewish brothers and sisters know that Gentile followers embraced the God of Israel unless these Gentiles joyfully exhibited obedience to the commands given by YHWH? How would anyone know if these Gentiles disregarded the very essence of Israel’s faith – the revelation of God in the Torah? We might ask ourselves the same question. How would the outside observer know that we love and worship YHWH if we don’t practice His commandments? If John and Jesus and Moses are all saying the same thing, why are we so anxious to set those commandments aside?
John makes are pretty strong assertion here. If we love God, we do what He says and what He says isn’t a burden because it is motivated by love. If I love my wife, I listen to her requests and I do my best to fulfill them (especially since she is my ‘ezer kenegdo) because it is good for me. I benefit when I please her. Of course, I am still a rebellious renegade and at times my selfish desires assert themselves. I don’t listen to her. I push my own agenda. And I discover that I don’t benefit. I am not blessed. I repent and try again. It’s the same with my relationship with YHWH. But what good would come to me if I said to my wife, “I love you, but I am going to do whatever I think is best for me”? What benefit accrues to me if I say to my heavenly Father, “Oh, I love You, but I will decide which of Your instructions I’ll follow. After all, some of them seem too heavy for me”? Who am I to tell God that His instructions aren’t good enough for me?
Topical Index: not burdensome, bareiai ouk eisin, 1 John 5:3, Deuteronomy 30:11, Matthew 11:30, commandments
[1] F. F. Bruce, The Epistles of John, (Revell), p. 116.
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Thank you Skip, this is a beautiful way of describing Torah observance.
If someone questions obedience to a certain law , I ask: will it make me/you a better person? For YHWH only had our best interest at heart, even though it is sometimes difficult for me( and my family) to understand. For someone new to Torah or who finds Torah obedience difficult, especially in our Western Greek society, I always recall the advice of Monte Judah: just do it (Torah), one law at a time. YHWH knows your heart’s desire(to keep Torah) and He knows that it is something new for some us.
The extension of this is that if we all keep Torah as a community then all benefit. When we are compelled by love to think of each others as better than ourselves and behave in Torah kindness and obedience then no one suffers injustice or unkindness. It truly is in community that the sh-khinah of Torah obedience radiates.
Today is the eighth day of the counting of the omer.
“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another.” Could we call this “the eleventh commandment?” “Serve one another in love.”
The first “ten words” were written in stone. “It is written” and it is revealed. Then something unthinkable happened. YHWH became a man. Is this “the sticking point” for the Jew? ” “To the the Jews, a stumblingblock.” – I could see this side.. how can these things be?- that G-d would humble Himself, to become one of us. Impossible. Unless, G-d Himself is humble. “Meek and lowly in heart.” “Servant-hearted and servant-minded.” Did He come to be ministered unto or to minister and give His life a ransom for many?
Where is the focus to be today? Shall we forget the cross and the crucified ONE, and return unto the ancient sacred scroll, rejoicing that “we” are the chosen ones who have been given the words of life, (through Moses of course), and forget all about the Author and Perfecter of our faith, ( the Author of the Book by the way) whom “we” crucified.
Any gospel that rejects or in any way diminishes the tslav (yes, let’s proclaim the cross..) in favor of an ancient scroll or tablet or way of life needs to be rejected and diminished. All of us, including Nicodemus (whose very name means “Superior”) stand in need of a Savior, (right now).
Any man, Jew or Gentile, comes to G-d by one Way, and we (together) need to proclaim the good news to every land and to every man (the nations, including Israel), “Jesus saves.” Or if you prefer, Yeshua delivers/rescues, redeems/pardons, provides/protects. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4.12) What I would suggest, is that we (as in all of us) make much of this name. This is the name to which we need to give our focused attention.
The words of G-d are true. Not just the “ten words” given to Moses on the mountain, but all of them. “Every word of G-d is pure.” We have been given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Not only do we have the written word of Elohim, but we now have the Author of the book living within the life of all who are His. How do we become His? How do we “pass from death unto life?” Where is the “how-to?”
Don’t “slice and dice” this book. This book is meant to “slice and dice” us. It is a two-edged sword that “both” wounds and heals.
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24.27) I suggest we do the same. To point men and women, boys and girls, everyone on this green planet to Him. His words?- “Bring him to me”
“they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling-stone” which is Christ (Rom. 9:31-33).
“For the preaching (proclamation/declaration) of the cross is to them that perish (and are perishing) foolishness; but unto us which are saved (and being saved) it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1.18)
The cross is the crux, the fulcrum, the central point of what is Christianity. It is the event, time and place from which past history points and upon which the future of mankind rests. Much of prophecy points toward the life of Yeshua and His sacrifice that opened the door to eternal life. Some examples are: 1/ The words G-d spoke to the serpent (Gen 3:14-15), 2/ Moses talking about the prophet to come who is like him (Deut 18:15), 3/ King David speaking about the suffering of the ONE to come (Psa 22:12-18).
“Christ, and Him crucified.”- “Behold, the Lamb.”
Hi Skip,
It amazes me how God always gives His answer on exactly the right moment. This week I had a quarrel with my wife about something I really, really wanted to do. But she disagreed, saying I would not be able to do this and stay in good health (knowing that some years ago I plunged into a burn-out).
But this was something I felt so stong about that I planned to do it anyway. This ofcourse brought disagreement and tension. I thought: I’m gone do this nomatter what she says.
In this state of mind I opened Todays Word …..
Needless to say I felt God set me straight the instant I thought I had to do it my way.
Thank you – once again – for being Gods mouth for me! Peace is restored and tension gone. You know: my ezer kenegdo is absolutely right, and I knew it all along, deep down in my heart….
Kees,
Thanks for your honesty and openness – oh, how I can relate to this :-). There have been many times since I first heard Skip’s teaching on the ezer kenegdo that I too have had to “back down”, swallow my pride and admit, “Yes, you’re right, darling.” An even harder lesson (that I’m still learning, slowly, with many reminders) is that “it is more important to do right, than to be right”.
Dear Kees,
Isn’t it amazing how much we (as men) resist the insights of our ezerim? Since God designed them to be a perfect blessing to us, you have to wonder why we have so much trouble letting them do what they were designed to do. You aren’t alone in this, I can assure you. Thanks for the testimony.
Long have I said, the secret of a happy marriage is, “yes, dear..!” G-d always speaks to a human heart through a human heart and in the case of those of us who are married men, often through our ezer kenegdo, our “better half.”
Now, for the sake of opening up a can of worms,- why are women often referred to as “the better half?” Put on your steel-toed boots men, your sensitive toes might be stepped on. Humble pie is the breakfast of champions and ego (Edge G-d Out) is to be trampled and swept out the door. Listening, not speaking is the order of the day. Marriage is a lesson in listening. As Yogi once quipped,- you can observe a lot, just by watching. Menz-we should “watch” our wives. Observe them, and learn from them. They are a wealth of wisdom. We may see further sometimes, but their sight is broader. We each travel through this life as a horse wearing blinders. Our wives give us a broader view.
I’m looking forward to Skip’s next book defining the role of Adam. We are the servant. Eve is our help/strength/comfort, but Adam is to lead by serving. We are (according to the instructions in G-d’s Book) “love our wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.” This is sacrificial love. Do you value your wife? Do you know your wife as well as you know your car or the sports we love to watch on television? What color are her eyes? We must look for practical ways (daily) to serve her and show her she is has much worth or value. Her “value” Solomon says- is far above rubies.
Now, for an admission and confession. After over thirty years of marriage, -how well do I know my wife? Ah.. the delight of discovery. -I am still learning, but I have learned (yes, -“the hard way”- as 99% of us do), live and learn, -learn to love, then love to live.
It takes three to tango. As G-d’s Book of Instruction says- “a threefold cord is not easily broken.” The perfect couple is Adam and Eve and G-d. Adam and Eve must both become G-d dependent creatures. Then we have a “marriage made in heaven.” As she draws near and I draw near, we both draw near to each other. Intimacy occurs, and it dear friends- is a beautiful thing!
Yes sir.. we must do the right thing..- we must learn to listen, we must hear from our Teacher, who may speak to us through our ezer kenegdo, or even sometimes (if we are listening) through our children! Ego?- “I” have been crucified with Christ..- so long self- see ya!
Now what were His words again? “Not thy will, but my will be done?” -You may want to pay a little closer attention (heed) to the words.. The word of the LORD has been twisted and is no longer in the proper order, -I’ll give it another go- this time remembering- “not my will (what I want) but thy will (your desires) be done.” Are we capable of this? Since G-d is our Help, we may. All we have to do is choose to “follow Him” and learn what it means to live as a servant. Is this easy? Does this cut across the grain? Rub the fur the wrong way?- Then “repent” and turn the cat around. Now where’s my Staples© “Easy” button? Righteousness (right-relatedness) has returned to our home and we may now live in unity.. (shalom!) and oneness.