Uncommon Valor
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB
Pure – The Greek word hagnos is an uncommon word in the New Testament. It could be translated “innocent” or “chaste,” but “pure” will do as long as we realize that this word is often about ritual as well as moral purity. “Whatever is pure” covers a lot of ground. For Paul it certainly meant whatever is necessary to enter into God’s presence and when the Temple stood in Jerusalem, that meant ritual baptisms, ritual prayers and ritual behaviors. But “whatever is pure” reaches to the depths of our hearts as well. “Who will ascend to God’s holy place?” Not just the one who washes on the outside. The inside must also be prepared.
Today we often think that hagnos in simply a matter of inner cleanliness. As long as our hearts are right with God, we qualify. So we come into His presence in jeans and T-shirts. Paul would have been shocked! Can you imagine entering the throne room of the King without dressing for the occasion? Remember Yeshua’s parable about the man at the wedding who didn’t bother to dress for the event? Hagnos is both inside and outside. It is unfortunate that modern worship moves toward a Greek inner cognitive religion leaving behind any semblance of outward conditions. But readers of Paul’s letter would never make this mistake because hagnos was originally a word about awe and reverence.
Abraham Heschel compared the Sabbath to a royal wedding. Preparations for the Sabbath take on new meaning when we think of it as the wedding day of the Lord. The Sabbath is a time when we disengage from the pedestrian lives we lead and come to a royal event. Everything about this event speaks of majesty. If we aren’t impressed by God’s day of rest, then we probably haven’t understood the syncopation of the universe.
Paul expands our appreciation for the royal Sabbath by directing us to dwell on “whatever is pure.” What might those things be? Well, you could make a list of all the opportunities in your life where you experience awe and reverence for God. You could add those things that bring you into intimate fellowship with Him. You could include people, places and things that remind you of His majesty and His grace. That might get you started.
Hagnos requires uncommon valor these days. As the culture moves toward the lowest common denominator in morality and economy, hagnos becomes even more important because it sets followers of the Way apart from the world. Hagnos becomes a mark of discipleship, a distinctive difference that challenges the cultural norms and calls observers back to God’s majesty. In a world where even divinity is reduced to canine equivalence (God as Man’s best friend), hagnos is the recovery of wonder.
Topical Index: hagnos, awe, pure, ritual, moral, Philippians 4:8
“Preparations for the Sabbath take on new meaning when we think of it as the wedding day of the Lord.”
Thank you, I needed that reminder.
“2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
YHWH bless you and keep you……
God Morning Skip!
“It could be translated “innocent” or “chaste,” but “pure” will do as long as we realize that this word is often about ritual as well as moral purity.”
After reading T’sW, I thought of this scripture:
I have chosen the weak things of this world to confound the strong. ~1 Corinthians 1:27
Sometimes I feel so discombobulated. During those times I pray to Abba for gentle strength. I have come to understand that one must be careful what one asks for. Gentle strength for me Abba, I am just a girl.
It’s in the duties of the ritual that pure is understood. In the earthly scope doesn’t it take a check list when you ritually clean your home and set things in proper order according to principles you set? You know what you need to do, the rituals to attain a certain level and standard. Our rituals either bring order or chaos. We either have dirty cups or pure clean cups but there are rituals to achieving both. The rituals are just the pathways to attaining the pure or the impure.
Hi Theresa!
Honey, in my vision the dishes wash themself. Dancing kettles and teacups. You know. 🙂
:-*
“Dancing kettles and teacups.”
Hi Jeanette,
Don’t Honey
me 🙂
With your Sorceress’s
Way
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Good! The sorcerer, my old master
left me here alone today!
Now his spirits, for a change,
my own wishes shall obey!
Having memorized
what to say and do,
with my powers of will I can
do some witching, too!
Please see following link for the remainder of Goethe’s great poem
http://german.about.com/library/blgzauberl.htm
“Paul expands our appreciation for the royal Sabbath by directing us to dwell on “whatever is pure.””
Hmmm
Sometimes I can find purity in poetry, like in the following
Metaphysical poetry of John Donne
Death Be Not Proud
Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadfull, for, thou art not soe,
For, those, whom thou think’st, thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poore death, nor yet canst thou kill mee.
From rest and sleepe, which but thy pictures bee,
Much pleasure, then from thee, much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee doe goe,
Rest of their bones, and soules deliverie.
Thou art slave to Fate, Chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poyson, warre, and sicknesse dwell,
And poppie, or charmes can make us sleepe as well,
And better then thy stroake; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.
John Donne
Again, Skip, the One Spirit is moving through us in our different roles in the Body of Christ. Before I came here this morning, this exchange took place in the Washington Post. Similar ideas as I understand your writing. I love the scriptures of the Lord and love sharing them in the Secular media.
“ALL humans were made in the Image and likeness of God the Books tell us. So either we are made in the Image of God’s Truth, Love, Beauty, Compassion, Judgment and Justice and Mercy, or we are made in the opposite aspects of God, hatred and jealousy. Does the individual have the choice of what aspect of God they show off?
Many people delude themselves thinking they’re “saved.” without thinking beyond that.
Christ teaches, If you only love those who love you, you are no different than the sinners. If you do not forgive others their sins, God will not forgive you your sins. Everyman is righteous in his own eyes, and let he who is without sin cast the 1st stone!
He spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Luke 18:9-14
Not everyone who says Lord! Lord! shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but those who DO the Will of God, not just talk about it.
The separation of the sheep from the goats tells us what must be done in this world. Neither the sheep nor the goats recognized the Spirit of Christ traveling incognito in this world in many different human forms, ignored, despised and rejected of men.
You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draws close to me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
Matthew 15
Liked by 3 readers
wje3
11:33 AM EST
This is a keeper… thank you, RJC!
RayJosephCormier
11:53 AM EST
wje3, It seems to me everyone should never give up trying to improve in ways of sharing with others, the Word made Flesh, even if it takes a Lifetime of thought and prayer without ceasing!
Dear Ray,
While I appreciate the sentiment expressed in this Washington Post article, I think its premise that all men are created in God’s image isn’t supported by the Hebraic view of the text. It requires the universalization of the Greek metaphysics to think that the Genesis account is devoid of its cultural and historical setting. I have lectured on this in detail in my series “Being Human.” A Hebrew perspective changes a lot about what we think being human means. In my view, it is not about the substance of what we are but rather about the actions that we take.
Skip, I really admire what you do Day after Day, speculating and expounding on the Hebrew words, the original language of the Scriptures as they were written so long ago as understood by the people in those days.
In a way you are saying unless someone understands ancient Hebrew, they can never know the sense of God’s Word, and the Bible translated into English or any other language can mislead. So much for the Divinely Inspired Word of God! In another sense, you are saying the Oracles and Mysteries of God can only be understood by a Hebrew speaking Jew.
I think my comment is totally factual and in conformity with what is recorded in Genesis. There was no “cultural and historical setting” in the Garden. It was the Beginning of the History of God’s relationship with Man so the words even in English, are express.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1: 26-27
I hope others join in this discussion and resolve the difference.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 1:27
Hi Ray,
I see what you are saying, but the issue is that we know most humans are not an image of God
We know that humans beings start out in a state (infancy) that Sigmund Freud
Referred to as a “cauldron of desire” that does not know the difference between good and evil
And in the previous sentence, when God said “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness”
I’m pretty sure He is talking to the Heavenly Court, which could include his Sons and Ha Satan
But in any case, God and the “characters” above are different than the characters in Genesis 2
The IMO moronic Adam, rebellious Eve, and anthropomorphic Snake
So, in my view, some sort of transformation must occur for us to become an “image of God”
I tend to think in terms of two selves; one is our “Alienated” self and the other is “Authentic”
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Genesis 1:26
Michael, I should have been more precise in the Word. God takes from among the Children of Men and Transforms them into Spirit Children of God in the Flesh.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
But as many as received him, to them he gave POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1
I still think this is accurate and True as the words just flowed as I typed. Skip discussed those words recently.
ALL humans were made in the Image and likeness of God the Books tell us. So either we are made in the Image of God’s Truth, Love, Beauty, Compassion, Judgment, Justice and Mercy, or we are made in the opposite aspects of God, hatred and jealousy. Does the individual have the choice of what aspect of God they show off?
But the problem disguised in your response is the term “all humans.” You have imported a Greek universal into a Hebrew specific. Notice that the Hebrew of idea of what it means to be human is tied to ACTIONS, not essence. Then compare this to Exodus 34:6-7. Then ask yourself is ALL homo sapiens fit the HEbrew definition of being in God’s image. I don’t think they do. There is a difference between being born homo sapien (Greek) and becoming human (Hebrew).
I wish I could take you through this whole argument – about a 2 hour + lecture on the text.
Ray, An image (from Latin: imago) is an artifact that depicts or records visual perception
For example a two-dimensional picture, that has a similar appearance to some subject
Usually a physical object or a person, thus providing a depiction of it
God has no representation whatsoever.
Your insight should point us to the conclusion that the Hebrew account cannot be about artifacts. Therefore, being human in the Genesis account cannot be about representative copies. It is about VERBS and VERBS are not artifacts. Try painting a verb. To be in God’s image is to ACT LIKE GOD ACTS. If I do not act as God acts, I am not in His image.
I don’t think the Genesis account is an allegory either. THink about what these words mean to a group of people, a tribe, that has just come out of 240 years of slavery under another “god.”
“I hope others join in this discussion and resolve the difference.”
Hi Ray,
Okay, I’ll bite.
I think that differing paradigms is an under-appreciated factor in Biblical (mis)interpretation. In my view it is at least as significant as translation problems. A good little book on the subject is called, “Hebrew Thought Compared With Greek” by Thorleif Bowman. I’m not a scholar, so much of it has not penetrated my cranium, but the summaries are more understandable and striking to me. It’s difficult to describe but I’ll try: The difference between how ancient Hebrew people thought and the foundational truths of existence… in other words, their presuppositions about what was true and real in the world around them is so fundamentally different from the ancient Greeks (and therefore us as well) that misinterpretation of the text has been very common throughout history.
I would say that to know the ancient language, or to be surrounded by dictionaries, or to be a Jew (because modern Jews are Hellenized too) may not be enough to get the full picture of meaning intended by the original author or realized by the original audience. The ancient Hebrew paradigm must be considered as well.
Regarding your statement that there was no cultural/historical setting in the Garden, I believe you are right. But there was a cultural and historical setting when Genesis was written and delivered to its original audience.
Kind regards,
Warren
I appreciate your input Warren. There is no denying or disputing your last sentence.
Maybe this is why the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this;
For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Romans 2:28-29.
It seems there is no end to the disputations over the letter.
Peace
I think you missed my point. THe story of the Garden wasn’t written for people in the Garden. It was written for the children of Israel who cam out of bondage in Egypt. The language even reveals this as there are borrowed words throughout Genesis, words that come from other ancient cultures. So, in order to understand Genesis, especially the accounts at the beginning, we need to know the language and culture of the first audience. The imagery of Egyptian religious ideas stands behind that words of Genesis and God takes those ideas and converts them into new ways of understanding the accounts of origins.
See Nahum Sarna on some of this.
The Greek mindset that wants to convert Genesis into a kind of neutral world history written by an outside chronicler is a mistake, IMO. Try reading it with the eyes of Israel in the wilderness and see just how powerful it really is.
I know Moses wrote Genesis, having such great detail covering the 2000 years before him. I have often wondered how all that Oral Tradition survived that long and could even be considered accurate and representative?
But we are Justified by Faith in the same God of the Garden, to Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and everyone else, and who Lives to this very Day.
Maybe the letter did not compute, but the Spirit of your replies to my comment is what I said in other words;
Not everyone who says Lord! Lord! shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but those who DO the Will of God, not just talk about it is the same root idea as Notice that the Hebrew of idea of what it means to be human is tied to ACTIONS, not essence. It seems to me that’s what Jesus was saying in that verse.
Thank you Skip, Michael and Warren for trying to clarify the reality. Time to move Forward and not look back like Lot’s wife.
Shalom!
Thanks for helping us see even deeper into the text. That’s all we want – just to understand what God said and make it a reality in our lives.
“Today we often think that hagnos in simply a matter of inner cleanliness. As long as our hearts are right with God, we qualify. So we come into His presence in jeans and T-shirts. Paul would have been shocked!”
Hi Skip,
I admit that I struggle with this one… the issue of outward respectability or purity when approaching the Father. I’m not doubting that hagnos is both inside and outside but I suppose I believe in a relative purity in the external rather than an absolute one. For example, dressing down for worship signaling an inner apathy is bad, but foregoing your best duds for the sake of those of lesser means seems right. To me it seems right to look at why I am wearing what I choose to wear.
I read a book some time ago, Pagan Christianity, that you referenced somewhere. The author stated that common folk dressing up for church is a post-industrial revolution phenomenon. I am interested to learn what means the common people had in the 1st century and what expectations existed with regard to attire before approaching the Temple etc.
Regarding the “parable about the man at the wedding who didn’t bother to dress for the event?” I’ve heard it said that wedding attire (a gown) was supplied at the door of a royal event for guests and that one could assume that the man without proper attire got in some other way (a wedding crasher) rather than through the door (a picture of our Lord.)
PS I am so grateful for this site and the work you do 🙂
Hi Warren,
I agree that outward attire is “relative” to the situation (for the most part) though I would think that if all one had to wear to an assembly was blue jeans that were “holy”, it just might be an opportunity for ministry. 🙂
Inner cleanliness vs. outer; as usual it involves both as the whole. Just as a “whole man” is body, mind and spirit (if one is missing any of these, is he yet a man?) clean-ness is also “whole”. Yeshua said concerning prayer, that if a man was offering sacrifice and his brother had ought against him, that he was to first reconcile with his brother, then come worship. Again, our prayers are hindered, as husbands, according to our communication with our wives.
The question for me is not only about “proper attire” (that is certainly a consideration) but rather, do I speak in an evil manner to my wife and children and yet feel comfortable joining in praise to the God who spoke reconciliation to me? How do I treat those who I interact with during the course of my day, is my “walk” my worship?
The pharisee who justified himself was right on the outside but there was something wrong on the inside. Do we think that by reversing the order, rather than addressing the whole, that we’ll fare any better? Just some thoughs out loud. 🙂
YHWH bless you and keep you…..
Adorning oneself is about the intent and purpose of one’s heart to project a message. Jeans and T-shirt for worship is, IMO, inconsequential. If such are worn to make a statement of “look at me, I’m anti-establishment”, in your face, then it can be due to pride. and wrongfully so. When I started “dressing down”, it was to say “I can worship in my jeans and T-shirt just like I can in my suit”. It is, about the heart and not the outside adornment. Man will judge on outside adornment, which can be very deceptive.
After all, except for the priests, is there anywhere in Scripture where people went to temple or synagogue dressed in special clothing?
People were to be “washed” before entering and this was not for cosmetic reasons. I recall them being asked to “abstain” from certain practices during special times, which also is a type of action either done or not. And this is done with motive, either to obey or not.
Isn’t the adornment of the Bride about the obedience to her Master? Isn’t this the “mark” or “sign” or “image” of beauty in His eyes? Walking in His shadow…knowing He sees the heart expressed outwardly.
While I agree that inner attitude and devotion sets the tone for worship, I think that our cultural orientation to inward spirituality has obscured the public acknowledgement of honor due God. For example, let’s suppose you were invited to visit the White House. You realize, of course, that you honor the office of the President and that you acknowledge his position and status in your mind. So, what difference does it make if you show up in your usual at-home clothing. It doesn’t affect your attitude or your inner acknowledgement. But it does affect the APPEARANCE you present to others and that appearance can be seen as disrespectful. In Hebraic thinking, the outward appearance is not for YOU, it is for those who observe you and might inadvertently draw wrong conclusions about the one you honor. In other words, the PUBLIC image is as important as the private devotion not because it reflects your opinion but because it causes others to interpret your behavior in a way that might dishonor God. This is essentially the argument presented by Paul to the Roman believers. We take steps to insure that others don’t view our behavior as insulting to God.
Greek thinking emphasizes the inner, cognitive relationship with God. Hebraic thinking recognizes that what we do creates perceptions by others that reflects on our God.
Good word Skip!!
Is not Christ talking about cleaning up the inside in these verses?
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so you also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Matthew 23:23-28
When Christ boldly talked like that to the Jewish religious leadership, I can understand they would want to silence him.
Hi Ray! Speaking of Camels, a friend helped me come up with a slogan to my proposed Rent-A-Camel operation: “5000 humps to the mile.” I know that there are at least two (2) types of camels, LOL…..
OX,
yep, yep
Oops! I meant “5000 miles to the hump.” 🙂
Mr. Cormier,
The above language used by Yeshua is insider or in-house language, and the Pharisees would have welcomed this critique and challenge. The tendency within the Christian world to put a badge of disparagement and religious legalism on everything regarding the Pharisees is an unfortunate indictment that needs to change. The reason Yeshua is “seemingly” harsh is because he knows that the Pharisees have such respect and following among the common people; so He is challenging them with prophetic passion to measure up to that calling with authentic change. Yeshua’s own religious orientation toward God and life flows closely with that of the Pharisee.
Brad H.Young’s book ‘Jesus The Jewish Theologian’ p. 184:
The image of the Pharisee in early Jewish thought was not primarily one of self-righteous hypocrisy. While Jesus disdained the hypocrites of some Pharisees, he never attacked the religious and spiritual teachings of Pharisaism. In fact, the sharpest criticisms of the Pharisees in Matthew are introduced by an unmistakable affirmation, “The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” (Matthew 23:2-3). The issue at hand is one of practice. The content of the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees was not a problem.
Then we read on p.187 of the same book:
The rabbis offered nearly identical criticisms against those who teach but do not practice. The rabbinic literature preserves a description of seven types of Pharisees which to a large degree create colorful but negative characterizations. Probably only one of these seven types of Pharisees is positive. The Pharisees scrutinized their own behavior. Self-inventory and constructive criticisms were virtues that called for genuine spiritual renewal. The Pharisees sought revival through their self-criticism. In a similar way, the ancient prophets in their special passion for God and in their strong concern for a people in need spoke sharply to their generation. They wanted true repentance.
Mr. Cormier,
You wrote, “Is not Christ talking about cleaning up the inside in these verses?”
I do not want to assume but were you commenting in relation to Skip’s response above to Mary?
It seems to me a large segment of the Christian world who over emphasize “It is all about the heart” instead of, “It is all about what God said!” There is a big difference in emphasis here! Does the heart matter? Of course it does! But it definitely does not replace what God said. I see this tendency within the Christian world to over emphasize the heart while undermining His instructions and teachings. Have they placed the heart above what God said?
Unlike our culture today, the ancient Jewish world placed primary emphasis on what God instructed and taught, so Yeshua could critique in a powerful and prohetic way concerning what they were on the inside, without diluting the intent of the importance of the outside. By necessity, it is about what people see on the outside that you will remembered by.
So that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Brian, there are so many references in the Bible reporting how the religious leadership sought out ways to destroy Jesus. The 1st record is in Matthew 12:14;
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
At the end, as Jerusalem slept, the religious leadership had their supporters at the gathering before Pilot demanding Barabbas the violent insurrectionist revolutionary be released unto the people and Christ be crucified as it is to this Day.
Brian, if the ancient Jewish world placed primary emphasis on what God instructed and taught, God would not have raised up the Prophets and Jesus. The General impression I get is the ancient Jewish people, believing themselves to be “the chosen people” and “the apple of God’s eye” could not imagine or recognize themselves transgressing any of God’s Laws.
Isaiah 29 [13] Wherefore the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
Matthew 15 [7] You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draws nigh unto me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Is not Christ talking about cleaning up the inside in these verses?
these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Wholeness, both are being addressed by the Messsiah. Often we do this, over emphasis on one aspect at cost to the other. I find it in my walk ALL the time.
How bout’ faith and works, law and grace, mercy and judgement…..we could go on.
YHWH bless you and keep you……
Robert Lafoy,
How are you doing?
We do have the propensity to err one way or the other when it comes to what we emphasize in our walk. This is why we need the prophetic critique by those within our ranks, and those who may think we are on the outside looking in to what God is really doing in the world. We need both to keep us humble and sharp. We need each other to be the fulness of Messiah to His world.
In His Care, Brian
Matthew 15 [1] Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
This insight is revealing considering the obsession with external cleanliness.
I’m doing well Brian, thank you.
I want to encourage you as I’ve watched your posts and have noticed the increase in wisdom and grace. It’s always amazing to watch God really dig into a person!! 🙂 I trust that your doing and feeling well and that you’re in His security.
You are correct about the need for the interaction in the community, I’ve taken a sabbatical of sorts under the pretext of realignment and have found that though it can be fruitful, we tend to lose our sharpness. (at least I do! 🙂 ) Perhaps realignment is better sought in sight of the community of faith. Just sayin’ 🙂
as always, YHWH bless you…
Hi Ray, could you clarify?
Hi Robert, the discussion was over the external trappings of appropriate clothing and as Skip wrote, “But it does affect the APPEARANCE you present to others and that appearance can be seen as disrespectful.”
If you read every possible meaning and significance into Matthew 15 [1], Jesus and his Disciples were not concerned about offending others by not following the proscribed custom of washing their hands before eating.
I suppose the White House analogy fits the glove of social protocol, however, I am slow to see how it relates to the corporate gathering for worship. And, if I may say so, IF He required I dress in a certain manner, I would be compelled to obey. Coming from an organized assembly who looked down on people because of the color of their skin, how they did or did not dress,etc. etc., appeared to me as legalistic hypocrisy. As far as I can tell, I am to dress to the nines by how I honor Him and others, in my speech, language, and what I do and/or do NOT do according to His instruction.
Considering how our Babylonian/Greek attitude drives our styles in clothing toward titillating and peaking our sensualities and sexual stimulation, it looks as though outward dress up is not what YHWH is after. He has asked us, ESPECIALLY women, and for good cause, to dress modestly. I am not saying that a sharped-dressed person is not impressive, I do not see it as a requirement to designate Israel in YHWH’s “eyes”. 🙂
In the beginning we were all naked in the eyes of God and we still are. We can deceive ourselves and others, but shall that which formed the eye not see? And that which formed the ear not hear? We cannot have secret thoughts, desires and motivations in the heart God does not see. Own up and confess.
I wonder if the Garden story might have taken another direction if Adam owned up to his own sin of disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit instead of blaming it on God and the woman, and the woman blaming it on the devil.
And the LORD God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?
And he said, I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
And he said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?
And the man said, The woman whom thou gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that you have done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
Genesis 1:9-13
God does not accuse, Judge or condemn Adam by the words, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded you that you should not eat?
These are just straight questions calling for Adam to be honest and upfront with God and he wasn’t. A lot of people are still like that Today, quick to blame others, ignoring their own personal responsibilities.
Life is more than the clothing Jesus taught.
Blame game aside, do you think that Adam told Eve the “Prime Directive,” or did Our Father tell her? If I put 2+2 together I can only Assume – and you know what that means! Just askin’. Have asked once but didn’t get any response to that one. That’s okay. Due diligence.
Jeanette, it’s not clear to me in English whether Eve was told by God or Adam the Prime Directive, not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil but we know she knew from Genesis 3:2-3. Skip may have a better understanding on that. What is clear to me is God said the Creation is Good so many times before we get to the Evil in God’s Creation Adam let take root in this earth.
Isaiah 45 [7] I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
I still wrestle with some things in the English Creation story in Genesis 1.
[2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
[3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
[4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
I can interpret verse 4 as implying God did not know what light was until the Word spoke the Word Light, and God saw the Light. It could suggest God existed in the primordial darkness and is on a voyage of self-discovery as we are, wanting us to be One with God on that voyage.
It does appear to me there is nothing new under the Sun. To this Day, as far as the People are concerned, the earth is still without form, and void. Darkness is still upon the face of the deep to a superficial people.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1
These things say the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God;
Revelation 3
Christ makes us New Creatures. Not all at once, but over an Eternal Lifetime, starting with our Time in this world.
Jesus explained, starting off with him we are Servants, not knowing what the Master is doing. As we grow in a genuine Love of God, we become Friends with God like Abraham was, and participate in the Promise and Inheritance.
“I can interpret verse 4 as implying God did not know what light was until the Word spoke the Word Light, and God saw the Light. It could suggest God existed in the primordial darkness and is on a voyage of self-discovery as we are, wanting us to be One with God on that voyage.”
Hi Ray,
I think that is an interesting interpretation and would seem to be in line
With an interpretation that God is evolving in terms of his Humanity
That He learned something from his treatment of Job and Yeshua
Which was by definition good, but would not seem to be in line with Philippians 4:8
“whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely’
As my very lovely and wonderful first mother-in-law would often say
“there are things worthy of praise, so let your mind dwell on these things”
That has to be balanced with this;
But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness;
But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the Wisdom of God.
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in his presence.
But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.
1 Corinthians: 23:31
Ray Cormier:
But we preach Christ crucified,
But God has chosen the foolish things
But of him are you in Christ Jesus
Jane “Rusty” Hartwell
“there are things worthy of praise, so let your mind dwell on these things”
Hi Ray,
You promote concepts such as Christ crucified, foolish things, and being in Messiah Jesus
Which do not provide any “actionable intelligence,” ie, I don’t know what to do with them
Whereas my mother in law, Mrs Hartwell, tried to teach me and her daughter Sandra Jane
How to focus our minds on things worthy of praise
I think the Book of Job was written for the people these Days, to provide some kind of sustenance to the Believer, as Austerity is on the way. Things we have become accustomed to and taken for granted, might be taken away.
Job lost it all to 2 natural disasters and 2 bands of thieves just like happens so often these Days to all kinds of people.
The Book of Job is for those idle in the Marketplace at this Time of The Lord’s Appointed Harvest.
The LORD IS my Shepherd. I shall not want.
“The LORD IS my Shepherd. I shall not want.”
Hi Ray,
I think the book of Job poses the question, if the LORD is my Shepherd
Why am I punished unjustly, why am I a suffering servant
In some ways, Job prefigures Jesus in the New Testament
It is as if God is saying, that is your job, do what you can
[4] And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
This might help a little,
A bit more literal rendering; “and saw Elohim the light “because” good….. the word between “light” and “good” is (kof-yood) or “kiy”. It’s used as a “causal” link between phrases. In other words, such and such happened to these people “because” of this activity. It’s interesting that it’s also translated as a “scar”, which is formed because of a wound.
It seems to imply that God saw (or recognized) the light “because” it was good, not as something not before perceived. Then it goes on to tell us that He made distinctions between the light AND between the darkness. It would suggest that the light was “turned on” for us, not for God. I can’t remember exactly where, but God states through a prophet that darkness and light make no difference to Him. He sees just as clearly in one enviroment as the other.
Gotta go now, I think I’ve ran out of minutes.
YHWH bless you and keep you….
Thanks Robert. I do believe all things are possible with God and your explanation seems to be equally as reasonable, valid and plausible as mine.
Mr. Cormier,
Thank you for your comments.
There were other schools of Pharisees within the Second Temple period and they were not monolithic in their thinking.
Let us take a synopis look from the three Gospels, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Starting in Matthew 12:2 which reads, “But when the Pharisees . . .” Mark 2:24 states, “And the Pharisees . . .” Luke 6:3 qualifies by stating, “But SOME of the Pharisees . . .” (emphasis is mine) Luke’s statement over the the same incident records that it was only some of the Pharisees. The SOME here does not add up to the full sum of the Pharisees in the Galilee or Jerusalem.
And as you referenced Matthew 15:1, “The Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem . . .” And according to scholar Shmuel Safrai, the piety in relationship to God and Torah was greater in the Galilee during this time than the piety in Jerusalem. Shmuel Safrai was a founding member of the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Research and was Professor Emeritus of History of the Jewish People at Hebrew University.
Yeshua is encountering different schools as He travels with His disciples around the Galilee, and we should not be jumping to the conclusion that He was lumping every Pharisee together with His critique and criticism in various situations. I beleive the audience who would have read Matthew and Mark would have understood this premise.
I was contrasting my statement about the ancient Jewish people with our culture today (I probably should have referenced our Christian culture). The Prophets and Yeshua were calling the people back to the ways and instructions of YHWH. On the other hand, in our Christian world there seems to be an over emphasis of the heart, without the prophetic proclaimation of hearts returning to the Torah of our Father.
In His Care, Brian
SOME of the Pharisees
Hi Brian,
That’s a nice way to clarify that issue
Hi Ray!
“it’s not clear to me in English…”
Funny, recently I was led by the Sweet and Holy Spirit to request from a friend an Ethiopian Bible, written in Amharic. It will be interesting to see how it reads. Hmmmm…. Amharic, Aramaic. Oh well, i’m reaching now.
Abba, open his eyes. Selah.
This is awesome! It is not about out-dressing our fellow saints but it is about wearing appropriate attire to stand before The King! I understand why folks do not like to dress up, they feel like they need to out dress someone. Or worse, we get to show off our wealth or good taste. It’s a heart thing. But I have been amazed at such relaxness (?) of folks coming to Shabbat congregation meeting in tank tops, cut offs, and such and I for one, have been appalled at this total disregard for where we are entering.
I also understand that not everyone can afford a nice suit. But please, wear a shirt that covers your armpits; PLEASE! Thanks Skip.
Well said, Daniel! I absolutely agree.
It’s not just in the heart, outward appearances and actions as such behaviour/attitude with total disrespect in a suitable attire, speaks loudly than words.
Robert Lafoy,
Thank you for your kind comments. Health is still an ongoing issue and battle for me.
We have recently moved and are enjoying the new area and friends, but are still wrestling with issues that are in relationship to a new move. Prayers are always much appreciated and desired.
In His Care, Brian