The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39 NASB Second – In biblical thought, you can’t have the first without the second. You can’t love God with all your heart unless you also love your neighbor as yourself. Yeshua rightly points the scribe to both answers to the same…
The Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Genesis 2:8 NASB Garden in Eden – “The good ol’ days.” That’s what we really want, isn’t it? Those days that didn’t seem so stressful, so chaotic, so confusing. What we really want is…
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 NASB Not – What is the connection between Genesis 2:18, Zechariah 4:6, Ephesians 5:23 and John Piper’s view of marriage? More than you…
Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11:1 NASB Waters – The Teacher, Qohelet, might be somewhat of a skeptic, but that doesn’t mean his advice isn’t practical. “Spend your efforts on the one you love in your youth,” is great advice. “Don’t worry…
After many, many hours of great discussions, pouring over the pages of Moses Luzzatto’s classic work, Mesillat Yesharim, we have finally finished the study. All 35 lectures are now available in a page-by-page progression through the text. This is probably the most important book I have ever read on the discipline of saintliness. It is well worth…
He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” Luke 7:13 NASB Compassion – Tragedy is the opportunity for the display of God’s glory. Compassion is the active ingredient in that display. Yeshua is the man of racham. He does not just feel the common bond of human life. He acts. He…
Then Yeshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to my brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they shall see me.” Matthew 28:10 (my translation) Do not be afraid – Don’t we just want God to tell us what to do next? Don’t we really want a Bible GPS? “Turn…
The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Genesis 1:2 NASB Formless and void – “So, how’s that working out for you?” The fundamental question about our assumptions concerning life. The most important question of…
The Fourth Blessing: God’s Goodness Rather than examine another verse today, I thought it might be helpful to just read the Fourth Blessing found in the Siddur under the category “Grace After Meals.” The blessing deserves plenty of comment, but it is first appropriate to simply listen to its power and reflect on its impact….
There is a Jewish rabbinic legend that everyone is taught Torah in the womb, but the moment the person is born, all God’s instruction is forgotten. It takes the rest of our life to recover what we once knew before birth. It’s a very nice legend. It makes me feel as if I didn’t arrive…
