And because he put his trust in YHWH, He reckoned it to his merit. Genesis 15:6 (JPS translation) To – Yesterday we looked at the passage in Deuteronomy that suggests our meritorious deeds matter. We discovered that tsedaqah (righteousness) is a very old expression of God’s accounting. But one further point must be made. In…
It will be therefore to our merit before YHWH Eloheinu to observe faithfully this whole instruction, as He has commanded us. Deuteronomy 6:24 (JPS translation with name corrections) Merit – After the Reformation, verses like this one are difficult to integrate. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that Christianity created the chasm between the “old”…
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart. Ecclesiastes 7:2 Takes It To Heart – “Blessed are those who mourn.” At least that’s the way we usually read Matthew 5:4. …
They are dreaded and feared; their justice and authority originate with themselves. Habakkuk 1:7 With Themselves – The Chaldeans are coming! Habakkuk’s warning is a call to immediate repentance in advance of certain destruction. God’s people are about to be chastised in a most severe way. As if that isn’t bad enough, Habakkuk provides an…
He has declared to you, man, what is good; and what does YHWH require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 What Is Good – Pilate asked, “What is truth?” He didn’t realize that he was asking the wrong question. The question he…
And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her way secretly. Matthew 1:19 To Disgrace – We don’t have much trouble identifying the Hebraic pattern in the gospel of John. “In the beginning was the Word” is deliberately arranged to parallel “In the beginning God” from…
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of other people so that they will notice you. Otherwise you cannot expect any reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 6:1 (translation R. T. France) Practice Your Righteousness – If you grew up anywhere near Baptists, you probably remember the children’s Sunday school…
“you have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’” Matthew 5:43 Enemy – Who said that? Who said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy”? If you look at the reference in Leviticus 19:18, you won’t find the second part of this citation. In fact, you will find…
But I say to you, do not resist him who is evil; but whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39 Right Cheek – Stand in front of a friend. Go through the motion of slapping him on the right cheek. What did you discover? If you are…
Many are the sorrows of the wrong; but as for the one trusting YHWH, kindness surrounds him. Psalm 32:10 (ISR) Surrounds – The Hebrew word sābab is spelled samech-bet-bet. Samech paints the picture of twisting slowly or turning. Bet is the picture of a tent or house. Let’s combine these images. Sabab is the picture of something…
