For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Galatians 5:14 One Word – From the general to the specific. The principle of Kelal uferat-perat vekelal teaches from a general principle to a specific application, or from a specific application to a general principle. Rabbi…
Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN. Matthew 26:64 Two Into One – Binyan av mishnaic ketuvim (“building a teaching principle based on two verses”) is reasoning…
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, [which is] the Law of commandments [contained] in ordinances, that in Himself he might make the two into one new man, [thus] establishing peace. Ephesians 2:15 Two Into One – There are a host of issues with this verse, none of which are easily resolved without understanding principle…
For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself. Hebrews 6:13 By Himself – The second principle of rabbinic interpretation is a bit complicated, but once you understand it, you will see why many biblical passages seem to “wander” from one idea to the…
If they call the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more those of His household. Matthew 10:25 How Much More – The first principle of rabbinic interpretation is common in Yeshua’s teaching. This is but one example from Matthew. That principle, kal va-chomer (simple and complex, literally “light and heavy”) is reasoning from something…
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Handling Accurately – Some days I just want to throw up my hands in frustration. Here’s a perfectly good Hebrew instruction, but when it gets translated, it takes…
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you,” John 13:34 Love – Why does Yeshua say this is a new commandment? Doesn’t the Torah teach us to love one another? Isn’t that the point of loving your neighbor? What makes this particular statement so unique?…
and being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground Luke 22:44 Very Fervently – “Prayer is not ‘quiet time’ but a time of wrestling and passion.” So says Peter Leithart. He goes on to say that the contemporary worship experience of prayer,…
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, immorality, impurity, sensuality, . . Galatians 5:19 Adultery – Yesterday we looked at this same verse. Only yesterday the verse did not contain the word “adultery.” That’s because the current best scholarly edition of the Greek text from the oldest manuscripts does not have…
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, . . Galatians 5:19 Impurity – The Greek is akatharsia. This word comes from kathairo (we derive the English “catharsis”). Here Paul makes it a negative, so the meaning is “not cleansed”. The background of katharos is ritual cleansing. It is not…
