The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: Matthew 1:1 NASB David – Before the world adopted Arabic numerals, many ancient languages used the written alphabet as a counting system. The first letter of the alphabet would also be the number 1; the second 2, etc. Of course, you needed…
For Ezra had set his heart to seek the law of YHWH, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances Ezra 7:10 JPS 1917 To seek – Ezra changed forever the way we interact with God. Now we read instead of listen. That wasn’t the only result of this monumental shift. …
And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. Matthew 13:11 NASB The mysteries – Do you know the mysteries? According to the Messiah, knowing secrets has been granted to you. So, when you open your Bible, are…
Righteous are You, O Lord. When I dispute with You, my brief will speak against You. Why does the way of the wickedprosper, all who deal treacherously rest tranquil? Jeremiah 12:1 Robert Alter The way of the wicked – Do you remember “The Twilight Zone”? If you do, you must remember the episode where a…
Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel…
who keeps faithfulness for thousands, who forgives wrongdoing, violation of His Law, and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, inflicting the punishment of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Exodus 34:7 NASB Yet by no means leave – This is a bit tricky, so pay attention. Here is…
Our Father, our King, we have no King but You. Our Father, our King, act [benevolently] with us for the sake of Your Name. Avinu Malkeinu For the sake – According to Gordon Tucker’s comment in Abraham Heschel’s work, Heavenly Torah, these first two lines of the prayer Avinu Malkeinu are attributed to Rabbi Akiva. …
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Genesis 1:6 NASB Expanse – Remember this? “. . . the Ishmaelian reading of experience is, like all logical readings, subject to refutation and falsification,” while “Akiva’s esoteric reading of experience is, like all…
Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Genesis 1:6 NASB Expanse – Birth is painful. If you’re the mother, I don’t have to tell you that, but I’m not talking about birthing. I’m talking about being born. It’s a blessing that…
For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. Deuteronomy 30:11 NASB Out of reach – Are the commandments “out of reach”? If you grew up under Augustine, Aquinas, and Luther, you would be compelled to say, “Yes. No one can really keep them.” …
