The Way

But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.  Matthew 5:39 NASB Resist – “The command ‘do not resist evil’ (5:39) is not to be taken simply to refer to personal hostilities or village-level animosity. The word ‘resist’ is…

Moses and the Rabbis

Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 NASB Seven times – So how many? Don’t be so quick to answer with the mistaken “seventy times seven” or the spiritualized “forever.” Taken out of context, such quick…

After the Fact

“so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord God declares. Ezekiel 16:63 NASB Be ashamed – How is shame connected to community? If we imagine the word reflects our cultural understanding, then…

Breakers

Listen, O heavens, and hear, O earth; For the LORD speaks, “Sons I have reared and brought up, but they have revolted against Me.”  Isaiah 1:2  NASB Revolted – God speaks to Israel and Judah, but His words have the same condemning impact on us.  “They have revolted” is the Hebrew pashoo.  The truth is…

Life Without Guilt

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.  Psalm 51:17  NASB Sacrifices – “T’was the night before Christmas” and most of us struggled with our guilt.  The pagan world went off to party.  The Christian world went to church.  But none found relief…

Problem Pronouns

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Colossians 1:13-14  NASB He/his – In recent dialogue these verses were used to prove that Yeshua’s death on the cross was for the atonement of our sins. …

The Cure (3)

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,  Isaiah 1:16  ESV Remove – How can I remove my evil deeds?  Once done, aren’t they a permanent part of my own history?  How is it possible to extract them from who I am?  Isaiah offers…

Timing, Not Substance

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.  Ephesians 1:7  NASB Through His blood – When did we receive redemption through the blood of Yeshua?  There are several perfectly correct answers.  The first answer is entirely personal.  You were redeemed at the personal…

God’s Investment Strategy

If you buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing.  Exodus 21:2  Hebrew World Six years – Apparently God is not interested in profit; at least not in the same way that we are.  Imagine the ridiculous consequences of this Torah commandment.  Someone…