You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Matthew 23:26 NASB First – Since we are going to explore the word protos (Greek for “first”), it’s probably useful to first note that Yeshua’s scathing remark is not aimed at…
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB Heart – One of the wonders of Hebrew is that it communicates on multiple levels. This fact is much more than the rabbinic PaRDeS approach. The structure of Hebrew (the way…
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 NASB Heart – In Hebrew the…
Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Your highways are in their heart. Tehillim 84:5 ISR Highways – In most translations, the grammar is altered to reflect proper English, but in Hebrew there are some significant oddities to be noticed. First, the Hebrew word translated “man” isn’t ish. It is adam but it…
“It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’” Deuteronomy 30:12 NASB Not in heaven – Have you considered the implications of Moses’ observation about God’s revelation? Moses is delivering Torah to…
for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 NASB Heart – This is only a part of verse 7, but a very important part. Even more interestingly, the translation from the New American Standard (above) is not exactly what…
And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your nephesh and with all your might Deuteronomy 6:5 (my adjusted translation) All your heart – be-kol levavcha. Try saying it. “With all your heart.” YHWH wants – and expects – your whole heart commitment to Him. How will I know…
The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; he who would destroy himself does it. Proverbs 6:32 Lacking Sense – The perennial excuse for adultery is an appeal to the heart. “I was carried away by my heart.” “I had this great need for a heart companion.” “I just followed my heart.” …
The heart is the most deceitful of all things, and it is desperately sick. Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 Deceitful – I have been reading Oswald Chambers for fourteen years. It amazes me that I can read the same page year after year and find something new there each time. Perhaps it is a…
And you shall love YHWH your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 Heart/ Soul/ Might – If we are commanded to love God with all (kol) we’ve got, obviously that command affects the entire body of behaviors. Rather than allow us to fumble around…
