Category Archives: Weekly Scripture Readings

What guides us? Your truth, my truth or divine truth? (part 1)

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What is truth? Is it relative (i.e. each person determines their own truth, which may be different from that of the next person and it changes over time), or is it absolute (i.e. it is unchangeable and there is one truth out there for all time that is the same for everyone)? Who or what determines what truth is?

Some truths or laws can be determined through observation of empirical evidence. This is the basis of true science. But what about moral and spiritual truths not cannot be scientifically proven or tested? Who or who determines these? What if different people have different ideas of what moral truth is? For example, if a person has decided that murder, adultery, lying or stealing are morally acceptable to them, then how will this effect those around them and society as a whole?

These are important questions to ask. If one doesn’t know the answer, then how does a person live their life and determine what is right and wrong?

Also, in our modern society, all too often the definition of truth is changing such that what was truth at one time (e.g. male and female, marriage, family, the sanctity of life and what was considered life, standards governing human sexuality) is no longer truth. In fact, in many cases, the standards that society has traditionally considered to be right and wrong have been turned upside down: wrong or sin is now lauded as virtuous and commendable, and that which was morally right is now considered passé and even repugnant! How confusing is this?

What are the effects morally on a society that at one time deemed such things as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, abortion, the illegality of certain mind-altering drugs, pornography and, in some cases, even divorce to be morally wrong, but over time societal standards have changed, and so have the laws such that these things are no longer considered immoral or illegal? How does this effect the moral foundations of a society, an individual, the family unit, children, and how people in a society interact with each other?

If society, the family or an individual is like a building, then what is the moral foundation that they are built on? Is it sand or rock? How one defines truth and whether is it is relative (changing) or immutable (unchanging) will determine the solidity of that foundation. This not only affects us, but also those around us including the succeeding generations that we influence. It’s like the rings that spread out when a pebble is dropped into a pool of water.

The Bible addresses these issues.

If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? (Ps 11:3)

 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matt 24:24–27)

Can humans really determine what moral truth is? Or do we need someone outside of our existence and who is greater and more knowledgeable than us to tell us what right and wrong is? Someone  who has the oversight, wisdom and knowledge to understand what the short and long-range consequences of our actions will be upon us and society if we act one way or another?

With the idea that man needs a little (or maybe a lot!) of help from his Creator to determine moral truth, so that he doesn’t find himself in a societal mess of conflicting values resulting in confusion and chaos, and eventually destruction and death, let’s now examine the concept of truth from a biblical perspective.

John 17:17, Truth. Yeshua, the One sent to this earth from Elohim in heaven, says here, “Thy [Elohim’s] Word is truth.” In Matthew  4:4, Yeshua said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim.”

So what is truth? The word in Hebrew for truth is emet (spelled aleph, mem, tav), which is Continue reading →

 

What is holy and who determines it and how to tell the difference

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Leviticus 8:12, Anointing oil … consecrates [Heb. kadash]. The Hebrew word kadash signifies the state of something that belongs to the realm of the sacred, and which is set-apart for divine use and has been separated from the sphere of the secular, common or profane. The Bible often uses the term holy (meaning “set-apart”) to signify this state of being. The word of Elohim designate many things as set-apart:

  • The ground upon which YHVH is standing (Exod 3:5; Josh 5:15)
  • The people of Israel (Exod 19:6; Deut 14:21; 26:19)
  • The Sabbath (Exod 16:23; 20:8)
  • The Tabernacle of Moses (Exod 26:33)
  • The garments worn by the high priest (Exod 28:2)
  • The altar of sacrifice (Exod 40:10)
  • The offerings made on the altar (Lev 6:18)
  • YHVH’s feast days (Lev 23:2)
  • The camp of Israel (Deut 23:14)
  • Heaven as the abode of Elohim (Deut 26:15)
  • YHVH Elohim (Job 6:10; Pss 22:3; 78:4; 99:5)
  • Zion and Jerusalem (Ps 2:6; Matt 27:53; Rev 22:19)
  • The Spirit of Elohim (Matt 1:20)
  • The angels (Matt 25:31)
  • The servants of Elohim (Mark 6:20)
  • The name of YHVH (Luke 1:49)
  • Yeshua (Acts 2:27; 3:14)
  • YHVH’s prophets (Acts 3:21)
  • The saints (1 Pet 2:9; Rev 22:11)
  • The Torah (2 Pet 3:21) 

The people, times and items listed on this listed are holy because Elohim has designated them as such. Only Elohim has the power and authority to determine what is holy and Continue reading →

 

Abide in Yeshua who is the Tree of Life

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John 15:1–10, Abide in me. 

What Does It Mean to Abide in YHVH-Yeshua?

Here is a list of scriptures that speak of “abiding” with or in YHVH in some way.

YHVH, who shall abide [Heb. goor meaning “to sojourn, dwell for a time, stay for a while, to assemble oneself with, to seek hospitality with”] in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? (Ps 15:1)

I will abide [Heb. goor] in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. (Ps 61:4)

He shall abide [Heb. yashab meaing “to sit down, to set, to remain, to stay”] before Elohim for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. (Ps 61:7)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide [Heb. luwn meaning “to temporarily lodge, pass the night, stop over”] under the shadow of the Almighty. (Ps 91:1)

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide [Gr. meno meaning “to remain, to sojourn, tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present, to be held, kept, continually] in darkness. (John 12:46)

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide [Gr. meno] with you for ever. (John 14:16)

Abide [Gr. meno] in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide [Gr. meno] in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide [Gr. meno] in me .… 6 If a man abide [Gr. meno] not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men Continue reading →

 

What are the greater works of Yeshua that his disciples would do?

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John 14:12, Greater works. Works is the Greek word ergon, and is the generic word meaning “deeds, acts, business, employment, or occupation,” and isn’t confined to just miraculous deeds. Throughout his ministry, Yeshua did many great works. He occupied each of the five-fold ministry offices (apostle, prophet, evangelist, shepherd and teacher, Eph 4:11), and performed all nine gifts of the Set-Apart Spirit (wisdom, knowledge faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation of tongues) were at his disposal if and when he needed them.

What are the greater works that his disciples and those who would follow in their footsteps  down through the ages would do?

Yeshua has now distributed his ministry offices and the gifts of the Spirit throughout his Continue reading →

 

Some Prophetic Implications of the Sacrifices: The Crucifixion, Sin and Communion

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Leviticus 6:9, Shall be on the hearth. It took most of the day (see v. 12) and all night to burn up an animal completely. Similarly, Yeshua hung on the cross for a long time—from sometime after the third hour (9 AM) until the ninth hour (3 PM). Not only this, but from the six hour (12 PM) to the ninth hour (3 PM) when Yeshua died, darkness come over the earth (Matt 27:45; Luke 23:44). Both the burnt offering and Yeshua’s time on the cross encompassed hours of daylight and darkness.

Leviticus 6:17, No leaven. Why does YHVH stipulate this prohibition? The main Jewish commentaries are unable to answer this question. It is not until we understand the spiritual implications of leavening as revealed in the Testimony of Yeshua that this prohibition makes sense. Leavening is a Hebraism for false doctrines, hypocrisy and sin (Matt 16:1–5, 12; Luke 12:1; 1 Cor 5:1–5). Unleavened bread, on the other hand, is a metaphor for sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:5, the last words of the verse). This is why unleavened bread is consumed at communion on Passover, for it is a symbol of Yeshua’s sinless life that he offered up on the cross for sinners (Matt 26:26), and it symbolizes what should be the heart of the saint. 

Leviticus 7:6, Every male…may eat it. Why were the priests allowed to eat some of the offerings? What’s this all about? Let’s answer this question with a question. Why do believers in Yeshua eat the communion elements, and what do they represent? Is there a Continue reading →

 

Blog Scripture Readings for 3-17 Through 3-23-19

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THIS WEEK’S SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR STUDY AND DISCUSSION:

Parashat Tzav — Leviticus 6:1 (6:8)* – 8:36
Haftarah — Jeremiah 7:21– 8:3; 9:22-23
Prophets — Isaiah 20:1 – 26:21
Writings — Proverbs 2:1 – 8:36
Testimony — John 14:1 – 18:40

Most of this week’s blog discussion points will be on these passages. If you have general comments or questions on the weekly Scripture readings not addressed in a blog post, here’s a place for you to post those. Just use the “leave a reply” link below.

The full “Read Through The Scriptures In A Year” schedule, broken down by each day, can be found on the right sidebar under “Helpful Links.” There are 4 sections of scripture to read each day: one each from the Torah, the Prophets, the Writings, and from the Testimony of Yeshua. Each week, the Torah and haftarah readings will follow the traditional one-year reading cycle.

* Verse numbers in parenthesis refer to the verse number in Christian English Bibles when they differ from Hebrew Bibles or the Tanakh.

Weekly Blog Scripture Readings for 3/17/19 through 3/23/19.

 

Yeshua: What’s more important than Torah-law obedience?

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John 13:35, By this all will know. Love was to be the identifying mark of a disciple of Yeshua. The Bible defines love in several ways. We love Yeshua by keeping his (Torah) commands (John 14:15; 1 John 5:1–3). Yeshua defines the Torah as loving Elohim with all of our heart, soul mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourself (Mark 12:28–31). Paul says that all the laws of Elohim can be summed up in love (Rom 13:8–10). Yeshua said that the greatest expression of love is to lay one’s life down for another as Yeshua did for us (1 John 3:16; 4:11). Without love, all the good—even religious works—we may do YHVH counts as nothing (1 Cor 13).

It’s important to note that most disciples of Yeshua (including Christians) believe this principle, but, sadly, when it comes down to reality, many fail to live out the identifying principles of love. How easy it is to view our religious works as the main identifying marks Continue reading →