Principle #1

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…

As Greek As It Gets

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…

Kingdom Ethics

“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?…

Quiet Time

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,…

Added Sin

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…

Body of Lies

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…

The Questions Answered

“Even if I bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I go.” John 8:14 Bear Witness – Why were the Pharisees so distraught about Yeshua’s teaching? They were distressed because He did not fit the proper protocol. In rabbinic Judaism, a true teacher had to…

BREAK

I need a break. 🙂 So, I thought today you could use a thousand words some other way.