Awhile back my dad and I were having a conversation about our impact on the world. Mostly because at the time I was failing out of my stats class and feeling particularly worthless. I explained that I felt like it was difficult for me to make an impact on anyone. I’m stretched very thin, between work and school and our girls group on Thursdays and such. My dad made a point that didn’t really mean anything to me at the time about how we are always impacting someone indirectly. Be it that my tax money is helping someone live, or the money I spent on coffee was helping the barista have a job. More time has gone by, and I’ve been thinking about it more. The indirect matters too. So I’ve been trying to think about how to put that consciousness into action. How can I change my indirect impact too? So far, I’m into buying cruelty free makeup, and recycling but I’m still pondering what else? Following Torah even, makes me wonder how I indirectly affect others just by keeping Torah, anyway, these are just some thoughts I’ve been pondering. :)
Lets try and make a good impact on the world around us. <3
How easy would it be, if YHWH was just like “Hey, here’s this list that I want you to get done, here’s how I want it done, jump to it? I really wish some days that that was how it worked. I feel a stirring in my soul that I can’t explain, a need for change. In some ways I feel like I’m moving in the right direction but in other ways I’m like “Hmmm, Father, what does this mean? What should I be learning from this??” You know? I feel like I’m here for a specific purpose, but for the life of me I don’t know what it is and I don’t feel like it has been revealed to me quite yet.
As a random side note for my followers, if you guys have prayer requests, let me know. I will gladly pray for you. I keep thinking if we all post prayer requests, we’d have some unity on a bigger level on Tumblr, you know? :)
Anyway, tonight I’m just speculating, thoughts anyone? :)
What Would Yeshua (Jesus) say to us if we asked him how we may have eternal life?
Again I say let us see how the savior of the world would respond!
Luk 10:25And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 10:26He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
Luk 10:30And Jesus answering said, A certainmanwent down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and woundedhim,and departed, leavinghimhalf dead.
Luk 10:31And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:32And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and lookedon him,and passed by on the other side.
Luk 10:33But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassionon him,
Luk 10:34And went tohim,and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
Luk 10:35And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gavethemto the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Luk 10:36Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
Luk 10:37And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Regarding eternal life, Yeshua once again zeroes in on the Torah, what it has to say on the matter and what the man’s interpretation of the torah is regarding the question. The man answers marvelously with the correct answer. Yeshua agrees with his interpretation, and even goes as far as to say that if the man does the two torah commands mentioned, he will live (That is have eternal life as implied from the man’s question). Yeshua then expounds to the man a clear meaning of what a neighbor means in Torah. And finally tells the man “go, and do though likewise” (That is to love his neighbor as himself).
Wait a minute, can Yeshua (Jesus) really say that. Why on earth would Yeshua even bring the Torah up in the first place, especially if it is being done away with (LOL)? How come Yeshua does not say “it’s all about me Jesus”, “Just believe in me for eternal life”, “If you try to keep the law (Torah) it is a death sentence” etc.
Obviously, once again, we see that Yeshua believes emphatically that the Torah is valid and we should do what it says. If you have been reading any of these teachings about the Messiah thus far, you will probably start to realize that what Yeshua has to say about things, is very different than what most of us are taught in our homes and churches. Some will undoubtedly say “Well, Jesus didn’t get to read Paul’s writings and therefore he does not know any better” “He will change his mind after he reads what Paul has to say”.
At this point I want to refer to the passages below, in which the Almighty tells us that we should listen to Yeshua’s teachings
Mat 17:5While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Deu 18:15The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
Here, we see what happens if we do not hearken to Yeshua’s teachings.
Mat 7:26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Mat 7:27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Interestingly enough, the Almighty never says such things of Paul’s writings. If there ever be a conflict between what Paul says and what Yeshua says we need to obey Yeshua. This is not to say that I believe Paul intentionally taught anything of the sort. We will find in further teachings that Paul keeps Torah also. But it is worth saying that we are of Messiah, not of Paul.
Once again we find some valuable dialogue of Yeshua (Jesus) and once again we need to listen.
I will submit that this conversation started off on a hot topic of Sabbath being broken. Yeshua obviously did not break the “written torah” Sabbath or he would not have been sinless. But he did show that their interpretation of what was breaking the Sabbath was incorrect. I will save this discussion for later under a title of what I will call “traditions of the elders”.
Now to get back on topic with our Title and lets read the scripture reference.
Joh 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Joh 5:40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
Joh 5:41I receive not honour from men.
Joh 5:42But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
Joh 5:43I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
Joh 5:44How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour thatcomethfrom God only?
Joh 5:45Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there isonethat accuseth you,evenMoses, in whom ye trust.
Joh 5:46For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Joh 5:47But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
From the above we will find that Yeshua (Jesus) said for them to search the scriptures which testify of him. Keep in mind that at this time there is no New Testament written, only the Old Testament. So I also encourage you to read the Old Testament and learn about him.
I would like to talk about the word believe. I would dare say that most people would say that they believe in Jesus. That is to say that the man existed. But we most of us have been taught that the word believe in scripture is more than just an intellectual thought, but belief also means having faith. I would like to take a side note on the word faith as a particular comparison has had an impact on me from my youth and is worthy of being shared.
There is a man that is going to cross over Niagara Falls on a tight rope with a wheelbarrow. He asks the crowd if they believe he can do it. They all cheer “yes”. Then he asks for a volunteer to get in the wheelbarrow and go with him. No one is willing to go. Showing no faith of course.
This, my Friend, is the difference in belief versus faith in our time. But the word believe in the scriptures incorporates both faith and belief.
With that in mind we see that Yeshua (Jesus) is saying in verse 46 that if you got in the wheelbarrow with Moses; you would also get in the wheelbarrow with Yeshua. But even more glaringly implied in verse 47, that If we do not get in the wheelbarrow with Moses’ writings, we cannot get in the wheelbarrow with Yeshua’s own his words.Wow what a warning!
That being said, Lets address the men being talked to and their failings and perhaps we can learn something here as well. We can see that the problem with the people being addressed is they counted knowing the scriptures or intellect as equal with eternal life. . The same could be said now also, we have no special favor from Elohim (God) just because we learn the scriptures. Yet it is advantageous for us if we learn them and believe him and keep them.
We know that our love and faith in Elohim (God) and his love for us is what brings life, and our keeping his commandments is our response to that love.
We can see that Yeshua makes it appoint to say they have not the love of Elohim (God) in them in verse 5:42. We can see that this is a very real problem in the Scriptures below, as Elohim requires us to love him (and his son) as well as keep his commandments.
Deu 7:9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
Again we see what is required of us below.
Deu 10:12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
Deu 10:13To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
It is too bad that these men did not have the love for God at this time. Bear in mind they may have changed their hearts later on, as we also can. Therefore let us love Elohim (God and his son) with all our hearts and keep his commandments.
What Would Yeshua (Jesus) say to us if we asked him how we may have eternal life?
Here we have three witnesses of what Yeshua would say if asked.
1.Keep the Commandments (especially the 10 commandments).
2.Follow Him.
Mat 19:16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?there isnone good but one,that is,God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19Honour thy father andthymother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 19:20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, goandsell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and comeandfollow me.
Mat 19:22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Mar 10:17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good?there isnone good but one,that is,God.
Mar 10:19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Mar 10:23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Luk 18:19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? noneisgood, save one,that is,God.
Luk 18:20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Luk 18:21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Luk 18:22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luk 18:23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
Luk 18:24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
Luk 18:25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Things worthy of notice:
It is Interesting that after hearing that the man kept the commandments in mark 10:21, It says that Yeshua Beholding himloved him. We would Normally Think of Yeshua loving everyone all the time regardless of circumstance. Why is this even mentioned here? It seems that the man keeping the commandments was special to Yeshua (Jesus).
It is very tantalizing the order in which Yeshua brings the answer about. Because in all these examples we would expect Yeshua to only say ”Follow me”, Or “Believe in me is all you need” (from previous church sermons). It is also of interest that Yeshua did not answer saying “keep the commandments and follow me”. He rather answered the man to keep the commandments only as his first answer. Much more so, If the guy had not kept the commandments, it makes one ponder what might have transpired.
1.Perhaps that would be all that was said and the guy walks away.
2.Perhaps the guy would start keeping the commandments.
3.Perhaps Yeshua would not have loved him.
We cannot get away from talking about these passages of scripture without mentioning what about the man selling everything and giving to the poor. I was taught in church that this particular man needed to sell his possessions specifically for him. That it is not needed for everyone, but was a stumbling block for him of sorts. The scriptures do not give much reference to the man except to say he is a ruler.
One speculation I have thought of is that the man was a Levite.
Num 18:23But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
Perhaps this man had bought lands and possessions that were forbidden to him by the above verse.
Or Perhaps the man was not keeping this portion of the Torah and Yeshua was pointing out that he was lacking here. In the Scripture below.
Deu 15:7If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother:
Deu 15:8But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
Deu 15:9Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
Deu 15:10Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Deu 15:11For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
First up I would like to bring about a premise. That is that Elohim (God) is to be found as the one that is true over any man. We can refer to this reference below for that foundation.
I also bring about the premise that our Messiah Yeshua and his word is over any man.
Rom 3:4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
In saying this I believe that all scripture lines up with all other scripture. Where clear meaning is given takes precedence over loose interpretation to fit one’s own ideas.
With that being said let’s get down to some juicy stuff.
Here is a Teaching on What the Messiah has to say about the Torah! Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. We clearly see from verse 19 that I am teaching you about the commandments of Elohim and do them will be called great in the kingdom of Heaven (This is me).
Whoever breaks the least one of the commandment, and teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven (Could be You!). I desire that the word of our Messiah will change your mind and heart if this be the case. Most of us have been taught or reasoned that somehow these verses show that the law has been done away with and that Jesus did it… That is very far from the truth. If we examine very closely what our savior is really trying to say here we can come to a very different conclusion….
First in verse 18 Yeshua (Jesus) says very clearly that not even one jot or tittle shall pass until (at least until) heaven and earth pass away. NEWS FLASH Heaven and earth are still here!
on a side note the Jots and Tittles are not translated into our English bibles… The Jots are small dots that are over the top of certain words… While the tittles are certain letters in Hebrew that are sometimes very small or stretched or very large… And they emphasize certain things…
in verse 19 Yeshua says that whosoever (this covers the same whosoevers that will come to him) shall break one of the least of the commandments and teach men to break them also (jeez most churches teach against these commandments) will be called least in the kingdom… The Whosoever that shall do them and teach them Shall be called Great in the kingdom. All I can say is that for me I want to be doing what my Father in heaven thinks is great, not least and listen to God rather than listen to men.
Very clearly in verse 17 Yeshua gives us a commandment… Very specifically he says that we should “Think not that I have come to destroy the law” Most of us have broken that commandment and thought that very thing… Let’s obey him and not think such anymore!
Now we are taught that he fulfilled the law and the prophets also… But let’s take a look at the Greek word that was translated as fulfil.
G4137 πληρόω plēroō play-ro’-o From G4134; to make replete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
While most preachers and modern churches use only the meaning “finish” from the above word… The plain text of what our Savior has to say makes that use completely out of place… As a matter of fact I will show from the scriptures that the messiah has not finished the law and the prophets or accomplished them yet… But first we need to use the correct meaning from the above definition…
so let’s try some different examples
1. I am not come to destroy, but to satisfy. He did satisfy the law being the only person to not break the Torah.
2. I am not come to destroy, but to verify. He did verify the importance of the Torah!
3. I am not come to destroy, but to fully preach. This Yeshua did very strongly!
While Yeshua clearly states even in verse 18 that heaven and earth will have to pass away before there is even a possibility of the torah missing even a jot or tittle… It also states that all the Torah (law) must be fulfilled too.
It is very Very clear that Yeshua did not fulfil all of the law and prophets.
Here is one good example for us new covenant bretheren….
Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Now we are taught that we are living in the “New Covenant” now or “New Testament” times…. But according to these verses, it is very clear that while we are taught that we have this covenant, we clearly don’t have the results of this covenant.
1. The new covenant is for the house of Israel and the House of Judah. (The churches teach Israel is done away with) 2. I will put my Torah (law) on their inward parts. (We have been taught to reject his Torah, certainly not keeping it in our hearts) 3. They shall no more teach saying, “Know the Lord”. (We are taught we must teach everyone about “Lord” Jesus).
We can clearly see that this prophecy has not taken place yet. Granted Yeshua provided the blood for the covenant… This covenant is still future! And I look forward to it!
There are numerous examples of prophecy that still needs fulfilled… But this will at least open some eyes to what the Word has to say… God Bless!
I really do, I want to know how our Jewish brethren keep the feasts. Coming from a christian backround these things are so foreign to us. We’ve been keeping them for six years but the Jewish people seem to obtain so much more joy than we do. I’m afraid to visit a synagogue though, I don’t know their customs and I’m afraid I’ll wear the wrong thing or say something incorrectly.
I am a speckled sheep, attempting to love and encourage those I come into contact with. I'm a daughter of YHWH and I tend to smile a lot. :) I believe in loving each other as brothers and I would prefer that there is no hate for anyone displayed on my page. We ALL fall short, we are ALL imperfect. Let's not waste time bickering eh? :)
