Category Archives: Back2Basics
Weightier Matters of Torah: Justice, Mercy, and Trust
Matthew 23 is a powerful chapter where we see Y’shua rebuking the Torah-teachers and P’rushim (scribes and Pharisees) for their hypocrisy. Searching Scriptures and the B’rit Hadasha – Renewed Covenant – we find the Prophets rebuking Israel many times. Often times it’s their willful sin and violation of YHVH’s Torah (instructions). Y’shua did the same in Matthew 23. One particular verse is used in many communities; Christian or Messianic/Hebrew Roots, to essentially do the same to modern-day, would-be Torah-teachers or the like.
Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim! You pay your tithes of mint, dill and cumin; but you have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah — justice, mercy, trust. These are the things you should have attended to — without neglecting the others!
Keeping & Doing the Commandments of God
“And you shall guard My commands and do them. I am יהוה. ~ Leviticus 22:31 (ISR98)
Most bible translations do not use the word “guard” in this verse. Instead, it is often translated as “to keep”. If we look up the Hebrew in this passage we see the word, “shamar” (שָׁמַר). The overall translation in the Hebrew lexicon for H8104 is – to keep, guard, observe, give heed. Further investigation illustrates an even better picture of what it means to keep, or to guard something; a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to.
Back to Basics: Understanding Torah Observance
Examine it for yourself and let’s discuss. These are questions you should be asking yourself.
But He [Yeshua] answering, said, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that comes from the MOUTH of יהוה.’ ” ~ Matthew 4:4
Where do we find the WORD of God?
In the BEGINNING was the WORD, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. ~ John 1:1
What was in the beginning?
In the BEGINNING Elohim created the heavens and the earth. ~ Genesis 1:1
Why did God create these TWO things?
“At the MOUTH of TWO or three WITNESSES shall he that is to die be put to death. He is not put to DEATH by the mouth of one witness. ~ Deut 17:6
So what? Heaven and Earth are witnesses. To what?
“I have called the HEAVENS and the EARTH as WITNESSES today against you: I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, the BLESSING and the CURSE. Therefore you shall CHOOSE LIFE, so that you live, both you and your seed, to love יהוה your Elohim, to obey His VOICE, and to cling to Him – for **He** is your LIFE and the length of your days – to dwell in the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya‛aqoḇ, to give them.” ~ Deut 30:19-20
Inductive Torah Study: The Feast of Trumpets – Day Five
Today we will look at more references of blowing the “trumpet” for more insight into when it was to be blown. You probably are already seeing that our study into the Feast of Trumpets is also a study in part of Yom Kippur and the Feast of Tabernacles. All of the Feasts are interconnected and lead into the next as YHVH’s redemption is being played out. You may have also seen and noted that many of the scriptures studied contain a form of the statement “because YHVH brought you out of Egypt”, which is the beginning of His redemptive process and what the Feasts are about!
Today we will continue to pull the “thread” of trumpets and see how it is woven through His Word and how He reveals His redemptive plan through it.
Day 5
Begin with PRAYER. If you like personalize and pray Psalm 27 to The Father!
Inductive Torah Study: The Feast of Trumpets – Day Four
Today we will continue our look at KEY WORDS and a few more CROSS REFERENCES to give us more understanding on what the Feast of Trumpets is and what we are to do in observing it. Also, we will study and see how YHVH works with His People and according to that which He works and why – His Covenant – which the Feasts are a part and reason for them are contained. There are a lot of passages that we will look at today and we there are still more “days’ of study material. Don’t feel pressured to get it all done in one sitting. The goal is to understand and be taught by The Teacher, in His timing, don’t rush, take whatever time you need and the Holy Spirit is leading you with! Remember – this is a life long study that also includes obedience of DOING, of OBSERVING the Feasts. By doing so, you will learn the deep truths of this and all of the Feasts.
Inductive Torah Study: The Feast of Trumpets – Day Three
We already have lots of information from YHVH’s Word on “trumpets” and yet there is still more to be mined from the treasure of His Word! Today we will look at some of the KEY WORDS that we have seen in the verses so far. We will study them a little bit more to see what they have to tell us and what relation and/or aspect they have upon the Feast of Trumpets. It may seem as we “rabbit trailing” with our study today, but at the end it will all come together to give us a complete picture of the Feast. I often use other translations as the words used can give a clearer understanding.
I use the Bible Study Tools on Crosswalk.com as an easy way to compare the translations/versions. It has many translations/versions as well as the NASB with Strongs #’s here: www.crosswalk.com , just input a word or verse or passage in the “Search the Bible” box midway on the right hand side of the page. You will then see either the verse/passage or a list of verses that contain the word searched for. You can change the version of the scriptures in the drop down box above the verse. The only two translations that are keyed with the Strong’s lexicons are the KJV and the NASB. If you choose these, and want to see the keyed words, just put a check mark in the small box for “Strong’s Numbers”. You can also check the box for “Cross References” as well. You will then be able to either hover over the highlighted number or click it to see and click on the cross-references.
Inductive Torah Study: The Feast of Trumpets – Day Two
Today we will continue our study with OBSERVING Cross References and related passages. We will repeat the OBSERVATION of all the related passages throughout the study using the whole counsel of the Word to determine the INTERPRETATION of the topic, book or passage we are studying. Then after INTERPRETATION phase is completed, we will APPLY what we have learned in our lives. Each day will build upon the previous and we will summarize what was OBSERVED in each. Group discussion allows you to share your insights with others who are participating in the study. Additional insight can be gleaned from the Observations of the group, so please share yours for discussion!
