The whole of Y’shua’s message and ministry

Parasha Va’etchanan

Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Isaiah 40:1-26

Matthew 23:31-39

Applying the Portion to Life Today

The greatest commandment in the entire Bible is found in parasha Va’etchanan, Devarim 6:4-9.  It is this Torah passage that Y’shua quoted when he was asked what is most vital in the Scriptures. It is this Torah passage that should be central to all lives of Bible believers.  The whole of Y’shua’s message and ministry, indeed the whole of Torah can be summed up in these few verses.  Jews for thousands of years have repeated this passage twice daily as a constant reminder of what really matters.  Let’s take a few minutes and consider in the original Hebrew terms what Y’shua said was the first and primary mitzvot.

He Who Seeks Finds

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Va'etchanan (ואתחנן | I pleaded)

Torah: Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26

Gospel: Luke 22:13-38

A special portion for Shabbat Nachamu is applicable this Shabbat!

Shabbat Nachamu (שבת נחמו | Sabbath of comforting)

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:1-26

These are the Words

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

A famous rebbe once stated that the opening phrase of the parashah, "These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel," is meant to teach that words of Torah should always be regarded as something new and exciting. "They should be new in your eyes every day," says Rashi. Ben Bag Bag says, "Turn it over, turn it over again, for everything is within it. Look into it and become gray haired and old in it." (m.Avot 5:22)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Devarim (דברים | Words)

Torah: Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22

Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27

Gospel: Mark 14:1-16

The Land of Israel

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

"Command the sons of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you as an inheritance, even the land of Canaan according to its borders.'" (Numbers 34:2)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Massei (מסעי | Journeys)

Torah: Numbers 33:1-36:13

Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4-28, 3:4,4:1-2

Gospel: Matthew 24:1-25:46

Religion is a Two-edged Sword

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Religion is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, faith in God, trust in Messiah and obedience to God's commandments is the narrow path that leads to life. It brings peace, joy and purpose to existence. On the other hand, religious convictions can become a source of strife, enmity and hatred between people and nations.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Pinchas (פנחס | Phinehas)

Torah: Numbers 25:10-30:1

Haftarah: 1 Kings 18:46-19:21

Gospel: Mark 11:27-12:37

Life's Little Interruptions

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

If God can speak through a donkey, He can speak through anything and anyone. A person should always be attentive to the words of others, always listening for the voice of the LORD.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Balak (בלק | Balak)

Torah: Numbers 22:2-25:9

Haftarah: Micah 5:6-6:8

Gospel: Mark 11:12-26

Paul's phrase

Paul's phrase "speaking the truth in love" (Eph 4:15) is an allusion to Lev 19:17, 18 --

"You must not harbor hatred against your brother. Rebuke your fellow directly, and you will not incur guilt because of him. Do not take revenge or bear a grudge against members of your community, but you shall love your fellow as yourself; I am YHWH."

1Cor 9 should not be taken to mean that Paul ate pork with his Greek constituents, while only kosher food with his Jewish compadres. Just as we're not authorized to sin in order to be culturally relevant, neither was he.

-Michael Millier