The Least of the Commandments

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. (Proverbs 12:10)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Ki Tetze (כי תצא | When you go forth)

Torah: Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-10

Gospel: Luke 23:1-25

King of the Jews

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

The commandment for the king to write a copy of the Torah demonstrates the work of Messiah. He Himself is the Word made flesh. He is the copy of the Torah in human form. Furthermore, He writes a copy of the Torah as He writes the Torah upon our hearts. The Torah of King Messiah is "written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts" (2 Corinthians 3:3).

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Shoftim (שופטים | Judges)

Torah: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Haftarah: Isaiah 51:12-52:12

Gospel: Matthew 26:47-27:10

Invitation to God’s House

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

Why do people face towards Jerusalem while praying? When King Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, he petitioned God that He might place His Name upon the Temple. He asked that God would hear from heaven and answer anyone who prayed toward that place. The LORD answered Solomon’s prayer saying, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually” (1 Kings 9:3).

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Re'eh (ראה | See)

Torah: Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5

Gospel: John 16:1-17:26

Return to our "Hebrew Roots" in terms of reading Scripture

GREEK THINKING VERSUS(?) HEBREW THINKING …

Some Christians today (particularly those who, like me, have been influenced by the Messianic Movement) sometimes act as if we disciples of Yeshua/Jesus were dropped off from a different planet, with its own otherworldly culture. Or like at least disciples in Paul's and John's day were dropped off from a different planet. Commendably seeking to return to their/our "Hebrew Roots" in terms of reading Scripture, yet themselves often employing "Greek" style "either/or" thinking and argumentation (thus setting up false dichotomies), these modern disciples of Yeshua/Jesus insist that "Greek thinking" should have no place in the Christian's life.

We must prove faithful with the little things

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Ekev (עקב | Consequence)

Torah: Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

Haftarah: Isaiah 49:14-51:3

Gospel: John 13:31-15:27

Forty Years of Preparation

Thus you are to know in your heart that the LORD your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. (Deuteronomy 8:5)

Before God can entrust us with great things, we must prove faithful with the little things. Yeshua says, "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much" (Luke 16:10). God tested the children of Israel for forty years in the wilderness before bringing them into the Promised Land to humble them and to see if they would remain faithful to His Torah.

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