Abraham's Great Test

Life is full of tests, but tests are easier to pass when you already know the answers. Abraham knew the answers before he took the test.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayera (וירא | He appeared)

Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37

Gospel: Luke 2:1-38

DID JESUS CHRIST SOMEHOW DISAVOW THE TORAH/LAW AS COMING FROM GOD?

As early after the death of Moses as the events of Joshua 8, the Torah given by God to Moses was called "the Torah of Moses." Do we then think that the authors of Joshua, 1-2Kings, 2Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel somehow denied the "God to Moses" connection because they all wrote, "the Torah of Moses"? Joshua's author likewise called it "the Torah of God," as did the author of Nehemiah (plus Luke and Paul). The author of 1-2Kings also called it "the Torah of YHWH," as did the author of 1-2Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, David, the author of Psa 119, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos (and Luke).

The Marriage Test

Most husbands would respond with a sharp rejoinder: "Hey, it was your bright idea, now it's your problem. Don't blame me." But Abraham was not like most husbands.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Lech Lecha (לך לך | Go forth)

Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Gospel: Matthew 1:1-17

An interesting insight

An interesting insight from my Israeli mentor, Yosef ["Joe"] Shulam:

"And Abram said to Lot, 'Let there please not be contention between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we are men [and] brethren'" (Gen 13:8).

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אַבְרָ֜ם אֶל־לֹ֗וט אַל־נָ֨א תְהִ֤י מְרִיבָה֙ בֵּינִ֣י וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵ֥ין רֹעַ֖י וּבֵ֣ין רֹעֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

Noah the Righteous Man

The Bible says that “Noah was a righteous man.” Does this mean that Noah never committed a single sin? What does it really mean to be righteous?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Noach (נח | Noah)

Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Gospel: Luke 1:5-80

The Day that is Entirely Sabbath

The weekly Sabbath celebrates the coming of the Messiah. The Sabbath offers a weekly foretaste of the era of peace and rest when Messiah will rule the earth. By keeping the Sabbath, we participate in the kingdom of heaven on earth even now.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

B'reisheet (בראשית | In the beginning)

Torah: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

A more Jewish Theory as to when Jesus Christ was probably born

(Part 2)

In Part #1 of this study we surveyed the historical evidence and noted that Dec 25th was not even mentioned in our earliest source for proposed dates of Jesus Christ's birth. Two different traditions were cited by Clément of Alexandria (c. 200 A.D.), demonstrating that even these were not certain. Both were in the Spring. Both had the 25th day of different months as possibilities. The Winter season, or Dec 25 never came up as an option until the 4th century A.D. And there were, and still are other contending dates held by ancient Christian communities. January 19 (some Armenian Christians), January 6 (most Eastern Orthodox Christians). Thus the date of Jesus Christ's birth remains in dispute, with various theories and conflicting evidence.