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.

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

(Part 1)

Around 200 A.D., Clément of Alexandria, a Gentile Christian theologian in Egypt, made the first known reference to the date/s Jesus Christ was born. About the same time, Clément's student, Origen (c. 165–264 A.D.), another Gentile Egyptian Christian, mocked as “pagan” the Roman practice of celebrating birthdays. (Origen, Homily on Leviticus 8). Despite Origen’s censure -- and according to Clément, Origen’s mentor -- a couple of different days had been proposed at that time by various Christian groups. Surprising as it may seem to Roman Catholics and Protestants, Clément doesn't mention December 25 at all! 

Grace Negotiations

Moses knew that he had found favor in God's eyes. By deliberatly identifying himself with Israel, he extended that favor to the whole nation.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Sukkot on Shabbat (סוכות שבת חל המועד | Intermediate Day of Sukkot on Shabbat)

Torah: Exodus 33:12-34:26

Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:18-39:16

THE CHRISTIAN'S PRIESTHOOD IS NOT MELCHIZEDEK'S

I disagree with the assertion that you or I (or any Christians) participate in the priestly order of Melchizedek. When Peter and John allude to the Christian's priesthood it is in language borrowed from the Torah/Law about Israel's priestly status.

The Levitical priesthood is post hoc Israel's national priesthood; the Melchizedek priesthood existed prior to the patriarch Israel's / Jacob's existence; more so then to his son Levi's. Yet the Levitical priesthood remains as an eternally-covenanted (Num 25:13; Jer 33:17-22) organic organization within Israel's national priesthood -- creating a hierarchy of [Levitical] high priest, over yet serving the Levitical priests and all of Israel, who [the Levitical priests] are over yet serving the Levites and all of Israel, who [the Levites] are over yet serving all of Israel, as Israel performs its national priestly duties of representing to the nations the Creator/Ruler,and of teaching Gentiles more about God and His ways.

Days of Awe, or yamim nora'im (יָמִים נוֹרָאִים)

Yom Kippur, or the "Day of Atonement," is the holiest day of the Jewish year, and provides prophetic insight regarding the Second Coming of the Messiah, the restoration of national Israel, and the final judgment of the world. It is also a day that reveals the High-Priestly work of Yeshua as our Kohen Gadol (High Priest) after the order of Malki-Tzedek (Heb. 5:10, 6:20).

Judgement Day

Why would believers in Yeshua have anything to do with a day of fasting, repentance, and atonement? Has not the Messiah already atoned for our sins?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Yom Kippur (יום כיפור | Day of Atonement)

Torah: Leviticus 16

Haftarah: Isaiah 57:14-58:14