Manna and Materialism

When the Israelites saw it, they asked, "What is it?" The Hebrew word for manna essentially means "whatchmacallit." It could be cooked, boiled or baked. However, it could not be stored. If anyone tried to hoard it, it turned rancid overnight.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Beshalach (בשלח | When he sent)

Torah: Exodus 13:17-17:16

Haftarah: Judges 4:4-5:31

Gospel: Matthew 5

The Law testifies of Yeshua HaMassiach

I have a Messianic Jewish FB friend who does not believe that he / she needs to obey the Law in its particulars, but rather casts the Law as a Bronze Age God-to-Israel-given document, suited in specifics only for that time. I reminded my FB friend that Jacob [aka "James"] warned against people judging (i.e. negatively evaluating) the Law. Rather, Jesus' half-brother said that we should be "doer[s] of the law" and not its judge (Jam 4:11). In response, my Messianic Jewish FB friend wrote the following:

> I don't think James was refering

> to the law of Moses when he said

> not to judge your brother or you're

> judging the law.

What follows is my response to my FB friend:

Tithing is not a "New Testament"

Tithing is not a "New Testament" commandment of God. And the early Jewish Christians did not tithe to their local congregations. They gave of their produce to the Jerusalem temple (10%), Jerusalem city merchants (10% every first, second, fourth, and seventh year of a seven year cycle), and local charities (10% every third and sixth year of a seven year cycle). Only after the temple was destroyed did tithing stop, since the commandments in the Law regarding tithing are inexorably linked to the temple. The issue, therefore, is not "New Testament" or "Old Testament." It is when and how to apply the Law's commandments. Gentiles (B.C. or A.D.) were never enjoined to tithe, i.e. give 20% to the temple, Jerusalem merchants, or charities within Israel. But Jews in Israel were.

Starting a "House Church"

Starting a "House Church" is really not that hard. The people who make it hard are themselves manifesting carry-overs from the IC. First, seek God. Second, be hospitable. Third, act on that hospitality. Then naturally and unassumingly share your faith with people who hang out with you. You *will* bear fruit. Then group converts into a special circle of your hospitality. Then disciple and be discipled. It *will* bear fruit. Think to the future and make sure people know that they may do the same thing. Result: reproducible Christian congregations that will themselves reproduce. Oh, what a good feeling !!!

-Michael Millier

Plague of Darkness

Exactly how dark is a plague of darkness? In the Bible, darkness symbolizes spiritual ignorance. Light symbolizes revelation from God.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Bo (בוא | Come)

Torah: Exodus 10:1-13:16

Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13-28

Gospel: Mark 3:7-19

Instruction to guide

The word most often translated "Law" (as in the Law of Moses) is in Hebrew תּוֹרָה / TORAH. It comes from the root word ירה / YARAH, which is a verb meaning to shoot or throw something accurately. Hence the arrow and target imagery. "Sin" in Hebrew is חטא / KHATA. It means to fall short of a goal or target. A teacher in Hebrew is a מורה / MOREH (if male) or MORAH (if female), from the same root word as TORAH. Thus TORAH is better understood as "teaching" from God, "instruction" to guide us accurately to the target. Ultimately, we know that "Christ is the goal (τέλος -- not cessation) of the TORAH, for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom 10:4).  –Michael Millier

What's His Name?

What does God's holy four-letter name mean? Why didn't He reveal His sacred name to the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Va'era (וארא | I appeared)

Torah: Exodus 6:2-9:35

Haftarah: Ezekiel 28:25-29:21

Gospel: Matthew 12:1-14

AGAPE IS NOT ALWAYS A SUPERIOR FORM OF LOVE, OR EVEN GODLY OR GOOD (Part #2)

To press my point further (See Part #1 below), that biblical love words must be defined by their individual contexts in Scripture -- and pop definitions which do not match the scriptural evidence, abandoned -- I invite you to look with me at some more synonymous usages of various verbal forms of AGAPE and PHILEO. These will demonstrate that there are places in the NT where AGAPE and PHILEO mean essentially the same thing.

Ordinary Life

How could God use me for anything? I'm no one special. I'm just an ordinary person with an ordinary life.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Shemot (שמות | Names)

Torah: Exodus 1:1-6:1

Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23

Gospel: Luke 5:12-39

Jacob Blesses—Like Ephraim and Manasseh

Jacob Blessing Ephraim and Manasseh, by Benjamin West

Shabbat Shalom!

Welcome to Vayechi (And He Lived), this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion).

  

May you be richly blessed as you study with us the portion of Scripture that will be read during this Shabbat’s (Saturday) morning service in synagogues throughout the world.

Vayechi (And He Lived)

Genesis 47:28–50:26; 1 Kings 2:1–12; Luke 4:31–5:11

“And Jacob lived (Vayechi Yaacov) in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years.” (Genesis 47:28)  

This week’s Torah portion, Parasha Vayechi (and he lived), is the final Shabbat reading from the book of Genesis (Bereisheet).

In last week’s study, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and invited them, as well as his father, to live in Egypt in order to provide for them during the famine.  Joseph, his brothers, and his father were joyfully reunited and reconciled.

Parasha Vayechi ends the first book of the Bible with the death of Jacob as well as that of Joseph.

  

AGAPE IS NOT ALWAYS A SUPERIOR FORM OF LOVE, OR EVEN GODLY OR GOOD (Part #1)

The purpose for the following three posts will be to hopefully demonstrate from Scripture that there are other kinds of AGAPE than what is commonly thought by many Christians; that AGAPE is not exclusively godly. Or good. That we should define Greek words for "love" by their contexts in Scripture and elsewhere. Not by etymology (i.e. proposed root meanings). Certainly not by pop definitions. Then we will know better how to clarify what the Bible teaches about love, choosing the best words to describe our Christian walks and what should transpire within the EKKLESIA. And sometimes the best can be ... PHILEO.

Depending.

Judah Reveals His True Character

Shabbat Shalom!

Welcome to this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion), which is called Vayigash (Then He Drew Near).

We know you will be blessed as you study with us this portion that will be read in every synagogue around the world on this Shabbat (Saturday).  Enjoy!

VAYIGASH (Then He Drew Near)

Genesis 44:18–47:27; Ezekiel 37:15–28; John 5:1–47

“Then Judah came near [Vayigash וַיִּגַּשׁ] unto him and said, ‘Pardon your servant, my lord, let me speak a word to my lord.  Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.’”  (Genesis 44:18)

In last week’s Torah portion, Pharaoh appointed Joseph administrator over all of Egypt in order to save Egypt from the coming famine, which he did.  That famine affected much of the region, and the nations looked to Egypt as a source of food.

When Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for grain, Joseph recognized them but did not reveal himself, wisely testing their integrity through a series of character challenges.

Joseph's Brothers Find the Silver Goblet in Benjamin's Pack, by Alexander Ivanov

Preparing for Life After Death

Is belief in God and an afterlife merely a crutch for people who fear death? What does the Torah say about going to heaven when you die?

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayechi (ויחי | He lived)

Torah: Genesis 47:28-50:26

Haftarah: 1 Kings 2:1-12

Gospel: Luke 4:31-5:11