Month: July 2023

The letter and the spirit

Early in the morning hours a husband is speeding along a highway at 102 miles an hour. His reason? His wife is moments away from giving birth. At some point along the way local police get involved and without knowing anything other than the speed of the vehicle, begin to pursue. The man frantically calls 911 and informs dispatch of his and his wife’s situation. Soon after the relay is made to the officers, they begin to escort the man and his wife. Upon arrival to the hospital, the wife gives birth and the officers write a speeding ticket. The man shows up to court, the judge hears the case, and dismisses the charges. (You can read an actual account here.)

There is without a doubt a written law, however, behind the written law there is the spirit of the law beyond what is written. The man in the story above broke the written law. Yet, the spirit of the law was not intended to impede or impose undue hardship upon society. The judge acted in the spirit of the law when he dismissed the charges. Yahoshua, in His sermon on the mount explains this principle. He begins:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)

He is laying out the written law. He is showing it’s importance and He is giving a weight to begin. It has importance, warning, and measure, with outcome. In many instances the spirit of the law is actually more harsh than the written law itself, for example.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘you shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool?’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)

And:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 (ESV)

These are just two examples of the spirit of the law being even more harsh or exact than the written law. Which gives greater need for forgiveness as i am sure we are all already guilty of at least one of these two examples. Yet there are other examples of the spirit of the law being not as hard to keep, the fourth commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day . . .” Is the example i will use here. When questioned by the Pharisees about why His disciples were picking and eating grain on the Sabbath, Yahoshua responded, “Have you not read . . .” After going on a bit Yahoshua finishes by saying, “For the Son of Man is Adon of the Sabbath.” Later, He references untethering a donkey, or getting an ox out of a ditch on the Sabbath. It wasn’t the letter of the law that was insignificant but it was the fact that it did not exist to burden us but rather to give us rest. It wasn’t meant to hinder us but to encourage us.

In fact all the law and all the prophets exist to encourage us. The law is not a burden. When we keep the commandments of YWHW we become better. Love Elohim, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second, love your neighbor as yourself. These complete the whole. The spirit of the Law has always been and will always be honoring YWHW. Micah writes:

“With what shall I come before YWHW, bow myself before the high Elohim? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Is YWHW pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my being? He has declared to you, O man, what is good. And what does YWHW require of you but to do right, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” Micah 6:6-8 (HS)

We do not earn our salvation by keeping the commandments of YWHW, we honor Him through it. We do not work our way to heaven, we walk with Yahoshua ha’Mashiah. When we fall He is there to help us up. In Yahoshua is the perfect law of liberty, and as we call Him Adonai, we need to honor Him by doing as He did and as He taught. There is coming a time when we will either hear, “Well done . . .” Or “Depart from me . . .” And not just those that reject the name of Yahoshua but also those who call Him Adonai.

“But why do you call me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and do not do what I say? Everyone who is coming to Me, and is hearing My Words and is doing them, I shall show you whom he is like: . . .” Luke 6:46- (HS)

Oh that we would come to know the fullness of Elohim, through His Son Yahoshua. That our faith and understanding, would be, an ever increasing and deepening matter of our heart and mind.

You are loved,
cj

Kingdom, Power, and Glory

We have come to the final lines of what modern Christianity credits to Adonai’s Prayer; “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This line however isn’t found in the oldest and most authoritative manuscripts of Matthew’s Gospel. It is found first in the margins of some manuscripts which later crept into the text. Known in theological circles as a Doxology. Defined by Webster: “a usually liturgical expression of praise to God.” So, what do we do with it?

First, lets focus on the words, “For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” we have come full circle really. This expression of praise points back to the opening, “Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.” It certainly does not take away from or change the meaning of the prayer itself. It simply bookends the prayer. But is it wrong?

The idea that we should not add to or take away from Scripture is a real dilemma here. We first have to look at history, try to understand all the facts, and look deep into the intention. Ask the question, does it mean to change what Yahoshua was teaching? The simple answer is, no, it does not. Also, many if not all Bibles today have in the footnotes some mention of this not being in the majority text. So facts, as they are found, are not being hidden.

Here is my takeaway from this: In the grand scheme of things, whether one uses it or not isn’t right or wrong. If one wishes to be a purist in that they believe this was intended as a model or form for prayer, than it should not be used. However, if one takes the understanding that this teaching on prayer was intended as a pattern, than adding to without changing its meaning or substance, is certainly within acceptable limits. i look at this two ways personally, overtime my idea of Yahoshua’s teaching here has evolved from a simple pattern for prayer, to a leveled understanding that it is both, and. Therefore, i use it and i don’t depending on how i am using it. If reciting it from Scripture i have come to leave it out, perhaps making mention depending on the setting. And if in personal prayer, i tend to use it to bring my focus and attention from what i desire to surrendering to the Will of Elohim the Father.

The point of this prayer and the reason Yahoshua taught it in such away i think is revealed in His Prayer found in John 17. Specifically, the ending verses 24-26; “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent Me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” It was Yahoshua’s mission to reveal the heart of the Father, YHWH, to all of creation. In so doing, He separated Himself, a model of complete submission.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Mashiah Yahoshua, who, though He was in the form of Elohim, did not count equality with Elohim a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore Elohim has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Yahoshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Yahoshua ha’Mashiah is Adon, to the glory of Elohim the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

Ultimately, my hope is that you will take Adonai’s Prayer and make it a regular part of your prayer life. Whether you pray it word for word, or you paraphrase it in a way that doesn’t change it’s context or meaning, allow Yahoshua’s teaching to direct your thoughts and prayers in a way that reflects the heart of the Father.

You are loved,
cj

But deliver us from evil

From the fall of man in the garden, creation has groaned for deliverance and redemption. “And I put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall crush your head, and you shall crush His heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Since this moment in history humanity has only gotten farther from YHWH. “And YHWH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5) It was after this that Elohim flooded the earth. Yet, humanity still fallen, continued its slide. “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens, and make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over all the face of the earth.” (Genesis 11:4) Notice the pronouns, us, ourselves, we . . . Which go back to the garden; “And the serpent said to the woman, ‘You shall certainly not die. For Elohim knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like Elohim, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5)

Life since has not changed, as King Solomon writes, “What has been is what shall be, what has been done is what shall be done, and there is none new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) This brings us to the story of deliverance and redemption. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Yahoshua ha’Mashiah we have redemption for sin and deliverance from the judgment coming to this present age. This line in Adonai’s prayer, “but deliver us from evil,” has also been translated, “but deliver us from the wicked one.” Some translation say, the evil one, or the devil, all of which certainly capture the intent. We are to look for and seek for our deliverance through YHWH.

Ephesians 2:1-9 says: “And you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the authority of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, as also the rest. But YHWH, who is rich in compassion, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sin, made us alive together with Mashiah – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavens in Mashiah Yahoshua, in order to show in the coming ages the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Mashiah Yahoshua. For by grace you have been saved, through belief, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, it is not by works, so that no one should boast.”

In a world that indulges in forbidden fruit, that seeks its own, where personal truth trumps the Truth of Elohim, we must seek for deliverance through our deliverer, Yahoshua ha’Mashiah. The devil is prowling around, just looking to devour us, we must stand strong, and endure. As i wrote last time, put on the full armor of Elohim.

“Because of this, take up the complete armor of Elohim, so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all to stand. Stand, then, having girded your waist with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace; above all, having taken up the shield of faith with which you shall have power to quench all the burning arrows of the wicked one. Take also the helmet of deliverance, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of YWHW, praying at all times, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:13-18

May we honestly seek and pray, “deliver us from evil,” in an increasingly evil world.

You are loved,
cj

And lead us not into temptation

Matthew 6:9-13

Back in 2017 Pope Francis approved a change to the Lord’s Prayer, to be made in the liturgical book which contains guiding texts for mass in the Roman Catholic Church. This specific line, “lead us not into temptation,” was changed to, “do not let us fall into temptation.” His reasoning, the Pope told Italian TV, “It is not a good translation because it speaks of a God who induces temptation. I am the one who falls. It’s not him pushing me into temptation to then see how I have fallen.”

Although, i would agree that Elohim doesn’t tempt us; as James indicates, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by Elohim,’ for Elohim cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one.’” (James 1:13) He certainly allows for it. We can look at many instances of Scripture in which temptation was allowed, Job sticks out immediately, as does the temptation of Yahoshua ha’Mashiah in the wilderness. In Luke we read, “And Yahoshua, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.” (Luke 4:1-2)

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and Elohim is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

How did Yahoshua deal with the temptations in the wilderness? He answered with the Word of Elohim.

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” (Luke 4:4–Deuteronomy 8:3)

“It is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your Elohim, and Him only shall you serve.’” (Luke 4:8–Deuteronomy 6:13)

“It is said, You shall not put Yahweh your Elohim to the test.’” (Luke 4:12–Deuteronomy6:16)

Here are the takeaways from Yahoshua’s wilderness temptations: He was filled with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” Paul writes to the Romans in chapter 7 about this very struggle. We must be mindful to put on the full armor of Elohim. Ephesians 6:10-18 talks about this in detail but let me highlight two parts.

First, verses 11-12, Paul writes, “Put on the whole armor of Elohim, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This battle we are facing is a spiritual one and we need to have the Holy Spirit in order to fight.

Second, verse 18, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” The best way to fight is in prayer, constant prayer, praying at all times, “Pray without ceasing,” as we are instructed in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. These are the takeaways, we must walk in the Spirit, we must put on the full armor of Elohim, and we must pray without ceasing! It reminds me of Micah 6:8 Act justly, sounds like walking with the spirit, love mercy, sounds a lot like pieces of the armor; and walk humbly with Elohim, looks a lot like praying without ceasing, a whole lot of conversation.

Finally, as Paul wrote to the Philippians; “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because ha’Mashiah Yahoshua has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in ha’Mashiah Yahoshua.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

Press on . . .

You are loved,
cj

As we forgive our debtors

“For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” Matthew 6:14-15

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our sins from us.” (Psalm 103:12) It is a wonderful promise to be forgiven in such away that our sin is removed as far as the east is from the west. We love the idea that Elohim forgives in such away. Oh to have our sins blotted out. “Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” (Psalm 51:1) Everyone wants to be forgiven, but many do not like to forgive. We desire that our sins be not remembered, but we hold grudges, make lists, remembering the wrongs others have committed. Some would say it is human nature. True, our nature since the garden has been in opposition of our Creator. We are by nature sinners and because of that nature we must desire mercy. Both to receive mercy from the Father and to grant mercy to each other.

This is easier said than done.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:23-27

As in this parable, the servant desired mercy, begged for it. The king showing mercy forgave the man his debt. We plead for forgiveness from the Father through Yahoshua. We need it because the debt is too great, we will never be able to pay it, only by the grace, and mercy of our Adonai Yahoshua ha’Mashiah do we have forgiveness. This is a fact. And we are instructed to forgive and as Yahoshua teaches His disciples to pray He sets in the foundation a reminder, “As we forgive our debtors.” By our nature we need the reminders, as the parable illustrates, it continues:

“But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.” Matthew 18:28-30

This is our nature. We love forgiveness but find it hard to forgive. But by the empowering of the Spirit of Elohim, it would be impossible. Have you seen the internet lately? What we need in this world is more grace and mercy. Yahoshua, continues with the parable:

“When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.” Matthew 18:31-34

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Mashiah, Elohim forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

The importance of forgiveness from a health standpoint goes without saying. Study after study shows the impact forgiveness has on the heart, and the mind. It is a healthy choice to forgive. But that isn’t the most important reason to forgive, it is in fact most important in forgiveness. As Yahoshua concludes the parable:

“So also My Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35

One might ask how many times are we to forgive someone? Peter asked the same thing. In fact the parable i just used above comes directly after Yahoshua answers Peter’s question. Adonai tells Peter, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” The point, a lot. Even when it hurts.

“And they were stoning Stephen as he was calling and saying, ‘Adonai Yahoshua, receive my spirit.’ And kneeling down he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Adonai, do not hold this sin against them.’ And having said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as Adonai forgave you.” Colossians 3:13

You are loved,
cj

And forgive us our sin

“If we say that we have no sin, we are misleading ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

There are many, self proclaimed, good people, in the world. Many who believe they do no wrong or at least wrong that needs forgiveness. However, the Apostle John, thought it so important that he repeats himself on the matter of sin in just a few verses.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are misleading ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is trustworthy and righteous to forgive us the sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

Now, the most famous or most used verse when talking about sin is probably Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of Elohim.” The point, there is no one good. Again from Romans 3:10-12 which reiterates Psalm 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20 “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks Elohim. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

Paul writes to the Ephesians, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” Ephesians 2:1-3

We all need forgiveness. “When you pray, say, “Our Father . . . Forgive us/me our/my sin . . .”

“But Elohim, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses and sin, made us alive together with Mashiah—by grace you have been saved…” Ephesians 2:4-5

John the Baptist declared, “Behold, the Lamb of Elohim, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) 1 Corinthians 5:21 “Elohim made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.”

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7

“For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of Elohim, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in ha’Mashiah Yahoshua for good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

Here in this instance of Adonai’s prayer He is teaching His disciples to pray. They are following Yahoshua, they are sitting at His feet and receiving instruction. As John the Baptist declared on the waterfront, repent and be baptized. After John’s arrest Yahoshua continued, “Now after John was arrested, Yahoshua came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of Elohim, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of Elohim is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15) For those first coming to Adonai repentance is key. Not that repentance isn’t necessary for the current follower but the emphasis is on the forgiveness because one assumes that the follower of Yahoshua know’s we cannot continue in sin therefore repentance is assumed. Although a good reminder is never a bad idea. Here in this instance Yahoshua isn’t stressing it as He instructs on prayer as His point was on seeking forgiveness from the Father.

Psalm 51 where David seeks forgiveness for his sin he writes, “Have mercy on me, O Elohim, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; so you are right in Your verdict and justified when You judge’ . . . Create in me a pure heart, O Elohim, and renew a steadfast spirit within me’ . . . Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, so that sinners will turn back to You.” Psalm 51:1-4, 10, 13

From forgiveness comes gratitude, “‘Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.’ Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ . . . Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’” Luke 7:47-48, 50

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahoshua ha’Mashiah His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

The first step in forgiveness is recognizing that you have sin. Forgiveness is available to everyone yet sadly many will never seek it because of their pride, or stubbornness. May we seek for forgiveness.

You are loved,
cj