Parashah 50: Ki Tavo (When you come) Deuteronomy 26:1 through 29:8

Shabbat shalom, mishpocah! It’s that time again – time to get really serious about this week’s Torah portion, Parashah 50: Ki Tavo … which can be found on our website

For those who understand the words of this parashah at the "gut level" it is obvious that YHWH's words through Moshe (Moses) have reverberated throughout the millennia to reveal that the state of the world today is a direct result of our disobedience to Torah (YHWH's Divine Instruction in Righteousness)!

Please allow His words to speak to your heart as you follow along with this study, beginning with Deuteronomy 26:16-19, where we discover what it takes to be a holy people for ADONAI.

Now would be a good time to join YHWH’s community!

The words below weren't given to just the Jews. Remember, there were 12 Tribes AND the foreigners who had followed Moshe out of Egypt camped at the foot of Mt. Sinair when YHWH handed down the Torah!

In Numbers 15:13-16, He said four times in a row that ALL who accept Him as their God, were to do exactly as His people did and that the same Torah and standard of judgment would apply to both, the Hebrews and the foreigner living with them.

When Moshe's successor, Joshua, was appointed as leader of the Israelites, ADONAI Himself said the following ... which echoes into our own life today:

Joshua 1: 7 Only be strong and very bold in taking care to follow all the Torah which Moshe my servant ordered you to follow; do not turn from it either to the right or to the left; then you will succeed wherever you go. 8 Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed. (CJB)

It is imperative to remember that Torah consists of YHWH's Divine Instructions in Righteousness, without which we would have no blueprint for moral, holy living. Torah wasn't "nailed to the cross" when Y'shua died; our certificate of charges was...

So, with the Fall festivals on the horizon, now would be a great time to start thinking of joining YHWH's Torah observant community; learning and growing and getting a closer relationship with Him and His Messiah than you've ever had before!

Answering a reader question about Y’shua

We just had a great question arrive at our website, giving us an opportunity to explain who Y'shua was:

QUESTION:

Could you help me understand why Yeshua at times talked to The Father (in prayer)? In Yochanan 11:41 or Mattityahu 27:46 for example he does so, but what for? I mean I read this article.

And although it gives a great insight in how Yeshua can be YHVH, but at the same time be human, I can’t find a clear answer why he needed to talk if he had YHVH’s Ruach residing in him?

He used only the words of the Father not his own, he and the Father are one he claims.. so although in human form he still had a connection with his ‘base’, ‘the body’, YHVH Himself as he was the arm of YHVH.

But now in these cases it seems like Yeshua had to make a connection, like there is a seperation, like he isn’t knowing what he as a manifestation of the thought of YHVH (like the Word of YHVH is) should have known.

Hopefully you could help me understand where all this talking was good for, and why it was necessary, and why he could not do without these prayers.

OUR RESPONSE:

Thanks for the question! The answer is actually quite simple: Y'shua was a human being who, although Divine (because His Father was YHWH), he was not "God" while on earth. (GOD cannot be born or die.) He was the MESSIAH with divine powers, given to him by YHWH to do what he needed to accomplish while on earth.

As you know, in the beginning, he was "the Word" (John 1:1, 14) and he was the "arm of YHWH" mentioned in Isaiah 53:1, and he came forth to earth as "the arm." (An arm is attached to the body, and it does whatever the brain tells it to do. It is a part of the body, but not the WHOLE body.

Y'shua's entire life was spent doing the will of YHWH, proclaiming the Kingdom and doing everything YHWH commanded of him.) But he never went around telling people he was "God" nor did he accept worship. He constantly deferred to his "Father" during his time on earth.

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.

So, while His death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! God isn't just in the business of "saving" people. As Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come!

We hope this helps!

Yom Teruah (Trumpets)/Rosh HaShana in 2018 begins at sunset, September 10

Yom Teruah (Trumpets)/Rosh Hashana begins this year at sunset, September 10. This Appointed Time denotes the Jewish Civil New Year; the creation of the world, according to tradition; the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and their first actions toward the realization of man's role in the world; of the first sin that was committed and resulting repentance; a day when YHWH takes stock of all of His Creation, which includes all of humanity. It's also a rehearsal for the day when the bridegroom will come to claim us, his bride, who are betrothed to Him.

This Feast on Tishri 1 always falls in the September/October timeframe. Leviticus 23:23-25 says: ADONAI said to Moshe, "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar. Do not do any kind of ordinary work, and bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI.'"

According to tradition, during this time YHWH's people are to concentrate all their efforts into making amends with their brethren and apologizing for past offenses. Judging by the fact that Y'shua has so far fulfilled the first four feasts in sequence, Yom Teruah/Trumpets will be the next one to be fulfilled, because when the trumpets sound, those who have accepted YHWH as their God and His Divine Messiah, will be gathered/resurrected (I Thess. 4:13-18, I Cor. 15:50-54).

Making sense of a couple of odd-sounding verses in Deuteronomy

This week’s Torah portion contained some true “Wow!” verses. Case in point, these two in Deuteronomy 25:

Deuteronomy 25:11 "If men are fighting with each other, and the wife of one comes up to help her husband get away from the man attacking him by grabbing the attacker's private parts with her hand, 12 you are to cut off her hand; show no pity.  (CJB)

Naturally, our first instinct about verse 12 is to yell, “UNFAIR! Why can’t the wife do whatever is necessary to help fend off her husband’s attacker?”  But when you think about it from YHWH’s perspective, it begins to make sense….

You see, a “man’s private parts” are the parts that make babies; the parts that allow men to obey the command to be “fruitful and multiply.”  Babies are tiny new humans made in YHWH’s Image (See Genesis 1:26-28).  By damaging a man in such a way, you not only remove his ability to procreate, but you are denying YHWH’s Image to come forth and shine in this lost world of ours….

And this one:

Deuteronomy 25:16 14 You are not to have in your house two sets of measures, one big, the other small. 15 You are to have a correct and fair weight, and you are to have a correct and fair measure, so that you will prolong your days in the land ADONAI your God is giving you. 16 For all who do such things, all who deal dishonestly, are detestable to ADONAI your God. (CJB)

While this passage is about “weights and measures, the broader meaning of verse 16 is that, if you are cheating someone in ANY way, you are viewed detestable in the eyes of ADONAI….

Something interesting about the Hebrew letter “Shin”

Shabbat shalom, everyone! Here is something interesting about the Hebrew letter Shin - ש - which is really DEEP! You'll probably remember that Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy used a single-handed version of this gesture to create the Vulcan hand salute for his character! (Yes, there was real significance to that gesture!)

As additional explanation for the photo below, which shows an electrocardiogram of a human heart, Shin also stands for the word Shaddai, one of the titles for YHWH. Cohens (priests) form the letter Shin with their hands when they recite the Priestly Blessing.

This letter is often inscribed on the case containing a mezuza (a scroll of parchment with Biblical text written on it, which is affixed upon the door frames of a Believer's home or establishment.). The text contained in the mezuzah is the Shema Yisrael prayer, which calls YHWH's people to love their God with all their heart, soul and strength. The Shema Yisrael prayer also commands the Israelites to write God's commandments on their hearts (Deuteronomy 6:6);

It is truly interesting and amazing that the shape of the letter Shin (seen in the photo below) mimics the structure of the human heart - specifically, as the lower, larger left ventricle (which supplies the full body) and the smaller right ventricle (which supplies the lungs) are positioned like the lines of the letter Shin.

The above is an echocardiogram of the human heart. The Hebrew letter "shin" appears in the tissues that surround the chamber.

The Almighty has said that He would write His name on our hearts. On a mezuzah, the shin stands for "Shaddai" (meaning "Almighty").

Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances, and do them. And they will be My people, and I shall be their Elohim.

Parashah 49: Ki Tetze (When you go out) Deuteronomy 21:10 through 25:19

Shabbat shalom, everyone!  Time to get serious about this week’s study again!  Parashah 49, Ki Tetze, can be found on our website by clicking on this link.

This week's Torah portion features 74 commandments, more than any other Torah portion. Some of the commandments discussed include the law of the rebellious son, the obligation to bury the dead without undue delay, the requirement to return a found object, the prohibition against causing pain to any living creature, the prohibition against prostitution, the laws of marriage and divorce, the procedure of the Levirate marriage, and the obligation to eradicate the memory of Amalek.

Regardless as to how YHWH's commands sounds to "modern ears", we must always remember that, throughout the Torah, we are exhorted by God through Moshe/Moses to "cleave" to YHWH our Elohim who was attempting to show His people the necessity and benefits of being holy from the inside-out. The repeated emphasis should cause us to stop and think about the meaning and importance of cleaving to/holding fast to Him and behaving according to HIS desires!

For more, please click on the link above.

A word to those who have rejected Messiah Yeshua

Counter-missionaries seem to have this need to ferret out those who believe that Y'shua is YHWH's Messiah, just so they can pick fights and harass and berate and basically "be right" in the eyes of the world. They don't hesitate to try to convince you of how stupid and lost you are for "believing in an idol" and the "myth of your lying New Testament" - and they love to let you know that THEY have "tested everything out" for themselves and found TRUTH!

Well, here is my response to those who hate Jesus, but cannot seem to stop talking about him; and who spend their days hunting down, for the sole purpose of arguing, those of us who believe he is YHWH's Messiah:

_________________________

So, you hate Jesus and the New Testament - that much is clear. But, have you ever stopped to think that maybe - just MAYBE - you have "tested" yourself right out of the Truth? Do you really need to be reminded that nobody can "prove" anything in the Tanach is true, either - that it's all by FAITH?

You personally never saw YHWH's face. You never met Adam and Eve, nor did you see Cain kill Abel, nor did you experience the Flood or watch Noah and his family start the whole human race all over again. You didn't see Moshe's burning bush, nor a talking donkey, nor "three men" surviving a fiery furnace.

You didn't personally know Moshe, nor did you see him hitting the rock to get water out of it. You didn't see God destroying Sodom and Gemorrah, nor witness Lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt.

You didn't personally witness the Ten Plagues, nor follow Moshe out of Egypt nor did you SEE or TOUCH the ark; nor did you camp around Mt. Sinai. You also didn't personally witness Korach and his family being sent down into Sheol -.yet you will fight to the death to convince others these things are all true ... because, by George, YOU BELIEVE!

To top it all off, once you found your way to Torah, you immediately viewed yourself to be a qualified Torah teacher...

But truth be told, Mr. Arrogant Torah Expert, you didn't come to Torah all by yourself, and therefore, you don't have the right to pat yourself on the back. Someone SHOWED you the way. And once you realized that you had been living in a Sunday-Go-To-Meetin', Pew Warming LalaLand for decades, you woke up, and started wondering what else you might have missed.

So then, angry at "the church" instead of yourself for being so dense all these years (because "that old Testament stuff was just for the Jews" and you, as a high and mighty, holier-than-thou Christian were "under grace"), you HAD to set out to disprove the entire NT so you could spit in your pastor's eye.

And. oh goodie! There just happened to be some Jesus-rejecter groups on Facebook - and then BAM! Hook, line and sinker, you were enamored and very excited to have found a group that gave you a voice to let the whole world know that NOW you are a TRUE Bible expert ... that YOU have ALL the answers!

How very sad for you that, in your desire for revenge, you ended up completely blinded to YHWH's whole Truth. How sad that today, you cannot even admit that the pshat of Isaiah 53 is all about his Messiah - who, by the way - fulfilled at least 300 prophecies! (Before you get all huffy, what are the odds of someone doing that? None of the Jewish sages have ever accomplished that....)

No ... today you prefer to spend your time sitting there on your rump like some grand Poobah, "talking down" to and berating anyone who doesn't agree with your opinions about what you've been told Isaiah 53 supposedly “really means”; and challenging the world to show you the Torah scriptures that "mention Jesus by name".....

Well, that's fine. Do whatever you wish. However, since you can no longer remain civil with your fellow man, I suggest you keep your "Jesus hatred" to yourself and hang with your own kind, because - honestly - nobody is interested in a FORMER believer in YHWH's Messiah, who has rejected him, yet seems to be obsessed with dwelling on him, and endlessly talking about him on a daily basis. That kind of behavior is just plain hypocritical – not to mention, anti-Torah!

Proverbs 26:24-26 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Proverbs 26:23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

Do you have a friend or family member who is “confused” about their gender?

Every once in awhile someone writes to our website with concerns about a friend or family member who is confused about their gender. "What do I do/what do I say to them?"

Our answer is always something like this:

First and foremost, be a true, godly example by living your faith. Never "cave in" by making comments such as, "Well, God loves you/made you that way/knows your heart, and it's okay to be who you are" - because that simply isn't true!

Let's take a look:

Genesis 1:27 So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them: God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it..." (CJB)

How can someone be "fruitful and multiply" if they refuse HIS gender assignment and/or have taken steps to surgically change their gender? They aren't pleasing Him by rejecting HIS will....

He also said this:

Deuteronomy 22:5 "A woman is not to wear men's clothing, and a man is not to put on women's clothing, for whoever does these things is detestable to ADONAI your God. (CJB)

If something we do is "detestable" or "an abomination" in His eyes, WHY would we want to do it - except for the purposes of pleasing our own flesh? Our flesh eventually DIES and we WILL stand before Him one day and, according to Scripture, there won't be any "tolerance" on His part....

The problem in our modern world is that transgenderism,and what people are calling "fluid sexuality" (where they can decide "what gender they wish to emulate" on any given day) have crept into our society and are being accepted as "normal" by "the world."

The thing is, Scripture tells us that God never changes (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8, etc.). ELOHIM is HOLY, and He laid down some loving, holy rules for mankind to follow. We have the choice to follow, or not ... but doing so has severe consequences, and this is what we must get through to those who are living sinful lifestyles.

Be sure to tell your friend or family member that YHWH is not a God of confusion. When He created man, He made them male and female - two genders that are called to not only reflect the image and likeness of God, but to also represent Him in the stewardship of His good and wonderful creation (Genesis 1:28-29).

Male and female also reflect YHWH in the unity in marriage when they become "one flesh" (see Genesis 2:23-24; Matthew 19: 3-6; Mark 10: 6-9; Ephesians 5:28-32) and thus bring forth new life that will also reflect His Holy Image (character). When we are "fruitful and multiply and fill the earth," we spread God's image around the world (Genesis 1:28). To actively deny or reject this privilege by attempting to tamper with the gender HE assigned you, is not only a grievous sin, but it is also basically a slap in the Face of our Creator!

So, yes, by all means, be gentle and continue to love them, no matter what. But always be on the lookout for a chance to share YHWH's Word, whenever the opportunity arises. No need to be pushy or arrogant with someone who doesn't know (or care) about Scripture.

Whenever you can, present YHWH's Truth and allow the Ruach (Holy Spirit) to speak into your friend's or family member's life, and then let it go. You will turn them off if you continue to harp on the subject.

A word to the doubters “out there”….

It is imperative to realize that Bible prophecy has been unfolding, and continues to unfold before our very eyes. For instance - for any doubters - did you know that YHWH used what Hitler did during WWII, to bring about TWO of His end times prophecies? It's true!

In Isaiah 66:7-8, the prophet (1) foreshadowed the re-birth of Israel, and, just like the Bible says - (2) it happened "in one day." The woman giving birth before going into labor represents Israel. This accurately describes what happened on May 14, 1948 - when "the world" briefly felt sorry for the Jews and returned Israel to them and they were able to declare independence for Israel as a united and sovereign nation for the first time in 2,900 years.

During that same day, the United States issued a statement recognizing Israel's sovereignty. And, only hours beforehand, a United Nations mandate expired, ending British control of the land. During a 24-hour span of time, foreign control of the land of Israel had formally ceased, and Israel had declared its independence, and its independence was acknowledged by other nations. Modern Israel was literally was born in a single day.

Isaiah said the birth would take place before there would be labor pains. And that too is precisely what happened. A movement called Zionism began in the 1800s to encourage Jews worldwide to move to Israel, which at that time was called Palestine. Within hours of the declaration of independence in 1948, Israel was attacked by the surrounding countries of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

When reading Isaiah 66:7-8, keep in mind that Israel's status as a sovereign nation was established and reaffirmed during the course of a single day, and that it was born of a movement called Zionism, and that its declaration of independence was not the result of a war but rather the cause of one.

And now - just as prophesied in , the whole world is going up against Israel in these end times

Isaiah 60:15 - "Whereas you have been [Is 1:7-9; 6:11-13; Jer 30:17] forsaken and [Is 66:5] hated With no one passing through, I will make you an everlasting [Is 4:2; 65:18] pride, A joy from generation to generation.

Joel 3:2 - 'I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.'

Ezekiel 36:8-10 - "'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.

Matthew 24:9 - "Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

For centuries everybody has been fighting over this tiny country called Israel to claim it as "their" holy place. It seems that the whole world has always "had it in" for Jews in one way or another, and some (i.e. Hitler) have even tried to annihilate them completely. The bottom line is, this issue dates back to the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and will not be resolved until Yeshua returns...

Whether people choose to "believe in God" or not - fact is His Word IS being fulfilled!

Parasha 48, Shof'tim (Judges), Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9

Shabbat shalom, mishpocah! As always, a synopsis of this week’s Torah portion can be found on our website. This week’s, Parasha 48, is Shof'tim (Judges) which includes Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9. These readings are basically all about Moshe’s "last will and testament" as he continues to remind the new generation what YHWH’s people have been through; it is what he said the day he departed from the Israelites as they were making their Exodus through the desert.

This Torah portion also presents a Messianic prophecy that foreshadows Yeshua! Take a look:

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him.

19 Whoever doesn't listen to my words, which he will speak in my name, will have to account for himself to me. 20 "'But if a prophet presumptuously speaks a word in my name which I didn't order him to say, or if he speaks in the name of other gods, then that prophet must die.' 21 You may be wondering, 'How are we to know if a word has not been spoken by ADONAI?' 22 When a prophet speaks in the name of ADONAI, and the prediction does not come true -that is, the word is not fulfilled -then ADONAI did not speak that word. The prophet who said it spoke presumptuously; you have nothing to fear from him.

For more, please click on the link above!  And please don’t forget to pray for the peace of Israel!

Some pointed questions for counter-missionaries who insist Isaiah 53 is not about Messiah, but about Israel….

If you're ever confronted by "counter-missionaries" who attempt to tell you that Israel is the servant of Isaiah 53, ask them these questions:

• Isn’t the mainstream Jewish position that God forbids human for human sacrifice? Doesn’t Isaiah 53 prove that God does accept this form of sacrifice (whether you believe the servant is Israel or Y’shua)?
• If Israel is the servant of Isaiah 53, does this mean that God has been pleased with the violence done for Jews throughout the centuries? Verse10: Yet it pleased the LORD to crush him by disease….
• How does the violence done to Jews around the world result in forgiveness for the rest of Israel …even figuratively? Verses in Isaiah which suggest that the servant is not Israel…what do you do with these?

-Israel is called blind and imprisoned (42:19); the servant will open the eyes of the blind and release prisoners (42:7)

-Israel is called deaf and is rebellious (42:19,20,25); the servant has opened ears and isn’t rebellious (50:5)

-Israel walks in darkness and looks for light (59:9); the servant brings people from out of the darkness and will be a light (42:7, 49:6)

-Israel is punished for their disobedience (42:24-25); the servant is rewarded for his obedience (49:4-6)

-Israel speaks lies (59:3) ; the servant has not spoken deceitfully (53:9)

-Israel has lost its way (59:7-8); the servant leads Israel back on track (49:5-6)

-Israel suffers for their own sins (42:25); the servant suffers for the sins of others (53:3-9)

-Israel suffers to their own shame (50:1-3); the servant suffers and knows he will not be ashamed (50:7)

Have you ever received a "God-sized" task

Have you ever noticed that, whenever ADONAI gives you a "God-sized" task, it always leads you to a crisis of belief? ("Surely, this can't be from God! He wouldn't do this to me ... would He? He knows I can't afford to do this right now....")

The thing to remember is that HIS timing doesn't necessarily line up with ours. Therefore, we shouldn't really dawdle too much when He tells us to move, change jobs, change careers ... whatever. (You'll know when the message is from Him! He will cause you to "just know.") Sometimes, He simply arranges for your life to "turn on a dime"; but when He doesn't, and He expects you to sh'ma/hear and obey, then be careful to pay attention and ultimately DO it.

The bottom line is that, whenever ADONAI "gives you a God-sized" task that leads you to a crisis of belief," LISTEN, because what you DO about it reveals how you really feel about Him!

AN URGENT MESSAGE TO THE WORLD!

Our skin color and individual differences have absolutely no bearing on where we will spend eternity. Our destiny is determined by whether or not our hearts and minds wholly belonged to Yahweh. What does that mean? Well, simply put, Yahweh has some rules for us to follow. We either do things HIS way, or not. There is no "gray area."

Yeshua obeyed His Father’s commands; yet some mere humans seem to be under the erroneous impression that their individuality and their “God-given” choices in life somehow make them exempt, because “God knows my heart.”

Well, I’m here with a warning that that is a HUGE mistake, because throughout Scripture, in both “Testaments” we are told, over and over again, that Yahweh’s people are to be HOLY, set apart. Here are ust a few examples:

Leviticus 19: 1 ADONAI said to Moshe, 2 "Speak to the entire community of Isra'el; tell them, 'You people are to be holy because I, ADONAI your God, am holy.

Leviticus 19: 19 "'Observe my regulations....

Leviticus 19: 37 Observe all my regulations and rulings, and do them; I am ADONAI.'"

Leviticus 20: 7 Therefore consecrate yourselves -you people must be holy, because I am ADONAI your God. 8 Observe my regulations, and obey them; I am ADONAI, who sets you apart to be holy.

When did the command to “be holy” change? When Yeshua died? NO! Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom and show us how to walk in obedience to Yahweh's commands - His Torah!

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.

And take a look at this:

1 John 2:3 The way we can be sure we know him is if we are obeying his commands. 4 Anyone who says, "I know him," but isn't obeying his commands is a liar - the truth is not in him. 5 But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with him.

6 A person who claims to be continuing in union with him ought to conduct his life the way he did. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command. On the contrary, it is an old command, which you have had from the beginning; the old command is the message which you have heard before. (CJB)

We cannot separate YHWH/Yeshua/Torah! We cannot be holy/set apart UNLESS we have accepted the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who gave us Divine Rules (Torah) to follow; and who sent us His Divine Messiah who constantly reiterated those Rules and then martyred himself on our behalf.

Check out John 17, where we find Yeshua talking to Yahweh:

John 17: 1. Y’shua spoke these things and he lifted up his eyes to Heaven and said My Father the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that your Son might glorify you. 2. Just as you have given him authority over all flesh that whomever You have given him, he will give to him life that is eternal. 3. Now this is life that is eternal, that they might know You, that You are the Elohim of Truth, and he alone whom You have sent, the Mashiyach Y’shua.

4. I have glorified You on earth. The work that You have given to me to do I have finished it. 5. And now glorify me my Father with You in that glory that I had with You from before the world was.

6. I have made Your Name known to the sons of those men whom You had given to me from the world. They were Yours and You have given them to me, and they have kept Your Word. 7. Now they have known that everything that you have given to me I have given to them and they received them.

8. And they know that I have truly proceeded from your presence, and they believe that You have sent me. 9. And I plead for them. It is not for the world I plead; rather, for those whom you have given to me because they are Yours. 10. And everything that is mine is Yours, and Yours is mine and I am glorified by them. (AENT)

The bottom line is, we must know Yahweh AND His Son to gain our eternal life. We get some clear clues in various scriptures:

1 John 2:3-6: "The way we can be sure we know Him is if we are obeying His commands. Anyone who says, 'I know Him,' but isn't obeying His commands is a liar - the truth is not in him. But if someone keeps doing what he says, then truly love for God has been brought to its goal in him. This is how we are sure that we are united with Him. A person who claims to be continuing in union with Him ought to conduct his life the way He did." (CJB)

Yeshua, in Mark 12, verse 29 says: "The most important [mitzvah] is, "Sh'ma Yisra'el, ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad'". Translated to English this becomes "Hear O Isra'el, the Lord our God, the Lord is One." But let's look at that Hebrew word "Sh'ma". Translating "Sh'ma" to English as "Hear" does not do it justice. In Hebrew, the word means: "hear and do." Sh'ma does not just mean to "hear" as in "hear with your ears"; it means "hear these instructions and comply with them"; or more succinctly, "hear and do."

So, just how are you to "hear and do"? Well, Yeshua tells us! Look at the remainder of the verse: You are to "love ADONAI your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength."

Note He did NOT say: "You are to assert your individuality and cling to your limited, human mindset and personal opinions while ignoring My forever commands, and pretending I’m only about 'grace' and 'love.'" He said to love ADONAI with all your heart, soul, understanding, and strength…

So, to gain eternal life we must know Yahweh, follow Yeshua’s example, AND obey what he taught. That is simply the “bottom line.”

Parashah 47: Re'eh (See); Deuteronomy 11:26 through 16:17

In this week’s parashah we once again see YHWH laying down the Divine Laws for His people to follow, while we encounter some "tests" He has laid down for His people:

Deuteronomy 11: 26 "See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - 27 the blessing, if you listen to the mitzvot of ADONAI your God that I am giving you today; 28 and the curse, if you don't listen to the mitzvot of ADONAI your God, but turn aside from the way I am ordering you today and follow other gods that you have not known. 29 "When ADONAI your God brings you into the land you are entering in order to take possession of it, you are to put the blessing on Mount G'rizim and the curse on Mount 'Eival. (CJB)

Note verse 29: "When ADONAI your God brings you into the land you are entering in order to take possession of it, you are to put the blessing on Mount G'rizim and the curse on Mount 'Eival. What does that mean? In order to find out, we need to read ahead in a future Torah portion:

Deuteronomy 27: 11 That same day Moshe commissioned the people as follows: 12 "These are the ones who are to stand on Mount G'rizim and bless the people after you have crossed the Yarden: Shim'on, Levi, Y'hudah, Yissakhar, Yosef and Binyamin; 13 while these are to stand on Mount 'Eival for the curse: Re'uven, Gad, Asher, Z'vulun, Dan and Naftali. 14 The L'vi'im, speaking loudly, will proclaim to every man of Isra'el: 15 "'A curse on anyone who makes a carved or metal image, something ADONAI detests, the handiwork of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret!'All the people are to respond by saying, 'Amen!'  (CJB)

Returning to Deuteronomy 11:

Deuteronomy 11: 30 Both are west of the Yarden, in the direction of the sunset, in the land of the Kena'ani living in the 'Aravah, across from Gilgal, near the pistachio trees of Moreh. 31 For you are to cross the Yarden to enter and take possession of the land ADONAI your God is giving you; you are to own it and live in it. 32 And you are to take care to follow all the laws and rulings I am setting before you today.  (CJB)

Note the words, "you are to cross"....Remember how YHWH told Abraham "to cross over" into the land which YHWH commanded him in Genesis 12? The word "hebrew" means "to cross over"; and so the moment Abraham obeyed and crossed over both physically into the land and spiritually into the Presence of YHWH, he became a Hebrew! In Deuteronomy 11:31 above, YHWH's people, the Hebrews, are told they would finally be "crossing over" into Israel, the Promised Land!

Most Christians insist TORAH is a curse, but the above, when read in context, clearly shows otherwise! The above shows that Torah is not the curse but you are cursed if you don't listen to and obey the Mitzvot (words/commands) of YHWH. Throughout the entire Torah, He keeps reiterating the need to obey His commands! After all, without Torah, how can we possibly know what constitutes SIN and moral, holy living (1 John 3:4)?

For more, please click on the link above!

A word about water and washing….

Have you ever noticed that, since YHWH first gave us rain in the days of Noah, He has been using water to cleanse each man of his sin through baptisms and the washing of clothing? We read myriad commandments in the Laws He gave to Moshe to cleanse both body and clothing of impurities. Before they met YHWH at Mt. Sinai, the entire nation was to wash and consecrate themselves because God had intended to make them a holy nation - a nation of priests. Every priest also consecrated himself in a like fashion before being ordained. Washing is very important to YHWH as we can see in the following verses:

In Psalm 51:1-7, after he committed adultery with Bathsheba, David asks to be cleansed: ...2 Wash me completely from my guilt, and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my crimes, my sin confronts me all the time. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil from your perspective; so that you are right in accusing me and justified in passing sentence. 5 True, I was born guilty, was a sinner from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 Still, you want truth in the inner person; so make me know wisdom in my inmost heart. 7 Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

And in the beginning of the Book of Isaiah, the prophet tells the nation in Isaiah 1 verses 15-16 and 18 to "Wash and make yourselves clean."

In Jeremiah 4, the prophet beseeches Jerusalem to "Wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?"

That was the job John the Baptist was doing on the day he baptized Yeshua. As a Levitical priest, he was helping his fellow believers cleanse themselves of evil/sin by using the Jordan as a Mikvah or baptismal pool. As Luke 3:3 explains, "He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins."

But even John was confused, wondering why he would have to baptize and purify one like Yeshua who was without sin, for - as we read in Matthew 3:12 ... Then came Y'shua from Galeela to the Yordanan to Yochanan, 13. to be immersed by him. 14. But Yochanan was refusing him and said, I should be immersed by you, and you come to me. 15. Then Y'shua answered and said to him Allow (it) now for as such, it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness, and then he allowed it.

To fulfill righteousness? Surely not Yeshua, for He was without sin! No, it was for the righteousness of mankind. Before he could minister and teach mankind how to apply the laws YHWH gave to Moshe in the way God intended (in accord with the Spirit of the Law, not just the Letter or legalism of the Laws which is how the Levites had mistaught the laws), Yeshua first took on the sins of the world which had been committed until the day He ministered. When Yeshua was immersed, YHWH was keeping His word. He was not flooding the world to rid it of sin; He was covering Him who carried the sins of the world in Him so all who believe would be found righteous in YHWH's eyes.

Leaving Jesus? Counter-missionary radio hosts are ready to assist you as you slide into the pit….

How ironic that former “believers” in Y’shua/Jesus all seem to have this drive to crow about “leaving Jesus” once they’ve been warmly embraced by the Jewish counter-missionary rabbis and their converts who make their living by bashing “Jesus and the NT” on the Internet.

It seems, the first thing these former “believers” all do when they decide to reject ADONAI’s Messiah, is to run to some counter-missionary radio host to share their “testimony” – which always reveals that they didn’t have a good grasp of Scripture OR their former faith, to begin with. Yet, suddenly, they’ve found what they think is the Truth (after doing plenty of religion hopping in their quest to find one that suits them), and now they just HAVE to tell the world why they’ve denounced “Jesus.”

What a sad commentary about the hearts of humans – hearts that have always strayed and disappointed Him (Jeremiah 17:9), and which STILL aren’t listening to HIS Word because it’s easier to sit around and twist and over-analyze Scripture with their limited human mindsets, than it is to actually comprehend what it says at the most basic level….

Something I recently heard a Y’shua rejecter say on a radio podcast is that one of the reasons she left Y’shua behind is because Isaiah 53 tells us Messiah would have children, and “Jesus didn’t have any.” Really? Is that what that passage REALLY says?

If you’ll take a look at this passage in Isaiah 53, you’ll see it talks about the Messiah being a GUILT offering who gave himself unto death…where ADONAI said that when Messiah DID make himself into a guilt offering, he would “see a seed.” Does that mean “children”? No! How could he have children after death?

Leviticus 7:2 The guilt offering is to be slaughtered in the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and its blood is to be splashed against the sides of the altar.

How could his life be “prolonged” if he offered HIMSELF as a guilt offering? Yeshua’s life was never meant to “be prolonged.” He was here for just a season and a reason – as outlined in the “Rest of the Story” called the Brit Chadasha…

Isaiah 53, verse 10 says that Yahweh purposed Messiah's suffering in His pleasure and would bring it to pass to see the "seed", or the result of this offering; i.e., many redeemed and saved, children of God.

Isaiah 53:10 But יהוה was pleased to crush Him, He laid sickness on Him, that when He made Himself an offering for guilt, He would see a seed, He would prolong His days and the pleasure of יהוה prosper in His hand.

11 He would see the result of the suffering of His life and be satisfied. Through His knowledge My righteous Servant makes many righteous, and He bears their crookednesses. 12 Therefore I give Him a portion among the great, and He divides the spoil with the strong,

Don’t “toot your own horn” when doing good deeds

Does anyone besides me have problems with people who take selfies or make videos of themselves doing good deeds? We see that so often in our society today, and it really bothers me. It’s one thing for a group such as Habitat for Humanity to be highlighted by the media; but it’s quite another to post of a video of yourself giving money to a homeless person, or making sure everyone knows how much money you donated to someone’s Go Fund Me page, etc.

Good deeds are something we do “from the heart”; they are between us and God. Their purpose is not to put the spotlight on ourselves; rather, to bless the receiver and thus, give glory to ADONAI. As a matter of fact, Scripture commands us to NOT toot our own horn or brag whenever we do a good deed. Take a look:

Matthew 6:1 “Beware of doing your kind deeds before men, in order to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in the heavens. 2 “Thus, when you do a kind deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do, in the congregations and in the streets, to be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 “But when you do a kind deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your kind deed shall be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret shall Himself reward you openly. (ISR)

Contrary to what some (or even most) religions teach, Y’shua taught that giving should be done anonymously if one expects a reward from Heaven. There is no need for givers to receive public recognition for parting with one’s cash! Y’shua said that those who make it their goal to be recognized through their giving have already received their reward - from their peers, not from Heaven. Of course, that teaching did not make him popular among the rich religious leaders, as he exposed their nonsensical ideas that the rich received some “spiritual” rewards for supporting their religion.

Please remember that, the next time you do a good deed. YHWH knows what you’ve done.. No one else matters! (See also Job 13:10 and Proverbs 18:11.)

Parashah 46: 'Ekev (Because) Deuteronomy 7:12 through 11:25

Shabbat shalom, Mishpocah/friends/family! On this Shabbat, please remember to pray for Jerusalem and all of Israel, for Israel is constantly under attack by the world.

And, as always, you can read a great synopsis of the weekly Torah portions on our website. This week's reading is Parashah 46. In this reading, you will continue witnessing Moshe's review for the "new generation" of all that YHWH had done for His people over the last 40 years.... For more, please click on the link.

In these end times, be a beacon and stand strong!

Ezekiel 22:30 “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”

Brothers and sisters, we are living in some very tough times! The adversary is busy seeking out the gullible and the weak, those who can be easily swayed away from the Truth. Don’t give in! Stay strong, stay in the Word. Read it for yourself and allow the Rauch (Holy Spirit) to guide you. Don’t let some armchair scholar interpret Scripture according to their own agenda.

Be a beacon in this dark and dreary, sin-riddled world! Be BOLD in proclaiming the Word; don't let "the world" intimidate you! The world will hate you, but so what? You're not here to please anyone except ADONAI.

The sad thing is, the Bible isn't popular today because our ELOHIM expects His people to be decent, holy, obedient and God-fearing citizens of the Kingdom where there is NO compromise! There is no “tolerance” or “gray area” when it comes to pleasing יהוה. The Bible is clear on that. Never forget that Yeshua DIED for proclaiming the Kingdom and doing everything his Father commanded him to do (Luke 4: 43, 8:1; Acts 28:23. 24:14). If you believe יהוה is God and Yeshua His Divine Messiah, then you must walk like Yeshua walked. (1 John 2:6)

Proverbs 31:8-9: Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

1 Peter 3:12 For ADONAI keeps his eyes on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of ADONAI is against those who do evil things." 13 For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don't fear what they fear or be disturbed, 15 but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts;s while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you - yet with humility and fear, 16 keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame. 17 For if God has in fact willed that you should suffer, it is better that you suffer for doing what is good than for doing what is evil. (CJB)

I Corinthians 15:58 Wherefore, my Brothers and my beloved, be steadfast, and not weak willed; but be at all times generous in the work of Master YHWH; seeing you know that your labor is not in vain in Master YHWH. (AENT)

1 Peter 5:8-9: Be sober and guarded because haSatan, like a lion, roars and goes about and seeks whom he may devour. 9. Therefore resist him, being steadfast in the Faith: and know that the same sufferings befall your Brothers that are in the world. (AENT)

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Jesus is a farce? Paul is a liar? The NT is a myth?

Counter-missionaries (those who actively teach that "Jesus" is a farce and that the "New Testament" is a myth, etc) do their level best to cause you to think you have totally misunderstood Scripture all your life, and that God has put them in your life to teach you the TRUTH!.

Case in point, there is one such counter-missionary who attempts to use Romans 14:10-12 and Philippians 2:10 to “prove” that Paul is a liar who supposedly removed the Creator from certain verses to suit his own agenda - something that supposedly directly contradicts Isaiah 45:22-24.

But, let’s use some common sense to put this assertion into its proper context:

Isaiah 45: 22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God; there is no other. 23 In the name of myself I have sworn, from my mouth has rightly gone out, a word that will not return - that to me every knee will bow and every tongue will swear 24 about me that only in ADONAI are justice and strength." All who rage against him will come to him ashamed, 25 but all the descendants of Isra'el will find justice and glory in ADONAI. (CJB)

So far, so good! It’s true - we only have ONE Creator and His Name is יהוה...

Now, let’s take a look at Romans 14:9-12:

Romans 14: 9. Moreover, for this cause Mashiyach died and revived and arose; that he might be Master YHWH of the dead and of the living.[1] 10. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or, why do you despise your brother? For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Mashiyach! 11. As it is written: As I live, says Master YHWH, to me every knee will bow; and to me every tongue will give praise. 12. So then, every one of us must give account of himself to Elohim. (AENT)

[1] By rising from the dead and ascending into heaven, Y’shua becomes the Word that is with Elohim and is Elohim (John 1:1-5). Y’shua is the exact reflection of YHWH’s nature (Hebrews 1:1-5) and will bear the name, “Word of Elohim” when he comes out of heaven again at the second coming (Revelation 19:13).

As for Philippians 2:10, let’s back up to Philippians 2:5 and go through verse 11, because Philippians 2:5-11 reveals Yeshua IS divine ONLY BECAUSE the Ruach of YHWH is encased in the flesh of the Son, and it is that FLESH that was pierced!

It is important to remember that God Himself cannot be born or die, but Yeshua, the human with a divine Nature COULD and DID – and there is NO law against martyring one’s self! (And for those who insist that Torah says mere men cannot atone for the sins of others, here’s proof that that is NOT true, please read our blog article.

Philippians 5. And think you so in yourselves, as Y'shua the Mashiyach also thought; 6. who, as he was in the likeness of Elohim, did not regard it sinful to be the coequal of Elohim; 7. yet disinherited himself and assumed the likeness of a servant, and was in the likeness of men and was found in fashion as a man; 8. and he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the stake. 9. Wherefore, also, Elohim has highly exalted him and given him a name which is more excellent than all names; 10. that at the name of Y'shua every knee should bow, of (beings) in heaven and on earth and under the earth; 11. and that every tongue should confess that Y'shua the Mashiyach is YHWH, to the glory of Elohim his Father. (AENT)

As everyone knows, ADONAI is constantly referred to as an ECHAD (plural form of “one”; never by the singular “yachid”….Deuteronomy 6:4). (Be aware, they'll argue that point, too. They'll argue with everything and anything you say.) Yeshua is an aspect of ADONAI. He was formed in Miriam’s womb supernaturally to serve YHWH’s purpose on earth. He is divine, having the nature, character, mission and capacity of God in every respect. When he was crucified, he returned to the Father – the Echad. Paul constantly demonstrates this principle (Romans 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2:16, Philemon 1:3).

We must remember that we cannot possibly know the concept of “God” while we are in our earth suits with limited, human mindsets; and therefore it is blasphemy to suggest YHWH doesn’t know what He is doing and could not possibly have sent a Messiah named Y’shua.

And, by the way, Paul's writings WERE canonized! So, the counter-missionaries can counter and hoop and holler all they want, but the New Testament writings perfectly align with the "Old Testament." The only thing that's a "lie" or a "myth" is what some people attempt to get you to believe!