A close look at Matthew 4, where Yeshua is tempted by the Adversary…

Let’s take a close look at Matthew 4, where Yeshua is tempted by the Adversary – and be sure to note how he never became angry, defensive or or belligerent; he simply kept calmly quoting Torah!

And so did the Adversary! … which reveals he knows YHWH’s Word, as well. (That's how he was able to deceive Eve in the Garden!) The Adversary loves to TWIST the Word. That is why it is SO important to be constantly vigilant, as there are many “adversaries” among us, seeking to devour the gullible!

Okay, so let's do our little study:

Matthew 4:1 Then the Spirit led Yeshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary. 2 After Yeshua had fasted forty days and nights, he was hungry. 3 The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread.” 4 But he answered, “The Tanakhsays, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai’”

NOTE: See Deuteronomy 8:3. Yeshua declares that he himself, along with all of mankind, is required to live by the “Words” of YHWH, and that the Commandments Yeshua teaches are in fact YHWH’s Commandments from Torah.

However, Greek/English translators inserted the title Kurios/Lord, for both YHWH and Y’shua, rather than using original Names. Christian theologians then began teaching the fallacy that their “New Testaments” were the “new” Word, or new “Commandments of Yeshua” that replaced the original Word of YHWH, which is Torah. See John 8:36 (47); 12:48-50; 13:34; 14:10-21; 1 John 2:3-8; 2 John 1:5,6.

CONTINUATION OF MATTHEW 4:

Matthew 4:5 Then the Adversary took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the Temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “jump! For the Tanakh says, ‘He will order his angels to be responsible for you. . . . They will support you with their hands, so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.’”

NOTE: See Psalm 91:11–12.

Matthew 4: 7 Yeshua replied to him, “But it also says, ‘Do not put Adonai your God to the test.’”

NOTE: See Deuteronomy 6:16.

Matthew 4: 8 Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, 9 and said to him, “All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 “Away with you, Satan!” Yeshua told him, “For the Tanakh says, ‘Worship Adonai your God, and serve only him.’”

NOTE: See Deuteronomy 6:13–14.

Matthew 4: 11 Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him. 12 When Yeshua heard that Yochanan had been put in prison, he returned to the Galil; 13 but he left Natzeret and came to live in K’far-Nachum, a lake shore town near the boundary between Z’vulun and Naftali. 14 This happened in order to fulfill what Yesha‘yahu the prophet had said,

15 “Land of Z’vulun and land of Naftali, toward the lake, beyond the Yarden, Galil-of-the-Goyim — 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; upon those living in the region, in the shadow of death, light has dawned.”

NOTE: See Isaiah 8:23(9:1)–9:1(2). Now, please pay special attention to the following passage because it reveals the FIRST of many times Yeshua said he came to proclaim NOT the “good news” of himself; rather, the Kingdom of Heaven – which is all about YHWH and being reconciled to HIM.

It’s NEVER been about “Jesus came to bring grace, abolish the law and die for us, so we could be forgiven for everything we do” (which is NOT true, by the way!)….

CONTINUATION OF MATTHEW 4:

Matthew 4: 17 From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!”

18 As Yeshua walked by Lake Kinneret, he saw two brothers who were fishermen — Shim‘on, known as Kefa, and his brother Andrew — throwing their net into the lake. 19 Yeshua said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!” 20 At once they left their nets and went with him.

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers — Ya’akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan his brother — in the boat with their father Zavdai, repairing their nets; and he called them. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and went with Yeshua.

QUESTION: Obviously, there was "something special," clearly visible, about Yeshua, or else people would NOT simply have dropped everything to follow him! What do YOU think it might have been? His demeanor or appearance? The way he spoke? What?

CONTINUATION OF MATTHEW 4:

(Notice as you continue reading that, for the second time in this chapter, Yeshua is once again proclaiming NOT “himself” but the KINGDOM!)

Matthew 4: 23 Yeshua went all over the Galil teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing people from every kind of disease and sickness.

24 Word of him spread throughout all Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill, suffering from various diseases and pains, and those held in the power of demons, and epileptics and paralytics; and he healed them. 25 Huge crowds followed him from the Galil, the Ten Towns, Yerushalayim, Y’hudah, and ‘Ever-HaYarden. (CJB)

So, Yeshua proclaims from the very beginning that his role was to “proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH” (Luke 4:43), and NOT bring “grace” or any “get-out-of-jail-free” card! The Kingdom of YHWH requires our obedience to YHWH, to live holy lives for Him, and to be worthy of the redemption YHWH offered us through Yeshua, His redeeming Messiah.

Micah 7 reverberates into today…

Micah 7:

² The godly have been destroyed from the land,
there is no one upright among humankind.
They all lie in wait for blood,
each hunts his brother with a net.

³ Their hands do evil well.
The prince makes his request,
the judge grants it for a price,
and the great man expresses his evil desires —
thus they weave it together.

⁴ The best of them is a briar,
the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
The time of your watchmen — of your punishment — has come;
now they will be confused.

⁵ Don’t trust in your neighbor;
don’t put confidence in a close friend;
shut the gates of your mouth even from [your wife],
lying there with you in bed.

⁶ For a son insults his father,
a daughter rises against her mother,
daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —
a person’s enemies are the members of his own household.

⁷ But as for me, I will look to Adonai,
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me. (CJB)

Yeshua said he came to bring division ….

Yeshua was telling the truth when he said he came to bring division – as belief in YHWH ELOHIM and His Divine Messiah (who came to proclaim and Kingdom and do everything his Father commanded), has certainly divided families everywhere! (See Deut. 18:15-18; Luke 4:43 and 8:1; John 6:35-40; Acts 28:23, etc.)

This holds true especially for those of us who desire to obey Torah (YHWH’s Divine Instructions in Righteousness). Tell someone you’re Torah observant, and they do one of two things: they either become vicious and fight you like rabid dogs; or scatter like cockroaches and avoid you like the plague….

Luke 12: 49 “I have come to set fire to the earth! And how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have an immersion to undergo — how pressured I feel till it’s over!

51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace in the Land? Not peace, I tell you, but division! 52 For from now on, a household of five will be divided, three against two, two against three.

53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (CJB)

So … is there any GOOD news?

COVID-19 pandemic, fires, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsnamies, volcanic eruptions, sickness and disease, mass murders, wars, rumors or wars and evil all over the world ...

With all the bad news we're hearing lately, is there any GOOD news?

YES - Yeshua's Second Coming! Halleluyah!

YHWH's Messiah will put an end to wickedness and evil on this earth. He will rule and reign for a thousand years upon the Earth after he defeats the Antichrist at Armageddon. After that, on Judgment Day, every soul that has ever lived will stand before YHWH to give an account of their life. (Psalm 2:2; Daniel 2:44; Ezekiel 39:7; Revelation 16:14-16, 19:11-16 and 20:1-15).

In Matthew 24 we begin to see that Believers will be translated (cease to exist here on Earth to suddenly find themselves in the Presence of Yeshua). This does not necessarily mean that our physical bodies, upon Yeshua's return, will float up into the air, as depicted by Christian artists! We don't know for sure what will happen; but we do know that, according to 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, it will be "in the twinkling of an eye." Matthew 24:40 reveals that this "translation" from physical to spiritual bodies will be sudden. (See also John 5:28-29.)

Note that these scriptures also tell us that the "resurrection of life" is the first resurrection, which happens just prior to Yeshua's Second Coming; and that the "resurrection of judgment" does not occur until a thousand years later at the end of Messiah's millennial reign, when everyone who has ever lived will stand before YHWH on Judgment Day. These things are outlined in Daniel 12: 1-3; Acts 24: 15; Luke 14: 14, and Revelation 20.

(NOTE: This "catching up" will be when Yeshua returns to Earth; not before! According to Daniel 9:26-27, t will occur at the end of that seven year period which will begin when the "Antichrist" makes a seven year peace treaty with Israel. The day we hear of someone making a seven year peace treaty with Israel, we'll be able to count exactly seven years until Yeshua's return!)

Revelation 20:11. And I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it; from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and this their place was not found. 12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life. And the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds.

13. And the sea gave up the dead in it; and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. And they were judged, each one according to his deeds. 14. And death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (namely,) this lake of fire. 15. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire. (AENT)

So, YES, that IS good news … for BELIEVERS!

Atheists and "religion hoppers" and the "lukewarm" and anyone who didn't accept THE Creator, YHWH - the ELOHIM of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - as their God, are facing eternal separation from Him! It will be as if they never existed. (See 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15.)

Unfortunately, most people today don't seem to be concerned with the "hereafter"; let alone YHWH or His Word. Even many Believers don't know the meaning of the word, "wholehearted" - and, as a result, they will NOT be taking that narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

John 3:36, 11:25 and 17:3, etc. reveal that "eternal life" does not consist of simply "believing in Jesus," but living for YHWH according to His Torah rules. (Remember: Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH, do everything His Father commanded, and teach Torah, and then martyr himself on our behalf.)

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.

Most, according to what we read in Scripture, will end up separated from YHWH forever BECAUSE of their refusal to become "wholehearted"; but the believing and obeying remnant will get to spend eternity with Him in "the new heavens and the new earth."

As you know, Yeshua was the "arm" of YHWH (Isaiah 53:1) and the Word (John 1:1-4, 14), and to "believe" in Him is to gain eternal life. Nobody is guaranteed the next day, but we at least have the assurance of salvation, when our life here on earth ends!

So, YES - there are some evil days ahead; but be encouraged ... The indwelling Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) will guide us, with Torah as our Light (Psalm 119:105) – so, go out and BE that light while there is still time!

Isaiah 51:4 "Pay attention to me, my people! My nation, listen to me! For Torah will go out from me; (Yeshua’s spirit embodies Torah; it is the Word!) I will calm them with my justice as a light for the peoples. 5 My righteousness is at hand, my salvation (Yeshua) goes out, my arms will judge the peoples. The coastlands are putting their hope in me, trusting in my arm (Yeshua - Isaiah 53:1).

6 "Raise your eyes toward the skies, look at the earth below. The skies will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like clothing. Those living on it will die like flies; but my salvation (Yeshua) will be forever, and my justice will never end.

7 "Listen to me, you who know justice, you people who have my Torah in your heart: don't be afraid of people's taunts, don't be upset by their insults. 8 For the moth will eat them up like clothing, the worm will eat them like wool; but my justice will be forever, and my salvation for all generations." (CJB)

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. (AENT)

A mini-teaching on 2 Corinthians 4

Many of the New Testament passages are used by Christians to show that Torah was “abolished at the cross”; and by Jewish “counter-missionaries” and their adherents to “prove” that the New Testament is full of myths and anti-Torah rhetoric, and that Y’shua couldn’t possibly be the Messiah.

However, when read in context, we can see that the Apostles constantly referred to YHWH’s Torah (Divine Instruction in Righteousness without which we would have NO blueprint for moral, holy living).

Take, for instance, the entire chapter of 2 Corinthians 4, which reveals Paul’s love for YHWH, Y’shua and Torah!

2 Corinthians 4: 1. Therefore, we are not weary in this ministry which we have received according to the mercies that have been upon us: 2. But we have renounced the concealments of dishonor, and we walk not in craftiness, nor do we treat the Word of Elohim deceitfully; but by the manifestation[1] of the truth we exhibit ourselves to all the consciences of men before Elohim. (AENT)

NOTE 1: The word here for “manifestation” – galiyota – also means “revelation.” Furthermore, it is from the root of this word that we get the name “Galeela.”

2 Corinthians 4: 3. And if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled to them that perish; 4. To them whose minds the god of this world has blinded, in order that they might not believe, or else the light[2] of the Flame (Good News)[3] of the glory of the Mashiyach (who is the likeness of Elohim)[4] should dawn upon them. 5. For it is not ourselves that we preach, but the Mashiyach, Y’shua our Master;[5] and, as to ourselves, that we are your servants for Y’shua’ sake. (AENT)

NOTE 2: An Aramaic wordplay between “blinded” (aeor) and “light” in Hebrew (aur), which can also become the Aramaic word for “Torah,” i.e. aurayta, since Torah certifies the Good News. Also, in mystical thinking when the aleph is replaced by an ayin (as in the word for blind), even though both have a potential silent or “A” sound, the ayin is said to drain power; so from light to blindness.

NOTE 3: Or, flame, which given the imagery in the previous verse may be a better reading.

NOTE 4: [Damota d’Alaha = likeness of Elohim. This is an interesting word choice because damota denotes likeness but not equivalence. As in the book of Hebrews the earthly Temple vessels are representative of the heavenly; in this case Y’shua is the human face of YHWH. However, Hebrews 1:3 also tells us that Y’shua is “the radiance of His glory” – with a synonym to damota, tzemya – “and the exact representation (tzelma) of His (YHWH’s) nature.”

Tzelma is a much closer idea of the spiritual blueprint of man, which is also the reflection of YHWH. It is not representative like damota, but is almost like reflection in the sense of a cloned image that is the image itself. The word “copy” should be avoided as that would denote two natures of YHWH, which is not supported in the Peshitta text.

NOTE 5: Just as Y’shua spoke in his Father’s Name, so does Paul speak in the name of Y’shua Mashiyach. Paul’s authority was not on the basis of his own name. Neither was Paul given any authority to do away with Torah; this is simply a Pagan or Hellenistic ideology that is projected upon Paul.

2 Corinthians 4: 6. Because Elohim, who commanded the light to arise from darkness, has Himself shined in our hearts, that we might be illuminated with the knowledge of the glory of Elohim on the face of Y’shua the Mashiyach.[6] (AENT)

NOTE 6: This is extremely important, as it shows that this verse strengthens the idea that the glory of Elohim is “REFLECTED” in Y’shua’s face … NOT that Y’shua IS ELOHIM while walking the earth as a human who was born and died (something GOD cannot do)!  Always a PART of YHWH, he was the Word (John 1:1, 14) and the “Arm” of YHWH (Isaiah 53:1) – both of which are supernatural parts of YHWH that were temporarily “made flesh”… After his death, Yeshua was resurrected and ultimately returned to YHWH (Acts 7:55–56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 110:1, etc.)

2 Corinthians 4: 7. But we have this treasure in an earthen vessel that the excellence of the power might be from Elohim, and not from us. 8. And in every thing we are oppressed, but not suffocated; we are corrected, but not condemned; 9. We are persecuted, but not forsaken; we are prostrated, but not perish. 10. For we bear in our body, at all times, the dying of Y’shua; that the life also of Y’shua might be manifested in our body. 11. For if we are delivered over alive to death, for Y’shua’s sake, even so also will the life of Y’shua be manifested in this our mortal body.

12. Now therefore, in us death is active, but in you, life. 13. Having therefore the same spirit of faith, (as it is written, I believed, therefore also have I spoken,) we also believe, and therefore speak; 14. Knowing that He, who resurrected our Master Y’shua, will also resurrect us by Y’shua, and will receive us, with you, to himself. 15. For all things are for your sakes, that while grace abounds by means of many, thanksgiving may abound to the glory of Elohim.

16. For this cause we do not faint; for though our outward man perish, yet the inner (man) is renovated day by day. 17. For the affliction of the present time, though very small and light, prepares for us great glory, without end, for ever and ever; 18. While we look not at these seen things, but at those not seen; for these seen things are temporary, but those not seen are eternal. (AENT)

To reiterate:  Paul’s teachings didn’t “abolish” one yud or stroke from the Torah!  He constantly spoke in the name of Y’shua Mashiyach; never in his own name. As a mere human, Paul didn’t have the right to teach anything except what YHWH commanded and what Y’shua taught.  It is mere  Pagan or Hellenistic ideology to suggest that Paul enlightened us to believe in the erroneous “Jesus plus nothing” theology.

Do you find Paul’s writings confusing?

So many attempt to use Paul's writings to show that Torah was "abolished at the cross," because "Paul basically said so."

Well, here's a serious question: Does your Bible read: In the beginning was Paul, and Paul was with God, and Paul was God?

If it doesn't then why would you place his writings over what the Messiah is recorded as saying? Stop being a part of the group Peter spoke of in 2 Peter 3!

2 Peter 3: 15 And account the long suffering of Master YHWH to be redemption; as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom conferred on him, wrote to you; 16. as also in all his letters speaking in them of these things in which there is something difficult to be understood; (and) which they who are ignorant and unstable pervert, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, [1] to their own destruction. (AENT)

NOTE: It’s rather shocking that Peter writes of how Paul’s letters had already been turned into a Torahless fiasco, even in Peter’s day! Certainly it was not the Pharisees who were renouncing Torah Observance, but the humanist, pagan and materialist, “modernists” who operated under “Christian” labels.

So, the answer to the question above is a resounding "NO!" That is NOT what the Bible says!

Acts 24: 14 "But this I do admit to you: I worship the God of our fathers in accordance with the Way (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets.

In the above you can see Paul was not a "Christian" suggesting that Torah was abolished...

Even the anti-Semite Martin Luther (1483-1546), said: "If I were younger I would want to learn this language [i.e. Hebrew], for without it no one can properly understand the Holy Scripture.... For that reason they have said correctly: 'The Jews drink out of the original spring, The Greeks drink out of the stream flowing out of the stream, The Latins, however, out of the puddle.'"

The scriptures of Rabbi Sha'ul (Apostle Paul) whose native tongue was Hebrew, have been mistranslated or misunderstood since the advent of the "church age." This is because people are viewing his teachings through a "Greek" as opposed to a "Hebrew" mindset.

Paul never went against Yeshua's teachings, nor did he forsake the Torah. This article shows that Paul's declarations have either been misunderstood, mistranslated, or wrongly interpreted - not to mention, used by some Gentile churches as an excuse to negate God's Torah and thus continue the age-old, anti-Semitic stance against the Jews.

Many people tend to forget that Paul was a Jew (actually, he was from the Tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1, Philippians 3:5), but "Jew" is a blanket term for all Israel) whose teachings NEVER contradicted Torah (God's original teachings/instructions). If he had, he would have rendered Scripture contradictory.

Acts 21:15-21 - which was written after Paul had written the Galatians - clearly reveals Paul was Torah observant. It is commonly misunderstood that Paul's teachings - especially the idea that Paul said in Galatians, "if one is led by the Spirit, he or she is not under law..." - that the authority of the law has been abolished for believers in Yeshua and that the Torah has been superseded. Many people are confusing legalism (man's requirements) with Torah observance.

When Paul speaks of being "under the law" or the "works of the law," he is speaking against legalism, and not against the Torah. There is no Hebrew word for the concept of "legalism" or "legalist" so Paul was hindered in his attempt to explain to the Gentiles that legalism was not what God intended. Paul was not teaching against Torah observance by believers of Yeshua; rather, he was being careful in his language to make it clear that Torah was not given by God to be used in a legalistic manner.

Some people insist that there is no explicit text in the New Testament that commands us to "walk in Torah" or in any way continue to adhere to any of the commands of the old covenant. However, Romans 3:31 clearly says: 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law....

It’s time to learn to keep our “carnal natures” in check!

I recently witnessed a group of supposed Believers in a thread on someone’s Facebook wall, making fun of a young man who clearly had some mental issues, as he was busy disfiguring his body with dozens of tattoos and piercings.

My attempts to show that their behavior was anti-Torah and NOT pleasing to haShem, were met mostly with disdain and even rebukes. For instance:

The reality is, Scripture commands us to be kind to those with disabilities – including the disabilities we cannot see. Instead of openly “talking about” a person behind their back, we’re to employ the Matthew 18 method to lead them to onto the path.

And if they’re not a believer, we should certainly employ some common sense and contact them personally, if possible, to see if they’re open to correction. If not, turn them over to YHWH and leave them alone.

We have NO RIGHT to feel entitled to talk about, or make fun of them behind their back! Especially not in a public setting designed to get others to jump on our “bandwagons”….

Leviticus 19: 14 "'Do not speak a curse against a deaf person or place an obstacle in the way of a blind person; rather, fear your God; I am ADONAI. 15 "'Do not be unjust in judging - show neither partiality to the poor nor deference to the mighty, but with justice judge your neighbor.

16 "'Do not go around spreading slander among your people, but also don't stand idly by when your neighbor's life is at stake; I am ADONAI. 17 "'Do not hate your brother in your heart, but rebuke your neighbor frankly, so that you won't carry sin because of him. 18 Don't take vengeance on or bear a grudge against any of your people; rather, love your neighbor as yourself; I am ADONAI. (CJB)

Even Talmud doesn’t allow “lashon hara” (evil tongue/gossip). And Shulcan Aruch (called the “Code of Jewish Law”) says, while it is permissible to mock IDOLATRY (i.e., not only those who worship “other gods”; but also those who “worship” things such as money or possessions, or who are obsessed with their own appearance, etc.), it is NOT permissible to mock or attack PEOPLE or to poke fun at their supposed “lack of intellect” or anything else!

The best thing to do when realizing that someone is a "sick" individual in some way, is to simply pray for God to open their spiritual eyes and heal them. Once that is done, leave them alone, for at that point the proverbial ball is in YHWH’s court. It’s not YOUR problem!

Mishpocah (family/friends), the bottom line to being TRUE believers is to LIVE a “godly” lifestyle according to His Torah! If you’re not “walking the walk” via obedience to His Torah, then why are you even bothering to “talk the talk?” Simply “talking a good game” to give the appearance of holiness makes you nothing more than a hypocrite. You might as well be an UNBELIEVER, because, ultimately, YHWH will only allow the “wholehearted” to remain in His Presence! (Deuteronomy 18:13; 1 Kings 8:61; Jeremiah 29:13; Psalm 37:18 and 119:2; etc.)

Yeshua had the following grave warning for evil-minded people:

Matthew 18: 8. And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better to enter into life lame, or while you are maimed, than while you have two hands or two feet to fall into the fire that is everlasting. 9. And if your eye[1] causes you to stumble, pluck it out and cast it away from you, for it is better for you that with one eye you enter into life than while you have two eyes to fall into the Gehenna of fire. (AENT)

By the way, this passage does NOT literally mean you are to disfigure yourself in any way! It is metaphor showing people that they are risking their eternal life by behaving in an evil manner toward their fellow human beings.

The “evil eye” is a Hebrew idiom denoting someone who is stingy with their material possessions or having an eye that looks covetously upon the things of others. To enter into Life, we must turn our eyes from carnal and material things and focus them upon YHWH (Matthew 5:29; 6:22, 23; 7:3-5; 20:15). In other words, we must “remove sinful visions from our eyes as if that eye was unable to see.”