The meaning of “The Lord said to my Lord”…

LET’S EXAMINE THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE “THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD” IN MATTHEW 22:44…

As most know, in order to properly understand Scripture, it is necessary to first, view it through the Hebrew, instead of the Greek mindset; and secondly, to figure out the CONTEXT – which is usually accomplished by reading the previous or following passages (and sometimes even entire chapters).

For instance, let’s take a look - from the Hebrew/Aramaic viewpoint - the phrase “The Lord said to my lord” in Matthew 22:44. To figure this out, we need to start with verse 33:

Matthew 33. And when the crowds heard this, they were amazed by his teaching. 34. But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. 35. Then one of them who knew Torah asked testing him. 36. “Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?”

37. And Y’shua said to him, that “You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind.” 38. This is the first and the greatest Commandment. 39. And the second is like it. That “You should love your neighbor as yourself.” 40. On these two commandments hang[1] Torah and the prophets.

41. Now while the Pharisees were assembled, Y’shua asked them, 42. and said, What do you say about the Mashiyach? Who is he the son of? They were saying to him, “The son of Dawid.”

43. He said to them, How then did Dawid in the spirit call him Master YHWH? For he said, 44. “that Master YHWH said to my master, ‘You sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.’” 45. Therefore, if Dawid calls him Master YHWH,[2] how is he his son? 46. And no man was able to give him an answer. And no man dared to question him again from that time on. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1]  In other words, this passage does NOT mean that there are only two commandments; rather, that Torah and Prophets hang or “hold on by” these two great Commandments of Love. Those who do the Commandments, are they who love YHWH (Matt 19:17; 1 John 5:2 and 3). Without love, observance of Torah is vanity, and without Torah one’s “love” is vanity.

ADONAI’s commandments are perfectly outlined in the Torah, which means they are holy and good instructions … instructions that cannot and should never be ignored. The death of Yeshua didn’t automatically abolish the rest of God’s commandments. Torah was NOT abolished; rather, he removed the certificate of debt for our sins…

[2] This footnote is a little more difficult to explain, and will require some real attention to detail: “Therefore, if Dawid calls him Master YHWH, how is he is son?” (Matthew 22:45)

First of all, the Greek Kurios (Lord), and Adon/Adonai, (Master) can easily be applied to either Y’shua or YHWH; therefore, few scholars have noted that the Greek Kurios could mean YHWH in Matthew, and “human masters” in Mark and Luke, as referenced in the Aramaic Peshitta readings.

Compare the Aramaic readings of Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-40; Luke 20:39-47: Notice that Mark and Luke say: “Dawid, calls Him ‘my master’; so how is He his Son?” But in Matthew: “Dawid calls Him ‘YHWH’; how is He his Son?” Both Mark 12:39 and Luke 20:39 read: Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” And they no longer dared to ask Him anything. Then He said to them, “How can they say that the Mashiyach is the Son of Dawid? Matthew 22:41-42 reads: While the Pharisees were together, Y’shua questioned them, “What do you think about the Mashiyach? Whose Son is He?” “Dawid’s,” they told Him.”

Compare the differences:

1. Luke says that Y’shua first silenced the Pharisees, and then asked his question. Matthew says that Y’shua first asked the question.

2. Luke and Mark do not provide the Pharisees’ initial answer that Matthew includes. In other words Luke and Mark record Y’shua responding to the answer!

3. Luke writes “no one dared ask him anymore questions” at the beginning of the phrase.

4. But look at Matthew 22:45-46: “If, then, Dawid calls Him ‘YHWH’ how is He his Son?” No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day no one dared to question Him anymore.” Matthew puts “no one dared ask him any questions” at the end, not the beginning like the others. This is also how it has been translated into Greek. Which version of the story is correct? Both! They are providing accounts of different stages of the same exchange.

5. Mark does not record “no one dared ask him any questions” in his narrative. Some suggest that is because his writing style is much more abbreviated than the others; however, Mark frequently includes details that others don’t: Matthew: “while the Pharisees were together”. Mark 12:35: “while teaching in the temple”. Luke: “while he taught the people in the temple”.

The Aramaic word korseya (Hebrew cognate kisseh- see Genesis 41:40) specifically means “throne”, exactly as in the Aramaic portion of Daniel 7:9. Y’shua is describing a seat of judgment that implies YHWH’s authority. So while Y’shua vigorously rebukes the scribes and the Pharisees for rebellion, hypocrisy, and their man made traditions that make void the Torah; he also recognizes them as the rightful inheritors of Torah-based halakha (applying the Word of YHWH to our lives).

This would include the ancient Priesthood calendar that the Pharisees followed for keeping the Feasts. There are no accounts in the New Testament or in Jewish history of Y’shua or the Apostles departing from the calendar that the Pharisees sanctified. Y’shua and the Apostles routinely taught in synagogues of the Pharisees and in the Temple and observed the moedim (Set Times) in unity.

A great reminder concerning the 7th Day Sabbath

HERE'S A WONDERFUL REMINDER CONCERNING THE 7TH DAY SABBATH, from Truth Ignited:

• Food was made for man, not man for food.
• Water was made for man, not man for water.
• Air was made for man, not man for air.
• Sunlight was made for man, not man for sunlight.
• Homes were made for man, not man for homes.

I am sure I can list off several other things that were made for man, but you get the point, right?

In the same manner, The Sabbath REST is a basic human need. If you do an honest study of Scripture, this becomes clear. There is even modern scientific and health-based research that supports the idea that The Sabbath is literally a human need on the same level as food, water, air, sunlight, and shelter.

A lot of people contend that "Jesus is our Sabbath now" and that somehow means that we don't have to keep it.

Well, The Bible says that:

• Yeshua is the bread of life, does that mean we stop eating food?
• Yeshua is the light of the world, does that mean we stop going out in the daylight of the sun?
• Yeshua is the door we enter in, does that mean we no longer enter the door of our homes, our shelters?

Some say, based on John 7:38, that Yeshua is the living water, does that mean we stop drinking water?

Some would even say that Yeshua is the breath of life, does that mean we hold our breath and stop taking in air, suffocating ourselves?

Lets re-examine the misunderstood concepts of “Priests are forbidden to marry” and “Do not call anyone “Father”…

1 Timothy 4: 1. But the Spirit says explicitly that, in the latter times, some will depart from the faith, and will go after deceptive spirits and after the doctrine of demons. 2. These will seduce by a false appearance, and will speak a lie and will be seared in their conscience; 3. and will forbid to marry,[1] and will require abstinence from meats which Elohim has created for use and for thankfulness by them who believe and know the truth. 4. Because whatever is created by Elohim is good; and there is nothing which should be rejected if it be received with thankfulness, 5. for it is sanctified by the Word of Elohim[2] and by prayer. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Roman Catholic church and other Christian organizations forbid priests to marry; by installing their own so called “infallible” deity-like “fathers” they’ve chosen to wage war against Torah and Mashiyach Y’shua. They forget that the Levite Priests were allowed to marry and have families. (See, for example, Leviticus 21 which tells us that YHWH expected His cohens to marry "unblemished" women – no prostitutes or divorcees.) So where did this idea of complete chastity for priests originate?

[2] Food includes meat which must be sanctified by the Word of Elohim (Torah), and there are clean and unclean meats – some are sanctified, some are not; see Leviticus 11. Saying a prayer over unclean food doesn’t sanctify the food anymore than praying that you don’t get caught stealing can “sanctify” or protect you from the consequences of that transgression. Many fail to remember that, just because the punishment is not immediate, doesn’t mean that it’s been forgotten by heaven.

NEXT:

Matthew 23:9. “And do not call yourself Father for your Father is one who is in heaven.” (AENT)
When viewed via the Hebraic mindset, we see that this prohibition against calling leaders “father” is to avoid giving high status to men which is due unto YHWH. (AENT)

Catholics openly defy this commandment, but all institutions who use flattering titles for leaders are culpable; see Job 32:21-12. Isaiah 56:10-12 exposes leaders who “can never have enough” and who keep their “followers” in spiritual and often financial poverty by seeking personal gain for themselves.

Do you have any “smoldering stumps of firewood”plotting to ruin your life?

“SMOLDERING STUMPS OF FIREWOOD” …THOSE WORDS STOOD OUT TO ME the other day, as my husband and I continued to make our way through the Bible, because they perfectly describe some of the “problem people” or “tares” in our life:

Isaiah 7:4-5: “…Take care to stay calm and unafraid; don’t be demoralized by these two smoldering stumps of firewood... (and others who) ...have been plotting against you”… (CJB)

The words hit me so hard because, at some point in our life most, or ALL of us, have experienced “enemies” who disliked us enough to spend time “plotting against us” in some way.

I certainly have!

One example that comes to mind is a high-ranking Department of the Army Civilian I worked for in Germany in the 1985/86 timeframe … a psychopath who loved to harass people by “toying” with them in various ways, in attempt to provoke in them the “fight or flight” response.

My boss (let’s call him “J.D.”) was the head of an Army Public Affairs Office in Heidelberg, Germany, who attempted to ruin, not just my military career, but my entire life, for reasons that remain a mystery still today!

Truth be told, J.D. didn’t need any reasons; he simply took pleasure in harassing and making fun of people, mimicking them, or purposely “pushing their buttons” in some way until they couldn’t take it anymore. He was an “equal opportunity” harasser and bigot. NOBODY was safe from him!

Unfortunately, most people were too afraid to “talk back” or report him – mainly because of his position and temperament. Nobody dared to challenge him … nobody that is, except for me! (If I feel threatened in any way, I don’t lay down and play dead. I’m very tough, because I have had a tough life.  My motto has always been: “The buck stops here!”)

When I realized I had become J.D.’s target, I immediately began keeping records and evidence about his tactics – keeping detailed notes on not only what he was doing to me, but also to others; all of which I ultimately used to report him to the Command’s Inspector General’s Office.

In the end I won my case but, suffice it to say, it was a VERY grueling, lonely, tedious, year-long, uphill battle going up against someone who was buddy-buddy with the Command Sergeant Major, the Chief of Staff and the General - because “the powers that be” ALWAYS tend to “side” with the higher-ranking person! I cannot begin to explain to you the myriad gyrations I was forced to endure in order to “prove” that I wasn’t the worthless employee and “loser” J.D. was trying to make me out to be…

MORE ON THAT LATER, but first I want to share with you one other example of J.D.’s sick antics:

During my first six months in that particular Public Affairs Office, we went through two different secretaries – both of whom left BECAUSE of J.D. Unfortunately, neither was brave enough to report him to the command before they left, because his tendency to terrorize made people paranoid. (That man’s countenance was absolutely demonic whenever he was angry! He could be a real force to deal with!)

Anyway, the secretary who was there when I first arrived at my new duty station, was a German lady who was married to a Black soldier. She left shortly after my arrival, but before she left, she confided to me that her departure was due solely to J.D.’s endless racial jokes and constant mention of the fact that she was married to a Black man, as if it was a “bad” thing.

Her replacement was a black lady from the Bahamas, who happened to be married to a white, Italian man. The couple had two young “mixed race” boys who – as you might guess – were to become J.D.’s next target. The whole situation served as a huge guffaw for J.D. who spent days talking about it in the office.

One day, after looking at the new secretary’s family photo on her desk, J.D let out a huge, comical snort and said: “Well, I don’t know about you all, but it sure looks to me like our ‘Local-National Personnel Office’ mandates that the Public Affairs Secretarial position has to be filled by women involved in interracial marriages!”

“That’s not true!” the secretary countered, quickly adding: “Does it bother you that I’m Black? I mean, you keep bringing it up.”

“Oh, no, of course not!” he replied indignantly. Pulling his lips into a sardonic grin, he continued, “I’m just joking! Don’t take it seriously. I just like to kid around. You’ll get used to me, don’t worry!”

Instead of leaving it at that, the next day, he once again approached her desk and casually asked her if she would mind if he called her children ‘Oreos’.

Tossing him a questioning glance, she responded, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you mean by that.”

“Oh, sorry,” he replied with a grin. “What I mean is, your kids are like those cookies we have in America, called ‘Oreos’. They’re black on the outside and white on the inside.”

Clearly incensed over his comments, she stood and looked him straight in the eye and demanded to know why he felt a need to label her children at all.

Not used to being challenged, J.D. stiffened as his face flushed, but he quickly managed to regain composure. Jaw visibly clenched, he patted her on the shoulder, then turned to head into his office, and tersely said over his shoulder in a tone that left no doubt that this brand new relationship was going to be short-lived: “Don’t worry, honey, I’m just kidding. I promise you, it will never happen again.”

Well, that was the beginning of the end, and we all knew that this secretary wasn’t going to be with us much longer…

The final straw came just a few months later when the secretary called J.D. one morning to inform him that she had fired her baby-sitter for physically abusing her little boys (aged 5 and 7), and she was planning to take the day off to look for a new sitter.

No one knows what was going through J.D.’s mind at the time, but he let her know in no uncertain terms that he was NOT giving her the day off, because she was “urgently needed in the office.” To make sure she understood the consequences, he firmly added that she would receive a letter of reprimand if she refused to come in.

Having overheard the conversation, I quickly went into his office to let him know I would be happy to fill in for her – but, obviously annoyed and shaking his head vehemently, he quickly dismissed me with an impatient wave of his hand…

When the secretary showed up some 45 minutes later, J.D. came out of his office to ask if she had found a sitter, to which she shook her head and replied that, since she wasn’t allowed to take the day off, she had been forced to ask one of her neighbors to check on her boys throughout the day.

The bottom line to all this was that J.D. didn’t really have any urgent need for the secretary’s presence there that day; he simply didn’t want to grant her the day off. The “end of everything” came just before quitting time, when she received a call from a Child Protection Advocate, telling her that she had been reported her for abandoning her children.

“This is the last straw!” she shouted. Angrily marching into J.D.’s office, she demanded to know if he was the one who had reported her and - as she told me just before she tearfully stomped out of the office forever - he was squatted behind his desk, hands laced behind his head as he leaned back in his chair, and nonchalantly admitted to having turned her in. “Well, of course I did,” he had told her with a huge, triumphant smile. “It was my duty. I mean, what kind of mother would leave her little kids alone all day long?”

…OKAY, SO I WROTE ALL THIS to show you that this man was a total psycho. I won’t go into what all he did to me; but suffice it to say, the year I worked for him was one of the hardest times of my life. Unlike the civilian employees, there could be no “flight response” for me. Since I was an Army journalist, I couldn’t simply “find a new job somewhere else,” and so I was forced to stay and prepare to get into the “fight” mode…

To make that proverbial long story short, while I searched (and failed) to find another Army Public Affairs position, the Chain of Command did allow me to be reassigned to the Congressional Inquiries Office in the Personnel Directorate, while my Inspector General investigation was underway.

As I mentioned above, in the end, I won …and in the meantime, because of my “time in grade” and stellar military service for my then 16 years in the Army – much to J.D.’s consternation, I was even promoted to Master Sergeant/E-8!

Looking back, even though I didn’t know YHWH or Yeshua back then, our ELOHIM protected me from that demon and even repaid him for his evil deeds! Here’s what ultimately transpired – and my story has a HAPPY ending:

Approximately year after I had reported J.D. and kicked off an investigation that seemed to be moving slower than those proverbial “molasses in January,” J.D. took a job at the Pentagon to become Chief of Public Affairs.

I remember being EXTREMELY distraught when I heard about it - because I couldn’t figure out WHY the Command hadn’t taken ANY kind of action against this sick monster – and had even seen fit to allow him to be promoted! As far as I was concerned, he should have been BOOTED OUT of the Civil Service!

But then, quite out of a blue a couple weeks later, something happened to help snap me out of my depression and restore my faith in “the system”…

It happened when, one morning the new Chief of Staff of the Command came into the Congressional Inquiries Office and, in front of everyone, he said he came to APOLOGIZE on behalf of the new General and the entire Command about the way my “J.D. investigation” had been handled!

The Colonel started off by assuring me that things would have turned out radically different, had this new “Chain of Command” been in charge when this incident took place! Unfortunately, my investigation had been “placed on the back burner” because the Command was undergoing a change in leadership at the time, which is why things turned out the way they did…

While that didn’t exactly thrill me (because I had wanted J.D. FIRED!), I practically jumped for joy when the Colonel related that J.D. didn’t completely get away unscathed. He said, because of my bravery in daring to take J.D. on, and “outing him” - he had lost the healthy sum of money he was supposed to have received via that year’s Civilian Incentive Award. AND, not only that, but the new General had sent a letter forwarding a copy of the Inspector General’s Investigation packet to J.D.’s new boss at the Pentagon, informing him of this incident.

I was elated! As far as I was concerned, that was at least “some” vindication – it was better than nothing.

But there is more to the story.

At some point after J.D. had taken the Pentagon job, I heard “through the grapevine” that his position had been DOWNGRADED (for reasons unknown to me); but years later when the Internet was in full swing, I Googled his name, and was thrilled to see that he had unsuccessfully attempted to fight the demotion, and to add insult to injury, he didn’t even receive the new position he was seeking!

So – all’s well that ends well!

As for me, everything was suddenly “coming up roses” because, in the winter of 1989, I was selected to attend the prestigious United States Army Sergeant Major’s Academy in El Paso, Texas, where – after graduation, the Commandant asked me to stay on as a lesson developer and substitute Instructor … AND soon thereafter, I discovered that I had made the Sergeant Major’s List!

I’ll never be able to forget what happened in Germany those 40 long years ago, but I have forgiven J.D. in the meantime; and turned him over to YHWH. I don’t know whatever happened to him, and I don’t care, as it just doesn’t matter anymore.

I WILL SAY THIS, THOUGH: Baruch haShem YHWH for working behind the scenes to protect me from those “smoldering stumps of firewood” that tried to destroy me! Even though I was just a “lukewarm” believer back then, I was being supernaturally protected. Satan tried to kill me, but YHWH turned it all around for GOOD! Halleluyah! Praise Him forever!

Ready for a more indepth study of John 1, verses1 and 14?

Following are some great footnotes in the Aramaic English New Testament to John 1:1 and 14 (from the Hebraic, rather than the Greek mindset)…

Yochanan 1:1. In the beginning [1] was the Miltha.[2] And that Miltha was with Elohim, and Elohim was that Miltha. 2. This was with Elohim in the beginning.[3] (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The phrase B’resheet aytohi hwa miltha breaks a most basic rule of Aramaic grammar by combining a feminine noun (miltha) with two masculine verbs for “to be” (aytohi, hwa). This is unheard of in Aramaic literature other than right here in this passage and in 1 John. This shows YHWH has male and female “images/spirits” even though YHWH remains a He. It may also be a midrash on Isaiah 11:1-2, which describes the Spirit of YHWH descending on Mashiyach using both masculine and feminine suffixes. This is not something easily translated, let alone when it occurs within the first four words.

[2] Miltha has no direct English equivalent. It can mean ‘Word’, ‘Manifestation’, ‘Instance’ or ‘Substance’ among other things. In this context, it may best be left untranslated.

[3] Fulfilling Messianic prophecy: Mashiyach (ruler of Israel) to have origins of the ancient past Micah 5:2; Isaiah 48:16. Bear in mind that Micah is referring to the spiritual “Israel of Elohim,” those of the Kingdom of Heaven according to the circumcision of heart.

John 1:14. And the Miltha[1] became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory,[2] the glory as the Only-Begotten[3] who is from the Father who is full of grace and truth. 15. Yochanan witnessed concerning him and cried out and said, “This is he whom I said would come after me, and yet be before me because he was earlier than me.” 16. And from his fullness we all have received grace on account of grace; 17. Because Torah was given through Moshe, but truth[4] and grace[5] through Y’shua who is the Mashiyach.[6] 18. Man has not ever seen Elohim. The Only Begotten of Elohim, he who is in the bosom of his Father, he has declared Him. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1]  Miltha refers to the “Manifestation” of the Ruach haKodesh within Mashiyach. The physical body of Mashiyach is not the Word of YHWH, but his words and actions demonstrate the Will and Word of YHWH, which upholds observance of Torah. However, Christo-Pagans like Marcion and Constantine taught that Y’shua’s body and spirit manifest a different “word” that did away with Torah. The Word of YHWH was substituted with dispensational and replacement “theologies,” which are very popular among Christians.

[2] Isaiah 42:8; 48:11

[3] Ekhadaya is a beautiful term used among Eastern theologians and poets; it literally means “THE ONE”

[4] Shemot/Ex. 34:5, 6; D’varim/Deut. 32:4; Psalm 25:10; 31:5; 119:142, 151; 146:5, 6; Isaiah 65:16; Jer. 4:1, 2; John 17:17.

[5] Genesis 6:8; Shemot/Ex. 33:12-17; Psalm 84:11; Jeremiah 31:1-3; see footnote 1 Peter 5:10.

[6] The Torah of Moshe is the Word of YHWH, but grace and truth revealed in Y’shua are the impelling forces that uphold all righteousness and keep the Word of YHWH (Torah) positioned in our hearts; these are complimentary, not opposites. It is according to the Grace of the Father YHWH that Mashiyach is revealed in a person’s heart; see John 17:9, 10.

Let’s do a thorough exam of that “you’re judging me” thing…

Many people are quick to yell, "Don't judge me!" whenever someone attempts to tell them they are off the mark in some way. Truth is,TORAH is our judge. We're not "judging" anyone by telling them that they're going against Torah principles..

"Judging" refers to the attempts to correct others according to your own standard of iniquity. When you do that, you condemn yourself. When you "judge", you must do it SOLELY by the standard of truth, and that truth (which Paul amply addressed in Romans 2:1-8) is Torah.

The bottom line upfront is, there IS a difference between “judging” and “exposing!”  For instance, whenever Torah observant Believers see someone teaching "no need for Yeshua," or "no need for Torah," or pushing themselves on others to shove the idea of YHWH/Yeshua/Torah down their throats (or anything that may be contrary to Scripture), we MUST rebuke them!

To sit idly by and say nothing is NOT an option, for if we don't help our brethren stay on the YHWH's Path, then WE will be held accountable! (See Ezekiel 33, James 5:19, Matthew 18:6, Acts 20:28, etc.)

Yes, we must "stand our ground" when it comes to our faith; BUT, we don't need to go into synagogues or churches to "target" anyone in hopes of roping them into God's Truth... After all, Scripture commands us to be gentle (see Philippians 4:5; Galatians 5:22-23; Colossians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 4:21; Ephesians 4:2).

In Torah, we learn the following:

Leviticus 19: 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)

So you see, Scripture commands us to warn our brethren about sinning, but the problem is many attempt to use New Testament scriptures, such as Romans 2 as proof that we are not to "judge one another." (Read Romans 2 in context.)

TORAH is our judge, and if you see a brother or sister who has fallen head-long into sin, you can't just stand by and watch, or attempt to "pray it away." You MUST warn that person. But, simply telling someone they're breaking ELOHIM's rules is NOT "judging"!

HOWEVER, we also need to consider this:

Titus 1:13. And this testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith 14. and may not throw themselves into Jewish fables and into the precepts of men who hate the Truth. 15. For to the pure, everything is pure; but to them who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but their understanding is defiled, and their conscience. 16 And they profess that they know Elohim, but in their works they deny him; and they are odious and disobedient and to every good work reprobates. (AENT)

In other words, don't white-wash the Truth. Be firm - but do NOT give people a "biblical concussion" while you're doing it.

Let’s go a littler deeper:

Referring to the “Jewish fables” mentioned in Titus 1:14 above: According to Charles Ryrie: “Jewish myths; speculations of a Gnostic sort, supposedly based on OT scripture.”  Ryrie Study Bible (NASB), p. 393: The key is in the highlighted portion of the above passage, “they profess to know Elohim, but in works deny him” for by this very description, Paul has named the heretical sect. “Gnosticism” is derived from the Greek gnosis, “to know.” What is often overlooked is that Gnosticism did not originate with Christianity, although later adopted by many Messianic themes. Rather, it began as a Jewish sect with their own “myths and fables.”

Professor Ryrie continues: The heresy of Gnosticism had begun to make inroads among churches in John’s day. Among its teachings were: (1) knowledge is superior to virtue; (2) non-literal sense of Scripture is correct and can only be understood by a select few; (3) evil in the world precludes God being the only creator; (4) the incarnation is incredible because deity cannot unite itself with anything material such as a body (Docetism); and (5) there is no resurrection of the flesh. The ethical standards of the Gnostics were low… (Ryrie Study Bible (NASB), p. 440).

Is it any wonder then why Paul was upset at these false teachers? Even a conventional Pharisee would take great offense to such posturing, and they most certainly did with four of these five articles of belief. These false teachings are, of course, diametrically opposite to Paul’s own teaching as a “ringleader” of the Netzarim, so there should be no surprise when he takes these false teachings to task.

In any case, one can easily see how modern readers, divorced from the historical context, can easily draw the wrong conclusion and not take into account who the speaker is, and who the intended audience is.” (Source, AENT)

QUESTION: Why does YHWH need a Messiah?

A FRIEND RECENTLY POSED THE FOLLOWING GREAT QUESTIONS:

“I going to be honest in that I am struggling since I came to Torah observance. Why does YHWH need a messiah? I believe that Yeshua is real but don’t understand why Jewish people don’t think He is Messiah. Then I am struggling with there is only one God so why does He need another man? Scriptures please.”

MY RESPONSE:

QUESTION: Why does YHWH need a messiah?

ANSWER: The simple answer on this is: He probably doesn’t “need one”; however, since we mere humans cannot actually SEE God Himself (and it’s hard to believe in, and worship an “invisible” entity), He obviously decided to send one as a human who was to teach mankind face-to-face via a “human vessel” that could help us understand Him better.

That is why He supernaturally sent “The Word” (John 1:1, 14) into a human woman’s womb, who would be born to be the Messiah … someone who was totally sinless in every way (so that he could later offer himself as the Final SIN Sacrifice*, and relieve us of the burden of having to kill innocent animals to atone for our sins); and would teach not just the ordinary population, but also the Rabbis who needed to be “wowed” and reminded that they weren’t doing everything correctly, and had even been “putting fences” around His Word and thus turning some of His commands into a burden.

(NOTE:  *By the way, Yeshua was not “sacrificed” as nobody sacrificed him in the Temple; he willingly martyred himself on our behalf, against which there is NO Torah law.)

Furthermore, YHWH actually SAID He was going to send us someone who would be “greater than Moshe” who was to do everything He ordered him to do – and I’m taking this straight from my website’s article Proclaming Torah which says, in part:

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. (CJB)

Yeshua then said He came to teach and do HIS FATHER's will; not his own – in words that God’s people could understand!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (AENT)

[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!

QUESTION: I believe that Yeshua is real but don’t understand why Jewish people don’t think He is Messiah.

ANSWER: The short answer is that Christians have turned “Jesus” into God Himself, and Jesus is supposedly the be-all-end-all, and the Father (YHWH) is hardly ever mentioned in church! To them, it’s all about “Jesus!”

The Jews know and believe that throughout the Torah, YHWH kept telling them He was the ONLY God – and He IS! Yet, Christians have turned “Jesus” into “God in the Flesh” – which is not a good description at all. He was the DIVINE Messiah (“divine” because of who his Father was!). Yeshua had a divine Nature, and thus, he innately KNEW YHWH’s Will (because he was “The Word made flesh” after all (and “the Word” is a PART of who YHWH is!). Yeshua clearly had a special relationship with YHWH that we mere humans cannot possibly comprehend. However, he was NOT a separate god! He CAME from God as His prophesied MESSIAH – someone who was able to be born and die (neither of which YHWH ELOHIM can ever do and never did!)…

Take a look at these passages from the Hebrew and Aramaic viewpoints:

Here are some great footnotes in the Aramaic English New Testament to John 1:1 and 14:

Yochanan 1:1. In the beginning [1] was the Miltha.[2] And that Miltha was with Elohim, and Elohim was that Miltha. 2. This was with Elohim in the beginning.[3] (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The phrase B’resheet aytohi hwa miltha breaks a most basic rule of Aramaic grammar by combining a feminine noun (miltha) with two masculine verbs for “to be” (aytohi, hwa). This is unheard of in Aramaic literature other than right here in this passage and in 1 John. This shows YHWH has male and female “images/spirits” even though YHWH remains a He. It may also be a midrash on Isaiah 11:1-2, which describes the Spirit of YHWH descending on Mashiyach using both masculine and feminine suffixes. This is not something easily translated, let alone when it occurs within the first four words.

[2] Miltha has no direct English equivalent. It can mean ‘Word’, ‘Manifestation’, ‘Instance’ or ‘Substance’ among other things. In this context, it may best be left untranslated.

[3] Fulfilling Messianic prophecy: Mashiyach (ruler of Israel) to have origins of the ancient past Micah 5:2; Isaiah 48:16. Bear in mind that Micah is referring to the spiritual “Israel of Elohim,” those of the Kingdom of Heaven according to the circumcision of heart.

John 1:14. And the Miltha[1] became flesh and dwelt among us and we saw his glory,[2] the glory as the Only-Begotten[3] who is from the Father who is full of grace and truth. 15. Yochanan witnessed concerning him and cried out and said, “This is he whom I said would come after me, and yet be before me because he was earlier than me.” 16. And from his fullness we all have received grace on account of grace; 17. Because Torah was given through Moshe, but truth[4] and grace[5] through Y’shua who is the Mashiyach.[6] 18. Man has not ever seen Elohim. The Only Begotten of Elohim, he who is in the bosom of his Father, he has declared Him. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[[1]] Miltha refers to the “Manifestation” of the Ruach haKodesh within Mashiyach. The physical body of Mashiyach is not the Word of YHWH, but his words and actions demonstrate the Will and Word of YHWH, which upholds observance of Torah. However, Christo-Pagans like Marcion and Constantine taught that Y’shua’s body and spirit manifest a different “word” that did away with Torah. The Word of YHWH was substituted with dispensational and replacement “theologies,” which are very popular among Christians.

[2] Isaiah 42:8; 48:11

[3] Ekhadaya is a beautiful term used among Eastern theologians and poets; it literally means “THE ONE”

[4] Shemot/Ex. 34:5, 6; D’varim/Deut. 32:4; Psalm 25:10; 31:5; 119:142, 151; 146:5, 6; Isaiah 65:16; Jer. 4:1, 2; John 17:17.

[5] Genesis 6:8; Shemot/Ex. 33:12-17; Psalm 84:11; Jeremiah 31:1-3; see footnote 1 Peter 5:10.

[6] The Torah of Moshe is the Word of YHWH, but grace and truth revealed in Y’shua are the impelling forces that uphold all righteousness and keep the Word of YHWH (Torah) positioned in our hearts; these are complimentary, not opposites. It is according to the Grace of the Father YHWH that Mashiyach is revealed in a person’s heart; see John 17:9, 10.

As mentioned above, Yeshua was sent by the Father NOT to do his own will, but the Father's! So many erroneously seem to think he came to replace the Father and abolish Torah....Yet he came to restore man's relationship with YHWH and remind us to totally rely on YHWH for everything. There are LOTS of scripture passages, complete with proper footnotes on the above-mentioned article and I would highly suggest you read it all in order to get the “whole” picture:

I believe all of the above serves to answer your final question: “Then I am struggling with there is only one God so why does He need another man?”...