Category: 7 Feasts of The Lord

Pictures of Faithfulness – The Quality and Seal of a True Talmidim

Faithful Disciples

aman talmidim

   אֵמֻן   תלמידם 

Faithfulness

the seal/trademark/quality/characteristic/hallmark

of a talmidim

can we say amen to that?

Remember Hebrew reads from right to left.

This characteristic is one of the most important traits that a follower of Jesus/Yeshua can have. Sadly, it was one of the things that the children of Israel constantly failed at because they kept turning away from The Lord to other gods/idols and because of the marriage covenant made at Sinai, their lifestyle became the same as a spouse committing adultery, breaking vows and being unfaithful.

Shavuot/Pentecost is the Appointed Time of Remembering that wonderful promise of the Father as He made the children of Israel His Bride, betrothing Himself to them and the giving of Torah.

For more of  Shavuot /Pentecost click links below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/2-x-3000-a-marriage-made-in-heaven/ 

https://www.minimannamoments.com/50-days-later-an-earthly-and-spiritual-harvest-pentecost-shavuot/

When people assign the attribute of faithfulness to others it is a positive and encouraging one.

In Prov. 22:1 we are told that to be known as a person of integrity is worth more than silver or gold.

A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold. AMPC

“They [the words of God] are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold” (Psalm 19:10).

As we are to seek a good name instead of riches, so we are also to seek loving favor over riches. There is no better way to garner loving favor than to have a good name and people will love and gravitate towards us for having integrity and being faithful.

Scripture firmly establishes the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.

1Thess. 5:24. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

 1 Corinthians 1:9. God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

Psalms 119:90  Your faithfulness endures to all generations;  you have established the earth, and it stands fast. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Chronicles 34:12 faithful workers.

It is interesting to note God does not use this term liberally in the scriptures or say people are faithful too often, it is reserved for only a few. Because of this we must understand it is very highly valued in His eyes and as such, is no doubt the reason why He was so upset with the children of Israel/His people when they kept going astray and being unfaithful to Him.

To be proclaimed a faithful servant by the King of the Universe Melekh HaOlam, is almost beyond words let alone our understanding;

so much so, that we need to take more than a quick glance at the statement.

Numbers 12:7
My servant Moses is not so, who is FAITHFUL in all mine house.

Moses is one of the few and of course Jesus/Yeshua, who He is both pleased with and Yeshua/Jesus is also called a prophet like unto Moses.

Deuteronomy 18:15
The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

There is a principle applied to the interpretation of the Scriptures that is called the Law of First Mention.

This term means the literal first mention of a word, theme, teaching, topic or doctrine, will then always connect it to the mind of the Lord in any future mention of the same theme, topic or word.

In Scripture, where there is the first mention of a word, it takes on special significance as it discloses God’s initial and primary intended meaning/focus of that theme and therefore it needs to be considered as a primary/1st witness whenever the word occurs elsewhere in the text.

Here there is another first mention concerning one who is to come. It is called a type or a shadow, of which there are many in the old testament scriptures.

Paul echoed this prophetic statement confirming its fulfillment in Hebrews 3:1-5:

 

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

 And also in

Acts 3:22
For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

As we read again the first mention of the Hebrew word Faithful we know that over the millennia meanings of words change and also take on other attributes. To find out what Yahweh (or Yehoveh/ YHWH/ YHVH), means we can look at some of the earliest recorded script available, pictographs, to see if maybe there are details hidden in the pictures and meanings for the letters of the word. 

The first point to aid in understanding this hidden meaning is to recall that Moses was a shadow/type of the coming Messiah as recorded in the prophetic text of

Deuteronomy 18:15
The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

When we follow these scripture verses, like the bread crumbs of His manna, (provision to eat and stay alive and thrive), through the scriptures, we will always find they lead us to the Messiah,

THE Bread of Life.

Messiah who said He was the Bread which came down from Heaven the Bread of Life/Chaim. Just as in the wilderness, for Moses and the Israelites, the manna came down from heaven (provision to eat and stay alive and thrive),

Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua Ha-Mashiach is hidden right in front of our eyes in the concepts of the pictographs for the three letters Aleph, Mem and Noon that make up the Hebrew word which is translated as FAITHFUL in both English and Hebrew.

AMN

אֵמֻן  noun [masculine] trusting, faithfulness

faithful, truth 

Alef Mem Nun

From ‘aman; established, i.e. (figuratively) trusty; also (abstractly) trustworthiness — faith(-ful), truth. 

see HEBREW ‘aman

  1. aman

aman: to confirm, support

: אָמַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aman
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-man’)
Definition: to confirm, support

אֵמוּן

emun: faithfulness

Transliteration: emun
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-moon’)

Strongs 529

Some DEFINITIONS:

The Word ‘Faith’ In Hebrew:

emuwn – trustworthiness; faithful.

emuwnah- honesty; truth; faithfulness; firmness; official obligation.

The first time this word is used in the text is found in Exodus 17:12: “But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side.

In the New Testament the adjective “faithful” is a derivative of the Greek noun meaning “faith.” Here we get the translation “faithful” as a natural derivative of faith. Once again the fundamental meaning is that the one so described is trustworthy and loyal. The root idea is that one has fidelity toward another person or toward God.

The Hebrew root word for faithful includes the idea of confirmation or proof. God always proves to be reliable when it comes to His relationship with us. The Bible verse in which this name of God appears links the name to God’s covenant reliability.

The meaning is trusty or reliable. The only two other occasions it appears in the Hebrew it is rendered faith or truth. A noun derived from ‘âman that occurs three times rendered faithful is ‘ĕmûnâh (H530).

The Hebrew word for faith is אמונה (emunah – Strong’s #530) and is an action oriented word meaning “support”. This is important because the Western concept of faith places the action on the one you have faith in, such as “faith in God”. But, the Hebrew word אמונה places the action on the one who “supports God”.

FAITHFUL – אֵמֻן – AMN

The Pictographs

We know from previous posts that the letters and their pictures have several meanings and we are told in

Prov 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.

אֵמֻן

Alef/Aleph – Mem – Nun/Noon

Various meanings of Alef/Aleph

Strong Leader – Leading – Strength – Aloof – Separate
Gentle – Head of the Family – First – The Beginning
God the Father – OX and

based on past word studies, we’re already aware that we are dealing with the ideal meaning of the letter. Because the context of the verse is about Faithfulness it is fairly clear that God the Father is the ideal picture of Faithfulness.

 

Mem

Various Meanings of Mem

Liquid- Waters – like a Tsunami Chaotic and Destructive Seas & Massive Ocean Waves

coming down like Rain as Life giving Water

a brook or stream of refreshing Waters  

Waters which make Deserts bloom

The Living Water as the Word of God that brings Life

Removing some of the possible meanings, which seem obvious from the context of the scripture that they do not refer to a Tsunami, Flood Waters nor Chaos or Confusion.

The reference sounds like it’s about Moses but recall that Moses is just a shadow of the individual really being alluded to.

 

NUN/NOON

seed – life – continuity.

Taking a fresh look in John 6:26 where there is an account recorded in Jesus/Yeshua’s ministry, it’s one we all know well; the feeding of 5000 with 2 loaves and 5 fish!

Note the pictograph!

And then read what He said the very next day to that very same group of people.

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

The Messianic significance of Manna doesn’t need any clarification.

Then immediately after miraculously feeding 5000 men, (women and children numbers not included!) the same unbelieving Jews that had partaken of the miraculous feast, surrounded Messiah in order to ask Him this ..

What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Showing they had no comprehension whatsoever. They did not understand that Jesus/Yeshua was speaking of spiritual matters and it was an invitation to all who heard to enter into a relationship with Him that would result in eternal life. Sadly all they were looking for was unlimited free-meals. 

This is when Jesus/Yeshua makes the connection between the true Manna that comes from heaven and Himself.

John 6:35-36

 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

Why did He use the word manna to refer to himself?

the meaning of the Hebrew word Manna, 

 Usually we hear it said that manna translates as “WHAT IS IT?”

We spell or write it as Manna. 

The Hebrew letters used are MN – Mem and Nun once again the meanings are the fish, seed, life and water.

Pictorial Meaning of Manna

Mem

The Living Word of God
That comes down from Heaven
Like the rain

Exodus 16: 13b -14

And in the morning the dew lay round about the host.
And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on the ground.

Noon

LIFE

Jesus/Yeshua The Living Word of God
That comes down from Heaven
Like the rain…

to reverse the curse of sin and death

and bring Eternal Life!

John 6:32b
I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

There seems to be a the direct connection between Manna, the bread that came down from heaven, and the last two letters in the Hebrew word Faithful because the last two letters in the word Faithful are the two letters Mem Noon, the word for Manna.

Looking carefully at the words He said to them

recorded in John 6:32 and add in the hebrew letters alef mem nun

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my

Father

giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven

and giveth life  unto the world.

Here is the meaning to the hidden puzzle we are meant to find when we read the first mention of Faithful.

John 6:35
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The Manna that first descended from Heaven to earth was given a name with specific letters that would eventually open the door/dalet of understanding, revealing/apocalypse of a mystery. 

The One who came from Heaven has many names and He IS The true Manna.  Messiah, the Anointed One, Emmanuel, The Sinless, Spotless Lamb of God, also called Faithful and True in

Revelation 19:11a
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,

Another fact that cannot be ignored is in Revelation 3:14
Messiah’s Name is also AMEN

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the AMEN, the FAITHFUL and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

the Hebrew word Amen is also spelled

AMN – Alef mem Nun

Recall this first use of the Hebrew word Faithful had the shadow of another One who was even more faithful than Moses in view. The One to come

in Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses says prophetically that God is going to raise up another prophet who is greater than himself who the children of Israel should listen to:

Deuteronomy 18:15
The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Shadow is revealed by Apostle Paul to be Yeshua Ha-Maschiach

Then in Hebrews 3:1-5. Paul tells us who that Prophet is none other than Jesus the Christ /Yeshua Ha-Mashiach.

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

In John 6:32 He reveals what the word faithful truly means and we can insert the Hebrew letters here too.

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my

Father  

giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from

heaven

and giveth life  unto the world.

So the sum of this is He is the one that the Heavenly Father sent down from Heaven to give us eternal life. Jesus/Yeshua is that Manna sent from the Father. Jesus/Yeshua is the bread of life and Jesus/Yeshua is revealing He is literally faithful, not simply an attribute He IS Faithful. This is possible because the word FAITHFUL is used only one time in the entire Scripture as a personal pronoun. 

And because of the principle regarding the order of first mention spoken of earlier, which applies in all languages including the Hebrew, Greek, and English language, that means all other times the word is mentioned as a noun or adjective, the first mention supersedes them. Here is why we need to study to show ourselves approved unto the Lord… its only by digging for the pearls and treasures that we will find those truths that make us say WOW! (Worthy Of Worship!) and when His light shines on a verse making it even more precious we see with clear vision there is always more to the Word of God.

By comparison to our faithful Heavenly Father who sent His faithful Son to accomplish the salvation and deliverance of fallen, sinful man, everyone else pales in comparison. and all who are loyal, trustworthy and keep their words of promise cannot be compared to Him.

Final thoughts for a different perspective on AMEN AMN

How is amen connected to faithful?

Its what we usually say at the end of a prayer. There are several opinions on its meaning.. some say its so be it as an affirmation and agreement to what has been voiced in the preceding prayer.

We have also heard and maybe thought it has no specific meaning or is an acrostic abbreviation. We are all learning and no one person knows everything so we add another pearl of knowledge and understanding as line upon line precept upon precept.

Ahmein pronounced in hebrew

Amazingly AMEN is found 28 times in the Old Testament

Psalm 89:52
Blessed be YHVH for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

Hebrew word AMEN is found in the Greek and English translations of the New Testament 51 times.

1 Peter 5:11
To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Now we must ask ourselves, what are we declaring every time we say AMEN at the end of a prayer to our Heavenly Father? We are in truth, proclaiming the fulfillment of the very first prophecy ever given to humanity and we are declaring that our Heavenly Father is faithful to keep His promise of a Redeemer; that which was given to Eve after the Fall and eviction from the Garden of Eden/GanEden. This is celebrated every time we say AMEN because Jesus/Yeshua has fulfilled that promise.

For more on Eden/pictographs click link below:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/back-to-the-future-past/

Every time your spirit prompts you to say AMEN after receiving the words of life into your heart, we are proclaiming that our Faithful Heavenly Father sent His precious and only begotten Son from heaven to the earth in order to accomplish OUR Salvation.

Amen is the testimony that you have eternal life because

Yeshua became FAITHFUL.

The one name FAITHFUL and TRUE is only one sent from Heaven. He alone was given the power and authority to save humanity from the curse of sin and death and by the Faithful Spirit of Our Father, He freely gave the gift of Faith that guarantees eternal life, even though not one is deserving of such a gift.

Next time we read the word FAITHFUL it will take on a whole new meaning.

So what are we really saying?

the Hebrew word for AMEN is exactly the same word as the Hebrew word FAITHFUL; Aleph Mem Noon!

The word faithful in Hebrew pretty much means the same thing it does today. It describes someone who always does the right thing even when no one else is looking. This person will always be truthful and true. They’re filled with integrity and will hold up their end of the deal no matter the sacrifice.

The Lord is absolutely truthful and faithful.

It is derived from the Hebrew root having the basic meaning “to trust (a person),” or “to believe (a statement).”

This is the same root that gives us the word “amen.”

The derived meaning is that the one so described is trustworthy, dependable, trusting, or loyal. Moses was faithful in all God’s household (Numbers 12:7).

As well as being the Manna from Heaven

His Name is also Faithful

and Amen

Revelation 19:11a
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True.

Revelation 3:14
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

No surprise then that Yeshua/Jesus asks the question

When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?

He was speaking of Faithfulness in all its fullness!

If we are true disciples we will remain faithful to the last. These are the disciples who have not compromised nor wandered off the straight and narrow path but with perseverance patience and long suffering stay in the WAY.

Faithful is He who called you.

This is the ideal expression of Our Heavenly Father and of the Son

Who also vows I will not leave you nor forsake you. Hebrews amp

Lets make sure we are in a position to hear those cherished words well done thou good and faithful servant/disciple enter thou into the joy of the Lord

because

and

Faithfulness – AMN – is without doubt the seal/trademark/quality/characteristic/hallmark of a Talmidim/Disciple who follows their Master;

can we say amen AMN to that?

Most assuredly we can!

Amen and Amn!

Faithful to the end.

Shalom, Shalom mishpachah/family

and cheverim/friends!

You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

משפחה 

Mish-pa-KH

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the posts. If they have been a blessing and if you haven’t already, please sign up for free email notification, like, share and subscribe, it all helps to freely spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and reaches others with His Truths.

Please Do Not leave this page without the surety in your heart that you know the faithfulness of Messiah in your life as the days draw ever closer to the end of the age..

NOT CERTAIN?

YOU CAN BE..

Make sure Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

Its all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and very precious in His sight.

He longs to give you the Shalom He paid the ultimate price for..

SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

 

 

Seeds And Seasons

מוֹעֵד

moed

Strongs #4150

Phonetic Spelling: mo-ade’

Today as disciples/believers in Jesus/Yeshua as Messiah; we learn about, observe and celebrate the Appointed Times of God as if they were something just recently discovered, a new trend, the latest thing; when in fact they have been followed since Moses was instructed concerning them.

It’s only new to us, not to the children of Israel; and even they were more aware of their significance in earlier times.

In truth God set things in sync. in Genesis:

It is most probable that in Genesis 1:14, where ׳ מ אֹתֹת, the reference is to the sacred seasons as fixed by moon’s appearance; and so also ׳ עשׂה ירח למ he made the moon for sacred seasons Psalm 104:19, although many Lexicons & Commentaries refer these to the seasons of the year.

The word translated as seasons

in the Hebrew Masoretic Text (MT) is

moedim (H4150),

which means

appointed times.

Let Them Be…For Feasts?

Many folks associate the word seasons in Genesis 1

with the feasts of YHVH outlined in Leviticus 23

because it is the same Hebrew word moedim used in that text:

The Hebrew noun מועד moed,

Strong’s #4150

is translated as

appointed time, meeting, or season.

It literally means an appointment.

Genesis 1:14 
HEB: וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃
KJV: and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years

Read that verse again replacing seasons with appointed times or festivals and it takes on a much richer meaning. Considering that God/Yahweh/YHWH, made the sun, moon, and all the stars for not only days and years and signs (something else to consider), but also for appointed times.

The plural moedim (מועדים), refers to any of the 3 mandatory Pilgrimage Festivals of Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot. 

Shavuot (חג השבועות), also called Weeks or Pentecost.

This marks the climax of the Passover Season,

the giving of Torah at Sinai

and the

giving of the Ruach (Spirit) at Jerusalem.

It is the genesis/beginning

of the Re-New-ed Covenant

for all nations, tribes, and tongues…

Centuries and millennia ago the Lord’s seasons and appointed times were critical to daily life.

For them it was crucial to watch the sun and moon and stars and fix their eyes on the heavens.

Why?

Because they had to be sure when to plant,

when to wait,

when to harvest and

when to let the land lie follow.

In Luke 21:25 Jesus/Yeshua said there will be signs and they that see them would know.

This was also His accusation towards the religious leaders of the day, the fact that they did not recognize Him, that the signs should have confirmed His coming to them but they did not see them, or worse, chose to both ignore and deny them.

Matt 16:3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

His disciples asked Him what they should be looking for..

Matt 24:1-51

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 21:5-36

Destruction of the Temple,

Signs of the Times and End of the Age

For the people, the waiting between events was just as important and as anticipated as the appointed times on certain days.

And they simply lived in harmony with the natural cycles of life and of the heavens and met with God when He said it was time.

Every farmer/ gardener knows, we plant and watch and wait for the fruits and crops to be declared ready and ripe before reaping the harvest.

Wrong timing means a poor harvest; which is why He waits patiently for the precious fruit of the earth. James 5:7,

In Luke 6:37 it is implied throughout these verses, that God acts as we are exhorted to act. They give a picture of the gracious spirit of God.—καὶ.

Give — Liberally to those that need your assistance; and it shall be given unto you —

For your kindness and liberality will naturally gain you love and respect; and God also, by His supernatural grace, will influence men’s hearts in your favour.

Good measure,

pressed down,

shaken together,

and running over —

Messiah makes use of these 3 phrases to express all the different kinds of good measure, according to the different nature of the things measured.

Some of them, to make the measure good, must be pressed down and trodden, like grapes and olives;

some of them must be shaken, as the several kinds of grain;

and some of them must be running over, such as all sorts of liquids.

The meaning of giving this

good measure into one’s bosom,

is an allusion to the eastern dress, which were long pieces of cloth wrapped round their bodies, and girded up with a girdle.

Their garments being of this kind, they could receive into their lap or bosom a considerable quantity of such dry goods as they sold by measure.

Μὴ κρίνετε, μὴ καταδικάζετε,

judge not, condemn not.

By judging, we decide as to the goodness or badness of an action: by condemning, we determine as to the person, what (punishment) the guilty has deserved.

Proverbs 10:5

In this the son is not wise because he stops to wonder if the correct time for harvesting has come. Is he not following events closely, so he doesn’t know what time it is?

However the son is wise because he gathers in Summer which is the appointed time, God’s timing.

Regardless of his understanding, he is to respond wisely and gather because the season has arrived.

The second part says he who sleeps in harvest time is a son who causes Shame.

There are many reasons God’s children fall asleep during a time of harvest.

It may be because we are sick, distracted, lazy or just think we know better than what God is telling us.

Whatever the reason we sleep, the outcome is that we miss the harvest because we weren’t paying attention to the time, to the season, to the Kingdom of the heavens, to the cycle of life and His/our appointed time.

This is why the children of Israel were instructed to Count the Omer because they were commanded to Count the days from Passover/Pesach to Pentecost/Shavuot.

Jesus/Yeshua kept and fulfilled the Appointed Times – Precisely.

It was crucial because they needed to know where they were according to Gods’ timetable. His schedule, His calendar; for the simple reason they would be ready to reap when it was time.

The reason we have a problem following Gods calendar, and the reason we fail to observe and do; is because we are keeping our own calendar, our own schedules, and our own plans and purposes, and our own important dates – those that are not on His calendar/ annual rhythm of life.

We need to remember that God’s calendar is

His will and His way..

and it has not changed since He initiated it with Moses.

It is men who have changed it and obscured the biblical rhythm of lifecycles. Instead of looking up we have our heads buried in busyness and business and miss even the most obvious things going on around us..

Here is a back handed compliment, in that, if you are under assault/attack in various ways then we are causing problems for the adversary/ha satan because we are keeping His commands.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1Peter 4:12,13

Nevertheless it is time to

wake up

stay alert

be on guard

and watch

so that our Heavenly Father’s seasons will not pass us by un-noticed any longer.

We are to be wise children and keep in sync. with our Heavenly Father, so that we will be ready for His gathering of the harvest when the summer arrives.

It was fulfillment prophetically, and as are all things pertaining to the coming of Messiah, this is a time to both reflect and prepare. The harvest of Shavuot/Pentecost may be more significant than we realize.

When He told them in Matthew 24 Mark 13 Luke 21, to wait in Jerusalem until the promise came, He was referring to Daniel 9:27 7:1311:31 and Joel and Isaiah 13:10 Ezekiel 32:7

It was not an enforced, all-restricting, lock-down; they were fully cognizant of the Time of the Omer and its significance. Pentecost/Shavuot, was waiting for the first fruits harvest, however the coming of the Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh on Shavuot was a new experience and it initiated a spiritual harvest – the first fruits of Messiah’s resurrection.

3000 Jewish individuals were converted to Messiah in one day. We  often miss the significance because we do not know His seasons.

3000 perished were Lost in the wilderness.(Num 26:10)

and it is not coincidence that 3000 was the number SAVED at shavuot/pentecost!

They were not new prophecies. He was reiterating prophecies already in the Torah, prophets and writings, which they were familiar.

Certain events have occurred in past generations however, the key is Matthew24:33 when all these things happen at the same time…

This is the generation that will not pass until all be fulfilled.

A harvest season may be the season of His return but He said we do not know the day nor the hour but be assured,  the Bridegroom WILL COME for His Bride.

Paralambano – Greek: παραλαμβάνω 

Strong’s #3880: paralambano 

(pronounced par-al-am-ban’-o) from 3844 and 2983; to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn:–receive, take (unto, with)

verse 40 and 41. At the midnight hour which is more accurately: the mid of night.

 

Immediately before the washing of his feet in John 12:26/7  He said,

A short time is light among you walk in the light while you have it so you can become the children of light.

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12:35

While you have the Light, believe in the Light [have faith in it, hold to it, rely on it], that you may become sons of the Light and be filled with Light.

Verse 36b When Jesus had said these things, all these things he left and HE HID FROM THEM they would not be able to find him.

There is a time coming when He is not going to be found by those seeking.

The DOOR of grace will be closed as in was to the ark…. and the flood came and took them all away. Door/dalet I AM the Dalet/Door. Messiah is our ark.

Harvesting The Crop of SEEDS.

Mark 4:26, 29


How to succeed in sowing a seed

Everything Yeshua/Jesus taught them was in parables.

Examples of truth are enveloped in a simple story that gave a clear meaning to the listeners, that is; if they had ears to hear and eyes to see.

Secrets of the kingdom of the Heavens/Shamayim, hidden since the foundation of the world

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world. Matthew 13:35

We are living in the days the prophets spoke of and whatever we choose to believe will not change the truth our personal opinions are of no value unless they precisely echo the words of Yeshua/Jesus.

He said every word will be fulfilled, that means the bad as well as the good.

In Gods ways,

death initiates life….

and darkness is dispelled by light;

forward and upward are His directions

and we leave as we came  – with nothing…

The kingdom of God, the kingdom of the heavens; Jesus/Yeshua said it has come. He told us to pray for it to continue to come; so it is a critical element in our individual walk.

There are many references to it and what it is like what its composition is and how to recognize it.

Here in Mark it is likened to a person who cast seed on the earth.

This is all the individual does

and as the days pass,

the seeds spring up and grow.

Although the man does not know how it grew.

God is the supplier of all seed (Nun/Noon) and we need to have faith to turn over our hands, so that the seed might fall to the ground and become a great harvest in our lives.

For by it self the earth brings forth fruit.

It doesn’t need our help it’s not even the seed or the one who sows that produces the crop but the soil by it’s self with no help from humans.

Truly this is a mystery

 

What proof do we have that the seed we sowed is the same seed that sprouts and grows?

First the stalk after that the head and after that the full grain in the head

As soon as the crop is ready to yield itself, immediately the man sends forth the sickle because the harvest has become.

The evidence is all circumstantial we think that since something grows where we put the seed it has grown from our seed that we planted.

The truth is that from the moment it leaves our hand and is covered with soil we do not see the seed again. We just trust that the seed we sowed is the same seed that will grow is and is the one that pushes up through the earth.

We wait,

sleep at night,

awake in the day

but how it grows we just don’t know

and our work was done at the sowing

 

This seed once nestled into its womb

and place of birth,

the earth,

then Life springs forth –

that life comes from the soil of the earth.

Another verse of this parable says the

seed is the word of God

and the

earth is the life of the individual

and the type of ground/ Life.

Here He is giving the progress of the seed both as how it is received and then what is produced.

 

First the stalk

This is the framework the structure that is planted deep in the life-giving soil and will support the plant.

To understand the parable is the mystery of the seed and despite all of our knowledge of science and biology, we still cannot explain why/how seeds sprout and grow.

The first point is:

that the seed is like the grace/chen of God which is an essential part of the process of becoming a disciple. We have to pray and realize that if God is not in it all of our efforts will come to nothing.

We have to be willing to be discipled from the Grace/Chen of God and not our own egos. When God is not at the heart of our efforts to spread the good news, then we are simply witnessing and not making disciples. Initially we need to get rid of our pride, prayerfully humble ourselves and ask our Father to give us the grace/chen to both reach and make disciples in faith.

It is the foundation which must be stable, likened to the house built on sand or rock a sure foundation is essential or in any kind of storm it will not withstand the elements and be destroyed.

Next the head

wheat

This is the container for the fruit that will yield the fruit for the crop. The stalk must be strong to hold this head of fruit.

corn

It is like a house and within it is the precious new life/chaim.

We too are His House on the earth and since Jesus/Yeshua came, we are the containers, the precious fruit of the earth that He waits patiently for.

The second point of the parable is the slow progression of growth: first the blade,

then the ear,

then the full grain in the ear.

We mature in faith with baby steps and saints are not made in 24 hours. Developing faith is a life time project because we change and grow in stages. Discipling is the process of mentoring people from one stage of faith to another, and having the discernment to recognize when someone is ready for the next step. Unless grace/chen has done its work, a person cannot be rushed in their development – just like growing corn, it takes 90 days not 30.

It cannot be grow any quicker. We can plant, water, fertilize, but corn will take about 90 days to ripen. Some flowers like daffodils brought inside in the early spring forces them to open but we can’t force corn. Mentoring others in faith means: having patience and a discerning eye to know when someone is ready for the next challenge to their faith muscles being stretched. Sadly some never progress beyond a certain stage and even regress, it’s all a matter of choice and freewill.

 

The next is the full grain in the head or ear.

At this stage the fruit comes forth abundantly

 

It is to be noted that it takes a specific time to develop, it’s perfect in its time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Everything in God’s creation tells us of His ways.

They are always in perfect time and in Godly order.

Life/nun gives way to fullness/chet/50/shavuot/pentecost, and the seed grows through its stages to full maturity the full corn in the ear.

It began as a seed in a human hand small and dormant not dead but sleeping in a kind of stasis, awaiting the perfect conditions predetermined by its creator.

When those conditions were applied from its humble origin in the seed realized it’s God assigned destiny and it reached its potential to the fullest extent.

So the third point of the parable is to recognize the harvest. When people are ready to be spiritually fruitful, they are ready to do whatever Holy Spirit leads them to do. If you have ever seen a field of corn or any crop that has reached its moment of glorious maturity it is a sight moving like the waves of the sea.

A grand Vista of proud growth pristine standing tall reaching for the sky and sunshine and yet it is not serving it’s true and final purpose it is failing to fulfill that which God has created it for. It has matured so it cannot grow anymore it is complete and ready but its final goal is not yet realized.

And the next verse 29, harvest has come, and the man sends forth the sickle. All that hard work: from birth to growing up, to establishing foundation and of maturing through life

and now

to be cut down in it’s prime?!

Life gives birth to death…and yet in that death,

finally it is now able to fulfill its’ God appointed destiny…

He grew up a shoot Isaiah 11:1
A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.

Only to be cut down in His prime and yet from Him came such abundant seed which today is still multiplying from His death.

The seed the farmer sowed into the ground is a reference to us today, we like the seed, have being scattered on the ground…

and His call to us today is to sprout and grow

but like the seed we won’t know how.

But God….

as we are the containers of the seed we have within us His life/chaim. His Ruach/His Spirit and by it’s self/ Himself/His Spirit produces a crop;and with every Appointed Time of His Annual Life Cycle we are refilled and brought to fullness at Shavout/Pentecost ready to GO and Make Disciples of all nations sowing precious seed of our own for His Kingdom.

Matt 13:23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:1-15.

Mishpachah/family and Cheverim/friends, Our Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is calling us to lay down our lives.

Come,

come now,

and don’t delay.

The kingdom of His heavens is at hand, even at the door

and the head is full of grain

and the crop is ready;

which means He will come with His sickle –

so let us willingly, humbly, yield ourselves,

because the time of harvest has come.

He grows us up to cut us down.

It is His way, He did it with His only begotten Son Jesus/Yeshua; so why would we think it would be any different for us.

He matures us to our fullest potential and then takes us for Himself and uses us for His purposes.

Let us gladly, jointly, surrender all, to the gatherer of His harvest because we cannot know how seeds sprout and grow – only the one who created every seed understands this mystery.

He plants us, gives us Life, makes us grow and be a ready crop..

Now He comes For His Harvest!

 

Aware that the mp4 below is obviously ‘out of season’ in its timing but be encouraged to listen in amazement to this presentation of HALLELUJAH sung by Kaylee Rogers who loves Jesus with all her heart.

What makes this talented singer even more special is, Kaylee is a challenged child, overcoming autism and ADHD. She is, in the truest sense, an OVERCOMER as the BIBLE speaks of and so are her many precious schoolmates at the wonderful KILLARD SCHOOL for special needs children in Northern Ireland.

https://youtu.be/Bmx–WjeN7o

These scriptures have never seemed more real! Matt 18:3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Oh my! How much we can learn from children such as these!

P.S. For those counting, today is day 32, which is 4 weeks and 4 days of the Omer; day 49 will be Wednesday night May 27th 2020.

Shalom shalom mishpachah and cheverim! You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the posts. If they have been a blessing and if you haven’t already, please sign up for free email notification, like, share and subscribe, it all helps to freely spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and reaches others with His Truths.

Important Note: For some unknown reason the email widget was removed?! Hmm! Apologies to anyone trying to become a subscriber. Hopefully now restored. MMM will continue to post as long as the web platform is intact… we are in His hands….

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

The Answer Is In The Yoke part 3

Yoke – Yeshua quotes Jeremiah 6:16

Jeremiah 6:16 
HEB: בָ֔הּ וּמִצְא֥וּ מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ לְנַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ
NAS: in it; And you will find rest for your souls.
KJV: therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.
INT: is and walk will find rest your souls said

in this famous passage.

In Matt 11:29 Jesus bids his hearers to take his yoke upon them: “and you will find rest [anapausin] for your souls.”

and ye shall find rest unto your souls;
referring to (Jeremiah 6:16 ) and which shows the rest he speaks of in the preceding verse, to be not a physical, but a spiritual one; and which is to be enjoyed in, though not for the observance of Messiah’s commands; whose ways are ways of pleasantness, and all whose paths are peace.

The saying refers to the Hebrew, where the Lord speaks through his prophet: walk in (the good way), and find rest (nirgw`) for your souls; and not to the Septuagint, which renders the passage: and you will find purification [hagnismon] for your souls.

 mar·gō·w·a‘ — 1 Occurrence מַרְגּ֖וֹעַ

This context should help us understand the key words rest and yoke, in the passage in Jeremiah, there is no mention of a yoke.  So why look for a Tanakh context to Yeshua’s choice of the word ‘ol  /yoke? 

The beliefs and cultural philosophy of the listeners will supply the answer

When we think of the yoke of Jesus/Yeshua, Most of us probably think about the law of love first, but what is that? Are we of the opinion that this yoke is how to live a morally upright life, with acts of grace and good behavior.  Due to cultural differences, it is probably not likely that those listening at that time would have had any of these thoughts; simply because to them the connection between Jeremiah and a yoke only meant one thing, Torah.

In Jeremiah, it is God/YHVH who speaks first.  He says,

Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths; where the good way is, and walk in it. 

What are the ancient paths? 

What is the good way? 

God/YHVH can only mean His instructions found in His Torah. 

After we have found the ancient paths and walked in them, then

you will find rest for your souls.

Although the Lord warned Jeremiah that the people would not listen to his words; neither remember their covenant with God nor return to the old ways of righteousness, this weeping prophet was faithful to his calling..

“Thus says the LORD”, he declared, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths… where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls”. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

The covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was for the benefit of the nation. The Law of Moses and God’s promises to David were given to direct the nation towards the road of righteousness and the path to peace, where they would find rest for their soul. However, they preferred the pagan practices of the surrounding nations and refused to return to the Mosaic Law, which was fundamental to right living.

God’s word is sovereign and the ancient paths, were tried and tested. They secured God’s blessings for His people and promised rest for their soul – while disobedience dictated devastation, destruction and deportation from their promised land. But the people would not walk in God’s ways and their deliberate disobedience caused Him to marvel at His rebellious people.

Although it is easy to find fault with Judah’s rebellious ways and be critical of their attitude, we should be prepared to learn from their failure and consider our ways to see if we obeying the instructions that we have received and are waking in spirit and truth.. we also need to examine if we have chosen to walk in His righteous way and fulfill His instructions to the Ecclesia.

Have we walked in the ‘old ways’, that stand on the word of truth and lead us in the way of righteousness, or have we bought into a watered-down doctrine and a compromised faith through adopting worldly philosophies or engaging in fleshly behavior. Have we dishonored our Lord through unbelief or disobedience?

We are not called to walk the same ancient path to which Israel was called, because we have a renewed covenant built on better fulfilled, promises. However, we are required to be faithful to our calling; to walk in spirit and truth as outlined in the word of God – to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to mature in the faith that we have been taught.

May we take our responsibility as blood-bought children of God seriously and die to self; live for Jesus/Yeshua and be prepared to say:

Thy will be done in my life – not mine.

But what of the yoke?

For interest purposes:

The Mishnah and the Midrashim call it the

Shema kabbalath ‘ol malkhuth shamayim,

taking on oneself the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven.

The above quote is included because in those days, every Jew who said the Shema 3x daily would have known what yoke Yeshua/Jesus spoke about.  It was the same yoke God/YHVH gave His people, the same yoke God/YHVH encouraged His people to renew in the prophecy of Jeremiah, the same yoke that governed the life of Yeshua/Jesus. 

The difference, and it is a very big one, is that Jesus/Yeshua calls this

HIS yoke. 

No one except God/YHVH ever made that claim but this man is claiming that God/YHVH’s yoke is the same as His yoke.  Even Messiah agreed there never has been nor ever will be any greater instruction for life than Torah; so what did He mean?

The listeners understood and we must too that this was not a new commandment.; it was a prophetic call that echoed Jeremiah whose message was the same for the same nation at a different time of rebellion.

Come back to the ancient paths. 

Walk in the ancient ways. 

Take the yoke of the Kingdom of the Heavens upon yourself. 

When we follow Jesus/Yeshua in learned obedience and all who do will discover that His burden brings rest/ true shalom…

My peace I give to you…

When Jesus/Yeshua invites us to take His yoke, He is not offering unrestrained liberty.  He is offering spiritual constraint; constraint that instructs us in a way of life delivered from the opposite of shalom/peace which is rooted in RA/dis-ease and everything contrary such as fear, anxiety and confusion. The Greek word zygos has another meaning that heightens His invitation.  Zygos also means scales.  (Balance and judgment again and links to previous posts.)

The word is found in Revelation 6:5 and Leviticus 26:26. The horseman of judgment comes with scales in his hand.  He will weigh the deeds of men. 

What standard are they weighed by?  The rabbis and Jesus/Yeshua tell us that the standard for these scales is the yoke of the law (Torah), a wordplay in Greek!

Is it possible that the translator of Jesus/Yeshua’s words in Matthew’s Greek translation had this wordplay in mind? 

When we read,

Take my yoke upon you,

do we also see,

Take my scales upon you? 

Do we make the connection between yoke and law? 

It would be hard to read the Greek translation of Yeshua’s Hebrew without doing so.

We read the verse with the same Greek mindset/eyes of Plato and Aristotle and miss the meaning and connection to Jeremiah.  We suppose Jesus/ Yeshua is offering assistance, forgiveness and restoration, without obligation, at least to others, and we want rest, not duty. 

Because of this mindset we convert zygos into something akin to removing all my burdens because we want our kind of peace, which is often freedom from everyone else. 

Zygos as scales is not able to provide such false freedom because all of Torah is about obligation, both to God and to others, because The Law is a way of living in the world system, among those who inhabit the same time and place. 

For us to take on Jesus/Yeshua’s zygos, we take on the standard which the third horseman brings.  

There can be no rest without scales just as without chains there is no peace.

It seems that the Hebrew concept of a yoke is almost always negative and on the surface, and it is because the Hebrews had a long history of yoked captivity and tyranny, so they viewed yokes as a symbol of that, plus oppression. Because of this experience it would be inconceivable, to suggest that people would willingly take a yoke upon themselves, that is, except in one instance.  This instance was due to the fact that the rabbis taught that voluntarily accepting the yoke of Torah was an experience of freedom, not of slavery and servitude. 

Adding this background to the Matthew scripture; we read Jesus/ Yeshua declares instructions for living with regard to His divinely given authority saying He is the only mediator of truth. Telling us to willingly accept His yoke, the yoke of His halacha. 

So what is that yoke of His halacha? 

הֲלָכָה

The term used to refer to Jewish law, 

halacha, Halakhah (also spelled halachah) 

means  go or walk. 

The root of the Hebrew word halakhah is usually translated as Jewish Law, although a more literal (and more appropriate) translation might be

the path that one walks.

Halacha, then, is the way a Jew is directed to behave in every aspect of life, encompassing civil, criminal and religious law.

The word is derived from the Hebrew root 

Hei-Lamed-Kaf,

meaning to go, to walk or to travel.

The only positive reference found in His own cultural setting claims that the yoke is Torah, so Jesus/Yeshua takes the teaching of the rabbis and takes it one step further yet building on the popular and familiar. 

He calls His followers once again to return to Torah, as did Jeremiah, this is the only teaching that releases us from the slavery of this worlds system.

It becomes clear just how powerful this verse is, but why did Jesus/ Yeshua use the yoke as a picture?

What He is saying repeatedly is

Return unto Me. 

Come back to My direction and be freed from the cares of the world and this life.

Lose your life in this world and gain My Chaim.

From Messiahs teaching we understand that the entire goal of spiritual life is to express His compassion.  The good news of the kingdom of the heavens is not merely the gospel in me but it also requires the gospel from me.

It combines a taking in and giving out and in learning from Jesus/Yeshua it will always mean that as His disciple our behavior will change. Believe and do – believe always means action in Hebrew thought.

The purpose of learning becomes clear as the Hebrew context is applied because

to this end, the purpose of learning is alignment with the heart of God which

means practicing/doing compassion.  

Whoever seeks his own welfare ahead of others is considered uneducated and scripture warns that destruction is the end of that pathway. 

Jesus/Yeshua is the example, He was the completely free man,

the paradox being that He was also bound!

This is because He was bound entirely to the will of the Father, and compassionately gave Himself up for others. 

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

Yeshua/Jesus establishes in this verse, that learning from Him is the most important activity anyone can do. Everything necessary to live as God intended can be found in His words and deeds/actions. So to know what life is about, go to Jesus/Yeshua.

Matthew 28:18

All power (ἐξιυσία) is given (ἐδόθη, was given) unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus/Yeshua here asserts that He, as Son of man, has received from the Father supreme authority in heaven and earth, over the whole kingdom of God in its fullest extent.

in Hebrew, the conceptual thought behind learning is very practical.  It’s simply obedience to God with the deliberate and purposeful submission of ones will.  It’s an attitude that desires to please the Lord in every action and in all we do. 

In the Tanakh, this attitude is described in the most practical of terms: walking. 

It’s a Walk – the WAY

הֲלָכָה

Halakhah

From the L of OL the lamed

More than anything else, lamad has the meaning of  knowing what is right and doing it. 

For the Hebrew, there is only simple obedience.  Being as the simplicity of a child without any secret information or sophisticated knowledge.

While we are here on earth we must understand that the purpose of all learning is so we can become perfectly in sync. with the Fathers will.

To hear Him say, Well done, good and faithful servant, means we have graduated from God’s training school.

We need to understand that in Hebraic culture, all Jewish authority is based on past inheritance and birthright. Any educated man came with an ancestry of past masters. Jesus/Yeshua’s teaching caused shock, suspicion and skepticism..

When He invited others to follow Him, meaning to be taught by Him, they were infuriated.

The religious leaders were enraged and it appeared to them that He was an implausible boaster, because only a fool would expect others to follow a man without a pedigree that they recognized.

Matthew’s words, 

mathete ap’ emou, learn from me,

make it clear that Jesus/Yeshua claimed primary authority, an authority that did not depend on a prior history of teachers, an authority that came straight from God.

No wonder some Jews were beside themselves.

To learn from Jesus/Yeshua is simply to see what He does and do likewise.  It’s observing the Ways of Jesus/Yeshua both in His actions and words, not just focusing on His inner motivation or intention and it makes sense. 

We can’t see someone’s intentions or motivations, however we can certainly see behavior.  So Jesus/Yeshua says,

Watch Me, and do as I do.

In other words, we don’t have to have Jesus/ Yeshua’s scriptual excellence or intelligent insight…. 

we simply have to copy Him.

This is the reference to being as a little child! Children emulate their parents and caregivers and learn to do by watching and copying what they see and hear. It would be too difficult if the only way that I could enter into rest was to have all the same mental, emotional and intentional capacity of Jesus/Yeshua.  It would be hopeless for us to even try, as we can never become exactly like Him.  However, if entering into His rest, simply means copying what He does, then we all have a chance. 

We can do what Jesus/Yeshua does because He was/is fully human, just like we are.  Because of this we can pray to the Father, minister to the sick, worship on the Sabbath, spend time mentoring and comforting, ask the Father for guidance, listen to instructions and carry out commands. We can do all these things, especially since Jesus/Yeshua promises to help pull the load as we are yoked with Him.

He is our living model for the lifestyle and behavior that will produce rest…His rest.

If we really believe that the only way to find this refreshing work is to emulate Jesus/ Yeshua, then the most important thing is for us to see His actions clearly and we have to sift through what we think we know in order to see how He really behaved. 

Just like the circumstances that we face we have to understand how He responded to a wide variety of situations, for example, we have to know what He did when faced with accusation, betrayal, rejection, demands, loss, fear and temptation as well as the positive times of victory, validation, joy, comfort and friendship.  If we don’t know what Jesus/Yeshua did, then we can’t know what is the rest He offers.

Most of us think we can find our own way to the Promised Land, but we end up slaves in Egypt. 

If we want the rest He offers, we will have to do what He does.

It’s not impossible but it certainly demands change.

Nonetheless, yokes are used throughout the world for different things.  Some for plowing fields, some for pulling carts, and

from looking at pictures, it is clear that when two animals are unequally yoked it creates a big problem.

The animals that are yoked together should be about the same size, shape, etc. to get the ultimate pulling effect because if one is smaller than the other, it defeats the whole purpose of yoking them together equally.

However, Yeshua HaMashiach/Jesus Christ promises us that His yoke is easy in Matthew 11:28-30.  Surely it is preferable to be yoked to Him and have Him help us pull lifes’ daily burdens than do it on our own. 

It is not easy doing it on our own.  Yet sometimes His followers think that Jesus/Yeshua’s promise to, give rest to the weary, is like some quick fix that will remove hardship from life without any effort on the part of the individual.

The promise of rest or contentment that comes from Yeshua/Jesus brings a reminder with it, and that is, there’s work involved in finding the peace of mind which He promises.

To reach the place of rest, we’ve got to walk with Jesus/Yeshua at our side and let Him share the load, but at the same time, not expecting to be relieved of the necessity of work or of the sacrifice of the cross which we are to take up daily.

Remember, Jesus/Yeshua couples His promise of relief with the command, Take up my yoke and follow me. The promise of rest is coupled with the instruction to carry a yoke and be humble in accepting God’s way, not our way.

His yoke, the cross of this life’s suffering, the cross of sacrificing ourselves for the sake of those in need isn’t too heavy to carry because Jesus/Yeshua, already carried it for us. Jesus/Yeshua promises those who voluntarily yoke themselves to Him that, His strength will be there to get us through anything that comes our way. This is the rest, the peace of mind and heart He promises.

Fulfilling the Torah was the task of a first century rabbi.

The technical term for interpreting the Scripture so it would be obeyed correctly was, fulfill.

To interpret Scripture incorrectly so it would not be obeyed as God intended was to destroy the Torah.

Yeshua/Jesus uses these terms to describe His task as well (Matt. 5:17-19).

To recap: the original pictograph for this letter is a picture of an ox head – representing strength and power from the work performed by the animal. This pictograph also represents a chief or other leader. When two oxen are yoked together for pulling a wagon or plow, one is the older and more experienced one who leads the other. Within the clan, tribe or family the chief or father is seen as the elder who is yoked to the others as the leader and teacher.

The Way of the cross is the WAY of His blood

and the WAY of mercies.

Why?

Because the blood of Messiah cries mercy for us from the Mercy seat of the ark in heaven, where His blood is alive and will be for eternity. It is not human blood but God’s blood so it has supernatural eternal properties.

Let us make sure we never have to see the writing on the wall that when weighed in the balance we are not found empty.

If the day of reckoning has come to us today let’s be sure that we are filled with His spirit and unable to withhold the Shavuot/ Pentecostal fire in our bones.

That is the fire of God coursing through our veins and just as potent today as when they were emboldened with that fire they were baptized and immersed in. They could not contain themselves and could not keep the fire within.

Our God is a consuming fire, cleaning up and burning away all that impeded them from fulfilling His will and call on their lives.

The life is in the blood, when we have His fire in our bones, think on where blood is made… in the marrow of our bones.

The fire of God was shut up in Jeremiah’s bones, possibly a reference to the place and origin of new blood being formed?

The life in the blood, the fire and life of God imbued in Jeremiah is now available to everyone. We are without excuse, our bones can be filled with His fire and life too.

Holy fire, holy life in our bones will ensure we never see the writing on the wall.

For by being fire filled we will not be found empty/ wanting.

This is truly being on fire for God and the scales of balance can also refer to the yoke.

The yoke with which we are yoked to Him. His yoke is easy and light because He carries the burden of the weight of our sin.

Be yoked to His mercies, where the blood is eternally crying for us. The seat of mercy the kapporet on top of the ark of His covenant/presence in heaven.

And how are we to be filled with Him?

The answer is simply total surrender. That is accepting Jesus/Yeshua’s yoke.

He said it was easy because… let’s remind ourselves again just how a yoke works:

There has to be two of the same animal to be together in one yoke.

One is older, and more mature with a lot of experience and a natural leader.

The second simply follows the first and the yoke does not press or chaff because as they flow together the folder taking the strain and bearing the greater burden, leaving the second one with an easier workload. This is the relationship He desires to have with us.

the Book of Amos is also a picture of Messiah as the burden bearer. The Wilderness Mishkan began the plan from the Betrothal Covenant given through Moses and at the cross it was…

Jeremiah was not able to withhold the word of the Lord because

the fire of God externally consumes the flesh in judgment and internally cleanses within.

Jeremiah declares the fire was in his bones; at the point of life, the life is in the blood and the blood is made in the marrow of the bones.

Just as the fire of the burning bush and the fire that led them in the wilderness, and the fire that was present on the Mercy seat, did not consume or destroy that which is around it. But it cleanses that which it touches, making it holy, this is holy fire.

The finger that wrote on the wall was an agent of judgment. He was empty, devoid of any holiness, he was without the lifes/chaim of God. He showed no respect and on that day all he thought he was and had, was taken away in a moment of time.

How can we find the peace of mind and heart, His true shalom, that we seek in the here and now?…

by cooperating with the work Jesus/Yeshua has already done, allow Him to help us by carry our burdens and trusting in His ability to both challenge and change us as we walk in the path of self-sacrifice; yoked together with Jesus/Yeshua and finding that God’s mercies have truly made us a new creature, one that will last for eternity!

The season of Passover and Spring Appointed Times is the season of true freedom where Jesus/Yeshua broke the yoke once and for all.

Shalom, shalom, mishpachah!

You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the posts, please share with others, like and subscribe, it all helps to freely spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and reaches others with the blessing of His Truths that point us to Our Heavenly Father Through Jesus/Yeshua by the power of His Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit.

A very warm welcome to each and every subscriber/follower/visitor, old and new; and remember that the post is best viewed on the Homepage site in full color!

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.

The Answer Is In The Yoke – Part 2

Matthew 11:30

My Yoke is Easy

Remembering the context of the times and His location and the customs and lifestyle of those to whom He was speaking he used things that they were familiar with and which they understood in context with His teaching.

He was also speaking in Hebrew/Aramaic using the alefbet which would have been commonly understood and with reference to the original pictograph for this letter which is a picture of an ox head 

This represented strength and power from the work performed by the animal.

This pictograph also represents a chief or other leader.

When two oxen are yoked together for pulling a wagon or plow, one is the older and more experienced one who leads the other.

Within the clan, tribe or family the chief or father is seen as the elder who is yoked to the others as the leader and teacher.

Yoke – co:

Ox – ab – Strength

The pictograph for a letter A, is a picture of an ox head and also represents its strength.

The L is a picture of a shepherd staff and also represents the authority of the shepherd.

Combined these two pictographs mean “the strong authority” and can be anyone or anything of strong authority.

The yoke is understood as a “staff on the shoulders” (see Isaiah 9:4) in order to harness their power for pulling loads such as a wagon or plow.

Hence, the two pictographs can also represent “the ox in the yoke”.

Often two oxen were yoked together. An older, more experienced ox would be teamed up (yoked) with a younger, less experienced ox. The older ox in the yoke is the “strong authority” who, through the yoke, teaches the younger ox.

This ties in with the previous point about the clan/family/tribe and also points to Yeshua/Jesus in the context of us being yoked with Him.

The Modern name for this letter is aleph and corresponds to the Greek name alpha and the Arabic name aleph. The various meanings of this root are oxen, yoke and learn.

Each of these meanings is related to the meanings of the pictograph

The root אלף

is an adopted root from the

parent root אל (AL)

meaning: strength, power and chief

and is the probable original name of the pictograph

The

is a shepherd staff and represents authority as well as a yoke (see chart below). Combining these two pictographs mean strong authority.

The chief/leader is the strong authority.

The

can also be understood as

the ox in the yoke.

Many Near Eastern cultures worshipped the god

EL/ AL, most commonly pronounced as EL and depicted as a bull in carvings and statues. Israel chose the form of a calf (young bull) as an image of God at Mount Sinai showing their association between the word

and the ox or bull. The word EL is also commonly used in the Hebrew Bible for God or any god.

The concept of the ox and the shepherd staff in the word

has been carried over into modern times as the scepter and crown of a monarch, the leader of a nation.

These modern items are representative of the shepherd staff, an ancient sign of authority, and the horns of the ox, an ancient sign of strength.

In Modern Hebrew this letter is silent but was originally used as the vowel “a” as well as a glottal stop. The Greek letter “alpha” derived from the “aleph” is also used for the “a” sound.

The Early Semitic pictograph

was simplified to

and

in the Middle Hebrew script and continued to evolve into the in the Late Hebrew script.

A Yoke: a curved piece of wood called ‘ol .

ol: a yoke

Original Word: עֹל
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: ol
Phonetic Spelling: (ole)
Definition: a yoke

Entry for Strong’s #5923 Yoke – עוֹל  

‛ôl `ol (pronounced ole) or mowl {ole}; from 5953; a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively:–yoke.

phonetic      ole, 

My Yoke is Easy (לע)


For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:30

Was He referring just to the weight of the burden ,or, as God is light, the element of light itself? Or both?

Another Hebrew word for Yoke is:

מוֹטָ֖ה

mō-w-ṭāh

Strongs#4133

(מוֹט) N m) u f m (מותה MWTh) –

I. Branch: The bent bar of the yoke that goes around the neck, also a branch that is used as pole; (or rod!)

(Branch/Netser! see previous post.)

2. Wavering: A slipping or wavering of the foot.

Found in:

Eze. 34:27 – And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands H4133 of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

Leviticus 26:13: “out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke,” 1 Chronicles 15:15: “the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded”

The yoke was a symbol of servitude in the Bible.

The word for yoke in Hebrew is OL, and it means burden and is used both literally and metaphorically.

OL MALKHUT SHAMAYIM = burden of the kingdom of heaven, which is a reference to the burden of keeping Torah laws; many of which were added by the Pharisees and Scribes and made it impossible for a person to keep.

This was a picture of an unequal yoke one that was unbalanced and was therefore ineffective to do the job it was meant to do, and the outcome was hopeless.

The solution to not seeing the writing on the wall, and to not being found wanting/empty (see previous post); is being yoked to God through Messiah Jesus/Yeshua.

In being yoked to Jesus/Yeshua we are in Complete Surrender to His Holy Spirit/Ruach HaKodesh.

However, if the answer is the yoke,

is a yoke bondage, or freedom?

How can it be both?

The Early Hebrew pictograph is, a shepherd’s staff. The shepherd staff was used to direct sheep by pushing or pulling them. It was also used as a weapon against predators to defend and protect the sheep.

The meaning of this letter is “toward” as moving something in a different direction. This letter also means “authority,” as it is a sign of the shepherd, the leader of the flock. It also means “yoke,” which is a staff on the shoulders, “tie” or “bind” from idea of the yoke that is bound to the animal.

This letter is used as a prefix to nouns meaning “to” or “toward.”

The Modern Hebrew name of this letter is lamed and is carried over into the Greek name lamda. The Arabic name however is lam, retaining an older two letter root name for the letter and the probable original name. The phonetic sound for this letter is “l.”

The original pictograph for this letter is and has remained virtually unchanged through Middle Hebrew as well as the Greek and Roman scripts.

The yoke is understood as a

STAFF ON THE SHOULDERS

 in order to harness their power for pulling loads such as a wagon or plow.

(Emphasizes the power of the Ox’s muscles to perform the work). (Is. 9:4)

Hence, the two pictographs can also represent

the ox in the yoke.

Again, two oxen were yoked together, an older, more experienced ox would be teamed up (yoked) with a younger, less experienced ox. The older ox in the yoke is the strong authority, who, through the yoke, teaches the younger ox. 

Here Messiah uses the Yoke as a picture knowing that the farmer of biblical times when plowing his field with a team of oxen had to ensure that the yoke was not ill-fitting, but that it fit comfortably on the necks of the animals pulling the plow.

An ill shaped and a heavy yoke would irritate the oxen making the task of plowing difficult for both the animals and the operator, while a comfortable, well-fitting yoke made the task much easier.

The Real meaning of My yoke

 It is understandable since it is the cultural heritage of the West, that such readers of the gospels tend to interpret the teachings of Jesus/Yeshua as if He were a pulpit preacher or Sunday school teacher. However these images do not fit any of the 1st century historical and cultural situations. Jesus/Yeshua, teaches like a rabbi because He was considered to be a rabbi, so, to be able to understand what He is saying, we need to read his remarks as rabbinic in style, not as if they were western Christian seminary exegesis.

As we read this verse, consider how those hearing would have responded to the picture of a yoke, and not how we have typically understood it.

Again our western culture tells us to read this verse as if Messiah is talking about freedom, that is the freedom they will have when their sins are forgiven.

Due to Luther and others, western culture thinks of yoke as the Law, and they imagine that Jesus/Yeshua is removing that horrible burden from them so that they can just be set free from sin and death.

In truth, this is not what the people listening to Jesus/Yeshua’s heard.

His yoke

refers to His oral Torah,

which were His teachings and as a rabbinic teacher.

His commentary on Moses Torah,

the explanation for His disciples,

was a divinely authorized revealing/apocalypse.

He achieved this by amplifying and expounding upon the basic Torah of Moses in such a WAY that it could be followed and lived out in their routine day to day lives.

He was showing them that by following His Way, His Yoke was easy, light, compared to the Yoke of the Pharisees and their laws which were impossible to keep.

Jesus/Yeshua explained to His followers what Moses meant for them. He did not remove their obligation to the Torah of Moses but rather explained it. For those who followed Him then and now, Messiahs teachings are the final authority.

Recall the concept of bond servant looked in a previous post.

Rabbis used similar teaching techniques like the use of parables. More than 3,500 parables from first century rabbis still exist and Jesus’ are among the very best. He uses similar themes (landowner, king, and farmer) as well. (Matt. 13:3,34)

Jesus/Yeshua seems to be a type of rabbi believed to have s’mikhah or authority to make new interpretations.

The majority of the teachers in His day were Torah teachers, (meaning they were teachers of the law), they could only teach accepted interpretations. Those with authority, (the term we use today is ordination); could make new interpretations and pass legal judgments.

Crowds were amazed because Jesus/Yeshua

taught with authority

(Hebrew s’mikhah, Greek exousia)

not as their Torah teachers! (Matt. 7:28-29).

He was questioned about His authority (Matt. 21:23-27).

Although this makes Him one of a small group of teachers He was not the only one with authority.

When Rabbis/teachers invited people to learn to keep the Torah.

This was called taking the yoke of Torah

or the yoke of the kingdom of heaven.

Rabbi’s with s’mikhah would have a new interpretation or yoke. Torah teachers would teach the accepted interpretations or yoke of their community.

Jesus/Yeshua’s invitation to those who listened to many teachers and interpretations, helps establish Him as a Rabbi who presented an interpretation that was easy and light, (to understand that it was not necessary to comply with the laws of the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees,) (Matt. 13:11-30). It’s possible that, He was not always speaking to unsaved people burdened with sin, but to people who had become confused and unsure with the many interpretations they heard.

Here is an important observation:

The task of a first century rabbi/teacher, was

fulfilling the Torah.

So again in the Hebrew thought, we now understand that the technical term for interpreting the Scripture so it would be obeyed correctly was, to fulfill!

And to incorrectly interpret Scripture so it would not be obeyed as God intended, was, to destroy the Torah!

Yeshua/Jesus uses these terms to describe that this too was His task. (Matt. 5:17-19).

For many of us, it’s hard to read scripture without the preconceived ideas from that which we have been given before.

However, while God does direct our thoughts according to our understanding of the text, we must take into consideration the meaning the author was trying to convey and the understanding that the original listeners had and because of this fact, we are not to simply read as if the words were speaking exclusively to us and only here and now.

Ignoring this means we can read/interpret the scriptures however we please and ignore the original context.

The truth is that if we really want to know what Jesus/Yeshua wants us to understand, we have to receive it according to the meanings of the words He used, as and how He used them. Everything in context.

To His listeners, Yoke meant oral teaching,

This means that we cannot ignore/dismiss the idea of obligation to that which is already established in scripture.

Scriptural standards for behavior are unchangeable and Jesus/Yeshua’s yoke is the pattern of His standards.  As His talmidim/disciples, we are expected to follow them.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NASB 

Interesting look at the letter

from the Hebrew Alef bet.

When a man /vav 6 /

is bowed down before the crowned man/ zayin,

taking upon himself His Yoke/Chet, then his soul is subject to the discipline of the Lord and 9 fold fruit of the spirit will grow in his life! Gal 5:22 23.

This man will die to himself and all that is outside the yoke of Messiah. Luke 9:23.

The Yoke of bondage or freedom?

Yoke – it seems to be a paradox that Our Heavenly fathers view of freedom is always in the context of being bound to Him, and the image of a yoke reinforces our confusion.  How is it possible to really be free when we are strapped into a Yoke/collar that controls the direction we are to go in?

It only appears like a paradox because we really don’t understand the true meaning of freedom.  Our confusion is because of our perspective/how we see it.

In our humanness we have many weaknesses and vulnerabilities, which we don’t make allowances for. Fortunately for us, our Heavenly Father doesn’t forget that fact even when we do!

He knows how vulnerable and scatty we are prone to be, and that the only way to really

make us free

is for us to connect/Yolk together with One who knows what true freedom is. 

Freedom is not our ability to make any decision we want to.

If we have so called freedom to make any choice we want to, then theres a 99% chance that we will make choices that will ensure our demise…(already proven or we would not be reading this!)  

So that is not freedom as God intended; furthermore He has no interest in aiding our abilities to make choices that in the end will damage and destroy us.

He cares about us too much to let us do that to ourselves.

Our Father’s view of freedom is very different than ours.

Our view of it is we think freedom is about having uninhibited and unlimited options to choose from, and then do what we want to. 

In His WAY His perspective of viewing freedom,

it is about

alignment with purpose.

To better understand that concept we should ask the question…

What is the purpose of a yoke (zugos in Greek)? 

The answers will paint a new picture for us…

because

Yokes are instruments of intention.

A yoke guides both animals in the same direction. 

A yoke joins two animals into a single effort. 

A yoke prevents one animal from falling.  

A yoke causes two animals to rely on each other, 

and most of all,

A yoke brings purpose,

A united goal.

 Freedom is completely useless without purpose and our Father knows that true freedom has a purpose. 

However we try to make it appear, freedom is not liberty to do whatever we choose. It’s just like saying we are under Grace not the Law and think we can just get forgiven any time we want and continue to live life like the world.

 In God’s world/kingdom of the Heavens,

Freedom has specific purpose and direction and the direction of the freedom He gives is toward Him. 

Yeshua/Jesus invites us to Yoke/bind ourselves to Him in order to achieve the freedom we desire.

True freedom is being what God intended and made us to be and knowing He takes pleasure in us as we fulfill the plans and purposes He designed for each of us to walk in.

The opposite of the western thinking of be whatever you want to and then attempt to Christianize it.

God’s freedom tool is His yoke…

and it is designed to let us feel and know He is pleased with us.

Again this is all about relationship, when we truly love someone we want to please them first, before ourselves!

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me“ Matthew 11:29 

Yoke – So now, how can we enter into the second rest that Yeshua/Jesus promises? 

Yeshua/Jesus says that rest comes when we are bound to Him. 

Just think about that picture for a minute. 

Most of us would never consider being yoked to someone else as a means of finding rest. 

The picture looks more like we are pulling the load in tandem which is the picture of the Greek word used there which is zugos, meaning: something that binds together, which still gives the image of work. 

As we now know that the point of view is Hebraic from Jesus/Yeshua’s perspective, then Rest is not ceasing from activity. 

It is relaxing under restraint. 

Being yoked/bound to Jesus/Yeshua means that He does exactly what His name means. 

Yeshua = Salvation/rescue

He saves/rescues us from the middle of our burdens, it’s the Hebraic view of yasha.  Rescue/salvation comes to us where we are.  Its not a quick fix, a get out clause, or an escape hatch, rather it is partnering/ sharing the load.

When it comes to responsibilities and obligations, there are 2 points of view.

The 1st view is that of the individual.

The individual is responsible for their own destiny. It has the I of prIde, the ego is involved as in, I carry the load.  I shoulder my own responsibilities, I am accountable for the consequences.  I make choices based on what I deem good for me.  This view is a reflection of and dominates the way the world operates and in one way or another, it’s been in evidence since Eden.

This load inevitably becomes a burden…

God’s perspective is the 2nd one, and His perspective is that of shared obligation and responsibility. 

We are who we are because we belong to a community which has many names, children of God, the elect, the ecclesia, the house of Israel, God’s family, or the bride of Messiah/His kallah.. 

Many names however the picture is the same. 

We are intricately and inseparably linked to His family/mishpacah.  None of us stands alone in that what happens to one, happens to others and vise versa. Individuality is superseded by community/family.

We become who we are in relationship with others all our brothers and sisters in His Family/Mishpachah

משפחה

Mish-pa-KHa

When Yeshua/Jesus invites us to join Him, the yoke that we take is bound/fixed to Him, as well as being bound to every other sibling in the kingdom of the heavens. 

The rest that He speaks of that is shared life as a family, not in isolated individualism for we are One in Messiah.  We gain our enduring strength when we are connected to others, so, whenever we pursue activities that separate us from His family, we will discover that we are also moving away from rest. 

Our deepest sense of purpose and greatest enjoyment in work is not in isolation because we were designed to be in relationship with God and with others, giving and receiving. If all members are giving then by default all will receive! 

Take the yoke that Jesus/Yeshua offers, puts us into community with everyone who belongs to Him. We are co-burden-bearers. In this position we are able to find our purpose because what we do, will be of benefit to all those other people who lift us up, and vice-versa.

Rest needs restraint. 

It is not in achieving an independent dream but in fact the exact opposite because we are dependent on Messiah and connected to His family.

To Hebrew readers, yoke is an expression of a rabbi’s way of living.

In other words, it is the summary of all that a rabbi teaches about how to apply Torah today.

To take the yoke of Yeshua/Jesus is to accept what He teaches about how to live.

His teaching has its foundation in family, community, in servant hood/bondservant, and in the expression of

the Fathers divine will,

in forgiveness,

in compassion

and in responsibility,

so without this yoke there is no rest

because Shalom/Rest

is the by-product

of living life according to His instructions

Yoked with Him.

Part 3 is coming and will bring the conclusion.

Jesus/Yeshua is Risen

and

because He’s alive

we live!

Shalom, shalom, mishpachah!

You are loved and appreciated and prayed for daily.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read the posts, please share with others, like and subscribe, it all helps to freely spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth and reaches others with the blessing of His Truths that point us to Our Heavenly Father Through Jesus/Yeshua by the power of His Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit.

A very warm welcome to each and every subscriber/follower/visitor, old and new; and remember that the post is best viewed on the Homepage site in full color!

It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.

You are greatly loved and precious in His sight.

NOT SURE?

YOU CAN BE..

SAY THE FOLLOWING FROM YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW…

Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.

I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name. Amen.