And when one of the scribes came, and heard them disputing together, and saw that he had answered them well, he put a question to him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. 30. And, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment. 31. And the second, which is like it, is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: there is no other commandment greater than these. 32. And the scribe said to him, Master, thou hast answered well with truth, that there is one God, and there is no other besides him. 33. And that to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is better than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34. And Jesus, when he saw that he had replied skillfully, said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And after that, no man ventured to put a question to him.
Matthew 22:37-40
But when the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they assembled together. 35. And one of them, a doctor of the law, put a question to him, tempting him, and saying, 36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37. Jesus saith to him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38. This is the first and great commandment. 39. And the second is like it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as much as thyself. 40. On these two commandments the whole law and the prophets depend.
Luke 10:25-28
And, lo, a certain lawyer 1rose up, tempting him, and saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 26. And he said to him, What is written in the law? How readest thou? 27. He answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. 28. And he said to him, Thou hast answered right: do this, and thou shalt live.
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
He calls Him “master, Rabbi, or doctor”,
as the Sadducees had in Matthew 22:24.
Which is the great commandment in the law?
Notice this translation does not read
the greatest but the great.
That is, the great/greatest commandment,
or
the one most important.
Before we look deeper at Messiahs specific answer we should consider that the question is not which of the laws was the greatest, the oral, or the written law. The Jews give the preference to the law delivered by word of mouth; they prefer the traditions of the elders before the written law of Moses; but the question was about the written law of Moses; and not merely about the decalogue, or whether the commands of the first tablet were greater than those of the second, as was generally thought; or whether the affirmative precepts were not more to be regarded than negative ones, which was their commonly received opinion; but about the whole body of the law, moral and ceremonial, delivered by Moses: and not whether the ceremonial law was to be preferred to the moral, which they usually did. Yeshua/Jesus had already made a contribution to the discussion by setting the ethical above the ritual.
Matthew 15:1-20, cf. Matthew 19:18-22.
The point of this question was:
which kind of command is great in the law?
That is, what kind of a commandment must it be to constitute it a great one?
Not, which commandment is greatest as compared with the others?
One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question:
Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?
Which is the great commandment . . .? Literally, of what kind. The questioner asked as if it belonged to a class. Messiah’s answer is definite, “This is the first and great commandment.”
Matthew 22:36 f. What kind of a commandment (qualitative, comp. Matthew 19:18) is great in the law; what must be the nature of a commandment in order to constitute it great? The commandment, then, which Yeshua/Jesus singles out as the great one κατʼ ἐξοχήν, and which, as corresponding to the subsequent δευτέρα, He places at the head of the whole series (ἡ μεγάλη κ. πρώτη,) in that of Deuteronomy 6:5,
The Jews are said to have divided the law into “greater and smaller” commandments. Which was of the greatest importance they had not determined. Some held that it was the law respecting sacrifice; others, that respecting circumcision; others, that pertaining to washings and purifying, etc.
The law / torah / instruction. The word “law” has a great variety of significations; it means, commonly, in the Bible, as it does here, “the law given by Moses,” recorded in the first five books of the Bible.
The scribes declared that there were 248 affirmative precepts, as many as the members of the human body; and 365 negative precepts, as many as the days in the year; the total being 613, the number of letters in the Decalogue. Of these they called some light and some heavy. Some thought that the law about the fringes/zitzit on the prayer shawl/garments was the greatest; some that the omission of washings was as bad as murder; some that the third commandment was the greatest. It was in view of this kind of distinction that the scribe asked the question; not as desiring a declaration as to which commandment was greatest, but as wanting to know the principle upon which a commandment was to be regarded as a ‘great’ commandment.
Messiah said the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength.
What readers outside of Israel and unfamiliar with Hebrew culture may not have realized is, that even a child knew the answer to the question on what the greatest commandment was.
How did they know?
Because they recited it every day in their morning prayers when they said the Shema. The daily declaration of faith:
Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One. Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever. You shall love the L-rd your G‑d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart.
This comes from the word of God inDeuteronomy 6
and specifically the biblical text of Deuteronomy 6:4-9,which contains the Shema,
a central confession of faith in Judaism and Christianity.
In the recitation of Deuteronomy 6:4-9,special emphasis is given to the first six Hebrew words of this passage:
Shema Yisrael, Adonai eloheinu, Adonai echad.
The Shema is the core Hebrew affirmation and admonition.
The reason they asked Him was because at that time there was amongst others, duly noted above, a big debate among the Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, Rabbis and Teachers of the Law, as to whether the greatest commandment meant we were to love God with
all our hearts, soul and might (strength)
or
hearts, soul and will.
To love Him with all our might would mean:
force ourselves to love God with all our hearts and soul, like gritting our teeth and doing it whether we want to or not.
But if we are to say we love Him with our wills, it would mean
we just simply sit back and decide, making a choice to love Him?
The issue is that the word meod could mean either or both.
mə·’ō·ḏe·ḵā
Deuteronomy 6:5 HEB: נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־ מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃ NAS:your soul and with all your might. KJV:and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. INT:your soul all your might
3966 meod: Very, exceedingly, much, greatly
Original Word: מְאֹד Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: m`od Pronunciation: meh-ODE Phonetic Spelling: meh-ode’ Definition: Very, exceedingly, much, greatly Meaning: vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily
Derived from an unused root meaning “to vehemence” or “force.”
The Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint (LXX) for “meod” is “σφόδρα” (sphodra), which also means “very” or “exceedingly.”
The Hebrew word meod, is an adverb, used to intensify the meaning of an adjective or verb. It conveys the sense of very or exceedingly, often used to emphasize the degree or extent of something. In the context of the Hebrew Bible, meod is frequently employed to underscore the intensity of emotions, actions, or characteristics.
In ancient Hebrew culture, language was often used in a vivid and expressive manner. The use of intensifiers like meod reflects a linguistic tradition that values emphasis and clarity. The Hebrew Bible, as a foundational text for Jewish and Christian traditions, uses meod to convey the depth of human experience and divine attributes, highlighting the importance of wholehearted devotion and the magnitude of God’s works.
The Pharisee who asked this question, as we learn in verse 35, asked it to test Yeshua/Jesus, because as previously mentioned, that even a child knew the answer to the question on what the greatest commandment was; however, the Jewish oral tradition taught by the rabbis referenced something called:
Derech Eretz, which literally means: the way of the land.
Hebrew: תורה עם דרך ארץ – Torah with “the way of the land”,
it’s a common phrase in Rabbinic literature referring to various aspects of one’s interaction with the wider world. A term used to describe proper behavior good manners,
Derech Eretz teaches respect for all of humanity, including those handicapped, the elderly, and those in need regardless of their race, religion or color. In contemporary Jewish life today, derech eretz, (literally “the way of the land”) means something like good manners or the done thing, proper etiquette, common decency and correct moral behavior.
However, in Messiah’s day the Pharisees taught that
Derech Eretz was equal to the study of Torah.
In the Mishnah in Tractate Avoth 2:2 it declares “Beautiful is the study of Torah with Derech Eretz, an involvement with both makes one forgets sin.”
This Pharisee wanted to test Yeshua to see if He agreed with them.
This is the basic point of their questioning Him.
Here we see the wisdom of Messiah and our Heavenly Father in His reply being aware that they were trying to trick Him.
Yeshua/Jesus knew what was in a person’s mind and didn’t need anyone to tell him what people were like, because He himself knew what was in every person. John 2:25
By the time Yeshua/Jesus was born, Aramaic had been the language of Palestine for centuries; because of this, the vast majority of scholars agree that He spoke almost exclusively in Aramaic, specifically in the Galilean dialect of Aramaic which would have been His native language. Aramaic was the common language in Judea and Galilee during Messiah’s time, and Hebrew, the language of the Bible and the Mishna, was also common among Jews. While He very likely spoke Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek, Aramaic was probably the language He spoke the most. The Gospels record Messiah speaking numerous Aramaic words.
When Messiah grew up as a boy in the village of Nazareth, He no doubt attended the synagogue school. The Jewish child was sent to school in the fifth or sixth year of his life. The pupils either “stood, teacher and pupils alike, or else sat on the ground in a semicircle, facing a teacher.” Until the children were ten years of age, the Bible Torah and Tanakh was all they learned. Both rabbinic material and Josephus mention that in the first-century Judaism it was a duty, indeed a religious commandment, that Jewish children be taught Torah.
To learn Torah and to teach it, as it is written
“thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children ”
Deuteronomy 6:7.
The elementary school system among the Jews developed in connection with the synagogue. Even before the days of Yeshua/Jesus, schools for the young were located in practically every important town. Simon ben Shetach (75 b.c.) taught people systematically. He decreed that children should attend elementary school (בֵּת הַסֵּפֶר) the “house of the book.” The Book, of course, was the Torah, with the explanation and oral law. He decreed that children should attend elementary school (בֵּת הַסֵּפֶר) the “house of the book.” The Book, of course, was the Torah, with the explanation and oral law.
When the son reached the age of twelve, the Jews believed his education in the Torah was complete enough to help him know the Law and keep it. He was then known as a “son of the Law. Recall the event of Messiah age twelve, remaining in Jerusalem talking with the Rabbis.
Much of the Torah and the prophets and writings were memorized rather than written or read. However we know Yeshua/Jesus could read Hebrew as He read from the Isaiah scroll. This was not an isolated case as teachers, rabbis and visiting guests regularly read from the Torah Scrolls every Sabbath.
However, the school system did not develop until Joshua ben Gamla (64 CE) the high priest caused public schools to be opened in every town and hamlet for all children above six or seven. The word for education (חִינּוּך) in modern Heb. is derived from the root חָנַכְ, H2852, to train which is used in late Biblical Heb. “Train up a child in the way he should go…” (Prov 22:6). Other verbs are used to denote “training,” “instructing” and “learning.” Teaching and learning often took the form of repetition שִׂיחַ֒, H8488. The scribal school was attached to the Temple and was called the “House of Life.”
In the Mediterranean world in which Yeshua/Jesus lived, children held a different kind of status than they do in our world today. We expect our children to grow into adults and to engage in a life of fulfilled dreams. This was not the case for parents of Messiah’s day because more than half of the children born at this time never reached puberty, they died of diseases and of malnutrition; so when children appear in the Gospels, they usually are used to convey a very important message. For example such is the case in the passage of Mark’s Gospel 10:14.
In their culture, children had the free reign of the family compound. They lived in extended families, brothers lived with their brothers and their wives and their children; the eldest brother or their father was the patriarch. The women lived in one section of the home, usually to the rear where they were not so vulnerable to passers-by. The men lived in another room, usually near the front of the home and were seen as the protectors of their women and children.
The children roamed freely between the two areas and were often used by the adults to discover what was going on in the other rooms. They carried stories back and forth and were the ultimate destroyers of secrecy between the men and between the women as they had access to the whole house; so if anyone wanted to keep a secret, it was necessary to make sure there were no children within earshot. With this in mind, when the disciples tell the children to move away from Yeshua/Jesus, it may not have simply been a matter of giving Him some quiet time. It may have been that they were protecting him from gossip/stories that the children could retell to the adults; however, Yeshua/Jesus in welcoming the children shows that He has no secrets, that His life is open and what He talks about is for everybody who has ears to hear. The story is to show that Messiah offers a special relationship with all men and women including children. He was authentic, trustworthy, and didn’t try to hide His private life, by allowing the children into His life proved that.
Research revels that the first elementary school was probably in Jerusalem with the institution spreading to the urban centers at a later time. Joseph ben Gamala (c. a.d. 65) tried to make elementary education universal and compulsory by endeavoring to make provision for teachers in all provinces and allowing children to enter the school at the age of six or seven. Instruction was given in reading, and the Torah was studied both in its written and oral form. The curriculum in the elementary school was basically the Bible, the Old Testament and the Apocrypha. The Pseudepigrapha was not part of the formal education in school, though it had a widespread circulation. Scientific ideas were embedded incidentally in the Old Testament, this is true also of political ideas. The Old Testament was studied in Hebrew, except for a few passages in Aramaic, notably in Ezra and Daniel. Some apocryphal books were in Greek, but Hebrew continued as the language for scholarly study.
Back to the scripture in question and the four areas that Yeshua/Jesus included in His reply. Matthew only records three: heart, soul and mind.
Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
From the Greek – KJV
both the text In Mark and
Luke both say all 4.
However from the Aramaic, the Peshitta Bible,
Matthew records all four areas:
Matthew 22:37 “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love THE LORD JEHOVAH your God from all your heart and from all your soul and from all your power/might/strength and from all your mind.’
Messiah was making a direct quote fromDeuteronomy 6:5,yet it seems as if He did not quote the passage accurately? InDeuteronomy 6:5 He says
we are to love the Lord God with all our might,
but in Matthew 22:37 He says
we are to love Him with all our mind.
This seems to point to the fact that
mind and might are two separate things?
The One Who gave the covenant commandments in the first place would not have made such an mistake and it also seems strange that the Scribes and Pharisees who were trying to trap Jesus and knew every letter of the law backwards and forwards, didn’t point it out?
Here is where digging into the Peshitta, the Aramaic Hebrew translations helps to reveal what Yeshua/Jesus did.
The name Peshitta in Aramaic means “Straight”, in other words, the original and pure New Testament. The Peshitta is the only authentic and pure text which contains the books in the New Testament that were written inAramaic, the Language of Mshikha (the Messiah) and His Disciples.
This quote follows the Hebrew text of Deut 6:5and then adds another phrase
and from all your mind.
No OT text has these 4 stipulations as does the peshitta NT
in all three NT quotes of Deut 6:5.
The peshitta OT text does use the unusual word in its final phrasew’minkalah quinak – with all your faculities.
Messiah apparently preferred that the all your mindcondition be included in our love to God. Almost all Greek translations leave outall your strengthin this verse, but include it in the parallel passages ofMark 12:20 and Luke 10:27. However the critical greek text also leaves outwith all your soul in Mark 12:33. (Page58)
The on-line version of the Church of the East Peshitta New Testament text in Aramaic/English Interlinear Format. http://peshitta.org
Matthew 22:37 the Aramaic Bible shows that He did quote the passage correctly, the only difference being that He added a comment to it to challenge the Pharisees!
In the Greek the word
mind is dianoia
which simply means:
mind, understanding or imagination.
Yeshua/Jesus, however, was not speaking in Greek, He was speaking in Aramaic and according to the Aramaic Bible what He said was
from your power and your mind.
In Hebrew Strongs # 2430
cheylah: Strength, power, force
Original Word:חֵילָה Part of Speech:Noun Feminine Transliteration: cheylah Pronunciation: khay-LAH Phonetic Spelling:khay-law’ Definition:Strength, power, force
W’min kalah quinak – with all your faculties.
for the Hebrew word m’od or meod (strength, will).
He used two Aramaic words
kayla (power, strength)
and
Reina (mind, will)
meod: Very, exceedingly, much, greatly
Original Word:מְאֹד Part of Speech:Adjective Transliteration:m`od Pronunciation:meh-ODE Phonetic Spelling: meh-ode’ Definition: Very, exceedingly, much, greatly Meaning: vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily
Derived from an unused root meaning “to vehemence” or “force.”
Greek equivalent often used in the Septuagint (LXX) for “meod” is “σφόδρα” (sphodra), which also means “very” or “exceedingly.”
Definition
muchness, force, abundance
NASB Translation
abundantly (1), all (1), almost (1), badly (3), carefully (1), closely (1), diligent (1), diligently (3), enough (1), especially (1), exceeding (1), exceedingly (14), exceedingly* (3), excessive (1), extremely* (1), far (1), firmly (1), fully (1), great (16), great abundance (1), greatly (52), greatly* (1), hard (1), harder* (1), highly (4), immense (1), louder (1), measure (2), might (2), more (2), more* (1), most (1), much* (1), quickly (1), richly (1), serious* (1), severely (1), so (2), so much (1), sorely (1), strongly (1), swiftly (1), too (2), utterly (1), utterly* (3), very (139), very well (1), very* (2), violently (1), violently* (1), well (2).
Deuteronomy 6:5 HEB: נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־ מְאֹדֶֽךָ׃ NAS: your soul and with all your might. KJV: and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. INT: your soul all your might
In The Lord’s Prayer ḥaylā/kayla translates as power.
The Aramaic says: For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Definition: Authority, Power, Strength Meaning: might, positiveness. Word Origin: Derived from the root תָּקַף (taqaph), meaning “to overpower” or “to prevail.”
חָ֫יִל (chayil) — Strength, valor, wealth, army, capability. Word Origin: Derived from the root חוּל (chul), which can mean to twist, whirl, dance, writhe, or travail. Usage: The Hebrew word “chayil”
8632 tqoph tek-ofe’ (Aramaic) corresponding to 8633; power:–might, strength. 8633 toqeph to’-kef from 8630 ; might or (figuratively) positiveness:– authority, power, strength.
8633 toqeph to’-kef from 8630; might or (figuratively) positiveness:– authority, power, strength. 8632 tqoph tek-ofe’ (Aramaic) corresponding to 8633; power:–might, strength.
In this exchange we see
both the mind of Christ
and
the wisdom of the Father in operation.
Yeshua/Jesus answered in his own native language, Aramaic, which meant that He would have had to more clearly define the Hebrew word
meod (strength and/or will).
This word can be stretched to mean:
inner strength or resilience.
The wordmight
in Hebrew is simply the word
meod
which often used as an adverb to intensify and modify a verb.
אֱיָלוּת (eyaluth) — Strength, might, power. Word Origin: Derived from the root אָיִל (ayil), meaning “strength” or “might.”
As mentioned above, in The Lord’s Prayer
ḥaylā translates as power.
Aramaic said:For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
If He would have saidkayla (strength)
ḥaylā power, strength; fortitude, endurance
Synonyms: (ḥaylā), (ˁūzā), (ˁušnā) energy…
He would have said that:
you must use your own power to do good works
as loving mankind to show your love for God.
If He would have just said
reina (will)
He would have simply said
you must choose to love God, regardless of Derech Eretz.
Instead, Yeshua/Jesus used both Aramaic words which clearly defined the word
mo’ed
as
the strength of your will.
In other words, in the Hebrew this commandment would read,
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
with all thy soul and with all the strength of your will.”
Again here Messiah used one of their own sayings on them.
When they wanted to equate oral tradition with the Torah but not place it equal or greater than Torah they say:
“The second is like unto it.”
Here Yeshua/Jesus confirms the importance of Derech Eretz by saying: you shall love your neighbor as yourself,
but without placing it above the commandment to
love the Lord with all your heart, soul and strength of your will.
In reality He did not misspeakDeuteronomy 6:5He simply translated it into the Aramaic!
But what is strength of the will?
Loving people as we term and understand it, is often hard if we are simply trying to do it in our own strength and base that love on human feelings and emotions; especially when there are problems, conflicts and other desires. In the case when we ‘feel’ we do not love someone, we are to love with meod – the strength of our will. Not by human emotion. but by letting the unconditional love of the Father flow through us to them. There can be times in relationships when love no longer comes naturally or there is abuse in that relationship, however in that case, we must choose to love and sometimes it will take all the strength of our will to love that person.
This is the same with our Heavenly Father. When the battles get tough, the mountains too steep and we cry out to Him and seemingly get no response and we may find it hard to love God in the midst of your struggle can we look up and say: “Father I still love you no matter what happens.” That is loving Him with all our meod. We just don’t love the Lord, we choose to love Him and sometimes it takes all the strength of your will to make that choice, just as Messiah clearly pointed out that the second is like the first. Sometimes we confront a person that we cannot naturally love, but we must make the choice to love and sometimes it takes meod – all the strength of our will, to follow Derech Eretz, respect and love for all mankind.
There is another verse inIsaiah 26:3where the Hebrew word is translated as Mind – Yetsar יצר Yod Samek Resh
Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trust in you.”
Perfect peaceis something we all long for
and according to Isaiah 26:3,
we can have it so long as
our minds are stayed on Him,
Isaiah 26:3 HEB:יֵ֣צֶר סָמ֔וּךְ תִּצֹּ֖ר NAS:The steadfast of mind You will keep KJV:peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed INT:of mind the steadfast will keep
Original Word:יֵצֶר Part of Speech: Noun Masculine Transliteration: yetser Pronunciation:yay’-tser Phonetic Spelling: yay’-tser Definition: Inclination, imagination, mind, purpose, framework Meaning:a form, conception
G1271 (dianoia): Refers to the mind, disposition, or understanding.
– G1761 (enthema): Refers to an inward thought or purpose.
The Hebrew word yetse” primarily refers to the inclination or disposition of the mind and heart. It is often used to describe the inner thoughts and intentions of a person, whether good or evil. In the context of the Bible, yetser can denote the moral and spiritual inclinations that drive human behavior.
In ancient Hebrew thought, the concept of yetser is closely tied to the understanding of human nature and morality. The Hebrews believed that humans possess both
a good inclination (yetser ha-tov)
and an evil inclination (yetser ha-ra).
This duality reflects the ongoing moral struggle within individuals to choose between righteousness and sin. The idea of yetser is foundational in Jewish ethical teachings and is explored extensively in rabbinic literature.
Isaiah 26:3 HEB: יֵ֣צֶר סָמ֔וּךְ תִּצֹּ֖ר שָׁל֣וֹם ׀ NAS:The steadfast of mind You will keep KJV:[whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth INT: of mind the steadfast will keep perfect
The way we can obtain thisshalom/peace, is by
having our minds stayed on Him.
The text readsshalom shalom = double peace – perfect peace!
It conveys the idea of resting or relying on something for stability and strength. In the biblical context, it often refers to physical support, such as leaning on a staff, or metaphorical support, such as relying on God or His promises.
In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the concept of leaning or supporting was significant in both physical and spiritual contexts. Shepherds would lean on their staffs for support, and elders would lean on their wisdom and experience. Spiritually, the Israelites were encouraged to lean on the Lord God, trusting in His strength and guidance rather than their own understanding or the power of foreign nations.
When our imaginations cover our Heavenly Father, His peace will become our peace. His imaginations will become our imaginations.
How do you keep your mind stayed on God?
He is showing Himself all around us in the nature He created and part of every environment we may find ourselves in. Many times we just don’t understand that He is there; wanting to show us and teach us from every tiny flower and bird, to the huge energy of the sun and the entire starry universe. It really is so easy to keep our minds stayed on our Heavenly Father, if we will just stop and let Him reveal Himself to us.
The word strength and power
are basically the same word from the same root –
chayl/chayil.
In the Hebrew and Aramaic it means
to tremble or shake.
It comes from an Akkadian word chalu
which is a word used for:
a woman in labor, giving birth to a child.
Ephesians 6:10: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
In Greek the word forstrength or strong is
endynamousthe
from the root
en donamoo
where we are familiar with the reference to dynamite. It can meanpower and might. In this context, it is to grow stronger.
The Greek word for
power is
kratel
which is might, strength and power
and has the idea of establishing dominion.
The word
might isischyos
from the rootiswhich is:
a force to overcome immediate resistance.
The Greek does read well as Paul is exhorting us to become strong in the ability of God to establish dominion over an immediate problem or attack.
So now we know why they asked Yeshua/Jesus this question and…
that the inclination or disposition of the mind and heart is important and…
that we are to
love your neighbor as yourself but without placing it above the commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and strength of our will.
And God will keep us in perfect peace
if
our imaginations/minds are stayed focused on Him.
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
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.
In our recent journey, we have just come out of the wilderness
and yet in this scripture in 1Kings 19, we read that
someone is running back into the wilderness!
In this account it was Elijah
who was running into the wilderness.
But why?
Because he had just had a confrontation with the wicked queen Jezebel, the wife and the evil influence behind king Ahab.
In fact there had just been a great victory with a powerful demonstration by the intervention of the One True God of Israel.
Elijah had challenged the prophets of Baal to prove their god was superior to the one true God of the Israelites.
After the confrontation Elijah ordered, “Seize the prophets of Baal; don’t let any of them get away!” The people seized them all, and Elijah led them down to Kishon Brook and killed them.
1Kings 18 :40
Then Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Jezebel flew into an angry rage when she heard that her priests were dead and she sent a messenger to Elijah.
2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, and ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed!”
When Elijah heard these words he got up quickly and ran with his servant into the stormy night. The scripture said he was afraid and ran for his life escaping from Jezebel and her death threats.
After such a dramatic confrontation and an outstanding victory over the prophets of Baal
and seeing the power of God on Mount Carmel;
we note that he didn’t call on the Lord in his time of trouble as he had the previous day.
Perhaps he had believed Jezebel would leave him alone when she heard how powerful God was. Instead Jezebel did not pay the slightest attention to the one true God of Israel or His power, all she was interested in was vengeance and getting even with Elijah for killing her prophets.
In response, Elijah was overcome by fear and despair and fled for his life. He took his servant and journeyed to Beersheba in the kingdom of Judah, away from Jezebel’s oversight and authority. Yet even there, he was overcome by depression and isolation, Elijah left his servant behind and traveled alone into the wilderness, asking God to take his life.
Elijahs triumphant victory was followed by fear from an evil report.
We are to remember Ephesians 6 Having done all to stand to stand in the evil day. The evil day is often the day after the victory.
We are cautioned not to relax after a victory but stay alert, watch and be ready to stand firm in faith, which is the opposite of fear.
After he had killed 450 prophets Jezebel sent him a message.
He saw what she said… 1 Kings 19:3
He saw in Hebrew: רָאָה
Rarah- raw-aw; means: to see, have vision, look at, inspect, perceive, observe and to watch.
7200 raah: To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
Original Word:רָאָה Transliteration:ra’ah Pronunciation:rah-AH Phonetic Spelling: raw-aw’ Definition: To see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider
Corresponding Greek – G3708 (ὁράω, horao) – to see, perceive
– G991 (βλέπω, blepo) – to look at, behold
The Hebrew verb “ra’ah” primarily means “to see” in a literal sense, but it also extends to more abstract meanings such as
perceiving, understanding, or experiencing.
It is used in various contexts, including physical sight, visionary experiences, and intellectual or spiritual perception. The verb can also imply: the act of looking with intention or consideration.
In ancient Hebrew culture, seeing was not merely a physical act but often carried deeper implications of understanding and discernment. Prophets, for example, were often described as “seers” (ro’eh), indicating their ability to perceive divine truths. The act of seeing was also associated with witnessing events and understanding God’s will, reflecting a holistic view of perception that included both physical and spiritual dimensions.
What we see and hear on the outside affects us on the inside.
Elijah heard a threat and saw the image of the threat. He was listening to his physical senses and his feelings and emotions reacted to the perception in the natural realm. We cannot know everything we hear because it very likely cause us to run in fear.
1 Kings 19:3-4,
Elijah’s drastic despair and request for death, reveals the immense emotional and spiritual toll from the threats and opposition, even in the wake of God’s faithfulness on Mount Carmel.
Despite being a mighty prophet of God, in his humanity Elijah was still prone to feelings and emotions that brought overwhelming discouragement.
As he ran out of the gate of Jezreel, Elijah did not go to back to the widows house in Zarephath, nor could he hide in Judah because the king of Judah was friends with Ahab; so Elijah and his servant ran southward.
When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself traveled on a day’s journey into the wilderness.
He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
Sat under has the meaning: he was depressed
and juniper has a meaning: to bind or attach.
Juniper is seen as a symbol of resilience, determination, and the ability to adapt to challenging circumstances
The Hebrew verb rakas primarily means to bind or fasten together. It is used in contexts where something is being securely attached or joined, often referring to clothing or armor.
He rarah- thought/perceived that things were so bad that he wanted to die. It was a false reality, he had allowed fear to control influence and guide his actions, he ran. This is the flight or fight syndrome. He ran on to the wilderness alone. He was tired and dejected and rested under the juniper/broom tree. Was he realizing that prophetically he needed his mind to swept out and cleansed/refreshed?
Was he finally looking for the Lord?
5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep.
Suddenly an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”
6 And he looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again.
7 A second time the angel of the LORD returned and touched him, saying, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. And strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
During the Israelites’ time in the desert with Moses, they camped at a place called Rithmah known for broom trees. It was named Rithmah simply because it means the place of the broom.Numbers 33:18–19. Apparently, broom trees were plentiful in the area, and the location served as a suitable camp for the children of Israel. Now we know more of the meaning that Juniper/broom is seen as a symbol of resilience, determination, and the ability to adapt to challenging circumstances; it was a symbolic meaning for them at the time.
Being spiritually, emotionally, and physically exhausted, Elijah quickly fell asleep in the shade of the bush.
Elijah sat down under a solitary broom tree
rō·ṯem, which means a juniper tree.
he was running away from danger.
rethem or rothem: Broom tree
Original Word: רֶתֶם Transliteration: rethem Pronunciation: reh’-them Phonetic Spelling: reh’-them Definition: Broom tree
The origin of the word רֶתֶם is uncertain, but it is believed to be derived from a root that may imply binding or covering, possibly due to the plant’s growth habit.
There is no direct Greek equivalent in Strong’s Concordance for the Hebrew rethem, as it is a specific plant native to the Middle Eastern region and not commonly referenced in Greek texts.
The term “rethem” refers to a type of desert shrub or small tree, commonly identified as the broom tree (Retama raetam). It is known for its ability to thrive in arid conditions and is often found in desert regions. In the Bible, it is associated with providing shade and shelter in harsh environments.
The broom tree is native to the Middle East and North Africa, often found in desert areas. It is characterized by its long, slender branches and small leaves, which help it conserve water. The plant’s ability to grow in barren landscapes made it a symbol of survival and resilience. Historically, its branches were used for fuel, and its roots could be used to make charcoal.
1 Kings 19:4 HEB: וַיֵּ֕שֶׁב תַּ֖חַת רֹ֣תֶם [אֶחָת כ] NAS: under a juniper tree; and he requested KJV: under a juniper tree: and he requested INT: and sat under A juniper a requested
1 Kings 19:5 HEB: וַיִּישַׁ֔ן תַּ֖חַת רֹ֣תֶם אֶחָ֑ד וְהִנֵּֽה־ NAS: under a juniper tree; and behold, KJV: under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel INT: and slept under A juniper a and behold
The “broom tree” is what some Bible translations such as the KJV and NASB call the “juniper”; other translations such as the ESV, CSB, and NIV speak of it as the “broom tree” or the “broom bush.” It grows to around 6 to 8 feet tall and can provide enough shade to shelter someone from the scorching desert heat.
Having roots and branches that burn hot, the broom tree was a source of fuel and high-quality charcoal during biblical times. Psalm 120:4 likens the judgment of God to “a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom brush.”
The angel that visited Elijah made “some bread baked over hot coals”; since the broom tree was right there, it’s quite possible that the angel used its wood as fuel 1 Kings 19:6. The thick root of the broom tree was good fuel for fire, and in dire circumstances it could also be eaten. Job speaks of men who, in extreme conditions, resorted to eating broom tree roots: “Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed a the parched land in desolate wastelands at night. In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food was the root of the broom bush” Job 30:3–4 A broom tree’s roots are bitter and unappetizing but can provide some nourishment to a starving person.
Although the broom tree is just a desert shrub, but in the Bible it serves as an important reminder of God’s provision. As God sustained and sheltered Elijah under a broom tree, He also promises to give us rest and meet our needs. Matthew 11:28; Philippians 4:19.
Providing shelter from difficult situations is something that God is good at doing; He is “our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” Psalm 46:1.
The juniper tree symbolizes refuge, protection against evil spirits, and strength, particularly highlighted in the story of the prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19:4-5.
The juniper tree appears in both the Old and New Testaments, representing: comfort during distress and divine provision.
Junipers embody resilience and endurance, paralleling the challenges faced by believers, reinforcing themes of perseverance and faith.
Historically, juniper trees have been seen as symbols of protection and cleansing, used in rituals for purification and healing.Juniper berries possess medicinal properties and were historically utilized for various ailments, continuing to be valued in herbal remedies today.
Durable juniper wood has been employed in construction, including biblical structures, and remains popular in modern landscaping and decor.
One of the reasons a broom tree has that name is because the branches grow straight, with prickly small leaves at the end. They are said to be capable of providing shade for one person, with little room for covering more. All of that becomes a metaphor for Elijah being a singular prophet of note in the history of the “fathers” of those peoples.
The symbolism of a Juniper tree is as a protection against evil spirits, giving a reflection of how the divine “ancestors” of Yahweh protected the laws [the marriage vows] of Moses from corruption. Thus, Elijah was one broom of the Lord God, who was sent to sweep out the evil presence, the uncleanness, that had defiled the Northern Kingdom.
Elijah, sat down under a tree of branches He invited/offered/asked the Lord God of Israel to take his life. When the NRSV translation says, “ He asked that he might die,” it must be realized that Elijah was “asking” this of the Lord so the Hebrew word
וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל
“way·yiš·’al” [“shaal”]
can be read as “he prayed.”
7952 shaal: To ask, inquire, request, demand
Original Word:שָׁאַל Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sha’al Pronunciation: shaw-al’ Phonetic Spelling:shaw-al’ Definition: To ask, inquire, request, demand
Corresponding GreekG154 (aiteo): To ask, request
– G2065 (erotao): To ask, inquire
Elijah, on the other hand, represents a willing sacrifice to Lord, praying:
“It is enough; now, Yahweh, take away my life,
for I am no better than my ancestors.”
In that translation, the Hebrew word
מֵאֲבֹתָֽי
“mê·’ă·ḇō·ṯāy”
is translated generically as “ancestors.”
Englishman’s Concordance
mê·’ă·ḇō·ṯāy — 1 Occurrence
1 Kings 19:4 HEB: ט֥וֹב אָנֹכִ֖י מֵאֲבֹתָֽי׃ NAS: for I am not better than my fathers. KJV: for I [am] not better than my fathers. INT: better my fathers
The core word in that [“ab”] means “fathers.”
ab: Father
Original Word: אָב Transliteration: ab Pronunciation: ahv Phonetic Spelling:awb Definition: Father
Corresponding Greek– G3962 (πατήρ, patēr) – Father
The Hebrew word “אָב” (‘ab) primarily means “father” and is used in the Old Testament to denote a male parent. It can also refer to a forefather, ancestor, or a figure of authority and respect. In a broader sense, it is used metaphorically to describe God as the Father of His people, Israel, and by extension, all believers.
This relates Elijah to a lineage of prophets, where the “fathers” – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – were not to be confused with the majority of people that declared relationship by blood, but only those whose souls were related through covenant/marriage relationship to the Lord God. The prayer was probably connected with his being condemned to death by Ahab, Elijah’s acts proved the true power and divinity of the God of Israel. When it was over, after the Lord had set fire to the wood and burned his sacrifice on the altar, leading to the death of 450 priests of Ba’al there was nothing more Elijah could do. Instead of trying to save himself from being killed by Ahab, Elijah offered his soul into the Heavenly Fathers hands.
It is highly likely that we will all come to some point in life where we will say, it is enough. This mighty prophet came to this point, and this gives us hope, it happens to all of us at one time or another.
Elijah slept under a juniper tree. He, like us sometimes, curled up in a ball and wanted to give up. Life can become too overwhelmingly hard for us, and the mountain in front of us can look too big to overcome. There was a day when Yeshua/Jesus climbed into a boat with the disciples and said, Let us go over to the other side. Everything seemed good and they had just heard the sermon on the mount, it looked like nothing could shake their faith. However in the account we read: And there arose a great storm. Our Heavenly Father brings storms into our lives to test our faith. To humble us as we see where we really are. We have to first be pulled down so that He can build us up and it is God that lifts us up, its not in our own strength..
We can say to Him, it is enough, however this comes from
our own reasoning, our own understanding
of what is happening around us and to us.
Scripture says we are not to lean on our own understanding.
For us as believers, we are faced with the ongoing challenge of walking through a world that we no longer belong in, and no doubt there will be many times we come to the juniper tree.
The juniper tree is also a place of
our own understanding,
our own rationalizing,
our own wisdom and thought patterns,
our own imaginations and determinations.
We arrive here when we take our eyes off our Lord and Savior, something we must never do because we never outgrow Him. We never come to a point of being independent from Him, or to the point that we will never need Him anymore. Spiritually we are in covenant with Him through faith in His Blood; we need him, and He loves us and is always there for us. He is faithful, even when we are unfaithful. He loves us, when we stop loving Him.
Elijah sat under the juniper tree and then he slept under the juniper tree. The progression shows he came to a point of complete hopelessness and finally he was emptied of himself; and this is when God moved in his life providing food and rest for him. The Bible assures us we have a merciful high priest, Messiah has great compassion towards us because He knows our frame, He remembers that we are but dust.
He suffered when he became a man, so that he could experience what we experience. Jesus/Yeshua was familiar with all our sufferings so He knows what we feel like. He knows our weaknesses, because He lived on the earth as one of us.
Elijah was a man like us, tempted to curl up in a ball and give up. Life can become overwhelming for us. The mountains we face can loom so big before us they seem insurmountable.
After hard spiritual battles we can be tired and vulnerable but we are never alone.
There is a place we can go, a place for spiritual direction and consultation, for rest, to receive refreshment from the provision of the Lord. Because like Elijah, without the Lord the journey will be too hard for us.
Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, Yahweh, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of Yahweh came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount ha-elohim.
Sometimes when we have been through a time of testing or great trial and we have persevered depending on the Lord to bring us through, we experience victory and a breakthrough in our situation. Gods’ intervention changes everything and the enemy appears to be on the run. This is when we may be tempted to relax and not be as alert as we should be, and its then that the enemy will exploit our inattention and fatigue and mount an unexpected attack like a whiplash. This kind of reaction can cause us to become fearful if we are not rooted and grounded in the Lord.
We are not to look at the physical circumstances but to look in faith to the Lord. However this is not always as easy as it sounds. We are in a physical human body with all the feeling and emotions and weakness of flesh. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. And like Elijah we feel like giving up, we have had enough and feel like we can’t take any more; we run away into the wilderness and finally totally exhausted sit under a juniper tree just wanting to die and go home and be with the Lord. Here under the juniper tree our loving heavenly Father will bring a time of refreshing to us so we can go forward.
Ps. 103:14 For He knows our [mortal] frame; He remembers that we are [merely] dust.
There was further work for Elijah to do
and God gave him a time of rest and refreshing with
food to eat and water to drink.
The presence of bread and water by Elijah’s “head” is indicating that his ego was replaced with spiritual food – bread cooked on coals, and everlasting water – a jar of water.
Elijah was touched by an angel, at the point of that touch, being told “Get up and eat” – the actual command is “arise” [from “qūm”], which also has a meaning to leave the body of flesh and enter the heavenly realm – Elijah was commanded to eat and receive of the Heavenly offerings from the Lord brought to him by an angel.
Original Word:קוּם Transliteration: quwm Pronunciation:koom Phonetic Spelling: koom Definition: Arise, stand, establish, confirm, endure, fulfill Meaning: to rise
Corresponding Greek– ἀνίστημι (anistēmi) – to rise, to stand up
– ἐγείρω (egeirō) – to awaken, to raise up
The Hebrew verb “qum” primarily means “to arise” or “to stand up.” It conveys the idea of rising from a lower position to a higher one, whether physically, metaphorically, or spiritually. It is used in various contexts, including standing up from a seated position, rising to take action, establishing something firmly, or fulfilling a promise or prophecy. The verb can also imply endurance or the act of being established over time.
In ancient Hebrew culture, the act of standing or rising was often associated with taking action, assuming responsibility, or preparing for a significant event. For example, standing could indicate readiness for battle, the beginning of a journey, or the assumption of a leadership role. The concept of “qum” also ties into the covenantal promises of God, where He “establishes” His word and fulfills His promises to His people.
In verse 6 we then read that Elijah “ate and drank, and lay down again,” The angel came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you,”’ this becomes Elijah being completely restored returning to life in the body of flesh as symbolic of resurrection. In the same way that after telling her to
rise – qum
to awaken, to raise up
Messiah told Jarius
“give her [his risen daughter] something to eat”
there is a need for spiritual food to feed the soul returned to the body of flesh. This is not a need for physical food, as resurrection from death is not simply about the physical flesh but for the soul to be strengthened.
To have our soul saved by the Lord of Heaven and Earth, we must die to self- all of our ego and self-will, and be reborn from above, in resurrection life having Messiah/Christ in us the hope of Glory.
Yeshua/Jesus then becomes the bread baked on coals and the jar of water that gives nourishment to our souls. Reminding us of John, where Yeshus/Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.” The bread of life is set by our head, when our heads have been emptied of self, and all ego is dead. If we don’t, then in a way we hang suspended between heaven and earth, trying to figure a way to save our own lives, which of course is an impossibility. Elijah shows us that the true goal should be to save our soul; and that means telling our Heavenly Father, “This is enough. Take my life.” Not to kill us physically but to finally and completely surrender all to Him!
When our Heavenly Father refreshes us, we can go for 40 days on the spiritual food bread and water. The bread of life – His Word, and the water of His Holy Spirit. 40 is symbolic of testing and trials both spiritual and physical 40 years in wilderness 40 days Jesus/Yeshua in the wilderness Moses etc., etc. In Him we will be sustained through every trial of life.
So repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins] and return [to God—seek His purpose for your life], so that your sins may be wiped away [blotted out, completely.
Acts 3:19
Elijah was restored and we know that
the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
He repented of his fear, he changed his mind and his way of thinking, he returned to the Lord and received his directions to go forward.
His life was not over, but he needed the Lord
to restore him
and energize him
and strengthen him
so he could continue to run his race,
and in his case he literally outran the horses.
There is supernatural strength available for us too. Philippians 4 13 comforts us that, in the inevitable challenges of human frailty, sickness, aging, and opposition, and all the fiery trials and furnaces of affliction; supernatural help lies readily available to those who cling to Messiah.
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
This scripture encapsulates the essence of strength in Christ, emphasizing that it is through His empowerment.
Supernatural strength is not bound by natural limitations, but by its very name, the supernatural overcomes the natural and puts the believer, His child, into the hands of a loving Heavenly Father.
Through a series of extraordinary events, Elijah’s faith and calling were renewed and through these strategic directions, God realigned and re-commissioned His prophet.
This is not just a story of personal struggle and divine revelation, but also a testament to the enduring power of faith; and of the human experience of seeking understanding in moments of despair and feelings of failure.
1 Kings 19:5-8, ESV
God actively displayed His tender concern and nourishment, both physically and emotionally, to Elijah in his time of deepest need.
This dramatic, divine intervention, highlights how God strengthens, nurtures and equips His faithful servants, ministering to them in their emotional and spiritual brokenness.
Meanwhile, Elisha’s instant obedience after instruction, highlights his readiness to answer God’s call. This transition reveals God’s wisdom and attention to details and his organization of all things in arranging the next phase of His work through Elijah.
Original Word: נָבַט Transliteration: nabat Pronunciation: naw-BAHT Phonetic Spelling: naw-bat’ Definition: To look, regard, behold, consider Meaning: to scan, look intently at, to regard consider (2), depend (1), depended (1), gaze (1), gazed (1), look (34), look down (2), looked (11), looks (4), observe (1), observed (1), pay attention (1), regard (2), see (3).
Corresponding Greek – G991 (βλέπω, blepō) – to see, to look at
– G3708 (ὁράω, horaō) – to see, to perceive
The Hebrew verb “nabat” primarily means to look or gaze intently, often with a sense of consideration or contemplation. It can imply looking with favor, attention, or discernment. The term is used in various contexts, including God looking upon His creation, people looking to God for help, or individuals regarding one another with specific intentions.
In ancient Hebrew culture, sight and vision were often associated with understanding and perception. To “look” or “behold” was not merely a physical act but also carried connotations of insight and discernment. The act of looking could imply a deeper spiritual or emotional engagement, reflecting the importance of vision in both literal and metaphorical senses.
God has to lift us up and out of our depressive state and cause us to look down on our situations. We are seated with Him in the heavenly places and are to see things from His perspective.
Arise and eat was the command, these cakes were not ordinary cakes, they were as living coals of fire; Angels food, like the manna in the wilderness. Elijah was able to go 40 days and nights in the strength of those cakes. Isaiah was also touched with the living coal upon his lips which removed the sin the uncleanness from him. If we allow the living coals of the Fathers love to touch us and remove all uncleanness from our lives, we too can go in the strength of His love for many days. The Hebrew word for Gods’ strength is ko-akh
in the strength
בְּכֹ֣חַ
3581 bə·ḵō·aḥ
koach: Strength, power, might, ability, force
Original Word:כֹּחַ Transliteration:koach Pronunciation: koh-akh Phonetic Spelling: ko’-akh Definition:Strength, power, might, ability, force Meaning: vigor, a large lizard
Derived from an unused root meaning to be firm or vigorous, literal force in a good or bad sense or figurative capacity, means, produce; also from its hardiness, a large lizard its ability able to change and to accommodate surroundings as in chameleon, force, fruits, might, power, full strength, substance, wealth.
The Hebrew word “koach” primarily denotes physical strength or power, but it can also refer to mental or spiritual strength. It is used to describe the might of individuals, nations, and even God Himself. In the context of human ability, it often implies the capacity to perform tasks or achieve goals. When referring to God, it underscores His omnipotence and sovereign power over creation.
In ancient Israelite culture, strength and power were highly valued attributes, often associated with leadership and divine favor. Physical strength was essential for survival, warfare, and labor. The concept of “koach” also extended to the spiritual realm, where it was seen as a gift from God enabling individuals to fulfill their divine calling. The Israelites recognized that true strength came from God, Who empowered them to overcome their enemies and achieve victory.
We are to live and move and have our being in His/Gods’ strength. Ephesians 6:10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.
Because as Romans 8:35 states Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 9 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.…
Making a focal point of the tree as a source of comfort during his distress was symbolic of God’s provision and care. The tree of life representing Messiah to Whom we are grafted in and from where we receive our strength. God allowed Elijah to rest under the broom tree, giving the prophet much-needed strength before continuing his journey to Mount Horeb. 1 Kings 19:8–9.
This story is helpful to us to recognize where we have been and where we are going. Many make resolutions at the start of a new year deciding to make changes but rarely follow through, giving up after only a little while.
The angel said to Elijah,
the journey will be too great for thee.
This is so true for us, the journey through this life is too great for us in our own strength. If we try and make it through life in our own strength we won’t make it. If we try to make it to heaven our own way, we won’t make it either. We can pride ourselves on our independence but we are never, ever truly independent; even when we turn and run from God, even when we disobey God and are rebellious, He sends rain on the just and the unjust. He can give and He can remove, our health can be taken away in a heartbeat, our life can be snatched from the earth any second. We are in His hands and we need to remember we are never truly in control of anything. For the believer, we need spiritual meat and drink for the journey at hand, by reading our Bibles. We are what we eat, so eat the words of eternal life, they are what will sustain our life.
Job said, I have esteemed thy words more than my necessary food. Spiritual food is more important to us than physical food, and yet so often we will skip reading our Bible, we skip prayer, and fellowshipping with and worshipping our Savior. Even though this is what will get us through this life. The Bible says that Elijah went in the strength of the food that the angel gave him for 40 days and 40 nights to Mount Horeb. God’s word is God’s power, the power is in His Word. For us the power is in our faith in His Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The Word of God is our food. When Elijah reached Mount Horeb he saw that God was in control and that’s where we must arrive at also.
In this account of the prophet Elijah, it revealed his moments of vulnerability and divine encounters. In the middle of great challenges, he experienced a profound personal crisis, and even questioned his mission, purpose and calling.
Even though the circumstances of life may seem beyond repair and completely overwhelming, be encouraged that no matter what problem you are in, no matter what life has thrown at you, you can have the peace, the true shalom of God in your heart. Things can seem desperate, hopeless, out of control, but if you turn your eyes to Jesus/Yeshua, if you simply believe and trust Him, if you will cry out and lean on Him and not your own understanding, there will be a great calm in your life.
Psalm 34, “The angel of Yahweh encompasses those who fear him, and he will deliver them.”
“Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Arise and eat – He is our meat and drink.
The Juniper tree is there for a reason and a season but we are not to stay under it forever.
Once we have recognized where we are and change our focus off of ourselves, have received the refreshing of the Lord and have clear direction of where we are to go. Then we choose to keep our eyes on Yeshua/Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.He will perfect that which concerns us and strengthen us to run our race and complete our task to His glory. Don’t give up family, we are so close to that finish line and the victors crown of eternal life.
Shalom, shalom mishpachah/family
and cheverim/friends!
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.
Around this time of year we hear the Christmas story with all the familiar elements that make up our traditional scene.
We have no doubt heard it since childhood and because we have become so used to its retelling, we may never really stop to think about it or ponder on some obvious questions; and if we do have questions, we’ve probably just put them out of our minds.
Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.”
Shepherds – רָעַוָתָא Ra’ata Resh, Ayin Vav Taw Aleph
These questions could be:
Why was the night watch so important that the Bible made sure to mention it?
When did the shepherds sleep if they stayed up all night watching their sheep?
More significant ones are: Why did the angels appear to this particular group of shepherds
and
why to shepherds in the first place?
Why were there a group of shepherds, didn’t shepherds work alone?
Some answers have been offered such as:
they watched by night during certain times of the year.
Shepherds often let their sheep graze together, which apparently is not true.
The often given explanation as to why God chose to reveal the birth of His Son to shepherds, is because shepherds were the lowest class of people, sometimes criminals and outcasts; being that they were filthy, dirty scum of the earth types.
This doesn’t sit well if we are to remember that Yeshua/Jesus called Himself the shepherd of the sheep and if that is a true description, why would we want to call Yeshua/Jesus our shepherd, or our pastor our shepherd?
The reasoning behind the description of shepherds as scum of the earth, is possibly because of their job. They were always ‘ceremonially unclean’, and were therefore not permitted to participate in the Temple proceedings, etc. It does seem ironic, that the ones who cared for the sacrificial lambs were not allowed in. However, they had the honor to be the first to see our Heavenly Fathers’ perfect sacrificial Lamb.
Messiah Jesus/Yeshua had two roles to fulfill :
First as the suffering Servant/Lamb of God and
Second as the victorious King.
The shepherds saw Him as the sinless Lamb of God and later
the wise men saw him as King of Kings;
both of His roles were seen and declared.
Matthew2:11shows that Jesus/Yeshua was in Bethlehem when the Wise Men visited Him, He was in a house and is described as a child, rather than a baby who was just born.
Shepherds were not considered the scum of the earth in Middle Eastern culture. Often a shepherd was a young teenager, usually the youngest of the family who was given the responsibility of keeping watch over the family’s prized possessions. Large herds equalled wealth in those days. Many great men of God are recorded as starting out as shepherds, just as David was in 1Sam. 17:34. But David persisted. I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats.
If there was no son were available sometimes a daughter would be given the responsibility, (Rachel watering her fathers flocks); and if not, an honest reliable outsider would be hired. By studying ancient cultures it seems clear that being a shepherd was a well-respected profession. So the thinking that our Father sent His angels to announce the birth of His Son to the lowest men in society just doesn’t seem right?
In biblical narratives, shepherds hold a distinguished symbolic significance, epitomizing virtues such as leadership, care, and divine guidance. The role of shepherds is exemplified in the story of King David, who transitions from a shepherd boy to the king of Israel.
His shepherding background symbolizes his capability for leadership and his role as a protector and provider for his people. Similarly, the shepherds who were among the first to witness the birth of Yeshua/Jesus highlight themes of humility and the inclusion of all societal layers in significant religious events.
These portrayals affirm the shepherds’ intrinsic worth and moral integrity, positioning them as key figures in the manifestation of divine plans.
Despite their positive portrayal in scripture, shepherds are subject to negative societal attitudes. Historically, shepherds were marginalized and considered unclean due to their constant contact with animals and the nomadic nature of their work, which kept them at the fringes of settled society. This attitude presents a stark contrast to their exalted biblical roles.
This is a profound paradox: while scripture lifts up shepherds, society devalues them, pointing to a significant difference between spiritual values and what is normal in society. In turn, this serves to increase the message in scripture of humility and divine favor, which exceeds any prejudices or social status.
Genesis 48:15 HEB: וְיִצְחָ֔ק הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ הָרֹעֶ֣ה אֹתִ֔י מֵעוֹדִ֖י NAS: The God who has been my shepherd all KJV: the God which fed me all my life long INT:and Isaac the God has been my shepherd my life against
The word shepherd that is used in this passage in Luke 2:8, is the Greek wordpoimeneswhich means:
to feed or to protect.
It is also a word for pastures
as that is where the shepherd feeds his sheep.
The Latin word for shepherd is pastor
as in pasture
where we get the idea that:
our pastor is our shepherd whose job it is to spiritually feed his flock/congregation.
Luke 2:8N-NMP GRK: Καὶ ποιμένες ἦσαν ἐν NAS: region there were [some] shepherds staying out in the fields KJV:country shepherds abiding in the field, INT:And shepherds were in
Luke 2:15N-NMP GRK: ἄγγελοι οἱ ποιμένες ἐλάλουν πρὸς NAS:from them into heaven, the shepherds [began] saying INT:angels the shepherds said to
7462 Strong’s Lexicon
ra’ah: To shepherd, to tend, to pasture, to feed
Original Word: רָעָה
Transliteration: ra`ah
Pronunciation: rah-AH
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-aw’)
Definition: To shepherd, to tend, to pasture, to feed
Meaning: to tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with
Corresponding Greek – G4165
(ποιμαίνω, poimainō): To shepherd, to tend
– G4166 (ποιμήν, poimēn): Shepherd
The Hebrew verb “ra’ah” primarily means:
“to shepherd” or “to tend.”
It is used in the context of caring for and guiding sheep, which involves leading them to pasture, protecting them from harm, and ensuring their well-being. This term is often used metaphorically in scripture to describe leadership, guidance, and care, particularly in a spiritual or community context.
In ancient Israel, shepherding was a common occupation and an essential part of the agrarian lifestyle. Shepherds were responsible for the welfare of their flocks, which were vital for providing wool, milk, and meat. The imagery of shepherding is deeply embedded in the cultural and religious life of Israel, symbolizing leadership, provision, and protection. This metaphor is frequently applied to God as the divine Shepherd of Israel and to leaders who are expected to care for their people as a shepherd cares for his sheep.
To answer the meaning of good shepherds we recall Messiah called Himself the Good Shepherd
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15
and Psalm 23The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…..
is possibly the most well known of all Psalms and in it we find some answers:
For both animal shepherds and Messiah as our Good Shepherd, a good shepherd provides rest and nourishment, leading his flock to green pastures and still waters; which symbolizes a place of abundance and provision where we find spiritual sustenance.
The good experienced shepherd guides his flock to still waters, signifying his role in leading us to a place of peace and safety, true shalom. We all need times of spiritual refreshment and tranquillity under the care of the watchful guard.
The presence of the Good Shepherd brings peaceful assurance, joy and contentment. In the same way that sheep rest in the presence of their shepherd, we find that serene calm and security in Messiah, and are able to find His direction for our lives trusting in Him. He will never lead us into danger and we are not to fear for He knows the way we will take.
The Good Shepherd guides us along the right or righteous path, which reflects our Heavenly Fathers’ character and faithfulness. Righteousness, can only be found through Messiah by aligning ourselves with Him and ultimately experiencing His shalom peace that passes all understanding.
Why was the birth of Messiah revealed to shepherds and to these shepherds in particular and why were they grouped together?
The answer to that may be in the Jewish Talmud.
Talmud and Midrash, a commentary and interpretative writings that hold a place in the Jewish religious tradition second only to the Bible (Old Testament).The Hebrew term Talmud (“study” or “learning”) commonly refers to a compilation of ancient teachings regarded as sacred and normative by Jews from the time it was compiled until modern times.
It is recorded that the lambs/sheep which were to be used for the daily sacrifice in the temple were to be fed in the pastures in Bethlehem.
These particular pastures were owned by the temple specifically for the raising of the yearling lambs.
The seh or sacrificial lambs.
Seh is the word most often associated with lambs that were used in the ancient Hebrew system of sacrifice and atonement (see Exodus 34:19-20, Leviticus 5, Leviticus 12
Recalling Abrahams directive for the sacrifice, slain in ceremony of ratification of covenant between the Lord God & Abraham in Genesis 15:9……. here is something interesting.
When the male lamb is just part of the flock it is called SEH,
but when it is set apart for sacrifice (as a male lamb)
it then “graduates” to the word AYIL.
We also have to remember that God Himself never said on that particular day He would provide anything, let alone a lamb. In Genesis 22:8 Avraham replied, “God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son”; and they both went on together. Abraham and Isaac said it! Abraham trusted YHWH to provide a sacrifice, which is we need to focus on.
These sheep in the Bethlehem fields/pasture had a team of shepherds not just one, looking after them, and they were most likely from the priestly tribe of Levi, providing watches around the clock.
These shepherds were not wandering nomads and were not fast asleep on the ground, the scripture clearly says they were watching their sheep by night. The lyrics to some of the songs we sing are often artistic license and not based in facts, so we get a wrong picture of true events.
There were four night watches where the shepherds worked in shifts; the evening watch: 9 pm. to midnight, the midnight watch: 12 – 3 am., the cock crowing watch: 3am. – 6am. and the morning watch: 6am -9am. .
Note the name of the 3rd watch – the cock crowing watch, when Messiah said to Peter before the cock crows ,or the cock crowing watch, not when a rooster calls!
5422 phulassó: To guard, to keep, to watch over, to protect, to observe
Original Word: φυλάσσω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phulassó Pronunciation: foo-las’-so Phonetic Spelling: (foo-las’-so) Definition: To guard, to keep, to watch over, to protect, to observe Meaning: (a) I guard, protect; mid: I am on my guard, (b) act. and mid. of customs and regulations: I keep, observe.
Derived from the Greek word φύλαξ (phulax), meaning “a guard” or “watchman.”
phulaké: Guard, watch, prison, custody
Original Word: φυλακή Transliteration: phulaké Pronunciation: foo-lak-ay’ Phonetic Spelling: (foo-lak-ay’) Definition: Guard, watch, prison, custody Meaning: a watching, keeping guard; a guard, prison; imprisonment.
Derived from the Greek verb φυλάσσω (phulassō),
meaning “to guard” or “to watch.”
H4929 מִשְׁמָר (mishmar): Guard, watch, prisonThe Greek word “phulaké” primarily refers to a place of guarding or confinement, such as a prison or a watch post. It can also denote the act of keeping watch or being on guard. In the New Testament, it is used both literally, to describe physical imprisonment or custody, and metaphorically, to describe spiritual vigilance or the act of keeping watch.
The shepherds in Bethlehem who were guarding and not just simply watching, these sacrificial lambs 24 hours a day; and when not on their watch, they slept in guard houses built for that purpose called Migdal ‘Eder.
Below are pictures of these migdal eders, agricultural watchtowers, some photographed in the last century (ca. 1900-1920). Note the stair on the near side with a seated man near the top, the brush covered turret, and the arched doors leading into enclosed rooms beneath where they would have cared for the new born lambs.
The Hebrew caption (top right) suggests, “A Watchtower from the hills of Samaria.”
Migdal ‘Eder
is a transliteration of the Semitic phrase for
“fort of the flock.”
Such forts or towers are found in the biblical text.
A migdol –
possibly from the Akkadian madgaltu,
watchtower or border post;
offers a place of refuge, safety, and a vantage point. Remains of these dry-stacked stone structures may still be seen in rural Israel. Local Arab speakers call them qusoor or palaces. They often appear as rock piles in terraced fields, but nowhere as numerous as in the hills around Bethlehem. Interesting that if Messiah was born in a Migdal Eder it is also called a palace! A perfect place for a King!
Below are some plans and elevations of tower types in the area immediately west of Bethlehem.
A sacrificial lamb had to be without spot or blemish so they required extra special care and only the very best shepherds were chosen to watch/guard them.
In the Peshitta, the Aramaic word for
shepherd is ra’a.
This comes from a Semitic root and it expresses:
the idea of a deep passion.
These are the
good shepherds
the ones who feel such passion for their sheep and their duty to watch and guard
these sheep
that they would literally
lay down their lives for these sheep.
Yeshua/Jesus as the good shepherd
was and is a ra’a.
Why did the angels appear to them around the midnight watch between 12 and 3am. which is known as the most difficult watch, during these hours it is the hardest to stay awake? Today in modern terms its known as the graveyard watch. There is an ancient Hebrew tradition that the Messiah would come at midnight. If they were from the tribe of Levi, this they would have been aware of; and with that in mind it’s also a possibility that Messiah was born at midnight. It is quite possible that Mary and Joseph passed by these fields in Bethlehem.
We have to look at the fact here that for these dedicated ra’a shepherds, to decide to leave their seh – sacrificial lambs, they must have been convinced that they were going to worship the true ra’a shepherd and seh – sacrificial lamb. Could it mean that they realized that there was no longer a need for those seh – sacrificial lambs because the real life long awaited seh – sacrificial lamb had come and their job was no longer needed?
Micah 4:8 tells us exactly where He would be born. It was in
“the tower of the flock”.
This was a stone tower about 3 stories high, the ground floor was a birthing room which was safe from weather and predators, This area was always kept ritually clean and set aside just for the birthing of the lambs.
Literally thousands of lambs were born swaddled and cared for the same way before they were inspected to check for perfection, just as Messiah Himself would be examined before His sacrificial death. Our Heavenly Father gave us many prophetic pictures of what, how and where His son would be born, so it would seem that Micah prophecy came to pass, He was born in the
tower of the flock, Migdal Eder.
מִגְדַּל־עֵ֫דֶר, mig-dal-e-der;
There is one more thing that may be true, let the reader decide, Why did the angels made reference to the swaddling of Yeshua/Jesus? New born babies were washed and salted and swaddled and these new born lambs were swaddled. They used the strips of cloth from the priests garments which were regularly replaced because they were stained with the blood from the sacrificial lambs; cloth was expensive in those days, so they were repurposed for the sacrificial lambs. These may have been the strips of swaddling clothes that Jesus/Yeshua was wrapped in and probably the only human baby to have that done to Him it would certainly explain why it was a SIGN to them that He was the prophesied Savior. Strips from the priests blood stained garments who made the sacrifices for sin, swaddled the Messiah who came to shed His blood as the perfect atonement sacrifice for sin, for all mankind, for all time.
Original Word: εὐαγγελιστής Transliteration: euaggelistés Pronunciation: yoo-ang-ghel-is-TACE Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’) Definition: Evangelist Meaning: an evangelist, a missionary, bearer of good tidings.
Derived from the Greek word
εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelion),
meaning “good news” or “gospel.”
While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for
“evangelist,”
the concept of proclaiming good news
is present in the Hebrew Scriptures,
such as in the role of a
“messenger” (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh) or “herald” (מְבַשֵּׂר, mevaser).
The term “euaggelistés” refers to a proclaimer of the gospel, one who announces the good news of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, an evangelist is someone who is specifically gifted and called to spread the message of salvation through Christ. This role is distinct from that of apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers, though it shares the common goal of edifying the body of Christ and expanding the Kingdom of God.
STRONGS NT 2099: εὐαγγελιστής
εὐαγγελιστής, εὐαγγελιστοῦ, ὁ (εὐαγγελίζω),
a Biblical and ecclesiastical word,
a bringer of good tidings,
an evangelist(Vulg.evangelista).
This name is given in the N. T. to those
heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles:
Evangelists are proclaimers of the Good News they are those who impart an effective witness for King Messiah, so that people turn from sin and accept Gods forgiveness through His Messiah.
As we have seen the lambs that were sacrificed in the Temple, were raised in close proximity to Jerusalem, in a Little Town called Bethlehem. The very same place where Messiah, the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world was born.
The bible records in Luke 2 that… “While shepherds watched their flocks by night . . . ” Not just any shepherd’s or any flocks, but the lambs destined to be offered up in the Temple of Jerusalem as sacrifices, atonement, for the sins of the people.
That’s why the first ones to witness the birth of Yeshua/Jesus were the shepherds, because when a sacrificial lamb is born, the shepherds attend its birth. Not just any shepherd’s, but the shepherds of Bethlehem, the shepherds appointed to attended the birth of the sacrificial lambs. So the Lamb of God was born among the sacrificial lambs for the same reason, to be sacrificed in Jerusalem.
The plan of God was there from the beginning, and the Prophet Micah foretold His birth place centuries before. The entire purpose of His life was a sacrificial gift of love for all mankind. His entire life, even from the moment of His birth, was orchestrated to reflect His love for the world. Yeshua/Jesus’s entire life was a living sacrifice, every moment a gift given, the incarnation of true love.
Messiah came at a time when the Temple was still standing, when the priesthood of Israel was still in effect. The sons of Aaron had charge over the sacrifices and confirmed that each sacrifice was spotless and without blemish so it would follow that these shepherds were part of the tribe of the levitical priesthood assigned to the raising of the sacrificial lambs.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child…
So it seems that the sons of Aaron had charge over the sacrifices and confirmed that each sacrifice was spotless and without blemish. However, shouldn’t there have been some connection, some recognition given by the priests, of Yeshua/Jesus being the final and ultimate sacrifice?
There was, born to the cohanim, to the house of Aaron, a child who was not only a priest, but one descended from Aaron on both his father’s and mother’s line, a pure-blooded priest. The child was given the name Yochanan. We know him as John the Baptist. It was John who presented the Lamb, Yeshua/Jesus the Messiah, the final sacrifice, to Israel. It was the cohanim who identified the sacrifice and certified that it was acceptable to be sacrificed. Thirty years later it was Yochanan, John, His cousin, who first identified Yeshua/Jesus as the acceptable sacrifice, the sacrificial Lamb. It was John who declared the prophetic fulfillment, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
So it would seem from the scriptures that the
first non human evangelists were the angels
and the
first human evangelists were these shepherds,
the very ones whose responsibility was to care for protect and make ready the lambs for the Temple sacrifices.
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.
Hanukkah/Channukah is not as many may think of it as the Jewish Christmas, but rather a celebration in remembrance of the rededication of the temple.
Below are links to several posts from previous years describing its origins and meaning to us today and explaining things such as: there are 9 candles on the hanukkah menorah, not 7…
the light of the world that was shrouded in darkness.
Today with the Light of His indwelling Holy Spirit
we are the light of His truth
to a world which is still being influenced by the darkness
from an unseen realm.
During this Christmas/Chanukah Season, and always, may the LORD God of Israel/Yisrael help us walk in the unforgettable and irrepressible radiance of His glory. He came to us clothed in our humanity; as a baby He legally entered this realm. He came with one goal, to die, that by sacrificing His life for ours we may receive the ultimate ‘Chirstmas’ gift of forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life.
We are to shine our light pointing to the Redeemer and the One Who can shatter that darkness in our lives. He said in John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.
May the true shalom of our Heavenly Father and His Messiah overshadow all of us today and every day.
Don’t leave this page until you are certain in your heart that the Messiah Yeshua/Jesus is the Light of your world.
We all need to be born again from above by His Spirit of Holiness..His Mercy and Grace are what we need…for therein is His forgiveness.
“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see Light”
(Psalm 36:9)
Make certain 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 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 only begotten 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 and serve you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again from above 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 one who asked this question, 
Luke both say all 4.
It’s not every year 
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