This year, 22nd -30th April 2024 is the week of Passover/Pesach and Unleavened Bread/Chag Ha Mazot
This is the beginning of the Hebrew spiritual new year of 5784 which is the calendar set in by our Heavenly Father as given through Moses to the children of Israel.Ex. 6 and Lev. 23.
If you are new to the site there are several earlier posts giving details of the spring Appointed Times of the Lord. In Hebrew called The Moedim.
One of the highlights is the Pesach/Passover Seder. This is more than just delicious foods like matzah ball soup, fish and brisket. The main purpose is to retell the story of the Israelites redemption from the slavery of Egypt, this is done through the reading of the Haggadah; Hebrew for The Telling. This booklet gets its name from Exodus 13:8 where the Israelites are exhorted to“tell” their children about God and His works.
Part of the seder included in the Haggadah is asking what is termed:
The Four Questions – Mah Nishtanah מה נשתנה .
Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot.
(Pronounced: Mah Nishtanah Ha-lailah ha-zeh mee-kol ha-leilot.)
Mah Nishtanah – are the first two words in a phrase meaning:
‘Why is tonight different from all other nights?’
It is usually asked by the youngest guest at the gathering. This question may have been asked by John at the meal shared with Jesus/Yeshua and the other disciples. Then the seder leader replies by asking what differences they notice, there are variations on the questions; however, the youngest person then replies that there are four ways in which they notice a difference about this night of Pesach/Passover:
First Difference:
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?
On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, while on this night we eat only matzah.
This is because they left Egypt in haste and their dough/bread did not have time to rise, and as they carried it on their backs it became flat and baked hard in the sun.
Second Difference:
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs.
This is as a means of recalling the bitterness of bondage and slavery in Egypt.
Third Difference:
She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?
On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice.
The first dipping is into the dish with salt water to remind them of the bitter sadness and salty tears that were shed during their years in bondage to the Egyptians.
The second dipping is in the cheroset, the mixture of sweet fruit and nuts. This reminds them to rejoice in that the sweetness of their freedom came from their miraculous deliverance from slavery by Gods’ intervention.
On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining.
The fourth “question” refers to the ancient custom of eating while reclining on one elbow. It symbolizes the concept of freedom and refers to the idea that Jews would be able to have a celebratory meal while relaxing together and enjoying each others’ company. This question became part of The Four Questions after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Originally the fourth question, mentioned in the Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 10:4) was: “On all other nights we eat meat which has been roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night we eat only roasted meat.”
This original fourth question referred to the practice of sacrificing the Paschal/Passover lamb at the Temple, a practice that ceased after the Temple’s destruction. Once the sacrificial system was abandoned, the rabbis replaced the fourth question with one about reclining during the Passover seder.They also added the roasted egg as a reminder of the roasted meat they could no longer enjoy as there was no longer a Temple in Jerusalem.
Another interesting part of the traditional readings included in the Haggadah includes the parable of the four sons and/or daughters, who have differing responses to the same story.
The questions are included in the Haggadah as part of the Maggid- מַגִּיד (Hebrew for narrate,) – which is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people and their relationship to the Word of God/Torah.
(A maggid, also spelled as magid, is a traditional Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories; a title most commonly held by preachers who flourished in Poland and Russia during the 17th and 18th centuries.)
The Four sons/daughters are typified from scripture as:
The Wise son,…
“When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and judgments (precepts) which the LORD our God has commanded you?”
Deut. 6:20
The Wicked/Rebellious son,
who says:
‘What do you mean by this service?’ Exod. 12:26.
The Simple son /The stupid son,
“saying
‘What is this?’
and
The One Who Doesn’t Know How to Ask.
A little more on each of the 4:
The wise child,
in Hebrew chakham,
is the one who wants to know the technical details; he/she inquires about why the Israelites/Jews practice the customs of Passover/Pesach. The seder leader describes this child as wise because he/she wants to know more about the traditions of their people. The seder is for him/her, a time of education and of historical importance, helping him/her to understand who he/she is and his/her heritage. Deut. 6:20.
The wise son, or daughter, reflects a verse in Deuteronomy, not Exodus. What does this child ask?
“What are the testimonies, statutes, and ordinances that Hashem our God has commanded you?” (Deut 6:20).
In response, says the Haggadah, the father is to instruct the child regarding the laws of Pesach/Passover, down to the final detail which is that: “After the Passover offering, no dessert is to be eaten.”
The wicked child, in Hebrew rasha, is the child who excludes themselves and learns the penalty for doing so. This child is rebellious and wants no part of the Peasch/Passover traditions; and asks why the Jewish people other than him/her practice the customs of Pesach/Passover. The seder leader responds by describing this child as wicked, since he/she thinks Passover/Pesach customs are meant to be observed by other Israelites but not him/her. He/she is rebellious and is uninterested in the family history and is disrespecting the parents, wanting the blessings, but not wanting to keep the commandments of Torah, this child is a hypocrite. The harsh response is an attempt to bring the child to repentance.
The wicked son speaks up in Exodus 12:26, asking:
“What is this service to you?”
When he says to you, the father is to answer,
“It is for this that Hashem acted for me when I came out of Egypt” Exod 13:8.
The Haggadah comments: “For me, but not for him. Had he been there he would not have been redeemed.” Perhaps the rebuke will bring this son to repentance.
The simple child, in Hebrew tam,
is one who needs to know just the basics; they are somewhat bewildered by the Pesach/Passover seder, its meaning, and its format and observances. The seder leader responds by explaining to him/her about Gods’ favor toward the Israelites during their time of slavery in Egypt and why it is very important to remember Gods’ salvation with humility and gratitude.
The simple son says only, “What is this?” and the answer is simple too: “By strength of hand did Hashem bring us out from Egypt, the house of bondage. Exodus 13:14. And for the son who doesn’t know how to ask, the father initiates his instruction, as it is written, “And you shall relate to your son that day, saying ‘It is because of this that Hashem acted for me when I came out of Egypt’” Ex. 13:8.
Then the fourth son/daughter
who is the child who is unable to ask, the one who doesn’t even know enough to know what he/she needs to know or ask. In Hebrew Avudraham. This child, the – she’eilo yodea lishol, is simply told about the Passover/Pesach story in accordance with the biblical command given in Exodus 1:8 and thou shalt tell thy son….forth out of Egypt. Exod 13:8.
The story of the 4 sons/daughters is intended to commend the wise child and to encourage us to remember the Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish beginnings, the genesis of our faith. We are to study Torah and all the old Testament and respect the Hebrew/Jewish/Israelite way of life; for if we neglect this, we have failed in our responsibility to our heritage.
The children are listed in order of their intellectual capacities:
The wise child, understands the importance of their heritage and sees it as a means of preserving the knowledge of the Lord God of Israel for posterity and future generations.
the wicked child, who is also wise but whose insolence leads them to be rebellious and act wickedly;
the simple child, who has at least enough intelligence to ask; and finally
the one who does not know how to ask (Avudraham).
The Four Children: Wise, Rebellious, Simple, and Quiet
Modern day educators understand that children are individuals and learn differently from each other. In order to teach effectively, a teacher must figure out what the student wants to learn, how they learn best, where they are at emotionally, and adjust their instruction accordingly.
The educators (rabbis) in the Mishnaic period, who lived about 2,000 years ago, also understood this. Here’s what they had to say about teaching children at the seder:
The wise child asks a very detailed question. This child seems to want to know everything there is to know about the Passover seder.
The Haggadah advises the parent to answer the wise child with lots of details about Passover. In answer to “the wise son’s question,” the father explains why we keep God’s commandments. Deut. 6:20–25.
Why are so many and varied mitzvot related to the Exodus? What is so significant about this historic incident that warrants its pervading every facet of daily life?
“You may not eat after partaking of the Paschal sacrifice.” Why?
Because it is the symbol of spiritual liberation.
The offering of the paschal lamb represents our rejection of paganism with all its inherent materialism and self-indulgence. Therefore, the taste of spiritual liberty must be allowed to linger, and we are to savor it as long as it can last. There are many pleasantries that initiate desires and tempt us, and we must be aware that pleasant-tasting foods might cover up the taste of our precious spiritual freedom, and therefore must be avoided. Physical pleasures may be so seductive that we are always at risk of sacrificing our spirituality for them. We so need to be constantly reminded of the teachings of the Exodus.
The authors of the Haggadah describe the rebellious child as someone who feels excluded or who excluded themselves. Some commentators note, though, that although this child feels like an outsider they are still sitting at the table. In answer to “the wicked son’s question,” the father explains why we offer the paschal sacrifice. Exod. 12:26–27. The rebellious person, however, does not ask in order to know; their mind is closed because they have already made their decisions. They prefer earthly pleasures to spiritual strivings, and their attitude is, Who needs all this ritual anyway? This can hardly be considered a question, but is rather a statement of defiance, disrespect and rebellion.
There is little value in trying to reason with a person like this, because they do not want to listen. So to this person the leader of a modern day Haggadah might say, “There were the likes of you in Egypt, who refused to follow Moses into the desert. There were also those who did leave with Moses but relapsed into paganism with the worship of the Golden Calf. And there were those who complained about the manna, saying, ‘We wish we were back in Egypt, when we had fish, onions, garlic, and melons’. Numbers 11:5. There were those who said, ‘Let us appoint a new leader and return to Egypt’ 14:4.“Had you been there, you might have grudgingly exited from Egypt along with everyone else, but you would have willingly traded the hard-won, precious liberty for physical indulgences. You are far more interested in feeding your stomach rather than nurturing your mind. Yes, you might have left Egypt, but you would not have been redeemed. You would have maintained a slave mentality well into the life of freedom.”
We should seek to liken ourselves to the wise person, who constantly seeks to gain knowledge, so that we may always progress in our walk, growing spiritually.
The simple child asks a simple question and receives a basic answer. Sometimes we are so excited about a topic that we give our children more information than they are ready for, or are interested in. The authors of the Haggadah are reminding us not to overwhelm our children with more information than they are ready for. In answer to “the simple/stupid child’s question,” the father explains why firstborn animals are offered to God. Exod. 13:14–15.
In contrast to the wise child — who understands the value of spiritual freedom and therefore their only question is “in what way is the Exodus related to so many varied mitzvot?” — the simple child is overwhelmed by all the ritual of Passover. They do not reject it like the depraved/rebellious child, but in their bewilderment sincerely ask, “What is all this for?” and they deserve an answer.
The answer provided, that “God delivered us from the Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand,” refers not only to the coercion of Pharaoh, but to the fact that even many of the Israelites had to be coerced to leave Egypt. Scripture tells us that Moses had to convince the slaves that liberty was preferable to enslavement, and not all Israelites accepted his message. The Leader of the Haggadah would therefore explain to the simple child that even today there are many people who may adapt themselves to contentment, and whose primary goal in life is to be comfortable.
These people may reject the message of being set free from the bondage of the things that drive us physically; and that striving for spirituality, even though it may interfere with one’s comfort, is the primary goal that makes man worthy of being created in the Divine image. The simple child, because they are sufficiently aware to ask, may accept an answer and be willing to find out more about the spiritual life.
The quiet child doesn’t speak up or ask a question. Perhaps the child is too young to ask, is shy, or doesn’t have enough background knowledge to ask a question. Finally, the father explains to “the son who does not ask,” why we eat only matzot during the festival. Exod. 13:8. As for this child who is unable to ask, you must introduce the subject for them.
Perhaps the Haggadah deliberately provides caricatures of four types of children to teach us something about the care we must take when we answer questions. Each person at the seder is coming from a different place. This one is older and more experienced. That one has never been to seder before. That other one was sick and did not expect to make it to seder, but is there. That one never learned to read Hebrew, but knows French.
By telling us the story of the four children, each with a distinct question and each with a distinct answer, the Haggadah is telling us to accept each person where they are and to begin from there. The questions that are asked must be addressed, and the questions that are not asked must also be addressed.
Simple explanations encourage simple thinking; even simple questions often have complex answers, and ignorance is not the same as stupidity. And, always beginning the discussion for a child will prevent the child from learning how to ask. Too often, our categorizations of children become self-fulfilling prophesies, because of the power of our responses to influence future behavior.
There is a profound message here for our times. We are all confronted with people who scoff at the Torah, indeed the whole Bible. We often have to decide if and how to respond. The book of Proverbs teaches us that our primary responsibility is to improve the critic by our response. The central failure in the wicked child is their close-mindedness. The heart of rebellion is the utter foolishness to think that their understanding is perfect. Thus they are the complete opposite of the wise son who is wide open to the instruction of others.
Here as the Appointed week of Unleavened bread is still in progress, we should ask ourselves.
What sort of son/daughter are we?
What is wisdom and why is it important?
Each one of us contains aspects of each child; each one of us is sometimes wise and sometimes wicked, sometimes simple and sometimes silent. We are the four children. As such we ask questions and we provide answers, different answers for different needs.
Passover symbols point to a surprising and intriguing indication of God’s supernatural hand in developing Pesach/Passover observance through the ages.
The story of Passover/Pesach is a story of redemption; it is a story we are meant to make very personal to us. Looking at the ancient symbols of Passover/Pesach is an opportunity to experience the story of Messiah Jesus/Yeshua’s death, resurrection, and the promise of His return in light of the Hebrew Scriptures.
Shalom aleikhem
chaverim and mishpachah!
Peace to friends and family.
Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week.
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
Not sure ..you can be…
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.
If challenged, would we listen to scriptural truth or, would we defend our Christian culture and keep our traditions regardless? Messiah pointed out the same issue to the religious leaders of His day. The Pharisees and Scribes declared that their old ways were good enough.
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.
Mark 7:7 8
Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Matthew 15:10
Messiah called the crowd to Him and said,
“Listen and understand.”
Matthew 15:9
Genuine faith is founded on the Scriptures; but Satan uses so many devices to twist the Word of God and introduce error.
If we are to know what they really do teach great care is needed as we study.
One of the great distractions for us is focusing too much on how we are feeling, and claiming our honesty while at the same time ignoring the simple truths of the Word of God because it doesn’t agree with how we are feeling. It is a sad truth that many folks have no solid foundation for their faith, as it is only rooted in feelings and emotions. Their experiences are carnal/feeling/emotional, based in external elements that cause excitement; but when that is gone, so is their faith.
Feelings are like chaff, however the word of God is the wheat. And “what,” says the prophet, “is the chaff to the wheat?”
Thus saith the LORD, “I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in My Name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed’. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yes, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; which think to cause My people to forget My Name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers have forgotten My Name for Baal.
The prophet that has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully/truthfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD…
Behold, I am against the prophets that use their tongues, and say, ‘He saith’. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I have not sent them, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 23:25-32
The deceivers are here – the chaff to the wheat. Chaffis separated from wheat/grain during threshing.
This expression became a metaphor in the Bible to represent separating wickedness or false doctrines from the truth.Chaffis figuratively used to stand for worthless matters. Matthew 3:12
It is not hard to utter words of worship or assume the attitude of worship; but “whatisthechafftothewheat?”The Father’s eye is upon the worshipper’s heart. His ear listens to the language of the soul. Put off, spiritually, the shoes from off your feet. Gird up the loins of your minds.
There are those who love and follow their own tradition rather than the Word of God; and when they do, their worship and service is vain. Vain in both senses of the word… because it is both prideful and presumptuous; and because it is empty when they invent religions that have no substance.
Those who think they should replace God’s Word with their own traditions are in the grip of vanity and pride.
1Corinthians 1:18-31.
Isaiah 29:13. “…these people draw near to me with their mouths, and honour me with their lips, yet have removed their hearts far from me. Moreover, their worship toward me is the doctrines of men.”
Paying lip-service means: saying YES, with our mouth butsaying NO in our heart and by our actions. It’s honoring our Heavenly Father with our lips when our heart is far from Him.
The secret of true worship is that we “worship in spirit and in truth” John 4:24. Not only must the things we say and feel be true, but they must both come from and be the prime love of our spirits, our heart’s deepest desire. It’s a sad fact that many worship with ulterior motives, the desires of their hearts are far from our Heavenly Father. For example…
Matthew 6:2-7, 16-18
tells us that some seek their own glory and praise and some seek wealth and earthly prosperity.
They seem to be serving God, but they do so because they think God will make them rich on earth. This is not the life of true discipleship.Matthew 6:19-24
Some love and follow traditions they have invented, rather than the Scriptures.This is what Messiah Jesus was referring to quoting Isaiah, “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men”Matthew 15:7-9.
We worship in vain when our hearts are centered on things mentioned above, because our hearts are far from Him.
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough ”” Luke 5:33–39.
“And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better” Luke 5:39.
This passage is sometimes taught out of context; however it takes a new meaning when reading it in the context of what Messiah was saying. We may have heard it said, that we need to become new wineskins to receive the new wine, but was this what Messiah Jesus was talking about? The situation at the time was that He was being confronted by some of the religious leaders who were demanding that His disciples/talmidim, should follow the traditions of the elders, and the times of fasting that were established by them.
The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men’” (Mark 7:1–7)
The religious leaders were adding new practices and new fasts, in an attempt to bring about revival, but Jesus/Yeshua objective was to bring revival by leading the people back to the teaching of the Scriptures and by showing them how to apply it to their lives in order to live righteously before the Father. Was He comparing the Scriptures to the old wine, and the new practices along with the traditions of the elders to the new wine?
“And they said to Him, “The disciples of John often fast and offer prayers, the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same, but Yours eat and drink.” And Jesus said to them, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? “But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”
And He was also telling them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. “But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. “And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, ‘The old is good enough ”” Luke 5:33–39.
Is it true to say then, that Yeshua/Jesus was not trying to get people to accept the new wine? He said, And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new the old wine is good enough. Is the new wine people’s traditions and religious practices that have no foundation in the Scriptures?
He came to fulfill the Scriptures – not to replace them. He was trying to get them to return to only what was in Scripture and by expounding on them through His teaching, He was showing them how to live by His Fathers Word and this new wine.. together BOTH are preserved.
“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” Ephesians 4:14, NLT
Are we also too comfortable with cultural doctrines and traditions and what we know and are used to, and reluctant to change?
It may be that we should never under-estimate the power of individuals saying, “but we’ve never done it that way,” and then observe them digging in their heels over a tradition, until the doors close in their assembly, church or school.
Would we be pharisaical in our objections to revealed truth of Gods Word as declared in Scripture?
Would we continue to repeat what we think scripture says rather than being certain what it actually does say? And isn’t that then an untruth – a lie?
How many of us could tell the so called Christmas/Nativity story in complete accuracy; or are we simply repeating what we have heard probably since childhood? Have our traditions, the traditions of men and doctrines of demons, made the Word of God of no effect literally changing the truth of God for a lie?
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
That means if we misquote scripture and both believe and declare what we think is true… we are reprobate?
How many things do we choose to believe because someone told us, or we read it somewhere (here included), and just accept it without checking it out for ourselves to see if it indeed is the truth?
And this doesn’t mean google it! Google has seemingly replaced Fathers Spirit of Holiness as our Teacher. We are often so impatient we cant wait because we want instant gratification. Scripture says to study to show ourselves approved unto God. 2Tim.2:15. How many people truly study His Word? Is study such a undesirable concept that we recoil from it with some kind of allergic aversion? Yet we will spend time reading/listening/watching other material and much of it is from ungodly sources.
We are encouraged to search all the scriptures like the noted Bereans in Acts 17:10-11, who were commended for their actions. So many of the traditions of men have become doctrinal dogma, and it appears we will defend them with a vigorous aggression which is most un-Christ-like.
Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, charges the Pharisees, Scribes and leaders with false doctrines making Gods’ Word redundant in favor of their rules and regulations and by making laws that added to the perfect Law of God.
Paul told the people, I see perceive that you are very religious, superstitious and reverent to demons! So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus [Mars Hill meeting place], said: Men of Athens, I perceive in every way [on every hand and with every turn I make] that you are most religious or very reverent to demons. Acts 17:22.
There are so many obvious traditions of men that are prominent around the Christmas/New Year holiday time. Many have their roots in paganism, tales, fables and legends from cultures around the world.
Our tendency is to pick up on traditions because we like them and they are fun believing they are scriptural when there is absolutely no scriptural basis at all. We have a responsibility to search the scriptures for even our most cherished traditions and resist turning them into dogma if they are not in the Bible.
Some examples that may shock us are contained in the carols, hymns and songs about the nativity we all hear at this time of year!
No where in the scripture does it say that angels sing! They are either saying, shouting, speaking, talking but never singing! We have absorbed the idea of angels singing from all those Christmas hymns, songs and the scenes of nativity plays!
Hark the herald angels sing?
O come all ye faithful, etc. etc.
In Luke 2:13
It says Maleak amar = angels saying
mem lamed alef kap alef mem resh
Aramaic Bible in Plain English And suddenly, the great armies of Heaven appeared with the Angel, whileshouting praisesto God, and they were saying:
King James Bible And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hostpraising God, and saying,
In the Greek saying is: λεγόντων(legontōn) Verb – Present Participle Active – Genitive Masculine Plural Strong’s 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.
Legonton means:
to speak, say, tell, or command.
And if we accept and believe Luke was written in Aramaic, the word used here is: ‘Amar, which is also speaking or saying. It does not use the word Zamar or Shir which is singing or a cry giving praise,like: Holy, Holy, Holy.
Angels are created supernatural beings so it maybe fair to say they are not physically the same as us. It is curious that commentators don’t point out that angels never sing; but that’s probably because it’s so entwined in our Christian cultural beliefs, that they are reluctant to challenge the popular traditions.
Whatever we choose to believe will not change the truth!
In heaven they cry Holy but they do not sing.
Those around the throne sing, but they are not angels they are the different than the messenger angels like Michael, Gabriel and the Heavenly Host.
Revelation 14:3 The 144,000 people stood before the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders; they were singing a new song, which only they could learn. Of the whole human race they are the only ones who have been redeemed.
They sang AS IT WERE a new SONG before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth.
King James Bible – Revelation 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
This may throw some of us for a loop and hopefully compels the reader to study in order to seek truth!
There is much evidence that music is not always necessary to worship and praise our Heavenly Father. This is not condemning music in any way however historically it wasn’t really used by the ancient Hebrews; David introduced it, yet worship was entered into without music. The Psalms are the place we read of instruments and they were few and not the musical beats and rhythms we hear today. Some genres stir emotions and the result is no different to a worldly performance, whipping up a false feeling of Gods presence. We must be mindful of not bringing the worlds ways into our sanctuaries.
Historical facts show the early church would not even allow music until well into the 18th century and even then it was only singing the Psalms for this very reason. The closest the church came to music would be to chant and we see that in the Gregorian singing mostly in Latin. Angels don’t sing Let that be a lesson to us all, that many of our beloved traditions are just that, traditions and there is no Scriptural basis.
Worship comes from the heart and not a musical sound or beat.
What we choose to believe does not change truth and we should remain teachable and humble enough to allow our beliefs to be challenged. Because truth is unchangeable and if it withstands the scrutiny of study; the revealed word will confirm what the scriptures really tell us and not what misinterpretation, mistranslation, tradition, doctrine or dogma has told us. Only the truth will make us free. Why would we choose to hold onto a lie, a deception and something that’s not even real – just to protect our traditions?
Isn’t this adding to the Word that Messiah warns us of in Revelation 22:18,19? For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Ready for some more?
Surely we have lost count of the times we have heard the story but do we ever really stop to think…
Take another look at the story we are so familiar with:
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
5 to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child.
6 And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and SAYING,
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”
15 And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”
16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
18 And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Do we ever question the words in songs that are inconsistent with scriptures account? Maybe we can ascribe it to artistic license for the lyric writers; however over decades and centuries, these carols become gospel and not all of what we sing is truth. Do we want truth or tradition? Recalling Messiahs’ words to the religious leaders. So ask yourself these questions:
1 Why was the night watch so important that it was recorded in scripture?
2 When did the shepherds sleep if they stayed up all night watching their sheep?
3 Why did the angels appear to this specific group of shepherds?
4 Why to shepherds before anyone else?
5 Why was there a group of shepherds, didn’t they work alone?
Here are some facts from historical Jewish writings and Hebrew literature that helps to explain meanings and cultural content.
The Greek word for shepherd used in Luke 2:8 is:
Poimenes
which means:
to feed or to protect
It’s also a word for:
pasture,
as that is where the shepherd feeds his flock of 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 us. This is true as infants but we are all supposed to grow and learn to feed ourselves too.
Shepherds – RA’IA’
ר,עיא
Resh ayin yod alef
Luke 2:8 “And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.”
In Luke these shepherds were good shepherd because they were keeping watch over their flocks by night. Some also say ‘on a cold winters night’ but they would not have been outside if it was so cold? This is indeed something shepherds do but they do it in the spring when the new lambs are born…so this is probably not an accurate view and gives us a wrong seasonal image; we agree with it because December 25 was chosen and is traditional.
December 25th in 336, is the first recorded celebration of Christmas. and is is largely attributed to the first Christian historian, Sextus Julius Africanus, around 221 A.D.
In one view of why December25 was chosenas the official date for Christmas, historians believe the early church wanted to link the Son of God’s birth with the “rebirth of the sun,” which arrives after the winter equinox; which begs the question why some Christians started celebrating Jesus’ birth on Dec. 25. Ancient records indicate that a feast dedicated to Sol Invictus, a sun god, was held in the Roman…Most scholars would probably agree that this is unlikely to be earlier than AD 274, the year when [Emperor] Aurelian dedicated a new temple to Sol Invictus in Rome. The pagan festivities that revolved around December25 were so rooted in popular tradition that the Church of Rome thought to give that date a Christian religious meaning. For this, the Sun god was replaced by the true Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ, choosing this day as the date of His birth.
Shepherds were not poor as the song goes:
as to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay…
Often like David, the shepherd was a young teen age boy usually the youngest of the family charged with keeping watch over the families livestock. Having sheep was not a poor occupation as we may imagine. Sheep and lambs were symbols of wealth and used as barter. They were a valuable commodity, worth much in financial terms instead of hard cash coins. If there was no son, the family would hire an outsider that was trustworthy. Hence the parable of the son/shepherd and a hired hand, who may not be a faithful as a son would be.
Studying ancient times/cultures reveals that a shepherd was a well respected profession in those days and every mother dreamed that her son would become a shepherd. So the idea of God announcing His sons birth to poor lowly scum of the earth, is not accurate according to historical Hebrew/Israelite life.
Why reveal to shepherds and these particular ones; and why were they grouped together?
Documented writings in Hebrew literature reveal that the sheep which were to be used for the daily sacrifice in the Temple were to be fed in the Bethlehem pastures!
These shepherds had charge of the most important sheep of all the sacrificial lambs!
These sheep were not entrusted to only one shepherd but to a team/group of shepherds; and most likely they were from the tribe of Levi.
The tribe from which the priests, the first born came.
They watched the sheep 24/7 and there were 4 distinct night shifts according the ancient clock called watches.
Evening watch
midnight watch
the cock crowing
and the morning watch.
The shepherds were not all laying on the ground fast asleep and only woke up when a great light shone on them. The Bible says clearly they were:
watching their sheep by night.
The Greek words here are:
phulassontes phuloakas
which literally means:
guarding in the guardhouses of the night.
The shepherds in Bethlehem who were guarding (not watching) these sacrificial lambs and did so 24/7 and slept in established guard houses when not working their shift/turn.
These pastures were specifically owned by the temple for the raising of the yearling ewe lambs. These were not nomadic ones who wandered all about looking for suitable grazing
A lamb raised for sacrifice had to be without blemish and without spot so they required extra special care and only the best of the best shepherds were chosen for this highly specialized task of guarding these little lambs.
In the Peshitta the Aramaic word for shepherd is Ra’a.
It comes from a Semitic root which expresses the idea of:
a deep passion.
These are the good shepherds who feel such passion for their sheep and their duty to guard these sheep that they would lay down their lives for these sheep: as we recall David did in defending his flock from lions and bears.
Messiah Jesus/Yeshua, as the Good Shepherd was a Ra’a! Yehoveh Ra ah the Lord our shepherd.
Puts a new light on the statement:John 10:11
I am the Good Shepherd …Who has such passion that I will give my life for my sheep.
And of coursePsalm. 23.
These angels appeared to the best of the best of those special Levite Priestly Shepherds.
Why were they so special?
Because they had the hardest most difficult watch which was the midnight to 3am watch.
There is an ancient belief for the Jewish people that their Messiah would come at 12midnight and if these shepherds were actually Levites they would have been anticipating the arrival of their Messiah at midnight.
Think about this…. for these special, faithful, dedicated – ra’a – shepherds, to up and leave their flock – the sacrificial lambs; and to abandon their responsibilities in the middle of the night. They had to have been convinced the angels were not only telling the truth, but that they were going to worship the true – ra’a – shepherd and sacrificial lamb; Who was probably delivered in the tower of the flock – the
Migdal Eder – מגדל עדר
Click link below for earlier post of the mysterious tower.
Did they realize that there was no longer any need for the sacrificial lambs because the true sacrificial lamb had arrived?
One final puzzle…
Tradition teaches that there was no room in the inn for Joseph and Mary and they had to settle for a stable, a cave, or a house where they put the new born Yeshua/Jesus in a feeding trough, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and this was to show His humble birth. Let’s look at what Scripture says:
Luke 2:7-8: “ And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (8) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Micah 4: 8. And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 16:3-4, “And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity [is] of the land of Canaan; thy father [was] an Amorite, and thy mother a Hittite. And [as for] thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple [thee]; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.”
Only Luke references Messiah being wrapped in
swaddling clothes.
It was a custom that eventually stopped in 26th century.
In Aramaic the term is
azrura which really means:
a bandage
used in Ezekiel 16; the Hebrew word for
bandage is: Chatal.
The practice of swaddling is very old and is believed to have originated around 4500 years ago in the bronze age circa 2600 B.C. Archeologists have found little sculptures of babies wrapped this way. After an infant was born the umbilical cord was cut and tied.
As there was no midwife as referred to in the days of Egypt the Hebrew midwives. Either Mary of Joseph would have had to do this. They would then sprinkle the baby with a powder made from dried myrtle leaves. Then they would gently rub the baby’s skin with a very small amount of salt that had been ground into a kid of mortar like paste. It was believed this would make the child’s flesh firm. For young Jewish parents, it represented a testimony that the parents would raise the child to be truthful and faithful.
The swaddling clothes was a yard of cloth, 1 meter approx., which had a narrow band attached at one corner.
The mother would wrap the child in this swaddle with its arms close to its body and its legs stretched out. She would then wind the narrow band around the body from the shoulders to the ankles until it looked like an Egyptian mummy. This would have been meant to assist the babys body grow firm and strong. To the Jewish parent it carried symbolic meaning, as most of Israelite customs do. This was a sign to the parents that they would teach the child to become honest, straightforward, and free from crookedness.
Why did Lukesay it not once, but twice, again in verse 12, if every child is wrapped in swaddling clothes just how were the shepherds to know the difference?
Some say that Luke mentioned this because he was a physician and was concerned for details. Luke was not like a physician or Doctor of todays standards and this thinking comes from Col. 4:14 calling him, the beloved physician.
The Greek word is IATROS most lexicons say
physician, ἰατρὸς(iatros) Noun – Nominative Masculine Singular Strong’s 2395: A physician. From iaomai; a physician.
Although the practice of medicine existed in 1s century, it was far from the skills, education and training of today. The Aramaic word used in Col 4:14is Assai which is really a healer. An assia is not a surgeon nor a dispenser of medicine as was practiced among the romans and Greeks. An assia was more of a chiropractor who adjusted joints and dislocated bones and would have practiced a form of holistic healing. This knowledge was handed down through families with no formal medical training nor did they depend upon the practice for a living. Which supports the fact that there were so many multitudes sick and in need of healing. So he probably didn’t mention swaddling from a professional point of view.
Isn’t it more likely he mentioned it from the point of a spiritual value as he would have been familiar withEzekiel 16:4 where the prophet refers to this custom in his prophecy? In Ezekiel 16 the prophet refers to this custom and is speaking out against the people of Jerusalem who were unfaithful to God and His commandments; and he uses the symbolic reference of washing salting and swaddling. The failure to perform this tradition was symbolic of disloyalty and unfaithfulness to God. The term swaddling clothes was to the semitic mind expressing the idea of loyalty and faithfulness to God; so maybe Luke was wanting to make sure that this child which was born, was not only the Son of the Most High, but a Son who would be loyal and faithful to His Heavenly Father. So loyal and faithful that He would lay down His life being as One with His Father – loyal unto death.
For the answer to how the shepherds knew where to look and why swaddling was a clue for them click link below
Choosing to ignore facts and instead keep our cultural Christian westernized ideals, that do not reflect the origins of our Jewish Hebrew, Israelite Messiah, whose Aramaic roots were chosen by our Heavenly Father. Or are we falling into the same thing He pointed out to the religious leaders, meaning we are content with the way we are and what we believe to be truth?
Truth or tradition – it’s our choice.
Truth is freedom – tradition is bondage.
As this Gregorian new year of 2023 begins, let us not have any idols before the Lord, nor any of mens’ traditions leading us and filling our calendars; but let’s wholeheartedly follow Him the true Good Shepherd and the Word made flesh and the whole of Scripture.
The 31st of December 2022 in Hebrew is the
7th day of Tevet, the year 5783 …
and His return is closer now than when we first believed!
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.
You must be logged in to post a comment.