Last week we discussed what it means to forgive and why forgiveness is important for both the sinner and the one sinned against. We saw how sin is a burden when one forgives that burden is lifted, carried, or taken away. This week we are looking at the phrase forgive and forget or as Yeshua said for us to “turn the other cheek”. The phrase “forgive and forget” is not found the Scriptures. The closest we come is when we are told that the Father...
Many of us are familiar with the mantra “forgive and forget”, but what does this mean? In a fallen world full of people who live in the flesh, it’s easy for us to offend or take offense whenever sin is involved. Yet Yeshua tells us that we are to forgive those who sin against us. Does forgiving someone mean to forget or ignore what happened? As followers of Yeshua, how does this work? What does it mean to “turn the other cheek”? We...
1 Samuel 16:7 …The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. Why does the Lord look at the heart? What should have been in the heart even here regarding King Saul? Deuteronomy 30:14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. From the very beginning, the Lord has desired obedience from the heart. This is why, in Mark 12:30, Christ quoted from Deuteronomy...
Exodus 15:11"Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? Psalm 65:8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy. Psalm 111:9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may...
A number of years ago Gary Chapman wrote a book with a lot of insights into men, women, and relationships. In his book, he describes 5 specific love languages of which every person functions in at least one of them. They are: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. What does it mean to have these love languages? It means that either through someone speaking words of affirmation to you, spending quality time with...
A New Command? Many say that Christ was giving His disciples a new command instead of simply expounding on an existing command for the first time when He said, John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” This is where Christ expounds on His...
In part 1 of “The Heart of Torah” (CLICK HERE to go back and read it) we discussed where our focus should be, and what happens when we lose that focus. This time, in part 2, we are going to discuss what the “The Heart of Torah” is and what it means to walk in it, or follow it. What Is the “Heart of Torah”?Yeshua spoke about the importance of the heart of Torah with His statements to the Pharisees regarding helping a neighbor’s donkey out of...
I was once having a conversation with the pastor of a church from mainstream Christianity. In his attempt to understand where I was coming from, or my perspective, he posed several questions to me: “Where is the focus of the Torah Keepers? Is it on considering precious and personal the whole Torah, or just an emphasis on the commands that they say are being broken.” And “Isn't the point of keeping Torah, to treasure and walk after His and mankind's whole life...
Part 5: Grace, Faith, & ...Righteousness? We know through faith we receive grace (Ephesians 2:8). We know righteousness is available to us through our belief in Christ because of His faith (Romans 3:22). We know when we sin, we are breaking the law of God and are not righteous (1 John 3:4, Deut. 6:25/Romans 2:13). We know when we sin we deserve death, but because of belief in who and what Christ is, we are saved from the penalty of eternal death (Romans...
Quite often, when we read of the new or renewed covenant we quickly turn to Jeremiah 31:31-33. But have we ever read the verses before verse 31? Jeremiah 31:29-30In those days they shall no longer say:The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. What does that mean? If we were to not give the matter much thought or context, we might...
As we near the end, false prophets are supposed to appear and take away God's law. Mat 24:11-12 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. The whole point of all of God's law is love, loving God, and loving others. When we abolish it (mostly because of Paul according to Peter - 2 Peter 3:15-17) it creates lawlessness. Even if we abolish just some of it, it creates problems. The less law there is, the less...
John 5:46 For if you BELIEVED MOSES, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. 47 But if YOU DO NOT BELIEVE HIS WRITINGS, how will you believe MY WORDS?” Moses wrote of Him? John 14:24 He who does not love Me does not keep MY WORDS; and THE WORD which you hear is NOT Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. Not His Words? John 1:14 And the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us, What Word? Mark 7 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject THE COMMANDMENT...
The Jewish idiom of the "good eye" refers to loving and taking care of your neighbor, while the idiom of the "bad eye" refers to being selfish and not loving your neighbor. This can be seen in the words of Yeshua: MATTHEW 6:19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 "For where...
"John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Believing means what? Few verses later... "John 3:20-21 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who DOES THE TRUTH comes to the LIGHT, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” Those who hate the light do not come to the light. But...