LIGHT OF MENORAH

Truth Nugget 28 Lesson 1 Part 2 - The LIVING Word and the Written Word.

TRUTH NUGGET 28

LESSON 1 PART 2

If you have not watched part 1 here’s the link.  You must watch part 1 – it is the background study that gets us to the redemption of Adonai and what He needs to complete.  So please watch part 1 to understand part 2. 

Link to part 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-1-the-gospel-whats-that/

In part 2 we get to the gospel that would make sense to those first disciples.  For them something was not working.  It is probable that in Jesus’ day there was a debate as to how one’s INTENTIONAL sin was cleansed and forgiven.  The answer was not in the Torah, the main five books of the Bible in Jesus’ day.  That the Torah was missing something is understood by the great scholars of Judaism and the writer of the book of Hebrews, more than likely a deeply religious Jewish disciple of Jesus. 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Truth Nugget 28 Lesson 2 Part 1 - DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES?

TRUTH NUGGET 28

Lesson 2  Part 1

Disciples and Apostles?

This is lesson 2 in this 4 part video series.  If you have not watched lesson 1 parts 1 & 2 we urge you to do so.  This lesson depends upon the content of lesson 1.  Shown below are the links for Lesson Part 1 and Part 2 for your convenience.

Lesson 1 Part 1 –

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-1-the-gospel-whats-that/

Lesson 1 Part 2 –

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-2-the-living-word-and-the-written-word/

In this lesson we again put the Bible into its historical context; we reconnect to the Jewish roots of our faith.  We ask ourselves is the church made up of converts and disciples and apostles.  If so what is the difference?  Aren’t disciples ones who believe that Jesus is Lord and are saved by grace?  Are pastors then apostles?  In Jesus’ day the concept of what was a disciple and what was an apostle was clear.  We need to study what those first disciples understood.  We need to grasp what they saw and what they heard and what they experienced.  Once we do our understanding will become so enriched and expanded.  We will see what Jesus wants of them THEN and this means what He wants of us NOW. 

I highly recommend you also access the lessons of Ray Vander Laan at his website www.ThattheWorldMayKnow.com.  I will link you to his article on the Rabbis and Talmideem (Rabbis and Disciples).  I thank Ray so much for being my teacher and being the one who has inspired me to study this concept in a deeper and more expansive way.  Also, at his website, click LEARN and look up his AUDIO lessons and rabbis and disciples.  You will not be disappointed.  Here’s links to key places on Ray’s website.

Article on Rabbi & Talmid (a must read)

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim

Audio lessons (listen to all audio with the word disciple or rabbi or talmid)

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/category/Audio

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Truth Nugget 28 Lesson 2 Part 2 - DISCIPLES AND APOSTLES?

TRUTH NUGGET 28

Lesson 2  Part 2

Disciples and Apostles?

This is lesson 2 Part 2 in this 4 part video series.  If you have not watched lesson 1 parts 1 & 2 or Lesson 2 part 1 we urge you to do so.  This lesson depends upon the content of lesson 1.  Shown below are the links for the previous lessons for your convenience.

Lesson 1 Part 1 –

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-1-the-gospel-whats-that/

Lesson 1 Part 2 –

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-1-part-2-the-living-word-and-the-written-word/

Lesson 2 Part 1 -

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nugget-28-lesson-2-part-1-disciples-and-apostles/

 

In part 2 we study His word in a deeper way.  We need to see other examples of what it was like to be a disciple of a rabbi in Jesus’ day.  Moreover, what is it like to be a disciple of Jesus!  He’s God.  How can we be like HIM? 

But, then there’s disciples who are called apostles – one’s sent out.  Jesus says to us since the Father has sent Him so too Jesus sends us.  YES!!  That is being a disciple of a rabbi.  Jesus was sent so we are sent.  But, not all are sent.  Most disciples need to stay and be ready.  Whether you are a disciple who stays or one sent out, we need to be ready to do the impossible when Jesus asks.

I highly recommend you also access the lessons of Ray Vander Laan at his website www.ThattheWorldMayKnow.com.  I will link you to his article on the Rabbis and Talmideem (Rabbis and Disciples).  I thank Ray so much for being my teacher and being the one who has inspired me to study this concept in a deeper and more expansive way.  Also, at his website, click LEARN and look up his AUDIO lessons and rabbis and disciples.  You will not be disappointed.  Here’s links to key places on Ray’s website.

Article on Rabbi & Talmid (a must read)

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim

Audio lessons (listen to all audio with the word disciple or rabbi or talmid)

https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/category/Audio

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Genesis - 47 Part 2 - Gen. 22:1-18 The Three Mountains of the Lord

In lesson 47 we studied Orthodox Jewish Midrash or Orthodox Jewish Bible commentary.  In lesson 47 it was shown that this is a common tool of the orthodox rabbis in orthodox Judaism.  Many times their views and comments are found to be unbiblical, contradicting real archaeology and history, and sometimes even contradicting the actual Hebrew words or grammar.  These orthodox rabbis even word their views and opinions in such a way that "it is their way or the highway." 

Many Christians today in the 21st century have bought into their views and ideas unbeknownst to themselves.  Some of these midrashim, these rabbinic statements as to the meaning of the Bible or statements as to questions or issues the Bible does not answer,  have entered into Christian beliefs and Bible understanding and most Christians have no idea they are only opinions or views of men, rabbis yes, buy mere men.  These views and ideas have become so entrenched in the beliefs of both Jews and non-Jews that the tradition has become solid granite - like the midrash that Chanukah is all about the miracle of the oil!  

One of these views is that there is a mountain called Moriah as found in Gen. 22:1-2 and it this mountain that is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  In lesson 47 it is shown that this is orthodox rabbinic midrash.  Jewish sources are clear that it was the rabbis who determined this with no basis in fact.  Their conclusions even contradict the actual Hebrew.  The Bible in Hebrew is precise - Moriah is not a proper name and it not the name of a mountain; it is an ancient Hebrew noun that has dropped out of use by the time of the days of Jesus. 

In this podcast we will continue our study and this time we will accept what the Bible says exactly in Hebrew and not orthodox rabbinic opinions and views.  We will restudy Genesis 22 but this time we will use the word MORIAH as a place where something is seen.  This is a possible meaning as as presented in the "Jewish Publication Society Torah Commentary - Genesis."  See below as to the high praise for the JPS series. It is one the best Jewish commentaries available today.

     "Written by four outstanding Torah scholars, the JPS Torah Commentary represents a fusion of the best of the old and new. Utilizing the latest research to enhance our understanding of the biblical text, it takes its place as one of the most authoritative yet accessible Bible commentaries of our day.
     The JPS Torah Commentary series guides readers through the words and ideas of the Torah. Each volume is the work of a scholar who stands at the pinnacle of his field.  Every page contains the complete traditional Hebrew text, with cantillation notes, the JPS translation of the Holy Scriptures, aliyot breaks, Masoretic notes, and commentary by a distinguished Hebrew Bible scholar, integrating classical and modern sources.
Each volume also contains supplementary essays that elaborate upon key words and themes, a glossary of commentators and sources, extensive bibliographic notes, and maps.

     The award-winning JPS Torah Commentaries and JPS Bible Commentaries are read and studied by tens of thousands of people, Jewish and Christian alike. They are, quite simply, the gold standard. Each is written by a top scholar in the field, in clear language that’s accessible to everyone. We are exceptionally proud of these well respected commentaries."

So, to continue on about the noun "moriah."  It is not a proper name but a noun describing a location where something appears.  If we do and we consider three mountain, three separate mountains where something amazing was seen and experienced, we find that the rabbinic midrash is not as profound or penetrating.  

So come. Join us.  If we remove tradition, if we remove views and opinions, and if we study what the Bible actually says we come to a deeper and more intense understanding of THE VERY WORDS OF GOD.  

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

The Lord’s Prayer - Lesson 9 - God Will Lead You Into Temptation??

This is the last lesson in the podcast series on the Lord's Prayer (in Hebrew -  HaTehfeelah Adonai) which He gave to us, His disciples, and we can now call it, HaTehfeelah Talmidim, the Prayer of the Disciples.  We will focus on Matt.6:13 and once again return to the 1st century A.D., the days of Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Messiah (the Christ), and try and hear what His disciples heard.  We will try and understand what they understood.  We will study to see like they did.

The main focus of the lesson will be on the beginning phrase in Matt. 6:13, "and lead us not into temptation ..." (NASB).  For us the English word the translators use "temptation" seems to relate only to that which might entice us to sin or evil.  Temptation to us seems to focus on the evil desire to commit sin and go against Adonai, the Lord.  However, the translators use this word in many places in the Bible to mean testing or trials or difficulties.  So, what's going on in Matt. 6:13?  Does it mean that God may come to us to lead us into situations where He knows we will be tempted to commit sin, to do evil?  Or, are the translators using it as it relates with a different concept?  

Here are the links I mentioned in the audio plus more.

Link to the complete Didache (pronounced Dida  Key) - http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

Link to a number of great articles on the Hebrew concept of prayer from En Gedi Resource Center - https://engediresourcecenter.com/hebraic/prayer/

Link to Shmuel Safrai's article on the spoken languages in Jesus' day at the Jerusalem School of the Synoptic Gospels (you may have to sign up to be a subscriber) - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2551/

Link to a translation of the Lord's Prayer the way it may have been read in Hebrew - https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4boue5uy4oinwk/THE%20LORD%27S%20PRAYER%20FROM%20THE%20HEBREW.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

Exodus - 21 - Exod 7:4-13 THE TERRIBLE MONSTER - URAEUS

 

In this lesson we meet up with Uraeus - the terrible goddess of Egypt and the protector of the king, Pharaoh.  Pharaoh had Uraeus on his crown - a cobra.  The sacred beast of Uraeus is the serpent pictured as the cobra.  And so begins the awesome confrontation between God, the only God, and a man who said he was god, the Pharaoh.  It begins with the defeat of his protectress, the Cobra goddess, Uraeus.  How is she defeated?  Moreover, what else is God coming against when Moses and Aaron return to Pharaoh and Aaron throws down his staff and it becomes a serpent - not a snake - but a terrible lizard.  It seems as if God is inspiring Moses to picture the goddess Uraeus not just a snake but a terrible monster.

Another topic we will discuss is the issue of does God judge nations or will God pour His wrath on a people group, a nation, for the collective evil the nation or the group as done.  If so what about the innocent that probably are part of the group? Will they suffer along with the evil ones in that culture?  The answers are critically important for us today.  Will God judge the USA for 62,000,000 babies aborted?  If we are innocent will we suffer also if He comes and pours His wrath upon us.  This is a difficult concept and must be studied.  What better place than ancient Egypt.

I highly recommend you watch the videos, lesson 20 & 21 of this series.  They are entitled, "His Highness' Heavy Heart," and deals with the important question did God harden Pharaoh's heart.  Did God create this man for damnation and destruction?  What about us?  Are we predetermined for salvation and others for destruction?  To access these videos click on the link below and you will be at our You Tube Channel.  Search for the videos that are connected to the pictures below.  

Link - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcIXun2BQDIw6myuMPTvlWHUu9AJqXip

 

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

The Lord‘s Prayer - Lesson 8 - Sin or Debt Sinners or Debtors

 

I remember a time when I had hurt someone in one of my classes.  I reacted to their opinion on a specific issue very harshly.  Later I did learn from others in the class that 1) they did not appreciate my intense reaction to this person and 2) they knew this person was hurt and angry with me and 3) they understood why I got so angry but it was not the proper way of handling the situation.  Needless to say, I hurt someone with my words.  It reminded me me of ...

"The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mat 12:35-37)

Ouch!  His Spirit was working in me telling me that I sinned.  Something needed to happen.

On one hand, this person I hurt may have forgiven me "in his heart."  He may have done this based upon what Jesus teaches that ...

"My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart." (Mat 18:35)

Many of us do this as Christians today.  Someone hurt us, abused us, sinned against us and we forgive that person "from our heart," but the one who hurt us doesn't know it.  For us it is a way we think we are listening to Rabbi Yeshua and living as true disciples.

On the other hand, even though this person I hurt may have "forgiven me in his heart," and I didn't know it, I was dealing with the Father and through His Spirit I was being plagued with guilt that I have not gone to this person, confessed my sin, repented, and asked for this person's forgiveness.  I had already done this with the Lord.  I knew I was forgiven.  But, the Lord would not let me off the hook!  Why?  Because He taught us this ...

"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." (Mat 5:23-24)

He didn't mean to seek forgiveness from Him and let it all go.  NO!!  He is teaching clearly that I need to go to the person, confess, repent, and seek their forgiveness.  I did go to that person.  I did confess, repent, and I asked for this person to forgive me.  I was forgiven by that person.  I must say this was one of the most difficult things I have ever done.  It was easy to go to the Father and confess and repent and seek forgiveness.  But, doing that with the person who I sinned against, that is entirely a different matter.

So, we now return to the Lord's Prayer -

תפילת האדוי - HaTehfeelah Adonai  

We will focus on the verse Matt. 6:12 where we pray that the Lord will forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.  Why use the word debt or debtors?  Why didn't Jesus use the word sin and sinners?  Besides that it seems as if Jesus is showing us that if we want to be forgiven by the Lord we first need to forgive.  Is that what this all means?  Once again, we are reading in English translated from the Greek which is translated from the Hebrew and it comes out of a totally Jewish culture of 2000 years ago.  Is it possible then as we put this verse into its historical context that things will begin to make real sense?  Answer!  You better believe it.  Moreover, we will see how it relates to the situation I described from my own life.

Links promised in this session ...

1) Brad Young's article at Jerusalem Perspective (Note - this is a pay site.  Cost is $60 per year.  It is a highly credible scholarly site that if you are serious about your Bible study this is one site that is a must) - https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2300/

2) Link to lesson 1 of this series - listen to this to understand how this prayer is related to being a true disciple of Rabbi Jesus - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-6-the-lords-prayer-part-1-pray-like-the-rabbi/

Link 3 - Ray Vander Laan's article on "Rabbi and Talmidim" - https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/rabbi-and-talmidim

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

Ferret and his wife Robin having dinner in Vicente Guerrero

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

 

The Lord‘s Prayer - Lesson 7 - Our Daily Bread

In lesson 7 we focus on the phrase of Matt 6:11, "Give us this day our daily bread."  Was Jesus teaching His disciples, His talmideem תלמידים in Hebrew, something new?  As Dr. Brad Young states in his amazing article, "The Lord's Prayer," (see the link below to Jerusalem Perspective, a scholarly website of Christian and Jewish Bible scholars presenting the Jewish background of the Synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke) ...

"Too often, the importance of the Jewish background of the prayer and of the language that Jesus used has been overlooked or minimized. Jesus was a Jew, speaking Hebrew to his Jewish followers during the difficult days of the Roman occupation of Israel in the Second Temple Period. A modern Christian has a quite different understanding of prayer, Scripture, and faith than a Jewish teacher like Jesus, not to mention the great differences of language, culture, and history. One easily can miss the great depth of Jesus’ message, even while believing in him. Here we will try to rediscover something of the original Jewish atmosphere in which Jesus taught his followers how to approach God in prayer."

So we will reconnect again to the historical context of this prayer that Jesus taught to His disciples, His talmideem תלמידים and we will see that awesome meaning behind the simple phrase of Matt. 6:11.  It will help us again pray this prayer with a new expanded understanding of this central prayer for any disciple of our Lord Jesus.  Our walk as disciples of Yeshua HaMasheeiachk, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ will be enriched and strengthened.  

The Lord’s Prayer 1: Introduction.  Brad Young.  (Note: this is part 1 of 10)

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2229/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

What's his background? 

Ferret and his wife Robin at the airport on their way to Israel

Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

 

The Lord’s Prayer - Lesson 6 Part 2 - Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done

In part 1 we learned that the Kingdom of God was a concept in Second Temple Judaism, the religion of Jesus' day, that was understood by the Jewish people.  We saw that Moses states that God will reign forever and ever (Exod. 15:18).  Thus, if God reigns, He is king.  If God is King then He has a Kingdom.  But, His Kingdom does not have a territory or borders or a palace or castle.  In Jesus' day the Kingdom of God meant only that God rules and reigns over His creation, the heavens and the earth, the universe.  It is like what the Jewish people say in their daily blessings that Adonai is King of the Universe.  Here's the blessing over bread ...

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, KING of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth.

So, in the first century A.D. in Israel, God's Kingdom was and is and will always be.  So, as we continue to study the phrase in Matt. 6:10, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven," we ask then if His Kingdom was and is and will always be why are we praying that His Kingdom should come? Are we missing something?  Again, we are.  We are disconnected from how the disciples of Jesus understood the Kingdom of God 2000 years ago when Jesus taught this prayer.  We need again to reconnect to those days to expand our understanding of the Lord's Prayer and what it all means to them and to us today.

I mentioned I would link several articles that are examples of my resources that I have accessed to develop these podcasts on the Lord's Prayer and on the Kingdom of the Lord.  These links are shown below.  The links that have a "*" before them will take you to the website www.JerusalemPerspective.com

which has an annual fee to access the entire article and the remaining 100's of articles available from highly credible Christian and Jewish scholars.  I highly recommend this website for any of you who are serious students of the Bible.  This is one resource that is worth paying the annual fee for real scholarship and study.

* The Kingdom of God: God’s Power Among Believers. Robert L. Lindsey

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2445/

* Literary Languages in the Time of Jesus.  Shmuel Safrai

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2563/

* Jesus and the Oral Torah: The Unutterable Name of God.  David Biven.  

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2087/

* The Lord's Prayer.  David Biven.

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/769/

* The Lord’s Prayer 1: Introduction.  Brad Young.  (Note: this is part 1 of 10)

https://www.jerusalemperspective.com/2229/

The following articles are accessed for free at the amazing website www.EnGediResourceCenter.org

including articles by Lois Tverberg on the Lord's Prayer and the Kingdom of God.  

Articles on the Lord's Prayer - https://engediresourcecenter.com/tag/lords-prayer/

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

The Lord‘s Prayer - Lesson 6 Part 1 - ”Thy Kingdom Come”

In lesson 6 part 1 of this podcast series we now focus on the phrase ...

Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. (Mat 6:9-10 NASB)

Once again we will reconnect to the Jewish culture of Jesus' day so as to learn how His disciples (talmideem in Hebrew) understood the words of the prayer Jesus taught them; the prayer He also taught us since we too have been "grafted in" to the olive tree of Israel and we too must strive daily to live and serve as true disciples of the Lord.  

So what did they hear when when they prayed, "Your Kingdom come?"  Certainly in those days all Jews were longing for the Messiah to come.  They were longing for Him to restore Israel as a Jewish nation free from Rome.  So, did the disciples "hear" these words and think of the Messiah's coming kingdom under the reign of Adonai?  Or when they prayed these words did it mean something else, something more, something more profound? 

We may be like other Christians who pray these words in English and think it has to do with the return of Jesus, the return of the Messiah, to bring His Kingdom to earth.  But, if we are supposedly to dwell with the Lord in heaven forever and ever why bring His Kingdom to earth, right?  We are all going to heaven right?  So, Jesus would have a Kingdom with no subjects since we are all gone, we're all in heaven!  

So, today for many in the church we have so many diverse ideas of the Kingdom of God.  We may even think there are three Kingdoms - the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven and Jesus' Kingdom when He precisely teaches about His Kingdom.  This concept in English with no connection to the Jewish culture of Jesus' day causes confusion and disagreement and does not satisfy us with a precise understanding.  But, if we return to Jesus' day and hear as His disciples did, and see as His disciples did, and understand like them, then we too will grasp the meaning of the Kingdom of the Most High, the Kingdom will make sense and it will eliminate all the diverse opinions, the Kingdom of God will be something part of our lives so we are be able to walk with Jesus in a deeper and more passionate way.

In this session I mentioned an article about Peter.  Remember he asked Jesus if he could leave the boat and join Jesus walking on the water.  This is so critical to understand the meaning of a disciple in Jesus' day.  Here's the link to the article - https://www.dropbox.com/s/wtgmaph65t3inl8/Walk%20LIke%20the%20Rabbi%20%26%20Pray%20Like%20the%20Rabbi.pdf?dl=0

Rev. Ferret - who is this guy? 

Ferret teaching at Tel Gezer in the shephelah of Israel

What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0