Three Days and Three Nights

When was the resurrection of Y'shua? 

Since the timing of Y'shua's death coincides with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which began with a 'passover' offering, this study includes the time-line in regards to what the Creator said about His fixed times, and what is recorded in the Renewed Covenant. 

There is also the general mind-set that he is 'our Passover Lamb' and the 'First Fruits of the Harvest', (these original moedim are considered 'types and shadows' of thing to come).

The original passover did include the sacrifice of a lamb, and its blood, which being painted on the door posts and lintels, was the sign that saved the inhabitants from death.

Y'shua is referred to as the Lamb of Elohim and it is his shed blood that atones for our sins and saves us from eternal death.  Y'shua is referred to as the first fruits of the dead.  ("First-fruits" are the best of the best offered up to YHWH).

John 1:29 - And on the day that followed, John saw Y'shua who was coming towards him, and said, "Behold the Lamb of Elohim"

First Corinthians 15:20 - But now the Mashiyach has risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept.

Let us now recognize Yah's calendar:

Exodus 12: "This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for you."

YHWH's counting of months begin with the sighting of the new moon. The first month of the year coincides with the time of year the barley ripens. 

Exodus 19: "On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai." (the first day of the third month)

As a reminder, a day is from sunset to sunset according to the Creator's Calendar. And when He says the '1st month of the year', it is not according to the modern day Gregorian calendar. With that in mind, lets review Yah's instructions for keeping the passover offering which is the start of the days of Unleavened Bread.

Exodus 12:15 - Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread... on the very 1st day (of the 7 days) you shall remove leaven from your houses... The first day and the seventh day are sacred occasions and no work is to be done, only whatever is to be eaten may be prepared. 

Exodus 12:17 - You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread for on this very day (the 15th day of the 1st month) I brought you out of Egypt, to be observed throughout the ages as an institution for all time. 

Exodus 12:18 - In the first month from the 14th day at evening you shall eat unleavened bread until the 21st day of the month at evening. No leaven is to be found in your houses - whether one is a stranger or a citizen of the country you shall eat nothing leavened. 

Exodus 12:24 - You shall observe this as an institution for all time, for you and for your descendants. :25 And when you enter the land that I will give you, as I promised, you shall observe this rite... And when your children ask why and what does it mean, you shall say, 'It is the passover sacrifice to YHWH Elohim because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses'.

In Leviticus the instructions are repeated:

Leviticus 23:4  - These are the set times of YHWH, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time: In the first month, on the 14th day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to YHWH and on the 15th day of that month YHWH's Feast of Unleavened Bread... for seven days.  

And again in Deuteronomy 16 we are given the details for keeping the feast in the years to come.  It reads that a passover offering is made to YHWH and slaughtered in the place Elohim will choose to establish His Name - For 7 days no leaven shall be found among you. You cannot slaughter the sacrifice wherever you choose but at the place YHWH chooses to establish His Name. In the morning you may start back home - on the 7th day of Unleavened Bread hold a solemn gathering, do no work.  

His people are instructed to do this so they remember the day of their departure from the land of Egypt as long as they live.  The blood of the lamb was a sign to YHWH and saved them from death - they were set free from being slaves to Pharaoh. Our acceptance of the shed blood of His Son is also a sign to YHWH, and sets us free from our old sin-nature.

These quotes from Scripture establish the fixed time of when we are to observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins immediately after the the twilight meal of the roasted lamb- the passover offering.  It was eaten as the daylight dwindled into twilight of the 14th day, which became the 15th day after the sun went down. 

Lets fast forward now to the final days of Y'shua as they are written in Matthew 26:17, Mark 14:12, Luke 22:7 and John 13:1.  The time frame is the beginning of the Seven Days of Unleavened Bread.  The event is Y'shua gathered together with his disciples to eat the passover meal, observing the fixed time of YHWH as previously described. 

In the course of this study, I have learned that it was customary back in the day to interchange the words 'passover' and 'feast of Unleavened Bread' because the passover offering kicked off the feast of Unleavened Bread.  There was only one offering followed by the 7 days of Unleavened Bread. Passover was not really a feast day unto itself but the lead-in, the actions taken just before the Seven days of Unleavened Bread.  It is mentioned in Mark 14:12 as the 'first day of Unleavened Bread was when the lambs were slaughtered'. They were slaughtered on the 14th day, eaten at sunset, according to what YHWH said about this fixed time.

• Matthew 26:17 - Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples asked Y'shua where he wanted them to prepare the meal
• Mark 14:12 - And in the first day of the Unleavened Bread in which the Yehudeans slay the (passover offering lamb) the disciples were asking Y'shua where to go to prepare to eat.
• Luke 22:7 - And the day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread arrived... Y'shua sent Peter and John to make preparations.
• John 13:1 - Now before the feast of the (passover) Y'shua had known that the time that he would depart this world to his Father had arrived.  He loved his own who were in this world and he loved them up until the end. :2 And when supper was done, Satan put in the heart of Judas to betray Y'shua...

Note it is written, 'when supper was done', referring to the passover meal just eaten.  It has been established that they are keeping the set time of YHWH, in the first month of the year and eat the passover meal together, at twilight, on the 14th day of the month, which has been the practice of the Israelites ever since they were set free from Egypt.

The lamb offerings for each household have been slaughtered, roasted and are eaten that evening.  John adds that Y'shua knew his time had come, knew it even before the feast of Unleavened Bread was to take place.

Moving along, after this passover meal was eaten, Y'shua and his disciples took a walk to the Mount of Olives. The sun has already gone down, so according to Yah's perfect timing, it is now the 15th day of this month (still dark), this also being the 1st day of Unleavened Bread.

While they are at the Mount of Olives, Y'shua tells them things that will happen soon according to what has been prophesied and they can't believe they could ever be offended by their Master Y'shua. He tells them there is sadness in his soul. They continue walking to the place called Gethsemane. The Apostles eventually fall asleep during the hour Y'shua is praying to his Father.

This record of events makes it possible to conclude that Y'shua was not killed during the time that the passover offering lambs were being slaughtered. Otherwise he could not have eaten with his beloved twelve.

It is still that same night, after they had arrived at Gethsemane, when Judas came back and betrayed Y'shua to the chief priests and elders. After a scuffle all the disciples left their Teacher - they ran away. Those who seized Y'shua wanted to take him to Caiaphas (Matthew 26:50-59) but they could not find him. So they take him to Pilate. This event is recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John:

Matthew 27 - And when it was morning the chief priests and elders took Y'shua to Pilate, who tries to argue for his life as he finds no guilt with him. Pilate realizes the accusers of Y'shua do so out of envy.  The angry mob wins.  Y'shua is scourged with whips and delivered to be put to death on a stake. He dies around the 9th hour.

Mark 14:53 - Then they took Y'shua to Caiaphas the high priest (but they could not find him) and the chief priests and scribes and elders were all gathered with him. 55 The chief priests and all their assembly were seeking testimony against Y'shua so that they might kill him.

Mark 15 - And immediately in the morning the chief priests with the elders and with the scribes, all of the assembly took counsel and they bound Y'shua and led him away and delivered him to Pilate.

Mark 15:15 - And Pilate desired to do the will of the crowds and released Bar Abba to them. Then after Y'shua was scourged, he delivered him to be executed on a stake.

Luke 22:54 - Then they seized him and brought him to the house of the high priest. 66 When the day dawned, the elders and the chief priests and scribes gathered and took him to their council chambers (and questioned him).

In Luke 23:6 he reports that Pilate sent Y'shua to Herod because Y'shua was from Galilee.  Herod was in Jerusalem in those days.  Herod questions Y'shua but gets no answers, gives him back to Pilate to deal with.

Luke 23:13 - Pilate calls to the chief priests and rulers of the people and says to them: You brought me this man as a deceiver of your people - I have examined him and have not found any fault with him 15 nor has Herod... nothing that is worthy of death has been committed by him.

Pilate desired to let Y'shua go but the people were crying out and saying 'Nail him to the stake!' 

In John 18:28 the account is about the same, although some details are added that are not reported by the other three.  Pilate tells the mob to take Y'shua and judge him according to 'their own' Torah and the Yehudeans reply, 'it is not lawful for us to kill a man'.

In John 19 Y'shua is scourged and mocked. At about the 6th hour Pilate turned him over to be executed.  Matthew says Y'shua died about the 9th hour. (The 6th hour is equivalent to mid-day).

Note: The passover meal was eaten at twilight of of the 14th day. After the sun went down it became the 15th day. The 9th hour is of that 15th day.

If we can agree that the capture, persecution and death of Y'shua occurred during the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which is the 15th day of the month), then following is the account of what happened before that day ended, after he died. You will see that we run into statements that just don't jive with the above established scenario.  If we could just stick with Matthew, all would be well. Let's carry on...

Matthew 27:57 - Now when it became evening, a rich man from Ramtha whose name was Joseph, who had been taught by Y'shua, asked Pilate for the body of Y'shua.  And he wrapped it in a shroud of fine linen and laid it in his new tomb.

Mark 15:37 - Y'shua cried out in a loud voice, and he died. 42 And when it became evening which is before the annual Shabbat, Joseph from Ramtha requested the body of Y'shua. He wrapped the body in linen cloth and placed him in a grave hewn out of the rock... and he rolled a stone upon the door of the grave.

Luke 23:50 - Joseph the counselor from Ramtha asks Pilate for the body of Y'shua, took it down and wrapped it in a shroud of linen and laid it in a hewn tomb.  And the day was setting and the Shabbat was approaching.

John 19:14 - And it was the eve of the paskha (translated 'passover' in most bibles, others read 'day of preparation') and it was about the sixth hour and he said to the Yehudeans: Behold, your King!"  (Matthew 27 says Y'shua died around the 9th hour.)

How can it be the 'eve of the passover' or even the day of preparation when Matthew, Mark and Luke claim they prepared and ate it already?  They ate, walked to the Mount of Olives, then on to Gethsemane where Y'shua spends time in the garden before he is betrayed by Judas.  He is taken captive and by the following daylight, taken before Pilate.  Pilate takes him before Herod.  Herod turns the matter back to Pilate.  Y'shua is sentenced to death. The 15th Day of the 1st month is a 'sacred occasion' according to YHWH, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a Shabbat. Both the 1st and 7th days of the days of Unleavened Bread are considered Annual Shabbats. 

What on earth am I missing? Could it be 'terminology'? Could it mean I need to learn the ways of the Pharisees of Y'shua's day in order to figure this out and make all pieces fit?  Were they referring to the 15th day as a day of preparation or the 20th day?  My brain in hurting...

Quote from Andrew Gabriel Roth: Technically speaking a "day of preparation" is normally supposed to be the daylight period before a weekly sabbath.  However, when Annual and Weekly Shabbats hit as close together as they do here, this kind of distinction can easily go right out the proverbial window along with any clarity it might have also had. The fact of the matter is, we are not dealing with one preparation day in a week here, but three.

Y'shua ate with his disciples and their fellowship lasted well into the night - which became the 15th day which is when Y'shua was charged and sentenced to death (when day broke) according to Scripture.  This 15th day is the 1st day of Unleavened Bread - a Sabbath, which falls after the regular weekly Sabbath.  So this Sabbath on the 15th is one of the Annual Sabbaths referred to in Mark 15:42 as mentioned by Andrew G. Roth.

Taking all that into consideration, Y'shua was placed in the tomb before sunset- but when?  Can nobody know the day and the hour?

IF he was placed in the tomb before sunset on the 15th day (the day was setting), he was resurrected on the completion of the 18th day, which is 2 days before the next Annual Sabbath, the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which also falls on the regular sabbath day of rest). This can account for the tomb being empty when the ladies arrived with spices to tend to his body.

The next Set Apart time is Shavuot.

Acts 1:3 - With numerous signs for 40 days he was seen by them, and he spoke concerning the Kingdom of Elohim... 4 And while he ate with them, he commanded that "You should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, He whom you have heard about from me. 5 John immersed with water, and you will be immersed by the Ruach haKodesh 8 When the Ruach haKodesh comes upon you you will receive power and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem and in all Yehuda and also among the Samaritan and to the ends of the earth."  After these things he was taken up and a cloud received him and he was hidden from their eyes.  

Ten days later was Shavuot (the 50th day) - all were assembled as one and the Twelve did receive power and understanding by the Spirit of Elohim = the Ruach haKodesh.  

Shavuot is the when the grain offering of the wheat harvest is made and also the date when the Ruach haKodesh immersed the disciples, as Y'shua told them he would.  AGAIN, Shavuot depends on the barley being ripe for harvest - which can be a day or two off each year -- and not pre-printed on any calendar.

I feel there is more to be revealed in the study, but I shall publish it for now. Please feel free to add your comments.

The short story is this:

• On the 14th day at twilight, they ate the passover meal together.
• They walked to the Mount of Olives together and then on to Gesthsemane.
• The disciples fell asleep while Y'shua was praying.
• Judas led the crowd to find Y'shua and he is taken captive.
• This is now the 15th day which is the 1st day of Unleavened Bread. Later this day Y'shua is sentenced to death.

If we ignore the supposed discrepancies in the above mentioned accounts, then "Three days and three nights" buried would mean being resurrected by the 4th day, after the completion of the 3rd night.  If we adhere to Yah's calendar, Y'shua is 'buried' before sunset on the 15th day. Resurrection would be after sunset on the 18th day of this first month, the beginning of the 19th day... two days before the last day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, which falls on the weekly sabbath, the 21st day of this month.

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In everything we discuss and study we must remain
firmly footed in His Word and Truth will be revealed.

YHWH set forth His Instructions for His Creation, which includes us.  We can read all about it in Genesis through Deuteronomy where He establishes Himself as the One True Living God. If we continue reading Scriptures we learn about what happens if we choose to do as He says.  He gives examples of what happens to people who turn their backs on Him.  In reading His Instruction Manual we either choose to have Faith or make excuses not to believe. In choosing Faith and having Trust in our Creator we naturally desire to obey and show our love and gain acceptance.  His Will Be Done - not ours.

Was "Jesus a Jew"?

Let me start off with this:

It has become clear that using the Hebrew word 'Torah' sets off red flags in many people, so from now on I will use the translation to English which is 'Instruction'.  These Instructions were given by the Creator as a type of Owner's Manual, full of Instructions for living on this planet, to set us apart from worldly affairs. We call them 'Scriptures' and they are found, bound within the pages of the Bible. I no longer preach about which version to use. Which ever one you have, pick it up and read, study it, learn it and live by it so that all will go well for you. Y'shua gave us the Ruach haKodesh, the Comforter, who will reveal Truth, and give us understanding, as long as we continue to read Scriptures. 

Time and again while discussing 'religion', when I get to the part about Yahweh never being about 'religion', that His Instructions are the perfect guide for our governance, health and well being, this is the response:

"But - Jesus was a Jew!"

What is meant by this? Was he a Jew by birth? heritage? or a Jew by religious tradition? Is he a Jew because some rabbi on TV says he is? If you read Scriptures you learn that he certainly did not practice Judaism. In fact he taught against it! Judaism is a religion spun off the Word of Elohim, mixed with man's own imagination, as are so many other religious belief systems.

Quote: In the Bible the word "Jew" means a resident of the land of Judea regardless of their tribe, race or religion, just as an Australian or Englishman may in fact be a Chinese, Negro or an Eskimo, or perhaps a member of the tribe of Judah. (end quote)

Remember, the House of Israel began with Abraham the Hebrew. His offspring were Hebrews. His son, Jacob, carried on the Hebrew line. His name was changed to 'Israel' and his offspring were the House of Israel made up of his twelve sons and their offspring, all were descendants of Abraham the Hebrew.

In the days of Y'shua few of the citizens of Judea were 'Yehudeans'. Some belonged to other tribes of Israel, and many were descendants of Esau (Edomites) who had assimilated and become co-religionists with the Judahites and remnants of the other tribes in the hybrid religion of Pharisaism developed during the captivity in Babylon. This religion of the Talmud is called Judaism today.

In Matthew 15, Y'shua is having a discussion with the scribes and Pharisees. He ends up telling them that they nullify the Word of Elohim because of their tradition. He calls them hypocrites, teaching the doctrines of men.

In today's world, most people think of Jews as the people of Israel, but that is not correct. An Israelite was one who had descended from Jacob. In Y'shua's time individual Jews may or may not have descended from Jacob, but they did recognize Pharisaism and not the Instructions Yah had given, recorded in Genesis through Deuteronomy.

The point is that one who is called a "Jew" in the Bible is not necessarily a chosen man of God, or a member of the tribe of Judah, an Israelite, or even a Semite, but one who is a resident of Judea. A Judean. But a well-organized and well-financed international "pressure group" created a so-called "secondary meaning" for the new word "Jew" which is not the understanding intended by the Scripture of truth. Those who call themselves Jews today falsely imply they are somehow descendants of the tribes of Israel and chosen of God. Yet few of them are Jews as they are not "Judeans," or residents of Judea. 

If modern day so-called Jews are not the Jews of the Bible, who are they? When asked, "Who is Israel? - Who is a Jew?" the Israeli Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) unhesitatingly answered: 

"The term Israelite is purely Biblical. An Israeli is a citizen of Israel, regardless of religion. A Jew is a person anywhere in the world born to a Jewish mother, or converted to Judaism, who is thus identified as a member of the Jewish people and religion" (Information Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; February, 1998).

~~~   ~~~   ~~~ 

I Samuel 16- Yahweh says to Samuel, "I am sending you Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have decided on one of his sons to be king." 16:13- Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and the spirit of Yahweh gripped David from that day on.

Jesse was a descendant of Perez, son of Judah. David was descendant of Judah and Joseph descended from this lineage.

Fast forward to the birth of Y'shua.

Maryam was caused to become pregnant by the Ruach haKodesh - the spiritual realm. Y'shua was born from Maryam, by water and blood - the physical realm.  Maryam was cousin to Elizabeth who was descended from Aaron - a Levite (Luke 1:5). Thus, her cousin, Maryam, was also a descendant from the tribe of Levi, which would make her son, Y'shua, a Levite by blood. Joseph married Maryam and adopted her son.  

Y'shua was a "Jew" by location only -a resident- born in Bethehem, Judea.  He was not a Jew by birth nor by religious affiliation. He was a Levite by blood and from the House of Judah by adoption, making it legal for him to become a future king. All of this qualifies Y'shua haMashiyach to be King and High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. What a wonderful revelation!

Genesis 14:18- And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of Yahweh Elohim. He blessed Abram.
Isaiah 9:6- In token of abundant authority and of peace without limit upon David's throne and kingdom, that it may be firmly established in justice and in equity now and evermore.
Psalm 110:4- Yahweh has sworn and will not relent, "You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree after the order of Melchizedek.' 

Hebrews 6:19- which is to us as an anchor that retains our soul so that it stays fixed; and it enters into that within the veil where Y'shua has previously entered for us and has become a priest forever, after the likeness of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:14- For it is manifest that our Master Y'shua arose from Yehuda, from a tribe of which Moses said noting concerning a priesthood. And this is further manifest from his saying that another priest will stand up after the likeness of Melchizedek, who was not according to the Torah of physical requirements, but according to the power of an indestructible life.

Another example to consider is how the apostle Paul describes himself in Philippeans 3:5- "Circumcised when eight days old; of the stock of Israel; of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew, descendant of Hebrews; in regards to Torah, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the assembly of Messianic believers; and as to the righteousness of the oral Torah, I was without fault." (Oral Law is rabbinic tradition, man's commentary and ideas about God's Commandments.)  Paul's attitude about himself and all he had mastered changed after he saw the superior knowledge of Y'shua and learned that his own righteousness came from Faith in the Messiah, that is, the righteousness which is from Elohim, and not of himself.  Paul was not a 'Jew' pretending to be a Greek, but was well aware of his heritage as a descendant of Abraham. His Hebrew name, Saul, was taken from the first king of Israel, who was from the tribe of Benjamin, and Paul's teacher, Gamaliel, was also from the tribe of Benjamin. They were Jews by location, not by birth or religious affiliation, although Paul was under the influence of religion before Y'shua called him out.  What a wonderful example!

To proclaim that 'Jesus is a Jew' is meaningless. To have the testimony of the Son of Elohim, Y'shua the Anointed One and proclaim the Good News of the kingdom is a wonderful act in our obedience to the one who Created us.

Would you be surprised to learn that the Jews are not God's chosen people and that the modern day state of Israel is not prophecy fulfilled, as many claim? Fact is, back in the days after the Hebrews fell into slavery in Egypt, a 'mixed multitude' became united as One People by their Faith and Trust in the One True Living Elohim, aka: The Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Please click here for my complete study: Who Is Israel?

Love Our Enemies

In the beginning was the Word...

We read in Matthew 5 about Y'shua teaching from the mountain. Remember the first time teaching came from the mountain? Moses brought the Word of Elohim down to the people. This time the Son of Yahweh is teaching and defining the same Word.

Y'shua did not come to do away with the Instructions established by our Creator, nor the writings of prophets of old. He did, however, bring to realization and perform his duty by obeying those Instructions of the Father. Not only that, he expanded and clarified the definition of the Commandments.

Matthew 5:21- You have heard 'you shall not kill' (Exodus 20:13, Deuteronomy 5:17) but I say if you even provoke to anger anyone, without cause, you are condemned to the Gehenna of fire. 5:27- You have heard you should not commit adultery but I say if you even think about it, you have committed adultery in your heart 5:38- You have heard it said "an eye for and eye and a tooth for a tooth" (this Hebrew idiom refers to fair restitution = the amount to be restored is equal to the loss, not crime for a crime.) 5:43- You have heard it said to "love your neighbor and hate your enemy" (oral law) But I say to you to love your enemies and bless those that curse you and do that which is pleasing to those who hate you. (loving the enemy would be not to avenge or bear a grudge against them - nor to run out and give 'em a hug - its not that kind of love) Here is the reason=> 5:46- If you love only those who love you, what reward have you? Even the publicans do this. And if you greet in peace only your brothers, what more are you doing? Even the publicans do this. 5:48- You therefore be perfect as your Father in heaven who is perfect. (Yah told us to be Set Apart because He is Set Apart)

Note: When Y'shua says 'you have heard' or 'you have heard it said', he is referring to 'oral Torah' as taught by the Pharisees:

Quote - Among the Pharisaic proto-rabbis, “building fences around the Torah” was a common practice. Unlike their primary opponents, the Sadducees, the Pharisees observed a long tradition of oral interpretation of and commentary on Torah, going back to the early sages. This “oral Torah” (traditions of the elders) was passed down from teacher to student through the generations (and became the predominant expression of Judaism after the Jerusalem Temple’s destruction in 70 CE, when the religion had to be re-formulated without temple worship). An essential component of “oral Torah” was the practice of “building fences” around the commandments – formulating additional observations and practices in order to preserve the commandment itself. (end quote)

It is possible that this Pharisaic tradition originated during the seventy years of 'captivity' in Babylon where many bad habits were picked up (including giving names to days and months).  Y'shua was pointing out this error by teaching the Word of Elohim in its purity. People had forgotten Yah's Instructions to the point of even forgetting His Name. Judaism is the result of tradition, man's imagination and placing his own opinion above Yah's Instructions. Man created religion.

We know that Yahweh will destroy our enemies so it is not necessary to waste our emotions on them. We are not to rejoice in the defeat or downfall of our enemies, nor are we to hold a grudge against them or seek revenge. These are they we are to simply disassociate with. It has nothing to do with hating our enemies nor are we to embrace them. We can forgive them because they just don't know what they are doing and patiently wait for the Day of Yah's Wrath. 

Luke 6:35 - Love your enemies and do good to them and lend a hand and do not cut off the hope of man. Be merciful as your Father is merciful... for the measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you. Take the beam out of your own eye then you will be able to see to take out the straw that is in the eye of your brother.

Clean or Unclean

Definition of unclean:

1: morally or spiritually impure 

2: infected with a harmful contagion 

3: prohibited by ritual law for use or contact

The Book of Leviticus is not an easy read.

Chapter 5 teaches about incurring guilt through sin, either intentionally or unknowingly, according to the Teachings of Yahweh; and provides the appropriate action to be taken to remedy oneself.

In regards to coming in contact with anything 'unclean', when one realizes his guilt, he acknowledges his wrongdoing and provides the required offering to the priest who makes expiation on his behalf, and all is forgiven. (It is the feeling of 'guilt' that creeps in after we have done something wrong. It's as if wearing 'filthy rags' instead of 'fine linen')

Leviticus 5:5 teaches when he realizes his guilt in any of these matters, he shall confess the circumstance of the sin which he is guilty of and bring his penalty (sin offering) to Yahweh (via the priest). If we transgress any of His Laws = His Instructions in Righteousness = this is considered as sin.

Unintentional sin is forgivable once we realize what we have done and pray for forgiveness. Y'shua is our high priest who intercedes on our behalf and we are forgiven. The Instructions still apply to us today but the remedy has been changed from bringing offerings to the temple and priest, to accepting the death of the Son as our covering and salvation from eternal death.

Hebrews 10 (lightly paraphrased)

We choose to accept Y'shua as our High Priest who offered a one time sacrifice for sins, who sits forever at the right hand of Elohim where he waits until his foes are placed as a footstool under his feet. For, by one offering (himself), he has perfected forever them who are sanctified (set apart) by him. And the Ruach haKodesh also testifies to us by saying: This is the covenant which I will give them after those days, says Master YHWH: I will put my Torah into their minds and inscribe it on their hearts and their iniquity and their sins I will not remember against them. Now, where there is a forgiveness of sins there is no offering for sin demanded. We have therefore my Brothers assurance of entering into the sanctuary by the blood of Y'shua and by a path of life.

Another misunderstanding about clean and unclean shows up when folks point out that God told Peter all food was acceptable to eat, Acts Chapter 10, but they don't read the entire chapter.  Peter's vision is clarified when we read beyond the part about the food vision and take into consideration his standard of not meeting with people who were not of the House of Israel (tribal descendants). Cornelius the Centurion was a believer in Elohim who saw a vision and was told to send some men to go get Simon Peter and bring him to his house. The next day Peter was in prayer and was feeling hungry. He saw a vision of what looked like a linen cloth coming down from heaven full of all creatures and creeping things and birds. He heard a voice say Slaughter and Eat! But he did not because he had never eaten anything defiled or unclean. The second time this happens a voice said "That which Elohim has cleansed, you should not consider defiled." This vision happened a third time.... Peter was standing there marveling at this when the 'three' men from Cornelius showed up at this house. The Spirit tells Peter to go with those three men without being indecisive because it was The Spirit who sent them. Peter goes with them men to Caesarea. Acts 10:28 explains the unclean food vision - "... it is not Lawful for a Yehudean man to associate with a foreign man who is not a son of his tribe, but Elohim showed to me concerning a man not to say that he is unclean or defiled. So I came to you...."  (food was used as a visual metaphor; this vision was about Gentile believers).

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Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

What is a covenant?
It's an agreement between two or more persons, also known as:

contract - promise - pact - understanding

When Elohim makes a promise it is to bring about a relationship between Himself and His people.  He explains what is expected (the terms) and then we choose whether or not to accept His Terms.  If we agree with His terms then we must uphold our end of the deal.

When we accept and agree to do as He says, we are to abide by the 'Terms of the Contract'.  In order to know the terms we need to read Scriptures, beginning with Genesis, wherein YHWH explains what is expected of His People.

Genesis 2:15 - YHWH Elohim took Adam and placed him in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.  And He commanded the man, saying: Of every tree of the garden you are free to eat; but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die."

This was the understanding between Yah and Adam.

Genesis 3 - Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild beasts... He said to the woman, "Did Elohim really say: You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?"  Eve replied, "We may eat of the fruit of the other trees of the garden. It is only  about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden Elohim said 'You shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die.'  And the serpent said to her, "You are not going to die, but Elohim knows that as soon as you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like divine beings who know good and bad."

Thus, the serpent caused Eve to doubt the Word of Elohim and also convinced Adam to do likewise.  They betrayed the understanding between them and their Creator. YHWH banished them from the Garden.  Their faith, their trust in the Creator was tested - they did not resist temptation; the devil did not flee from them.

Fast-forward to the time of Noah.

In Genesis 6 YHWH tells Noah He's going to put an end to all flesh because of how corrupt the earth had become, filled with lawlessness.  He instructs Noah in the building of the ark because of the flood to come.

Genesis 6:17 - For My part, I am about to bring the Flood... to destroy all flesh under the sky... everything on earth shall perish. But I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall enter the ark with your sons, your wife and your sons' wives...
Genesis 9:9 - I now establish My covenant with you and your offspring to come, and with every living thing that is with you... all that have come out of the ark, every living thing on earth.  I will maintain My covenant with you: never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.
Genesis 9:12 - This is the sign that I set for the covenant between Me and you... for all ages to come.  I have set My bow in the clouds and it shall serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.  When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and every living creature among all flesh, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.  When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between Me and all living creatures, all flesh on earth.  That shall be the sign of the covenant that I have established between Me and all flesh that is on earth."

The promise here is that Elohim will not flood the world again in order to destroy all flesh.  He calls this an everlasting covenant which means it is still in effect in this day and age.  Think about this next time you see a rainbow.

Moving along, in Genesis 12 YHWH makes a promise to Abram.  He tells Abram to leave 'home' and travel to the land He will show him.

Genesis 12:2 - I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you and curse him that curses you; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you." (the terms of the contract)

Abram left and took his wife and his nephew Lot and all their belongings with him.  When they arrived in the land of Canaan YHWH appeared to Abram and told him, "I will assign this land to your offspring."

Eventually Abraham and Lot go separate ways.  

In Genesis 13:14 YHWH reminds Abraham that the land he sees belongs to him and his offspring forever - generation after generation. This covenant is still in effect.

Genesis 15:18 - On that day YHWH made a covenant with Abram saying, "To your offspring I assign this land 

Genesis 17 - I am El Shaddai. Walk in My ways and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between me and you and I will make you exceedingly numerous.  This is My covenant with you: You shall be the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fertile, and make nations of you; kings shall come forth from you.  I will maintain My covenant with you and your offspring to come, as an everlasting covenant throughout the ages, to be God to you and to your offspring to come. I assign the land you sojourn in to you and your offspring to come, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting holding.  I will be their Elohim. 

Genesis 17:9 - As for you, you and your offspring to come throughout the ages shall keep My covenant. Such shall be the covenant... every male among you shall be circumcised... that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.  Throughout the generations every male shall be circumcised at the age of eight days... Thus shall My covenant be marked in your flesh as an everlasting pact. If any male fails to do so he shall be cut off from his kin because he has broken My covenant. 

Genesis 17:19 - Sarah your wife shall bear you a son and you shall name him Isaac and I will maintain My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his offspring to come... Ishmael I will bless... but My covenant I will maintain with Isaac.

Years go by and Abraham stays true to Elohim. Even so, YHWH tests him.  He tells Abraham to take his favorite son, Isaac, and offer him as a burnt offering.  Abraham's faith is as such that He obeys the command and totally trusts Yah to know what He's doing.  He proceeds to the place as instructed.  Of course YHWH stops Abraham from slaying his son and now commits to blessing Abraham.

Genesis 22:17 - I will bestow My blessing upon you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sands on the seashore. All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed My command.

In Genesis 26, YHWH tells Isaac about fulfilling the oath He swore to his father, Abraham, about the land and his descendants and the blessing -

26:5- Inasmuch as Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge: My commandments, My laws and My teachings (the terms of the covenant = obey the Creator).

In Genesis 28, YHWH meets Jacob and lets him know that He is the Elohim of Abraham and of Isaac. He reaffirms the covenant, points out the land that is his and his offspring and tell  him that He won't leave him until He has done what He has promised.

Genesis 35:10 -  You whose name is Jacob, you shall be called Jacob no more, but Israel shall be your name.  I am El Shaddai. Be fertile and increase; a nation, yes an assembly of nations, shall descend from you.  Kings shall issue from your loins.  The land that I assigned to Abraham and Isaac I assign to you; and to your offspring to come will I assign the land.

We learn that the Creator, our heavenly Father, made a promise long ago, an everlasting covenant with a select group of people:

Any one who obeys His Instructions and

Have the testimony of His Son

The Example to Follow

Did Jesus go out to "meet and greet" people, getting to know them before he started to teach the Word of God?  Did he sidestep issues of the day so as not to be labeled a "Torah Thumper"?

I don't think so.

He came loaded with knowledge, understanding, love and truth and wasted no time with 'ear tickling' in an attempt to win people over.

Y'shua was known by his reputation. From a young age he was very knowledgeable of Scripture. Later he became known as a teacher and a healer, and some speculated he was possibly the son of Elohim - others knew without a doubt.  People were drawn to him, some out of curiosity, some to hear his teachings for themselves, or to be healed of their ailments, or because they recognized the Good Shepherd's Voice and responded to the calling.

His disciples were eventually sent out to people who were ready to hear about the kingdom to come. The disciples were instructed not to waste their time with the unrepentant ones, knock the dust off their feet, take their shalom and move on.  Today they may have been called "Torah Terrorists".

"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near."

Are we to consider ourselves as 'fishers of men' or does that only apply if we are indeed in the fishing industry to begin with?  It was a snappy saying Y'shua used on Simon and Andrew who were fishing at the time Y'shua called to them. It worked - those brothers dropped their nets and followed after him.  Later he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat fixing their nets and Y'shua called them as well. They dropped what they were doing and went after him.  

They followed Y'shua through Galilee where he taught in their assemblies. They were amazed by his teachings because he taught as an authority, not like the scribes. He preached the Hope of the Kingdom and he healed every disease and sickness among the people.  His fame was heard in all Syria. Quite a crowd of people ended up following him. (Matthew 4:18-25; Mark 1:16-22;) By now he is starting to get on the nerves of the Pharisees and some scribes - he was a threat to their long held position of authority and power.

Later on he sees Levi (Matthew) sitting at the custom house and said, Come, follow me! and he did. Y'shua went up a mountain and called on those whom he desired and they came to him. He called 12 to be with him, to preach and be authorities to heal the sick and cast out demons.

Simon, whom he called Peter;

James and John, brothers he called the 'sons of thunder';

Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Tomas,

James, Thaddeus, Simon and Judas

They, who had been reading Yah's Instructions and the writings of the Prophets, had been waiting for 'Immanuel' (Yahshua). By their knowledge of Scriptures (ye old testament) they recognized prophecy being fulfilled before their very eyes! They recognized the Good Shepherd's voice.

Through our continued study and reading of His Word we, too, shall be prepared to recognize the Good Shepherd when he calls. Then, without hesitation, without question, we drop what we are doing and follow him.

Yahshua the Anointed One taught these things:

Blessed are they who are poor in spirit, who are mourning, and meek because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven where they will be comforted, and they will inherit the earth. 

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness because they will be satisfied. 

Blessed are they who are merciful and pure in their hearts because mercies shall be upon them and they will see Elohim 

Blessed are they who make peace because they will be called the sons of Elohim. 

Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness because theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Blessed are you whenever they curse you and they persecute you and they say every evil word about you falsely because of me.  Then rejoice and be glad because your reward in heaven is great for likewise they persecuted the prophets of days gone by. 

You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt should become bland, with what would it become seasoned? For anything not fit is but to be thrown outside and be trodden by man. You are the light of the world. It is not possible to hide a city that is built on a mountain.  Let your light shine like this in front of the sons of man that they should see your works good and they glorify your Father who is in Heaven. 

Do not think that I have come to loosen (do away with) Torah of the prophets; I have not come to loosen but to fulfill (to perform my duty). For truly I say to you  that until heaven and earth pass away not one Yodh (dot) or one stroke will pass from Torah until everything happens. (He did not replace the Father or His Instructions)  All who loosen therefore from one of these small commandments and teach others to do the same will be called little in the Kingdom of heaven but all who do and teach this will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds more than that of the scribes and the Pharisees you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Yah Separates us from that Pagan World

Yahweh tells us to be 'set apart' because He is Set Apart. The first example of this is the 7 day count, beginning each month and counting every 7th day as the day of rest. This shall be a sign to Him: 

Exodus 16:23 - then he said to them, "This is what Yahweh meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, set apart to Him. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning." (get all your meals prepared the day before so you don't have to 'kindle a fire' on the sabbath to do any cooking) 35:2 For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Set Apart day, a sabbath of Complete Rest to Yahweh Elohim. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day."

Leviticus 23:3 - For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of Complete Rest, a holy convocation. You shall not do any work; it is a sabbath to your Elohim, in all your dwellings.

Deuteronomy 5:12 - Observe the sabbath day to keep it set apart as Yahweh your Elohim commanded you

Ezekiel 20:12- Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

Yah says to do it, so we do it because of our Faith in Him. We believe He is the One True Living Elohim and we show our love for Him by obeying His Instructions. It is a Sign to Yahweh that we are His people.

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Zephaniah 1:4- I will stretch out My arm against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem; and I will wipe out from this place every vestige of Baal, and the name of the priests of the heathen gods, and those who bow down on the roofs to the host of heaven; and those who bow down and swear to Yahweh your Elohim but also swear by Malcam (Milcom, the abomination of Ammonites) and I will wipe out all those who have forsaken Me, who have not sought nor turned to Me.

Baal (ba'al) was an ancient Canaanite and Mesopotamian deity associated with agriculture. He was believed to be the "giver of life" and mankind was dependent upon him for providing what was necessary to sustain the farms, flocks and herds. He was also called the "son of Dagon" (who was in control of the grain), and "Hadad" the storm god who would provide plentiful rains after hearing his voice (thunder).

The land of Canaan was devoted to the worship of Baal. The Semitic word Baal means "lord" or "master" and the Canaanites believed that Baal was in absolute control over nature and over people. It was he who was in charge of the rain and the weather, and man's survival was dependent upon Baal's provision.

One may question that those ancient enemies of Israel were as evil as the Bible claims that they were, but even a superficial glance at Canaanite religion alone ably demonstrates their iniquity. Base sex worship was prevalent, and religious prostitution even commanded; human sacrifice was common; and it was a frequent practice, in an effort to placate their gods, to kill young children and bury them in the foundations of a house or public building at the time of construction: Joshua 6:26 "In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn." Howard E. Vos, "An Introduction To Bible Archaeology" Revised ed. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1953)

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These are some of the pagan things mentioned in Scriptures, also known as 'alien', 'heathen' or 'foreign':

• altars/shrines
• customs
• symbols
• nations/peoples
• gods
• women

2 Chronicles 14- Asa did what was good and pleasing to Yahweh Elohim. He abolished the alien altars and shrines; he smashed pillars and cut down the sacred posts. He ordered Judah to turn to Yahweh the Elohim of their fathers and to observe the Teaching and the Commandment.

2 Kings 23- King Josiah ordered the high priest Hilkiah, the priests of the second rank, and the guards of the threshold to bring out of the temple of Yahweh all objects made for Baal and Asherah. He suppressed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had appointed to make offerings at the shrines in the towns of Judah and in the environs of Jerusalem, and those who make offering to Baal, to the sun and moon and constellations - all the host of heaven.  He brought out the image of Asherah from the House of Yahweh to the Kidron Valley, burned it, beat it to dust and scattered its dust over the burial ground of the common people. He tore down the cubicles of the male prostitutes in the House of Yahweh, at the place where the women wove coverings for Asherah (Ishtar/Easter).

(Can you imagine anyone standing up for Yahweh like this today?) 

Ezra 10:2- Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel of the family of Elam spoke up and said to Ezra, "We have trespassed against our Elohim by bringing into our homes foreign women from the peoples of the land 10:44- All these had married foreign women, among whom were some who had born children

Why are some 'believers' offended by using 'God's Word' to point out the difference between right and wrong?  His Instructions set us apart from the traditional, man inspired doings of the world. We are called to come out of this world system, a hot bed of paganism reeking of Mystery Babylon, just as the city of Babylon was back in the day: lawless, totally without regard for the Instructions of Elohim.  If we are not taught right from wrong, if we do not trust our Father and believe His Son, we will trust anyone and do whatever we please.

Are we making reservations for Fire Lake or the Promised Land?