Category Archives: Teaching

“I Never Heard of the Talmud”

Teaching

Many Christians say: “I never heard of the Talmud.”

Yes, but you probably have if you have read or heard the New Testament preached.
Actually, it is the doctrines and teachings of the Pharisees of the New Testament, and is called “the traditions of the elders,” Matthew 15:2, 6; Mark 7:3, 7, 8,13; Colossians 2:8; I Peter 1:18.

These teachings are still being used by those who call themselves “Jews” today, and which they consider to be their authoritative scriptures.

“The Talmud is, then, the written form of that which in the time of Jesus, was called the Traditions of the Elders.” — Rabbi Michael L. Rodkinson

and

“The Jewish religion as it is today traces its descent, without a break, through all the centuries, from the Pharisees.” — Universal Jewish Encyclopedia

What did Jesus say about the Talmud, the doctrines of the Pharisees?

Matthew chapter 23 is all about what Jesus taught concerning the Talmud, the doctrine of the Pharisees. In verse 15 He says: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.”

Matthew 16:12: “Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

Those who follow the doctrine of the Pharisees today are called “Jews,”

and are proselytes or descendants of proselytes. We must warn them to repent or suffer the same consequences that Jesus promised:

“Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets and wise men, and scribes, and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them ye shall scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: That upon you may come all the righteous blood, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar,” Matthew 23:33-35.

“All these things” came upon that generation.

It is written for us as an example for those who reject Christ and follow the teachings of the Pharisees. Only the Truth in Jesus Christ will save them, and when it is preached many will turn from their wickedness, repent and be saved even as it did in New Testament times. Let us not join them in their sinful wickedness, but call them to repentance in Jesus Name.

For more information and the full text of the Talmud go to www.come-and-hear.com.

Plumb Level and Square

Teaching, , , ,

Carpenters understand that, to build a house, they must observe the principles of plumb, level and square or the house will not stand.

In colloquial conversation, we use these words to express exactness, totality, perfection and equality. We might say: “This is plumb good,” or “That’s plumb disgusting.”

The word ‘level’ is used to mean “fair,” or “honest,” or “true.” ‘Level’ is used also to mean “equality.” Like: “Is that on the level?” Or: “OK, level with me now.” Or: “We must have a ‘level’ playing field.”

The word ‘square’ is also often used to indicate fairness, or equality. Like: “That is fair and square.” Or: “Give me a square deal.”

Good carpenters often develop an eye for what is plumb, level and square. However, the natural eye cannot be trusted to determine the perfection required for a building; they must have tools, like the level, the plumb line and the square. Modern technology has developed tools using laser light for a more nearly perfect building.

What if the carpenter decides to use his own judgment about what is plumb, level and square? Isn’t his judgment as good as any? What is the basis for deciding these values? Actually, ‘plumb’ means exactly perpendicular to the earth; ‘level’ means what is exactly horizontal to the earth; and ‘square’ means what is exactly at “right” angles. These values were determined at creation, by the Creator. They are non-negotiable. We ignore them at our own peril.

What if we decide that we can choose our own judgment as to what is morally true, fair, square, plumb, or level? We will wind up with a life, a home, a community, and a nation, that will not stand for long, although it may look good to the natural eye for a short while. But the great Creator has not left us without the tools we need to build a permanent structure. These tools are found in His Word, the Bible. These moral tools have proven themselves from the very beginning of creation. We ignore them at our own peril.

God’s word is Light, more precise and exact than laser light. Without this Light we are like a blind carpenter trying to build a house. With these God-given tools, we can build a life that will endure for eternity. Only in Christ do all things ‘consist,’ that is, “hold together.” Christ is the infinite, absolute, and ultimate Light that is available to “whosoever will.” God gave us His Son, Light, the Word. In Him, and through Him, we have what we need to build a Life.

Rethinking the House Top Experiences

Teaching

The Way Through the House Top?

Luke 5:19: “And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the house top, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.”

Does it always bother you a little bit when we hear the story of the men who let their friend down through the roof of the house so he could be healed by Jesus? Well, it does bother me a little bit. Just seems to be rather unfair or dangerous, or expensive, but, of course, worth it.

However, it has set me to thinking: the house-tops seems to have been used quite a lot. For example even in the Proverbs 21:9:

“It is better to dwell in the corner of the house top than with a brawling woman in a wide house.” And just in case anyone missed this wise counsel, it is repeated in Proverbs 25:24. Was this poor hen-pecked husband actually considering living on the housetop? He would surely have been desperate!

New Testament House Tops

Then there are the passages in the New Testament when Jesus was warning His followers to be ready to leave Jerusalem in order to escape the siege that was to come upon it:

Matthew 24:17: “Let him which is on the house top not come down to take any thing out of his house.” This is also recorded by Mark, 13:15 and Luke 17:31.

Then we have the account of Peter on the house top, Luke 10:9: “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the house top to pray about the sixth hour.”

Then, in verses 20 and 21, we see that Peter “went down” to greet his guests. It says nothing about him breaking through the ceiling.

From these passages and from the pictures representing the houses of that era in Palestine, it appears that the house tops were commonly flat and used as we now use a patio. There would, no doubt, have been a passageway, stairs or at least some kind of steps or a ladder from inside the house up to the roof, where there would have been a covered opening and a doorway to the outside of the rooftop. In Luke 5:19 it must have been large enough for the invalid man and his couch to move through.

It would have been a pleasant, private place, away from the daily chores and family activities. It would have been cooler and quieter in the evenings and at night. And, in the case of the man with the brawling wife, it wouldn’t really have been all that bad!

Holiness Is Wholeness

Teaching, , ,

The United States: A Divided House

Matthew 12:25: “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, ‘Every Kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”

The United States of America is no longer “United”; it is fractured in many different ways. In spite of our perceived strengths, we are weak and as a nation are falling into the hands of our enemies. It is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God that our nation can stand.

Matthew 12:25 was spoken in the context of Jesus’ answer to the scribes and Pharisees who had accused Him of casting out devils by the power of Beelzebub, Satan. He clearly declares that His power to cast out Satan is the power of the Holy Spirit of God. “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you,” verse 28. He did cast out devils by the Spirit of God, so, therefore, the Kingdom of God has come unto us.

Question: What will it take to unite us? Answer: Jesus.

Colossians 1:16-17: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him, and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

In Jesus and only in Him does everything “consist,” cohere, or hold together. It is impossible that our nation can hold together without Jesus.

For us, just as for Jesus, It is the Holy Spirit of God that binds the strong man, the devil, Satan. It is only by the wooing of the Holy Spirit that men can be drawn to salvation. It is only by the Holy Spirit of God that men’s hearts can be alive to bring forth the good fruit of the Spirit: love, joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance.

It is the Holy Spirit of God that makes us holy and binds us together.

How do we obtain this Holy Spirit? It is not by rituals, nor ceremonies, nor man-made laws, but by our repentance and whole-hearted searching for it. Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” “All your heart” means total surrender.

You cannot create your own holiness; it only comes from the Lord. Yet, you can seek it, you can discover it, you can research, excavate as an archaeologist in the Word and in humility and prayer. You can experience it. It is the “good treasure,” Matthew 12:35.

It is this “good treasure,” as found in Jesus, that binds people together in unity of Spirit. This is the ingredient of any social group that makes it cohere, hold together, in wholeness. Without it, the unity is broken, and the group becomes dysfunctional, weak and dying.

 

Ezekiel’s Dry Bones Prophecy

Teaching,

 

When?

Ezekiel chapter 37 describes his experience of being carried out in the Spirit to the Valley of Dry Bones in order to prophesy to them. These bones represented the whole house of Israel which at that time had been captured and carried away into Babylon. The historical timeline for this was during the seventy years of captivity, about 605 to 535 BC. This captivity was for seventy years as foretold by Jeremiah 25:11-12, which also promised a “return” to the land.

A False Conflation of Scriptures

Did this captivity literally end in seventy years? Yes, according to Ezra 1:1-4. Yet many so-called “prophets” today are saying that this is only being fulfilled in recent times, about 2500 years later, by a people calling themselves “Israel.”  They are making a false conflation of the Scriptures, artificially fusing the Old Testament promises of a literal return to a geographical land with the eternal promises of the New Covenant, also foretold by Jeremiah 32:40; 33:1-26.

The New Covenant

This New Everlasting Covenant was to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Branch of Righteousness. Contrary to popular “prophesy,” these modern so-called “Israelis” can only be saved from their sins by this Branch, Jesus. According to Amos 9:10-11: “All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, ‘the evil shall not overtake nor prevent us’. In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old.”

Fulfilled In Jesus Christ

This was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and His ministry according to Acts 15:15-18: “And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, ‘After this I will return and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called,’ saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.”

Do not be deceived by a false conflation of the Scriptures. Jesus is the Mediator of the New Covenant, the Heir of the promises, the Branch of Righteousness, the true Tabernacle of David.