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Faith vs Belief
Luke 8:25 “He asked them, “Where is your faith?“
In Luke 17:6 we read what Yeshua says about Faith, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” In Matthew 17 it says “you can move a mountain”. We have seen how the storms obey Yeshua, walking on water, changing water into wine, etc! By healing the sick, he always says, it is by their Faith they are healed. Luke 7:9 “I can guarantee that I haven’t found faith as great as this in Israel.” Luke 7:50 “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace!” Luke 8:48 “your faith has made you well. Go in peace!” Luke 8:50 “Don’t be afraid! Just believe, and she will get well.”
It wasn’t Yeshua’s faith that healed the people though, it was their own faith. By faith He and His disciples could expell demons, but in Luke 9 we read that the disciples couldn’t get rid of demons because of their faith, Luke 9:40-41 “I begged your disciples.. but they couldn’t do it.. Yeshua replied, You unbelieving and corrupt generation..” It is one thing to believe that YHWH is the Father, Yeshua the Son and Messiah, and that nothing is impossible for them.. but have your Faith ever been tested? When you get into a dangerous situation, do you fear? When your money runs out, do you worry? When you are sick, or need to pray for healing for someone, do you have a hint of doubt and just pray in “hope”? James 2 talks about faith and works, and how they are one. When there is Faith, there should be fruit to show for it. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!”
Let us look at the greek, hebrew and english definitions of Belief and Faith.
- Greek : the word Belief is pisteuō G4100 – pisteuō. Belief implies a cognitive acceptance of something as true. The word Faith pistis G4102 – pistis, which is a conviction of the truth.
- Hebrew : the word Believe Aman (where Amen comes from) H539 – ‘āman – to confirm, to stand firm, to foster, stand like a pillar, be faithful, be certain. Not a “think” word, but a “do” word, a Verb, there has to be some action to it, like Abraham acted to show his Faith. Faith Emunah H530 – ‘ĕmûnâ, from Emun H529 – ‘ēmûn – also meaning firm, steady, also means truth. Click here to see a previous post from 2 Chronicles 20 about the word Aman/Amen and Believe and Faith.
- English : Definitions says: Belief is the intellectual acceptance of something as true, while faith is the action or commitment to trust and act upon that belief, even without absolute proof. Belief is a conviction, whereas faith is the demonstration of that conviction through action. You can have belief without faith, but you cannot have faith without belief.
Greek and English takes “Belief” as believing something to be the Truth, and mindful acceptance. While the Hebrew says “Believe” is already an action word, to confirm your conviction of the truth with some action. While Greek and English says Faith is what moves you to action, while Hebrew says Believing is your Action – but Faith is making you unmoveable and unshakeable in your action. Hebrew Belief Aman/Amen says you are so committed to what you agree to, you are already moved into action. Faith, Emunah, keep your hands firm and steady in the action. Is this why Yeshua said, we are a corrupt and unbelieving generation (Luke 9:41), because we say we Believe, but we cannot show the fruits of our Faith. We read in Genesis 15:6 about Abraham, “And he believed H539 in YHWH; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
In Luke 17:5 the Apostles asks Yeshua to help them have more Faith. Instead Yeshua tells them even if they had a little drop of Faith, they would move trees and mountains. Then He explains to them how they should work their Faith. It is the same as giving commands to your workers, you must have the expectation they will obey and you and they will know their place. But, at the same time, watch out for Pride!! Verse 10 He ends with, remember you are the Servant, you are “just doing your duty”. How do get Faith? You have to work on it. Question your believe.. if you really believed, why are you still in doubt? Work on these questions, until you can be so convinced in your heart and mind on YHWH and His Power, and your place in His Kingdom, that you are moved to action without any doubts!
Luke 18:8 “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Sukkot, Tents for Yeshua, Moses and Elijah
Luke 9:28, 33 “Now it came to pass, about/nearly eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.”, “Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Yeshua, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he said.” Some translations say, that Peter wanted to setup tents for them. The greek word is Skene G4633 – skēnē, meaning mostly a Tabernacle.
It is clear that Yeshua and His disciples were in the time of the Festival of Tabernacles. This last Festival of YHWH that is to be kept every year, is 8 days. The first and last day is a High Sabbath, meaning no work is allowed. During this time, everyone lives in temporary make-shift tents to resemble that our time on earth is temporary, but we will live with YHWH forever. Click the links below, to see some interesting meanings with regard to Sukkot, The Feast of Tabernacle.
Number 33 – Jacob called a place Sukkot
Zechariah 14 – the meaning of Sukkot
Nehemia 8 – the meaning of each Festival and Day of YHWH that He appointed to be kept each year
Name of Yeshua
Luke 9:49 “Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.””
Way back in Numbers 13, we already came across the name of Yeshua, which is a short form of Yehoshua (click here to read more). In that post, we explained how translators have completely changed the name of Yeshua and split them into two : Joshua and Jesus. Even in Zechariah 3 we see a prophecy regarding Joshua, which does not make sense at all, and should have been Yeshua (click here to read that post). Also in Matthew 1 we touched on Yeshua’s name, and what other languages call Him (click here to read that post).
Here in Luke 9, Yeshua gives a very interesting answer. Today, we not only have thousands of different demonitations for the same Scriptures/Bible, but even in just one denomination there can be disputes on the actual name of Yeshua. But let’s consider Yeshua’s answer, on rebuking each other on using His Name, verse 50, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”
