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SOME STUDY GEMS:
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Judging Others
Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
From the Yeshua’s prayer in Matthew 6:12, we learn to pray “Forgive us as we forgive others”. From the old and new testament, the main lesson learned about Judgement, is that Judgement belongs to YHWH, and YHWH has given that right to judge to Yeshua. John 5:21-25 “For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.” And Acts 10:42, “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.”
This is perhaps why Yeshua teaches so much about forgiveness, and how we will be forgiven. The Hebrew word for forgive is NASA H5375 – nāśā’ – which actually means to obtain, take, carry, bear. Not only will Yeshua carry the burden of forgiving sins, but we should also carry that burden. For others posts about Judgement (click here), and Forgiveness (click here).
Obedience and the Law
Matthew 7:26 “Everyone who hears what I say but doesn’t obey it…”
Obey what? If there are no laws, what should be obeyed? Verse 29 says the people were amazed at how Yeshua taught “Moses’ Teachings” with authority. Moses’s Teachings is the Torah, the Law. Yeshua says, if we listen.. but don’t DO it, it is like building a house on sand.. we think we know, but we don’t really DO it. From verse 21 Yeshua also said, only the people who DOES what YHWH commands, will be saved. In verse 23 He says He will chase away.. not as plainly as translators say “evil people”, and some translations say “workers of iniquity“. The Greek word is Anomia G458 – anomia, meaning ignoring or violating the Law! The correct translation should say, “you who practice lawlessness“.
The Greek word for obey or do is Poieo G4160 – poieō, meaning to commit to, perform, keep, produce.
Evil Spirits and Demons
Matthew 8:16,28-29 “When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word”, and “And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?””
The greek word for demon-possessed is daimonizom G1139 – daimonizomai, meaning from the devil G1142 – daimōn, which are spirits (good or bad). It is interesting to note, when we look back at the old testament stories, before Israel and Judah were exiled to Babylon and Assyria, there were never these stories about evil spirit possessions. Now, that Judah has returned from Babylon, and adopted many of Babylon’s ways like worshipping of the sun and moon, using babylonian names and terms in their language, including worshipping their deities, it has brought with false god (the devils’ spirits), and suddenly it seems like demon possession has become a thing in Israel. Many of the practices that YHWH forbids in the laws, is practiced by other religions to call upon deities and spirits.
Leviticus 19:31 is just one of the many commands, “Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am YHWH your Elohim.” These mediums include practices like alcohol, drugs and sexual misconduct. When seeking after these spirits, or coming under the influence of certain practices, you open yourself up for these spirits to enter your body. Spirits cannot do anything without a “medium” or body.
Pigs and Dogs
Matthew 8:31 “So the demons begged Him, saying, “If You cast us out, permit us to go away into the herd of swine“
In the old testament pigs have been declared us unclean animals in Leviticus 11:7-8. Click here to see the post of foods/animals that are allowed to eat. The whole old testament is full of verses, comparing sin with pigs. The Greek word for swine is Choiros G5519 – choiros, and the Hebrew word for pig or swine is Hazir H2386 – ḥăzîr, and it is clear how much YHWH sees eating pork as abonimable. It does not mean He hates pigs, they are still His Creation. Just like dogs, as we see in Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Click here to see a previous post about Dogs from 1 Kings 22.
Yeshua allowed the demons to go into an unclean animal, as demons are symbolic with everything that is unclean. The warning from Matthew 7:6 to treasure your pearls, the beautiful things you learn from Scripture, if you share it with the wrong people, they will tear you apart. They will trample on the things that you have learned and treasured. Be careful with who you share your knowledge with, especially if it worth saving your life.
