To you, the reader, i write, with this one purpose in mind, that you would be stirred in your soul. A stirring so deep that you desire to read and study beyond this post. In order to gain a greater understanding of the Word of God. For it was the Bereans’ who were considered to be of more noble character. Why? It was for their desire to hear, and to study. That they would know if what they were being taught was true. And what did they study? The Scriptures, the Law (Torah) and the Prophets.
The word declares, “Study to show yourself approved. A workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly treading the Word of Truth.” The word treading is often translated as dividing. Many a wayward interpretation believes this is to divide up the words of God. Not true. It is to cut a path, maintain the truth, tread rightly the Word of Truth. For God’s Word is Truth. This was the heart of the Bereans’.
When reading the Word, one must ask themselves, to whom is the letter written. Yes, in the end it can be concluded that we are the intended audience. However, it is vitally important that we understand context. This will allow us to tread rightly the Word. To whom was it written? Where did they live? What is the backstory and therefore the overall purpose of the letter? When one knows the answers to these questions it becomes easier to know how to apply the Word today.
For instance, a passage often taken out of context is of the dietary law. Yahoshua is confronted about the washing of hands. The Pharisees question why Yahoshua’s disciples don’t wash their hands. Yahoshua answers it isn’t what goes in the mouth that defiles a man but what comes out of the heart. He challenged the Pharisees extra rituals. This had nothing to do with food and everything to do with extra man made burden. It is well known that an added phase, “Thereby declaring all foods clean.” Which now in most translations if it is present is so with brackets. For it was added much later and does not appear in the earliest of manuscripts.
The context was hand washing. The food on the table was all food. There wasn’t a giant ham on the table with lobster tails and shrimp. What was on the table was food. The question of cleanliness is of tradition. It was said that if a person with unwashed hands touched food, the food was unclean. It didn’t turn to ham it was a steak or a potato that was now ritually unclean. So Yahoshua pointed out that this was not a Torah commandment but a man made ritual. Yahoshua declared that all food considered good by God was not defiled. This was true even if one didn’t wash their hands.
Context matters, audience matters, time and place matter. This is just one example but there are many more. The modern church thinks that the Word of Elohim has been done away with in large parts. Calling the Scriptures old, yes, they are but they are still relevant. They are necessary to know sin, for what is sin? Sin is the transgression of Torah, sin is Torahlessness. The Word talks about the coming of the lawless one. What law is he going to be without? The law of the land? What land? Who’s land? The lawless one will be Torahless. Are you Torahless?
The opposite of Torahless is righteous. Righteousness is those commanded by God to be obeyed by man. Are you obeying the commands of God. Yahoshua said, “If you love Me, obey My commandments.” He also said, “Why do you call me Adonai Adonai and not do as I command?” And “Depart from Me, I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness.” Remember, lawlessness is Torahlessness.
This is the way of the Rabbi. To study to show yourself approved, rightly treading the Word of Truth. God’s Word is Truth.
You are loved,
cj
The Way of the Rabbi 