Pip: There’s a spiritual danger hiding in plain sight — and it’s not the one the church usually wants to talk about at the potluck.
Mara: cj’s latest post on The Way of the Rabbi takes on gluttony — not just the physical kind, but what the piece calls “gluttony of grace,” the habit of treating God’s patience as a license to keep sinning. Let’s start with what that actually means and why it matters.
Gluttons of Grace: The Spiritual Dangers of Gluttony
Pip: The post opens with a disarmingly ordinary scene — a fast food order, a one-dollar add-on, and a question: is that gluttony? But that small moment is a doorway into something much larger, the idea that we overindulge spiritually the same way we overindulge at the counter.
Mara: The post grounds the argument in Ephesians 2:10, setting up the kind of life we’re actually called to: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Messiah Yahoshua to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”
Pip: So the stakes here aren’t just dietary. The argument is that grace was never meant to be a standing permission slip — it was meant to launch us into something, a life shaped by the Father’s instruction, the Torah.
Mara: Right, and the post is careful to separate that from works-based salvation. The point isn’t that obedience earns anything. It’s that continuing deliberately in sin while claiming grace is its own kind of excess — the “gluttony of grace” the title names.
Pip: The church’s reluctance to preach on gluttony gets a dry observation here — that it hits too close to home and is harder to hide than most sins. Which is a fair point. Gluttony is the one vice you can’t keep in a private browser tab.
Mara: The post invokes Ezekiel 36:26-27 to answer the objection that Torah-keeping is simply impossible: “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” The Spirit, not willpower, is the mechanism.
Pip: And then Paul — the one, as the post puts it, “in whom so many twist to justify their sinful natures” — gets quoted directly against that very use. Shall we continue in sin so grace may increase? Certainly not.
Mara: The post closes on Matthew 7, the sobering passage where Yahoshua tells those who performed miracles in his name: “I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.” That’s the endpoint of gluttony of grace taken to its conclusion.
Pip: And the landing is Proverbs 23 — a father’s plea to a son to guide his heart on the right course. The frame shifts from warning to invitation.
Mara: Which is really the post’s whole posture. Not condemnation, but a call to search out truth and walk in it — a heart of flesh instead of stone.
Pip: Grace as a floor rather than a ceiling — that reframe does a lot of quiet work.
Mara: It does. The question underneath all of it is what we’re actually being saved toward, not just saved from. Worth sitting with until next time.
The other night I ate out. It was fast food so nothing fancy and I brought it home so is that actually eating out, technically? The place I chose had a special menu option of a one dollar item. So I added it to my order. However, I didn’t take anything away from what I was already ordering. Therefore, in the end I over ate. Is this the definition of gluttony?
What is the definition of gluttony? The definition is quite simple, gluttony is “excessive eating and drinking.” It is also numbered among the often spoken of, seven deadly sins. Side note here the seven deadly sins although can be found separately within Scripture they do not appear as a list. It is believed that the seven deadly sins was coined by Pope Gregory I. Now gluttony in Hebrew can also be translated as, to be vile, to be worthless, to be insignificant. Based on these definitions, being glutinous, doesn’t sound so appealing.
The church doesn’t like to talk much about gluttony. If you ask me it is because this one hits way too close to home and is far harder to hide. Everyone has their struggles so I am not trying to be insensitive just pointing out an observation. There is plenty that I have had to overcome and others I am still battling, to that I say fight the good fight.
One issue I see abounding in the church today is, gluttony of grace. Taking advantage of Elohim’s patience. Without a doubt I have fallen into this trap as well. However, once one begins to realize that Yahoshua (Jesus) kept and taught the Torah and that He used it to teach, it cannot be denied or swept away.
In John eight Yahoshua makes a statement that many ignore or give it a cursory glance. In being brought the woman caught in adultery at the end of the encounter He says to the woman; “Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.” Rather than take this verse as a statement of fact, many treat it as an invitation to change. Although they are partly correct they are missing the bigger picture. We are called to abound in good works.
Not a works based salvation but good works because we are saved. Abounding in the good works prepared for us before the foundation of the world. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Messiah Yahoshua to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.” (Ephesians 2:10 Berean Study Bible). What are these good works? Some would say they are the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians five. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are in Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Again this isn’t a wrong belief it is simply incomplete. The good works involve keeping that which the Father established for His people. His instruction, the Torah, as we walk in the light of His Truth. The problem is that we see a list of rules and say it is impossible. Rather than holding to the promise that the Holy Spirit brings in fulfillment of Ezekiels prophecy. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
Paul himself, the one in whom so many twist to justify their sinful natures, said, “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Messiah Yahoshua were baptized into His death?We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Messiah was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life.”
Newness of life is not to continue to sin. Essentially becoming gluttons of grace. Then in the end finding out the one we claim to know, never knew us. Yahoshua said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Adonai, Adonai, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23.
Imagine finding out that we are vile, worthless, or insignificant. Because, instead of putting on the newness of life we walked as gluttons. Continuing in the traditions of man rather than searching out truth and living according to the Fathers instruction. Proverbs 23:15-19 is a good place to wrap things up. “My son, if your heart is wise, My own heart will indeed rejoice. My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the YHWH. For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.”
May we all seek for a heart of flesh from the Father. This is the Way of the Rabbi.
Endure. 1. to hold out against; sustain without impairment or yielding; undergo. to endure great financial pressures with equanimity. 2. to bear without resistance or with patience; tolerate. I cannot endure your insults any longer. 3. to admit of; allow; bear. His poetry is such that it will not endure a superficial reading.
“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures, I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life. Which is in God’s Paradise -‘Eden.’” Revelation 2:7
“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who endures will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Revelation 2:11
“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him who endures I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, on which is written a new name. A name that nobody knows except the one receiving it.” Revelation 2:17
(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “. . . only hold fast to what you have until I come.To him who endures and does what I want until the goal is reached.” Revelation 2:25-26 (29)
(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.“) “He who endures will, like them, be dressed in white clothing. I will not blot his name out of the Book of Life. In fact, I will acknowledge him individually before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5 (6)
(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will make him who endures a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he will never leave it. Also I will write on him the name of My God. As well, the name of My God’s city, the new Jerusalem. Which is coming down out of heaven from My God, and My own new name.” Revelation 3:12 (13)
(“Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities.”) “I will let him who endures sit with Me on my throne. Just as I myself endured and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:21 (22)
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Endurance, is an important part of the Way of the Rabbi. He taught us by His actions. Not just His life, but even more so in His death, enduring death, beaten, pierced and hung on a tree. Paul, continues the passage above by saying, “Therefore, I do not run aimlessly.” No he ran with a purpose. He said, imitate me as I imitate Messiah Yahoshua (Jesus). We are not to live aimlessly, lawlessly, or without purpose. No we have been given instruction for our purpose and charged with an enduring mission.
“Then Yahoshua (Jesus) came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
What is it that Yahoshua instructed? He exemplified the Torah, bringing it to fullness, revealing its purpose. The Torah is the instruction manual on how to live set apart lives from the nations. It reveals to us how to live obediently, holy, sanctified lives. Without it we are lawless making us no different than the nations. To keep the Torah is not to do away with Faith in Messiah. It is done because of our faith in Messiah. Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints. Who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yahoshua (Jesus).”
In Yahoshua’s charge to His disciples in Matthew 28 quoted above He says, “. . . all that I have commanded you.” At no point did Yahoshua instruct His disciples to do away with the Torah. No not once but to do away with man’s tradition. He challenged the religious leaders on their interpretation and their added rules. He clarified, and lived out the Torah perfectly. It is by His grace through faith that we are saved but we are called to live set apart.
Many will read this and say it is impossible to keep all the commandments of God. Yet in their next breath quote Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” All but keep the commandments of God, that I cannot do. Oh you of little faith, hypocrites and weak willed fools. Paul’ s words are true and align with the instruction of Messiah perfectly.
Is it difficult in a fallen world to live set apart lives under the instruction of God? YES! A hundred times yes. But that doesn’t mean we are free to practice lawlessness (Torahlessness) and say we are under grace. By no means! We are to endure and in that endurance we will be blessed, protected, and welcomed into the Kingdom. This is the Way of the Rabbi.
i have known for a long time that the world is unforgiving. Not to mean that one cannot rise from the ashes of their ruined life, but it is ruthless. The world will hold over you your weakness, your wrong, and your sin with relentlessness. It is why many find comfort in bars, gangs, and alleyways. i never have been so low. i have never felt so down on myself that i sought solace in bars or other places. No, i am one who finds solace in the dark of my own thoughts isolated from others. Yet, in life i have always tried to be a safe place for others. A place where they could find comfort or solace. An alternative to bars, gangs, and alleyways. A listening ear, a calming presence, a place to vent frustration. When i stood in the pulpit my goal was always to teach others to do the same. After all it goes with my life verse from Micah 6:8 paraphrased, “Act Justly, Love, Mercy, Walk Humbly.” After falling from grace, so to speak. i made a catastrophic error in judgment that affected others. Speaking only of my grief and brokenness, i never hit the bottom. Nearer than ever before but held up by faith. It is in this time however, metaphorically speaking, i cut out my tongue.
To this, i also played the victim. It was look at me and why is this happening to me? It wasn’t that i blamed others for my mistakes, i didn’t. i blamed myself and in so doing condemned myself. i was my own worst enemy. i was unworthy of forgiveness because the world doesn’t forgive anyway. The Church didn’t forgive either. i can count on one hand the amount of Church leaders who reached out to me. It has been just over 5 years now. i say this all to point out one thing. we must be as an Ekklesia, more full of grace than condemnation, more full of hope than shame. As i wrote last week, when we love our enemies, we present grace and hope. It is here that i would like to say, we are the enemy in someone’s story. So take to heart, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” We do this by praying for those who persecute us. Whether or not our enemies accept it is not up to us. We are simply planting the seed, or watering a seed that has been planted by someone else. Possibly, even, we are about to reap what has already been sown. Regardless, the passage that refers to heaping burning hot coals is not ours to dump.
In this realization, by way of deep introspection, i have come to conclude that there is hope for me yet. There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is still a calling and a purpose. Perhaps, i will never regain my voice. Although, currently there is no plan to stand in a pulpit again. There is writing and because of that i still have a voice through my fingers. The truth of the gospel doesn’t change because of brokenness, brokenness is changed because of the gospel. Hope is restored because of the gospel. Restoration happens because of the gospel. Reconciliation is possible because of the gospel. It is through the gospel. But what is the gospel?
Gospel, in its simplest form means, “good news.” It signifies the message of salvation and reconciliation through Yahoshua Messiah. It is this reconciliation to Elohim and the renewing of the covenant. The idea of the renewed covenant is found in Jeremiah and Hebrews. The Gospel is the Creator calling His creation back home. Elohim is essentially saying, “Good news! I have provided a way for you to come home. I have provided the atonement necessary, paid the penalty for your sin. Declared victory over both sin and death. I have done this because of My great love for you. Because of My desire to have fellowship with you. For you are My children. All I ask is that you separate yourself from others by wearing this lifestyle of righteousness. I want you to be My Ambassador. To tell others of this life changing possibility. Of the eternal rewards that await all who accept this invitation.”
The sign and seal of the New Covenant is the circumcision of the heart. It is the tenderness and willingness to grow in grace and truth. What is truth? His Word is Truth. Yahoshua is Truth. We put on the wedding garment laid out for us by the Groom. We clothe ourselves in His righteousness. His Word is Righteousness. We place ourselves under the protection of His Commandments. “If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments.” (John 14:15) This is the message of Yahoshua. This is the Way of the Rabbi. Hear again His words:
“Why do you call Me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ but not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on sandy ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!” Luke 6:46-49
The thing about the good news of the gospel is this, that wherever you are, whatever you have done, you can always return home. What is needed is a heart of repentance. To turn your life around from sin. Do a complete u-turn. To give all your brokenness to Yahoshua, the author and perfecter of our faith. For He who has begun a good work in you will see it through until completion. We only need to allow Him to do what needs to be done. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you. Choose the Way of the Rabbi and receive grace for your soul. This is the good news of the gospel.
“All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of Elohim may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
If Paul was writing to Timothy that all Scripture is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness . . . Surely he was also referring to Ezekiel and Ezekiel records this:
“Her priests have done violence to My Torah and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded My sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 22:26
The thing i am finding more and more frustrating with modern translations is their separation from Israel, and by this separation the changing of and diluting of Elohim’s word. If you open your modern translation for Ezekiel 22:26 it will read, “Her priests have done violence to my law.” In our westernized, hyper grace way of thinking it is easy to disregard the word ‘law’ as outdated and done away with. However, the word is Torah and it refers to HIS WORD. His written word and if Yahoshua is the WORD made flesh it even sets Him aside.
“In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with Elohim, and the WORD was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” . . . “And the WORD become flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-5,14
Yahoshua, declared, “I and My Father, are one.” “If you have seen Me you have seen the Father.” “I can do nothing of Myself. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” What is the will of the Father? Well, according to Ezekiel YHWH, the Father, was calling out Israel for what they had allowed to happen among them. Violence towards the Torah, profaning the Holy things of Elohim, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded the sabbaths.
Micah records YHWH saying, “I have told you o’man what is good and what does YHWH require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” It isn’t so much a set of rules as it is acting justly by following the decrees of Elohim, it is loving mercy, and walking humbly. Not by our own will or understanding but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohim. Yahoshua is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If He and the Father are one what is the writer of Hebrews saying? Malachi writes, “For I YHWH do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the WORD of our Elohim will stand forever.” Matthew writes, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My WORDS will not pass away.” John in the book of Revelation records Yahoshua saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega (Aleph—Tav), the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Has the WORD been done away with? Are we now outside of Torah? Are we allowed to live lawlessly? By all means NOT! But Yahoshua, writes the Torah on our hearts and through the Holy Spirit we are empowered to live for Him, not under the punishment of the law but by faith we must be obedient to the WORD made flesh. “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:18-19 — His coming, was the fulfillment of the Torah and the prophets not the dissolving of them. He states that Moses wrote about Him, He reads Isaiah in the Temple and declares, “Today this verse is fulfilled in your eyes.” He is the promised Messiah. In Him is healing and forgiveness, “Behold the Lamb of Elohim who takes away the sin of the world.”
There is coming a separation of the sheep and the goats. The sheep will enter through the narrow gate. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13-14 The idea of being a sheep is a reoccurring theme, in John, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and THEY will listen to My voice. So there will be ONE FLOCK, ONE SHEPHERD.” Messiah is not divided, nor are we two different nations, but we are one people, with one Shepard.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 —If profaning the sabbath, and treating the holy things of Elohim as common, and putting that which is unclean in place of that which is clean was detestable in the days of Ezekiel, then they are detestable today. Oh yes, thank Adonai for favor, for grace, for forgiveness, but grace does not excuse our lawlessness or better our Tora’lessness. Obedience is righteousness, FAITH drives our obedience.
In a world hell bent on excluding Elohim, we the PEOPLE of Elohim, need to stand up, stand apart, and live our lives in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Yahoshua said, “In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and manifest Myself to him.” . . . “If anyone loves Me, he will KEEP MY WORD, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does NOT love me does NOT keep My words. And the word that you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” . . . “But the HELPER, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:20-21, 23-24, 26
Many will hear Yahoshua say, “Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” The Greek “Anomos,” means, “Destitute of Mosaic Law” or Tora’lessness, being without or outside of Torah. Yahoshua is the doorway by which we enter into relationship with Elohim. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life, the very WORD of Elohim, in the flesh.
Time is short—
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve YHWH, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH.” Joshua 24:15
There is a fairly popular drink in the health and fitness section of grocery stores called Muscle Milk. i don’t recall if i have ever had it but there is always a chance, i just don’t remember. i do know that my youngest son drinks them on occasion before he goes to the gym or when he was playing hockey i think he would drink one before practice. Anyway, the point is that the drink is supposed to nourish your body and stimulate muscle growth and recovery. How well it works i don’t know, this is in no away an endorsement. i bring it up only to make this point, in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 Paul writes about milk verses meat.
“But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Messiah. I fed you with milk, not meat, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”
Earlier Paul writes, “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of Elohim, which Elohim decreed before the ages for our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:6-7)
Growth is a good thing. We should all strive to grow in our understanding and relationship with Yahoshua Messiah. Paul was really writing out of frustration to the Corinthians because they were lacking in the growth department. We can all relate at times to the Corinthians i think, hitting a point in which we become stagnant in our relationship with Yahoshua. On the other hand i also believe we can relate with Paul in becoming frustrated with others seemingly lack of growth even if we have poured into their lives.
One thing is for sure, we are supposed to be learning and growing. There is a beginning, of course, Acts 15:19-21 says; “Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to Elohim, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Most folks stop reading at verse twenty but it doesn’t stop there verse twenty-one indicates growth will come because Moses is read every Sabbath in the synagogues. Two things are evident here, Moses is read, meaning the Torah, or the Law and when is he read? On the Sabbath. The Gentiles were participating as a sect of Judaism known as the Sect of the Nazarene. It was understood that the Gentile believers would learn and grow. Remember ALL Scripture is profitable for teaching, rebuking, and for doctrine as Paul writes to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
There is growth, Philippians 3:12-16 says; “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Messiah Yahoshua has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Elohim in Messiah Yahoshua. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, Elohim will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” Growth is important. It isn’t the works that save us, no we are saved by the Grace through Faith. It is the Mercy of YHWH because of the work of Yahoshua.
Therefore, because of the work of the Yahoshua we respond to Him by growing in obedience to Him. In Luke, Yahoshua is recorded as saying, “Why do you call me ‘Adonai, Adonai,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like:” (Luke 6:46-47) Growth is important.
There is a goal. 1 John 5:1-5 says; “Everyone who believes that Yahoshua is the Messiah has been born of Elohim, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of Him. By this we know that we love children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and obey His Commandments. For this is the love of Elohim, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of Elohim overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Yahoshua is the Son of Elohim?”
As James 1:22 puts it; “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” We must be active agents. Milk, is great in the beginning, maybe even muscle milk, but we must, in fact it is absolutely imperative, that we desire the meat of the Word. So that we grow, in that we seek to know Yahoshua, as we are known by Him and not just the new believer but all who call on the name of Yahoshua.
“For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” Matthew 6:14-15
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our sins from us.” (Psalm 103:12) It is a wonderful promise to be forgiven in such away that our sin is removed as far as the east is from the west. We love the idea that Elohim forgives in such away. Oh to have our sins blotted out. “Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.” (Psalm 51:1) Everyone wants to be forgiven, but many do not like to forgive. We desire that our sins be not remembered, but we hold grudges, make lists, remembering the wrongs others have committed. Some would say it is human nature. True, our nature since the garden has been in opposition of our Creator. We are by nature sinners and because of that nature we must desire mercy. Both to receive mercy from the Father and to grant mercy to each other.
This is easier said than done.
“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.” Matthew 18:23-27
As in this parable, the servant desired mercy, begged for it. The king showing mercy forgave the man his debt. We plead for forgiveness from the Father through Yahoshua. We need it because the debt is too great, we will never be able to pay it, only by the grace, and mercy of our Adonai Yahoshua ha’Mashiah do we have forgiveness. This is a fact. And we are instructed to forgive and as Yahoshua teaches His disciples to pray He sets in the foundation a reminder, “As we forgive our debtors.” By our nature we need the reminders, as the parable illustrates, it continues:
“But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.” Matthew 18:28-30
This is our nature. We love forgiveness but find it hard to forgive. But by the empowering of the Spirit of Elohim, it would be impossible. Have you seen the internet lately? What we need in this world is more grace and mercy. Yahoshua, continues with the parable:
“When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.” Matthew 18:31-34
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Mashiah, Elohim forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
The importance of forgiveness from a health standpoint goes without saying. Study after study shows the impact forgiveness has on the heart, and the mind. It is a healthy choice to forgive. But that isn’t the most important reason to forgive, it is in fact most important in forgiveness. As Yahoshua concludes the parable:
“So also My Heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35
One might ask how many times are we to forgive someone? Peter asked the same thing. In fact the parable i just used above comes directly after Yahoshua answers Peter’s question. Adonai tells Peter, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” The point, a lot. Even when it hurts.
“And they were stoning Stephen as he was calling and saying, ‘Adonai Yahoshua, receive my spirit.’ And kneeling down he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Adonai, do not hold this sin against them.’ And having said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:59-60
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as Adonai forgave you.” Colossians 3:13
i was in my mid 20’s and married to the mother of my boys. We had hit a rough financial spot, and i had spent the week in prayer. i would go down to the harbor in Dana Point. There was a place where the storm wall met the beach that created fantastic tide pools. The waves would crash upon the rocks at low tide with great force making for a spectacular water show. This was my prayer closet every morning, and i loved it. It was here that i brought all my worries and concerns and financial needs to the Lord and tried my hardest to leave them there in faith.
A week had gone by, and we were growing increasingly desperate for relief when came a knock on the door. It was our neighbor Carlos; he said, “Good morning, i have been restless all week. My wife and I came into some extra money unexpectedly after having a dream to give you money. I ignored the dream and bought a new TV. We got the TV home and plugged it in, but the screen blew, and it didn’t work. That night I had another dream about giving you the money. Again I ignored the dream and that morning went down and exchanged the TV. The same thing happened, and it happened again yesterday. Three times total. Last night I had the dream again, and I can’t ignore the dream anymore. So here is a check, please accept it; I don’t understand why but if I am not obedient, I am afraid I will never sleep without that dream.”
We did accept it, and after he left and I had gone inside, i opened the check, and it was for the exact dollar amount we needed for our financial shortfall. The EXACT amount! To this day, i have a dollar in the Bible i used down at the harbor as a memorial to God’s faithfulness. i had prayed for a week; God set out to answer that prayer as soon as i started to pray. Finally, through the obedience of our neighbor and friend, the answer arrived. i think about when Daniel fasted and prayed, and 21 days had gone by before getting an answer to a pressing vision he had. You can read the account in Daniel 10.
Now i am no Daniel, but i find it intriguing to think that as we pray that within the heavens, battles are being fought. Also, that the ruler of this world and his many minions are fervently fighting to delay answers to prayers. Have you felt led through a dream or vision a pinch of the heart to help someone and failed to do so? Could it be that the devil would have you distracted from being the very answer to someones prayer? If the devil can get you to focus on yourself, you will miss the need of your neighbor.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus talks about giving to the needy in this way. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you; they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1-4
Earlier, He said this: “Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42) Now i didn’t make known our need, and my only begging if one would call it that was making my petition to the Lord. God moved Carlos to be the answer to that prayer. His willingness to be obedient in giving was a blessing to us and actually to him! i want to be careful here because i don’t want to give folks the wrong impression of being obedient. Our reward is often in heaven, however for Carlos and his wife, that weekend at a company picnic, they won a drawing for a TV! Coincedence? Maybe, maybe not.
Here is my question for us, what dream or vision is God giving you? Who is he leading you to reach out to, to lend a hand to, or perhaps even help through money or groceries? You might just be the answer to someone’s prayer, don’t delay the response any longer, giving temporary victory to the evil one.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for thiers is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the mercifull, for they shall recieve mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:3-12)
These are more than just statements; they are a code, a way of life, a call to action, for those of us who would consider ourselves children of The Way. When you break them down word by word and understand the definitions, they take on a more profound life than they already present. Let us begin by understanding the word blessed.
Blessed, by its very definition, sets the stage for each statement. The word means consecrated, sacred, holy, sanctified, and favored. Each of these words deepens the meaning and statement to come. Those that “are the” are blessed. We of The Way, who walk according to these beatitudes, should have a spring in our step, and oomph in our prayers, and a hope rooted in our hearts.
Blessed are the . . .
Poor in spirit, this can be described like this, ‘a steadfast dependence on God’s grace and provision.’ When we understand that without God, we are empty of meaning, we can recognize more clearly that with God, we have a clear purpose. (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Mourn, to feel or express sorrow, even for sin, both personal and that of the world. If we remove sin from the world by worldly morality, there is no sin to mourn. This is a dangerous practice that is more than prevalent in and outside the church. We must remember the WHOLE of Gods word. (Romans 6:1; 6:15; 1 John 3:6,9)
Meek defined is, humbly patient or quiet in nature as under provocation from others. We cannot get into the ‘cancel culture’ that is so big today. We must begin to find ways to speak truth in love. We can be, and should be, angry at many things in this world. However, it must be a righteous anger. (Ephesains 4:15,26)
Hunger and thirst for righteousness. We have to desire God and His righteousness like that of food and water. Without either, our bodies will wither and die . . . the same is true for us spiritually, we need to seek Him above all else. Only then will we be satisfied. (Psalm 34:8; 1 Peter 2:1-3)
Merciful, full of mercy; compassionate, possessing the attribute of mercy; exercising forbearance or pity; not revengeful or cruel; be gracious. First, forbearance is refraining from enforcement, and pity is empathy, sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before you throw your stones at them. (Psalm 41:1)
Pure in heart, like the heartfelt plea of David in Psalm 51, “create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me.” We must desire a life free from anything different, of inferior to the Word of God, or anything that is contaminated by the world. (James 1:27; Hebrews 10:19-25; 2 Timothy 2:22-26)
Peacemakers; a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight. It sounds like we need some peacemakers in Washington. We as The Way must begin to breech the conversation even with the knowledge that we will be persecuted! (Romans 12:18; Hebrews 12:14; Psalm 34:14)
Persecuted, to pursue with harassing, especially because of religious or political beliefs . . . If we truly stand on the Word of God, we can expect to be persecuted and even more so as we see the day of the Lord approaching. This should not deter us but embolden us to continue to seek justice and righteousness. (Matthew 10:16-22; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)
We have a message of hope and redemption that the world desperately needs but is becoming increasingly blind to . . . that does not relieve us of our responsibility to share the Gospel. These beatitudes are a road map to life in Christ; we need to begin to live them out! The world needs Jesus. “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” (Romans 10:8-10)
If there is no right, there can be no wrong, and if there is no wrong, then the phrase, “Do what thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law,” becomes completely understandable. The idea of “You do you, or whatever makes you happy!” This first saying, “Do what thou wilt . . .” was that of the person accredited with starting the new age movement we see today. i wrote last week about right becoming wrong and wrong right, and as i have thought about it this week, we are witnessing the transition happen before our very eyes. This should be troublesome for all believers of the Way. Not in a fearful way but in an awakening sort of way. We can no longer sit by . . . our silence, is our consent.
The new age movement uses the terms we use. They will refer to light and that we are all stars and light. But their appetite is selfish. It goes back to the garden, and the tree, and satan. “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” “Did God actually say, . . .?” Satan was a lying serpent then, and he is a lying serpent today. Yet, he disguises himself as an angel of light. This is how Paul describes it in his second letter to the Corinthians. “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.” i have thought about what it would look like to be the light of the world or a lamp on a stand. There are some street preachers here where i live. One guy who has a microphone and speaker stands on a ladder and preaches. Another guy says nothing; he simply walks all over town with a sign that reads very clearly, “Jesus is our only hope.” i don’t feel called to either of those, but there is no doubt that they are being light. One thing is for certain when we are silent to the sins of this world; we are the opposite of light.
We are living in a time in history that i believe was foretold of by Paul to Timothy. “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” He goes on later to say this: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:1-4)
This hasn’t only happened outside the Church with the new age mantra, “Do what thou wilt,” but also inside the church, and it is time for the remnant of the Way to “hunger and thirst for righteousness, for (we) shall be satisfied.” Finally, let me close with Jesus, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” Matthew 16:24-28
The Way of the Rabbi 