Post by Mark on Dec 17, 2007 5:38:47 GMT -8
One of the things that I'm working on in our community is trying to help those coming from the gentile Church see the beauty and value of the Messianic Liturgy, as taken out of the Jewish Synagogue. I've been writing a paper each week on different prayers and thought some of you might be interested in what I've shared thus far. I'll start posting them in this area, as I go along, hoping that these generate some response of praise to Adonai our God, or stimulate questions on the Judaic perspective of our faith.
V’ah Havta L’Rayahkha
It’s terribly presumptive of me. Yet there is one place where I find myself at odds with Jeremiah Greenburg’s Messianic Siddur. It is here at the V’ah Havta L’rayahkha. Rabbi Greenburg translates, "…and you should love your neighbor as yourself." I must prefer, "…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The difference between should and shall may seem trivial. Yet, in this particular passage, it infers a distinction, a plausible separation, between our relationship with Adonai and our relationship with our fellow man. John tells us:
If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
(1 John 4:20 MKJV)
What John tells us is that if we truly are living in a love relationship with Adonai, the naturally resulting consequence will be an expression of biblical, godly love toward our fellows. At the same time, every act of love toward each person around us is an expression of love directed toward Adonai.
Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
(Matthew 25:37-40 MKJV)
The same word, V’ah Havta, is translated "shall" in the Sh’ma. In Leviticus 19:18, from which the V’ah Havta L’rayahkha was taken, the V’ah Havta is stated as a commandment. Messiah stated that upon these two commands hang all the Law and the prophets. Yet, we must understand that they are really not two; but different expressions of one in the same. If one is not present, the other will not be either.
In reading Leviticus 19:17 and verse 18 together, distinction is made between one’s neighbor and one’s brother. One commentator suggests that the brother refers specifically to those of the household of Israel. The neighbor is, therefore, everyone else. The neighbor is spoken of as an extension of the love that one should naturally have for those who are close. "Just as you should not bear any grudge against one of your own family, you must love everyone, regardless how close, as you love yourself."
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13 KJV)
V’ah Havta L’Rayahkha
It’s terribly presumptive of me. Yet there is one place where I find myself at odds with Jeremiah Greenburg’s Messianic Siddur. It is here at the V’ah Havta L’rayahkha. Rabbi Greenburg translates, "…and you should love your neighbor as yourself." I must prefer, "…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The difference between should and shall may seem trivial. Yet, in this particular passage, it infers a distinction, a plausible separation, between our relationship with Adonai and our relationship with our fellow man. John tells us:
If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
(1 John 4:20 MKJV)
What John tells us is that if we truly are living in a love relationship with Adonai, the naturally resulting consequence will be an expression of biblical, godly love toward our fellows. At the same time, every act of love toward each person around us is an expression of love directed toward Adonai.
Then the righteous shall answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and fed You? Or thirsty, and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger, and took You in? Or naked, and clothed You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and came to You? And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brothers, you have done it to Me.
(Matthew 25:37-40 MKJV)
The same word, V’ah Havta, is translated "shall" in the Sh’ma. In Leviticus 19:18, from which the V’ah Havta L’rayahkha was taken, the V’ah Havta is stated as a commandment. Messiah stated that upon these two commands hang all the Law and the prophets. Yet, we must understand that they are really not two; but different expressions of one in the same. If one is not present, the other will not be either.
In reading Leviticus 19:17 and verse 18 together, distinction is made between one’s neighbor and one’s brother. One commentator suggests that the brother refers specifically to those of the household of Israel. The neighbor is, therefore, everyone else. The neighbor is spoken of as an extension of the love that one should naturally have for those who are close. "Just as you should not bear any grudge against one of your own family, you must love everyone, regardless how close, as you love yourself."
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13 KJV)