Post by Mark on Dec 19, 2008 4:39:15 GMT -8
We often and easily struggle with the question, "How bad is bad?" At what point is doing the things that I want to do, because I like to do them, contrary to or sinning against God? How far can I go in my self-gratification before I’ve gone too far? The question rings hauntingly by the answer that Messiah quoted to the evil one when in the wilderness, "You shall not put Adonai your God to the test." Literally, "you shall not push Him over the edge."
We court with the specifics of the question, probably, on a daily basis. We wonder about the things we do, our regular mundane practices, our choices for enjoymemt and relaxation, our pursuits; and sometimes stave off the question, "What does God feel about this?" Or we justify things in our minds and in our prayers, declaring to ourselves that it must be okay because….
To the Hebrew mind, there is no such thing as an independent, isolated act. We make the decisions and choose our conduct based upon where we’ve been and where we are going (both physically and figuratively). The decisions that we make today are all formed upon the ways that we have decided previously. The results of these decisions today determine the circumstances we will choose in the future. This concept is described by the Hebrew word halacha which means a course or habit of conduct. It is visually represented by a well beaten path.
Messiah Yeshua said,
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
(Matthew 5:27-28 KJV)
There was a young woman who would sometimes work in our area. She was sultry, not necessarily knock-out attractive; but everything that she did felt sexual. I noticed, as did everyone around. Whenever I had an opportunity, I would send her someplace else. Eventually, one of the guys asked, "Why do you always do that?" I said that we don’t tend to get much done when she’s around. He said, smiling, "yeah." I looked at him and said, "You know, the Bible says that if you look at a woman and lust after her, you’ve already committed adultery in your heart." He said, "I can look without lusting." I said, "Then you have a medical problem."
A number of men have justified themselves as we’ve driven past on a nice summer day, "It’s okay to look," They say. Yet, it is this justification, this establishment of one’s halacha, that Messiah is describing in the text.
James put it this way:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(James 1:13-15 KJV)
The Hebrew idea of harlotry, the word za-nah, is closely associated to the idea of one’s military armor. The promiscuous woman is identifiable in the way that she dresses.
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.
(Genesis 38:15 KJV)
It is tragic that our culture and style promotes such dress as fashionable. Many young women, quite innocently, don the apparel of the modern harlot because such dress is advertised and made available as the most popular. The immediate consequences of this are not usually apparant (or at least we pray that they are not). However, in the style is an invitation to look at the woman as a display of her sexuality. For her it is simply looking good. For him, it is an establishment of halacha.
never forbids a woman of near kin to a man to be naked. Culture and hygeine of the semitic makes absolute modesty something of a logistical problem. Yet he is implicitly commanded by all means to not look upon her nakedness. The owness is placed solely upon the shoulders of the man, no matter how the gal might or might not be dressed.
The question we need to ask ourselves, when determining our course of habit is, "Where is this road leading?" Does this bring me closer to the Most High God or is it leading me away from Him? Even if such decisions may seem to hold us on a parallel, why would we want to do anything like that? Is not everything we do, in word or deed, to be for the purpose of giving honor to Adonai?
It is the natural state and inclination of mankind to court his own destruction, "like an ox that goes off to the slaughter." We seem fascinated by those elements that are tailor made to kill us. One old gentleman winked at me as a young woman walked past and softly reminded me, "You don’t fish without bait." His point was well taken. Those who allow themselves to be attracted inevitably wind up served garnished by lemon and pepper.
Messiah’s words may be taken too literally by some while at the same time, not literally enough. In the broader context of halacha, His teaching is absolutely consistent with the doctrine of Rabbi Hillel, the founding father of modern rabbinical Judaism. Yet, the specific of following after "eye-candy" is not one that even His contemporary scholars would have appreciated being pointed out. It’s those other things that other people are doing that is so terrible. My habits, that no one knows but me, are completely innocent.
We court with the specifics of the question, probably, on a daily basis. We wonder about the things we do, our regular mundane practices, our choices for enjoymemt and relaxation, our pursuits; and sometimes stave off the question, "What does God feel about this?" Or we justify things in our minds and in our prayers, declaring to ourselves that it must be okay because….
To the Hebrew mind, there is no such thing as an independent, isolated act. We make the decisions and choose our conduct based upon where we’ve been and where we are going (both physically and figuratively). The decisions that we make today are all formed upon the ways that we have decided previously. The results of these decisions today determine the circumstances we will choose in the future. This concept is described by the Hebrew word halacha which means a course or habit of conduct. It is visually represented by a well beaten path.
Messiah Yeshua said,
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
(Matthew 5:27-28 KJV)
There was a young woman who would sometimes work in our area. She was sultry, not necessarily knock-out attractive; but everything that she did felt sexual. I noticed, as did everyone around. Whenever I had an opportunity, I would send her someplace else. Eventually, one of the guys asked, "Why do you always do that?" I said that we don’t tend to get much done when she’s around. He said, smiling, "yeah." I looked at him and said, "You know, the Bible says that if you look at a woman and lust after her, you’ve already committed adultery in your heart." He said, "I can look without lusting." I said, "Then you have a medical problem."
A number of men have justified themselves as we’ve driven past on a nice summer day, "It’s okay to look," They say. Yet, it is this justification, this establishment of one’s halacha, that Messiah is describing in the text.
James put it this way:
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
(James 1:13-15 KJV)
The Hebrew idea of harlotry, the word za-nah, is closely associated to the idea of one’s military armor. The promiscuous woman is identifiable in the way that she dresses.
When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.
(Genesis 38:15 KJV)
It is tragic that our culture and style promotes such dress as fashionable. Many young women, quite innocently, don the apparel of the modern harlot because such dress is advertised and made available as the most popular. The immediate consequences of this are not usually apparant (or at least we pray that they are not). However, in the style is an invitation to look at the woman as a display of her sexuality. For her it is simply looking good. For him, it is an establishment of halacha.
never forbids a woman of near kin to a man to be naked. Culture and hygeine of the semitic makes absolute modesty something of a logistical problem. Yet he is implicitly commanded by all means to not look upon her nakedness. The owness is placed solely upon the shoulders of the man, no matter how the gal might or might not be dressed.The question we need to ask ourselves, when determining our course of habit is, "Where is this road leading?" Does this bring me closer to the Most High God or is it leading me away from Him? Even if such decisions may seem to hold us on a parallel, why would we want to do anything like that? Is not everything we do, in word or deed, to be for the purpose of giving honor to Adonai?
It is the natural state and inclination of mankind to court his own destruction, "like an ox that goes off to the slaughter." We seem fascinated by those elements that are tailor made to kill us. One old gentleman winked at me as a young woman walked past and softly reminded me, "You don’t fish without bait." His point was well taken. Those who allow themselves to be attracted inevitably wind up served garnished by lemon and pepper.
Messiah’s words may be taken too literally by some while at the same time, not literally enough. In the broader context of halacha, His teaching is absolutely consistent with the doctrine of Rabbi Hillel, the founding father of modern rabbinical Judaism. Yet, the specific of following after "eye-candy" is not one that even His contemporary scholars would have appreciated being pointed out. It’s those other things that other people are doing that is so terrible. My habits, that no one knows but me, are completely innocent.
