Post by Mark on Oct 31, 2008 3:56:31 GMT -8
Messiah was walking through a field with His disciples on the Sabbath day. His disciples were hungry, so they would gather up heads of grain and eat the meat from the seeds as they walked. This was a common practice. There was nothing illegal or unordinary about it. One of the rules of general hospitality was that anyone could eat whatever was in the field of another, so long as they carried nothing out: they ate in the field. Yet, those looking to make issue where there was none made accusation that against Messiah Yeshua and His followers, saying, "Your disciples are doing that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day." (Matthew 12:2)
At least, that’s how we read it in most English translations render the text. There are different kinds of rules and laws. There are many different standards of expectation, depending upon who you ask. The Greek text is clear about these distinctions, where many of our English translations are not. The Pharisees are recorded with the word "exestin" in the Greek, which can mean law; but generally would refer to rules of etiquette: that which was proper or socially dignified.
Messiah responds in type. "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered into the House of Adonai and ate the show-bread which was not "exown" for him to eat, nor for those who were with him; but for the priests only?"
An interesting point is the word "only". In Leviticus 24:9, we are told that the showbread is for the priests and that it is most holy; but there is no implication that the priests are exempt from rules of common and basic hospitality. It was likely inappropriate for David to ask for the showbread; but it was against
for the priest not to offer it.
And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
(Leviticus 25:35)
Messiah goes on to teach that even within the scope of definitions of there are latitudes. The priests are commanded to conduct brit milan (the rite of circumcision) even on the Sabbath, when the eighth day after birth falls upon that day.
He will go on to ask, "Which of you, if you were to have an animal fall into a pit, will you not rescue it on the Sabbath day?" The point is that we define what is right and appropriate from our own perspective, and often judge others based upon that, rather tham understanding what is Adonai’s expectations. Often we find ourselves hiding behind our piety to avoid doing what we know to be right.
Living biblically, walking in step with the Messiah’s halakha (His pattern of living) often means making a heart evaluation and prayerful decision as whether to do what is right versus what will make you appear more godly. It often means re-evaluating our own perceptions or pre-conceptions of what really says and really means. observance is not simply a list of commands and prohibitions; but a conceptual pattern of how to put Adonai first in every aspect of your life. Reducing it to a list of what we can do and what we can’t do removes the personality of the Messiah from our obedience and the essence of God from our understanding. This is why Moses gave us five books and not simply 613 mitzvot (laws of command and prohibition distilled from the ).
The world is full of "existeme": rules and standards that we live by as a community or as a culture. I have to laugh to myself when those of the Christian community argue, "we’re not under the Law but under grace." That grace extends to the definitions of; but many have been shunned or excluded from their congregations based upon the "existeme" of church leadership.
We all have "sacred cows" that need to be slaughtered. We all have biases and prejudices that taint our opinion of others and limit our capacity to understand. This reality isn’t God’s fault, nor is it a proper understanding of. Messiah said, "If you had known what this meant, ‘I will have mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have not condemned the guiltless."
O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
(Hosea 6:4-6)
At least, that’s how we read it in most English translations render the text. There are different kinds of rules and laws. There are many different standards of expectation, depending upon who you ask. The Greek text is clear about these distinctions, where many of our English translations are not. The Pharisees are recorded with the word "exestin" in the Greek, which can mean law; but generally would refer to rules of etiquette: that which was proper or socially dignified.
Messiah responds in type. "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered into the House of Adonai and ate the show-bread which was not "exown" for him to eat, nor for those who were with him; but for the priests only?"
An interesting point is the word "only". In Leviticus 24:9, we are told that the showbread is for the priests and that it is most holy; but there is no implication that the priests are exempt from rules of common and basic hospitality. It was likely inappropriate for David to ask for the showbread; but it was against
for the priest not to offer it.And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
(Leviticus 25:35)
Messiah goes on to teach that even within the scope of definitions of
there are latitudes. The priests are commanded to conduct brit milan (the rite of circumcision) even on the Sabbath, when the eighth day after birth falls upon that day.He will go on to ask, "Which of you, if you were to have an animal fall into a pit, will you not rescue it on the Sabbath day?" The point is that we define what is right and appropriate from our own perspective, and often judge others based upon that, rather tham understanding what is Adonai’s expectations. Often we find ourselves hiding behind our piety to avoid doing what we know to be right.
Living biblically, walking in step with the Messiah’s halakha (His pattern of living) often means making a heart evaluation and prayerful decision as whether to do what is right versus what will make you appear more godly. It often means re-evaluating our own perceptions or pre-conceptions of what
really says and really means. observance is not simply a list of commands and prohibitions; but a conceptual pattern of how to put Adonai first in every aspect of your life. Reducing it to a list of what we can do and what we can’t do removes the personality of the Messiah from our obedience and the essence of God from our understanding. This is why Moses gave us five books and not simply 613 mitzvot (laws of command and prohibition distilled from the ).The world is full of "existeme": rules and standards that we live by as a community or as a culture. I have to laugh to myself when those of the Christian community argue, "we’re not under the Law but under grace." That grace extends to the definitions of
; but many have been shunned or excluded from their congregations based upon the "existeme" of church leadership.We all have "sacred cows" that need to be slaughtered. We all have biases and prejudices that taint our opinion of others and limit our capacity to understand. This reality isn’t God’s fault, nor is it a proper understanding of
. Messiah said, "If you had known what this meant, ‘I will have mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have not condemned the guiltless."O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
(Hosea 6:4-6)
