- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Aug 30, 2019 20:54:50 GMT -8
From Mark:
This week’s readings: Par’shah 47
Date of reading: August 31, 2019/30 Av, 5779
Name of Par’shah: Re’eh (See)
Par’shah: D’varim 11:26-16:17
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu 54:11-55:5
Brit Chadashah: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 1 Yochanan 4:1-6
D’rash:
D’varim 15:7-11 gives specific instructions on lending to a fellow believer in need and avoid being hard-hearted, mean-spirited and stingy, especially when nearing the sh’mittah, the seventh year of release (of debts). In summary, HaShem desires that we be ready and willing to serve fellow believers that are truly in need out of a heart filled with compassion and concern. I would like to use this principle as a spring- board to discuss a broader concept taught by Yeshua in a parable found in Mattityahu 20:1-16: To explain briefly, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who hires workers early in the day to work in his vineyard and agrees to pay them the standard daily wage of one denarius. Throughout the day, he finds others who are standing around and hires them to come and work also; even at one hour before the end of the day he finds others and hires them. At the end of the day when it is time to pay them, he starts with the last ones hired and ends with the those hired at the beginning. Each are paid one denarius, to which the first begin to grumble to the farmer that they were the ones who worked all day in the heat.
To get a better understanding of this parable, we need to go to the previous chapter (19) starting with verse 16 where Yeshua hears out a wealthy young man’s concern about eternal life, despite his claims on keeping many of the mitzvot (commandments). He pinpoints this man’s real problem, that he loves his wealth more than he does YHVH and leaves sadly, unwilling to change. Yeshua turns to his talmidim (disciples) and comments how hard it will be for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Reading further in verse 27, Kefa (Peter) mentions that they have left all to follow Yeshua and asks what they will have. Their reward will be many times over along with eternal life. Kefa’s question was probably an honest one but leads to a familiar statement in the last verse of chapter 19: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” This brings us back to chapter 20, where we learn to guard against any negative attitude in our service to HaShem, particularly if we have been following Him for a long time. Those who have just come to a saving knowledge of the Truth are often excited over their newly found faith (or believers becoming Messianic, a more complete knowledge of the Truth), and serve the Master with a joyful heart. These can be compared with those who started later in the day to work in the vineyard. Those who were hired first and worked all day represents those who have walked with YHVH and have served Him for many years. Often, they are seasoned believers who have been trained in the Word and have taught others. They have also borne the “heat of the day”, that is, bearing the discipline, hardships and responsibilities that come with being a long-term talmid (disciple); “From him who has been given much, much will be demanded---from someone to whom people entrust much, they ask still more.” (Luke 12:48b). The danger lies in allowing ourselves to become weary in our service to HaShem that results in complaints replacing joy and gratitude. No doubt Moshe (Moses) experienced this (B’midbar 11:10-15) along with many of the prophets. I believe part of the problem occurs when an individual allows ministry to replace personal relationship with HaShem, therefore their ministry responsibilities can slowly become more burdensome. Personal time in the Word and rest is needed to refresh and strengthen to continue serving with joy. It is evident in his letters that emissary Sha’ul had good success in his service to YHVH despite the sufferings he experienced (2 Corinthians 4:6-12; 11:21b-29). It is good to remember that despite the difficulties seeking and serving HaShem, it is still better than anything the world has to offer; and though each will be rewarded according to his work (Romans 2:6-7; 1 Corinthians 3:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:10), just receiving eternal life is a sufficient reward in itself. Perhaps it will help to remember to have humility in our service also:
Luke 17:10---“… when you have done everything you were told to do, you should be saying, ‘We’re just ordinary slaves, we have only done our duty.’”
Our personal relationship with HaShem through His Word is what gives us joy, peace and strength in this life and the ability to do what He has called us to do:
D’varim 8:3---“… a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai.”
References: Scriptures taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stern
MRD
This week’s readings: Par’shah 47
Date of reading: August 31, 2019/30 Av, 5779
Name of Par’shah: Re’eh (See)
Par’shah: D’varim 11:26-16:17
Haftarah: Yesha’yahu 54:11-55:5
Brit Chadashah: 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 1 Yochanan 4:1-6
D’rash:
D’varim 15:7-11 gives specific instructions on lending to a fellow believer in need and avoid being hard-hearted, mean-spirited and stingy, especially when nearing the sh’mittah, the seventh year of release (of debts). In summary, HaShem desires that we be ready and willing to serve fellow believers that are truly in need out of a heart filled with compassion and concern. I would like to use this principle as a spring- board to discuss a broader concept taught by Yeshua in a parable found in Mattityahu 20:1-16: To explain briefly, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who hires workers early in the day to work in his vineyard and agrees to pay them the standard daily wage of one denarius. Throughout the day, he finds others who are standing around and hires them to come and work also; even at one hour before the end of the day he finds others and hires them. At the end of the day when it is time to pay them, he starts with the last ones hired and ends with the those hired at the beginning. Each are paid one denarius, to which the first begin to grumble to the farmer that they were the ones who worked all day in the heat.
To get a better understanding of this parable, we need to go to the previous chapter (19) starting with verse 16 where Yeshua hears out a wealthy young man’s concern about eternal life, despite his claims on keeping many of the mitzvot (commandments). He pinpoints this man’s real problem, that he loves his wealth more than he does YHVH and leaves sadly, unwilling to change. Yeshua turns to his talmidim (disciples) and comments how hard it will be for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Reading further in verse 27, Kefa (Peter) mentions that they have left all to follow Yeshua and asks what they will have. Their reward will be many times over along with eternal life. Kefa’s question was probably an honest one but leads to a familiar statement in the last verse of chapter 19: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” This brings us back to chapter 20, where we learn to guard against any negative attitude in our service to HaShem, particularly if we have been following Him for a long time. Those who have just come to a saving knowledge of the Truth are often excited over their newly found faith (or believers becoming Messianic, a more complete knowledge of the Truth), and serve the Master with a joyful heart. These can be compared with those who started later in the day to work in the vineyard. Those who were hired first and worked all day represents those who have walked with YHVH and have served Him for many years. Often, they are seasoned believers who have been trained in the Word and have taught others. They have also borne the “heat of the day”, that is, bearing the discipline, hardships and responsibilities that come with being a long-term talmid (disciple); “From him who has been given much, much will be demanded---from someone to whom people entrust much, they ask still more.” (Luke 12:48b). The danger lies in allowing ourselves to become weary in our service to HaShem that results in complaints replacing joy and gratitude. No doubt Moshe (Moses) experienced this (B’midbar 11:10-15) along with many of the prophets. I believe part of the problem occurs when an individual allows ministry to replace personal relationship with HaShem, therefore their ministry responsibilities can slowly become more burdensome. Personal time in the Word and rest is needed to refresh and strengthen to continue serving with joy. It is evident in his letters that emissary Sha’ul had good success in his service to YHVH despite the sufferings he experienced (2 Corinthians 4:6-12; 11:21b-29). It is good to remember that despite the difficulties seeking and serving HaShem, it is still better than anything the world has to offer; and though each will be rewarded according to his work (Romans 2:6-7; 1 Corinthians 3:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:10), just receiving eternal life is a sufficient reward in itself. Perhaps it will help to remember to have humility in our service also:
Luke 17:10---“… when you have done everything you were told to do, you should be saying, ‘We’re just ordinary slaves, we have only done our duty.’”
Our personal relationship with HaShem through His Word is what gives us joy, peace and strength in this life and the ability to do what He has called us to do:
D’varim 8:3---“… a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai.”
References: Scriptures taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stern
MRD
