Yeshua’s excited anger at the leaders of the Temple came with quotations from prophets Yeshayahu (Isaiah) — “My house will be house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7) — and Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) – “den of robbers” (Jer. 7:11). The full context of those prophecies directly relates to why the leaders should have understood why Yeshua was quoting from those passages and why those prophecies applied to them.
A large number of believers in the God of Israel and Yeshua as the Messiah of God seem to have an identity crisis. Many have been taught that believers in Yeshua (Jesus) are part of “the Church” or a “new Israel,” which “died” to the Torah. However, Yeshua, the Prophets and apostle Paul said believers join ancient Israel and take on its heritage in the Torah.
We continue to explore the “gospel” that Paul delivered to the Galatians by reading what is recorded of his messages to those congregations and his parallel explanations in letter to other congregations. Today, we explore Ephesians 2-4 and its discussion of the “new man” and “old man.”
Continuing the study of “the saints” in Acts 9:32, we learn that righteousness and holiness are gifts of God. Peter’s healings, including baptism of the dead, show that the “commonwealth of Israel” isn’t a new Israel but a more inclusive Israel.