Torah reading Yitro (יתרו): Exodus 18:1–20:23

Readings

• Exodus 18:1–20:23
• Isaiah 6:1–7:6; 9:6–7
• Proverbs 31:10–31
• Matthew 5:1–20

Studies

The following are recorded studies from Hallel Fellowship teachers on passages in and related to Yitro.

Sinai’s call: A journey of renewal and spiritual awakening through Messiah (Exodus 19–20)

Jeff February 3, 2024

The 10 Commandments, recorded in Torah reading יִתְרוֹ Yitro (Jethro; Exodus 18:1–20:23), stand as a divine testimony, revealing the eternal plan of the Holy One for humanity. In this study, we will see that understanding our identity, purpose, and ultimate goal unfolds as we traverse the journey of Passover, marking our passage from bondage to freedom. Like the modern British Commonwealth, Israel embodies a unique entity, with her sons and daughters designated as priests, kings and prophets but most importantly, as sons and daughters of God. Amidst vacillations between fidelity and faltering, Israel’s distinction emanates from divine appointment. Central…

Read More

How Heaven helps you soar above your past and present (Exodus 18–19)

Jeff February 11, 2023

The Ten Commandments are a testimony, a witness of the Holy One and Heaven’s plan for humanity on Earth now and l’olam v’ed (over the horizon and beyond, i.e., “forever and ever”). But thankfully, in the orah reading יתרו Yitro (“Jethro,” Exodus 18:1–20:23) we learn how Heaven offers to free us from the things that have chained us to a life headed toward true death and introduce us personally to a way that leads to true life and peace — no matter what happened before or what’s going on now.

Read More

Jethro vs. Amalek: Humility vs. arrogance before God (Exodus 18–19)

Daniel January 22, 2022

God gave Moshe (Moses) a very wise and discerning father-in-law. Yitro (Jethro) was a blessing to Moshe all the days of his life. The Torah reading יתרו Yitro (Exodus 18:1–20:23) shows us how he saved Moshe from burnout.  Yitro’s humble advice to Moshe resonates with all of us as he encourages us to not take more work than we can handle and to be willing ask for help from those in our lives who have been blessed by God with discernment and mercy. Just as Moshe delegated the spirit of discernment on the elders of Israel, how much more would Yeshua the Messiah…

Read More

New covenant = Sinai + Spirit (Exodus 18:1–20:22)

Jeff February 6, 2021

Rather than the Law and the Spirit of God being in opposition to each other and the latter usurping the former, as some teach, we will see in this study of the Torah passage Yitro (“Jethro,” Exodus 18:1–20:22) that we receive the “new birth” in Mashiakh Yeshua (Christ Jesus) via both Sinai and Spirit.

Read More

10 Commandments primer for modern generations (Exodus 18:1–20:23)

Daniel February 15, 2020

How do we live by every word of the Torah? In this talk covering יתרו Yitro (Jethro) in Exodus 18:1–20:23, we are reminded that God is the God of actions, not merely abstract ideas. We live by the Torah when we practice it in our day to day lives just as a basketball player consciously practices his dribbles and his 3-point-shots for hours at a time. This summary of the 10 Commandments provides practical examples of how we can apply them in our daily interactions.

Read More

Exodus 18–20: Ten Commandments reveal the heart of God

Hallel Fellowship January 26, 2019

There is a Jewish tradition that when one reads the Ten Commandments, the congregation is supposed to stand, as those who were at Mt. Sinai were standing in attention as God revealed them to His people the first time (Torah reading יתרו Yitro, “Jethro,” Exodus 18:1–20:23). Are we standing at attention to hear the Word made flesh (John 1:14) explain the Spirit of the Law (Matthew 5–7)?

Read More

Exodus 18–20: Ten Commandments reveal the Creator and Savior of Israel and the world

Daniel February 3, 2018

Much of the world knows that happened in Egypt long ago, when the Holy One of Israel turned slaves into victors through 10 devastating plagues and the Red Sea crossing. And at the time, many in the surrounding Ancient Near East knew about it, too, even without the benefit of social media or CNN. In Torah reading יתרו Yitro (Exodus 18:1–20:23)​, we learn that Yitro (Jethro) wanted the inside scoop, the real story on this victory over a superpower of the time, so he took his daughter and grandsons and tracked Moses down in the desert of Midian. Israel also got…

Read More

Exodus 18:1–20:23: Like Father, like Son

Daniel January 30, 2016

At Mt. Sinai, the Creator testified what “love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength” really means. In the Torah reading יתרו Yitro (Genesis 18:1-20:23), we explore how Heaven gives us different tasks and different means to fulfill those duties.Heaven gives us different tasks and different means to fulfill those duties. These are not only money but also talents.

Read More

Journey to the 10

Exodus 12–20 recounts a transformation of Israel from a people in bondage to a truly free nation of ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. This “Journey to the 10” is a path each believer should take before and after baptism to become fully mature, not lacking anything. (Start the series of studies from the beginning.)

Rebuttal to Andy Stanley’s ‘Irresistible’

Exodus 18–19

God introduces Himself to Yisra’el

When Moshe was on this mountain with the burning bush, which didn’t actually burn, he had to ask God who He was. Now he is back at this same mountain, but this time God has set the entire mountain on fire with smoke. This was not just for Moshe and Aaron, but it’s for all the people to see and respect.

Israel arrives at Mt. Sinai

The Exodus 18 is out of sequence. God has a reason for placing Jethro’s counsel at this point in the narrative, even though Jethro’s arrival was well after God gave Moses the 10 commandments and the people’s rebellions with the Golden Calf. In Exodus 19, Israel arrives at Mount Sinai and prepares to receive the 10.

Exodus 20 and Shavu’ot (Pentecost)

Acts 2: Peter preaches with power purposefully on Pentecost

Peter’s Pentecost sermon not only made A’s for power of the Spirit but also for being “politically incorrect” in condemning the listeners. Why did Peter say what he said this particular Pentecost? What are the consistent lessons of Pentecost, called Shavuot in Hebrew for “sevens” or “weeks”?

Deuteronomy 29: ‘New Covenant’ isn’t entirely so new

This chapter points out that the “New Covenant,” or “New Testament,” isn’t so new and doesn’t replace deals cut between God and Adam, Noach (Noah), Abraham, Moshe (Moses), David, etc. The LORD intended the Torah from the very beginning to be “written” on the hearts (emotions) and minds (reason) of His people.

Ten Commandments

There are so many sermons, books and testimonies out there about practical application of the 10 Commandments. In one way, there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said, but in another way, there’s so much here that there isn’t enough time in the universe to dwell upon all the applications and ramifications of these simple commandments. This simple list of 10 basic commandments give us insight into how God views us, our political institutions and our families.

Arrival at Sinai and the hearing of the 10 — Shavu’ot

Following in Israel’s footsteps, we have arrived at Sinai. Pretend you are listening to the 10 Commandments for the first time. It’s a challenge to hear them anew. Find a new way to make them a part of your life—to bring yourself even closer to Yeshua than you have ever been before.

Shavuot teaches encountering God ‘in spirit and in truth’

This is a special time in God’s calendar. We have reached Shavuot, the “Feast of Sevens.” It’s also called Pentecost, which is Greek for 50th. This feast is, in a sense, a continuation of the fulfillment of the covenant God made with Abraham. When human beings try to obey God in the flesh without a redeemed spirit, they will inevitably fail. We lift up two loaves at Shavuot, one made of wheat and one of barley. Both are His, and we will give both back to Him. There is so much hope for mankind at this time, even for those who are “not of us.”

Related:other studies on Shavu’ot