Category: Prophets and Writings

These studies cover the ancient grouping of Hebrew Bible writings called Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings). These books include from Joshua through Malachi in the conventional Christian canon.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Pentecost/Shavuot Prophets and Writings Torah

Loyalty over ancestry: What really matters to God (Ruth 1–4; Exodus 20; John 4)

Loyalty versus ancestry: What really matters to God (Ruth 1-4; Exodus 20; John 4). Adobe Firefly AI image of an young ancient Middle East woman walks along a path holding hands with an older woman, walking past cactus and olive trees.

In this study on Shavuot (Pentecost), we see how we’re reminded annually of Heaven’s mission to call all nations and a promise to do that through His Son as King of Kings over Jew and goy (Gentile) alike. The Book of Ruth depicts a woman of Moab embraced by Israel through her faith: “Your people will be my people; your God my God.”

The Holy One’s promise to bless the world through Abraham was a legacy that stretched through Ruth’s lineage to King David to Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus).

Yeshua’s visit to Samaria (John 4) ignored long-held social barriers and showed that the good news of the Kingdom includes Gentiles. The Ten Commandments given at Sinai points all those called people to righteousness, starting with Israel.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Jubilee Prophets and Writings Sabbatical Year Torah

Cancel debts, free slaves: Radical teachings of Jubilee and Sabbatical Year for modern life (Leviticus 25; Isaiah 58; Matthew 6 and 18)

"Cancel debts, free slaves: Radical teachings of Jubilee and Sabbatical Year for modern life (Leviticus 25; Isaiah 58; Matthew 6 and 18). Adobe Firefly AI artwork of a hand reaching up toward a sunset-toned cloudy sky while a chain extends from each side of the scene and wraps around the wrist.

The Torah reading בְּהַר Behar (“on mount [Sinai],” Leviticus 25:1–26:2) teaches that debts are released after seven-year cycles (Shemitah, sabbatical year) and 49-year cycles (Yobel/Jubilee) to memorialize God’s forgiveness. This pattern is seen in Messiah Yeshua’s (Christ Jesus) teachings on forgiveness in Matthew 18 and manifest in his role as suffering servant who takes our debts (Isaiah 53). By forgiving others as we’ve been forgiven (Matthew 6:12), we reflect the Heavenly economy of releasing debts, underscored via receiving God’s mercy on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement; Leviticus 16; Isaiah 58:1–12).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Clearing the ‘sins of the fathers’: How repentance breaks generational curses (Leviticus 22; 1Kings 2; 1Samuel 21–22; Matthew 12)

"Clearing the 'sins of the fathers': How repentance breaks generational curses." Brass balance scale has one round stone on one side but nothing on the other side. Two stacks of flat round stones are behind the scale.

God has a grand design unfolding over eons and generations, using even flawed individuals to fulfill prophecy. This study explores how through King Saul’s massacre of the priests who gave fugitive David some of the retired Bread of the Presence, God removed Eli’s sinful priestly line as foretold years earlier. Though Saul faced due punishment, God first used his wickedness to kill Eli’s descendants as promised.

Generations after that promise and hundreds of years after the instructions given in Torah reading אָמַר Emor (“say,” Leviticus 21–24), David felt convicted for the priests’ and neighboring villagers’ death but not for what might be considered a minor Torah breach. Yet Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) affirmed that God held David guiltless. God’s plan surpassed surface events, working through personalities with long-term consequences.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Born separated from God, made pure: How Israel’s offerings for childbirth and ‘leprosy’ teach us about Messiah’s cleansing of humanity (Leviticus 12–13)

Born separated, made pure: How Israel's offerings for childbirth and leprosy' teach us about Messiah's cleansing of humanity (Leviticus 12-13). Adobe Firefly-generated artwork shows an ancient Israeli woman holding a newborn girl.

People are often repulsed by the Torah descriptions of “leprosy” and skin diseases in Torah readings Tazria (Leviticus 12–13) and Metzorah (Leviticus 14–15) because they focus only on the physical aspects and miss the weightier spiritual lessons. This study explores how “leprosy” here represented a condition of spiritual rot from separation from God.

While unpleasant to consider physically, examining it spiritually reveals how humanity is born in a state of separation since Eden — also taught via the sin offering for childbirth in Tazria — and God’s gracious provision to redeem and purify people through faith in him. Messiah (Christ) takes this spiritual rot and separation upon Himself to cleanse all who trust in Him as Heaven’s lifeline to the world.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Yeshua our Red Heifer: Who is worthy to bring in the Messianic age (Numbers 19; Ezekiel 36; Numbers 9)

Yeshua our Red Heifer: Who is worthy to bring in the Messianic age (Shabbat Parah: Numbers 19; Ezekiel 36; Hebrews 9). Artwork shows a red cow with horns on the Mount of Olives with modern Jerusalem and the Dome of the Rock mosque sitting on the site of Israel's Temple.

The biblical offerings of Israel always were intended as shadows of heavenly truth (substance), teaching eternal lessons through rituals subject to the ravages of temporal humanity. As the Temple Institute now aims to resurrect the ancient offerings, starting with the red heifer, this study of Torah reading צו Tzav (“command,” Lev. 6:8–8:36) and of readings for Shabbat Parah (Sabbath of the Red Heifer) explores how only Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) perfectly “fleshes out” — fills full — what these patterns prefigured.

While some view restoring Temple worship as contradicting the gospel, others understand these shadows simply are a continual memorial to Messiah’s ultimate atoning work. When the time comes to reinstitute the prophesied Temple service, the Messiah’s key role in consecrating and offering the pure red heifer may resolve the two-millennia dilemma of who can inaugurate God’s eternal kingdom.

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Prophets and Writings Purim Torah

Tree of Knowledge and Haman’s gallows: Esther shows us how to overcome our desire to replace God

Tree of Knowledge & Haman's gallows: Esther show us how to overcome our desire to replace God. Artwork shows a fruit tree on the left side of the image.

Bible prophecy often talks about widespread persecution against the people of God in the “latter days.” But that seems so far removed from today’s society, where we have global human rights watchdog groups, U.S. First Amendment protections for religious freedom, the International Court of Justice and the United Nations.

This study of the Torah reading וַיִּקְרָא Vayikra (“and He called,” Levicus 1:1–6:7) plus readings for the Sabbath of Remembrance (Deuteronomy 25:17–19; 1Samuel 15:2–34; 1Peter 4:12–5:11) and the Book of Esther reminds us why we keep seeing outbreaks of perplexing violence throughout history, in spite of attempts to legislate away evil.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

From Sinai to Savior: Good news of God’s Presence among us (Exodus 30–34; 1Kings 18; 2Corinthians 3)

From Sinai to Savior: Good news of God's Presence among us (Exodus 30-34; 1Kings 18; 2Corinthians 3). Artwork shows Mt. Sinai with dark clouds and lightning at the top and the golden calf at the bottom.

The story of Israel’s partying around the golden calf at Mount Sinai may seem ancient and completely out of touch with modern sensibilities. But the golden calf incident didn’t happen in a vacuum, and Israel’s repeated dalliances with golden calf deities throughout its history before the Babylonian exile weren’t coincidental either.

In this study on the Torah reading כי תשא Ki Tisa (“when you take”; Exodus 30:11–34:35), we delve into the construction of the Tabernacle and golden calf calamity, Moses’ plea for forgiveness, and the theme of repentance.

Moses asked to see God’s glory on Mount Sinai, and God revealed His character to Moses in his lovingkindness and steadfastness. Moses spoke with God face to face as one speaks to a friend. This close bond between Moses and God and the Tabernacle home for God’s Presence that traveled prefigure Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), Who lived among us as God in the flesh and fully revealed God’s character (John 1:14; Hebrews 1:3).

We also draw upon the accounts of Jonah’s warning to Nineveh, and the Elijah’s stand against the Baal prophets on Mount Carmel. They teach us the importance of faithfulness to God’s commands amid societal pressures to go along with what’s popular or promoted by those in authority. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of the Tabernacle as teaching spiritual connection and anticipates redemption through the Messiah’s return and the transformation of Jerusalem along with all the world.