Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 1:17 and Rom. 3:28: Two-faced scriptures on law and grace?

What is “grace” in the New Testament of the Bible, and who gives it? Did Yeshua’s grace replace or usurp God’s grace? No, God gave us grace when he gave mankind the Torah and then He gave us even more grace when He gave us Yeshua. One does not replace the other. Works of Torah obedience are only of use to the believer after one trusts in God for salvation — not before — because salvation cannot be earned.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 21:1-4: Widow’s big little Temple gift reveals major lapse in obeying God

We only know of the poor widow in Luke 21:4, because Yeshua made note of her in a “teachable moment” with His key students. Both Mark and Luke record Yeshua’s testimony of her as an example of a faithful giver. Her faithfulness was not in the amount of her gift in terms of monetary value but in terms of the percentage she gave in proportion to what she had. She did not give just 10 percent or a portion from surplus but everything.

She may have already spent all the rest of her means just to get to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) in the first place. But if those rich people had truly had a heart for the Torah, she would have come there in comfort, not in desperation and extreme poverty (Deut. 16:9–15; 24:19–20; 26:12–13).

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 12:35-59: Yeshua shows how to truly prepare for the Day of the LORD

Some believers in God’s Messiah become enraptured with Bible study and/or prophecy to understand “hidden” meaning and timelines for the Day of the Lord. In Luke 12 and Matthew 6, Yeshua continued a parable-filled teaching on how God wants one to be truly prepared for that day: preparing one’s heart and mind then doing God-ordained tasks in the real world.

Categories
Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 12:13-34 Yeshua corrects the role of wealth in the hearts of believers

God instructs His people to open their hands and share the abundance of God’s blessings with those who need help. Yeshua weaved together teachings on greed, charity and wealth.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 24-25: Divorce, kidnapping, charity, limits to punishment, marriage to bear an heir

This passage covers sometimes strange instructions for divorce, kidnapping, charity, limits to punishment and marriage to bear an heir.