Tag: Deuteronomy 18

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Discussions Passover Prophets and Writings Torah Unleavened Bread

Prepared on the inside: Why our relationship with God matters more than our supplies (Exodus 12; Luke 14)

This digital oil painting in bold palette knife style, created by ChatGPT, depicts the interior of a partially ruined warehouse. Shelves on both sides are broken and collapsing, with scattered boxes, cans, and supplies strewn across the dusty floor, emphasizing disorder and loss. In the center, a woman sits calmly amid the debris, holding an open Bible in her hands. Her face is turned upward toward a warm beam of golden light streaming through a jagged hole in the roof, illuminating her with a sense of peace and spiritual focus. The contrast between the chaotic, shadowed surroundings and the radiant light highlights the theme of inner faith over physical preparedness. The image includes this text overlay, “Prepared on the inside: Why our relationship with God matters more than our supplies (Exodus 12; Luke 14),” and features a Hallel.info watermark in the lower right corner.

Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread teach us to be spiritually prepared, not just stocked up for doomsday. Chametz (leaven) vs. matzah (unleavened bread), clean (fit to approach God’s presence) vs. unclean (unfit to approach), Mary vs. Martha, Israel at Sinai, and Joshua at Jericho. Through these Bible stories we learn to discern good and bad teaching, count the true cost of discipleship, and choose what really matters — Heaven’s presence with us. It’s a call to move from Egypt to home, prepared on the inside, not ruled by fear.

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Torah readings

Torah reading Shoftim (שפטים): Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

Studies in Torah

Shadows of the prophet status and crucifixion of the Messiah appear in the Torah passage שֹׁפְטִים Shoftim (“judges,” Deut. 16:18-21:9). In a section of the Bible focused on codes of justice still used in modern society, there also is hope for the greatest mercy the world has ever seen, in Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ).

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9: Judge shopping and other travesties of justice the LORD hates

Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) said, “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 5:30 NASB). But how do we learn the will of the Father by which Yeshua judges?

As Yeshua lived by “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4; Luke 4:4; Deut. 8:3), so can we. The Torah passage שֹׁפְטִים Shoftim (“judges,” Deut. 16:18–21:9) is all about how judges and officers of justice should conduct themselves. 

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9: Learn to judge life & death righteously & mercifully

Even the Supreme Court will have to answer to a higher authority someday. Photo by Freeimages.com/David Lat

There are shadows of Messiah in the Torah passage שֹׁפְטִים Shoftim (“judges,” Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9), even down to the ceremony when a community is unable to bring a murderer to justice. There are levels of investigation and a careful pursuit of justice and a balance between the rights of the “avenger” and the rights of the accused.

In Shoftim, Moshe (Moses) elaborates on practical application of the Fifth and Sixth commandments. One lesson is that if you do not have respect for your parents, you lose respect for all kinds of authority, from the babysitters to teachers, employers, police officers, judges, prophets and priests. That disrespect will go all the way up the chain of authority to God Himself.

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9: Shadows of ‘the Prophet’ and death of the Messiah

Yeshua chose 12 Apostles to be His closest students and confidants. After His Ascension, they also became His ambassadors. All who believe in Yeshua believe because of them. (Photo by www.LumoProject.com)

Shadows of the prophet status and crucifixion of the Messiah appear in the Torah passage שֹׁפְטִים Shoftim (“judges”), covering Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9. In a section of the Bible focused on codes of justice still used in modern society, there also is hope for the greatest mercy the world has ever seen, in Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ).

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 17-18: A Prophet Greater Than Moses and the King’s Code of Humility

A regal figure with a crown and flowing red hair, dressed in ornate white and gold robes, holding a scroll. Behind him, a glowing background of warm light and figures carved into an archway suggest a sense of authority and divinity. The text overlay reads, 'A Prophet Greater Than Moses and the King's Code of Humility, Deuteronomy 17-18.' The logo 'hallel.info' appears in the bottom right corner.

Deuteronomy 17 covers the type of animals to be given for sacrifice, what to do with a person who is worshiping another god and when and how they will chose a king. Deuteronomy 18 explores Levites and their inheritance, a reminder to the children of Israel that they are not allowed to “learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations” and a foretelling of a Prophet will come who is even more powerful than Moses.

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 18 — Revealing the Creator via a prophet like Moshe

Studies in Torah

One of the most precious promises of the Torah is found in Deuteronomy 18. A prophet like Moses — Messiah — would come and reveal God in a more intimate way. However, we must not seek divine knowledge by other means — divination.