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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

‘Living water’ from God slakes the spiritual thirst that destroys people and nations (Deuteronomy 29–31; John 4, 7)

In the dual Torah readings נִצָּבִים Nitzavim and וַיֵּלֶךְ Vayelech (“standing” and “he went,” Deut. 29:9–31:30), Moses warns the second post-Egypt generation Israel in Deuteronomy 29:14-21 that if they reject the LORD as their God and King their rejection will cause not only a physical drought in the land, but a spiritual drought too. 

In this study, we explore John 4, where the apostle John records Yeshua’s meeting with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well near Shechem. Although the conversation starts with a conversation about the water in Jacob’s well, it ends with Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) offering her “living water” to satiate her deepest spiritual longings. She is also blessed to be the first person, besides His mother, who receives the knowledge of Yeshua’s messiahship straight from Him.  

Then in John 7, Yeshua brings a similar message to those gathered in the Temple for the last day of Sukkot, offering them living, spiritual water. The difference is that the “living water” the Samaritan woman accepted, Israel’s leadership in Jerusalem violently rejected, bringing on themselves the curse Moses warned about.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Matthew 5:3–6; Luke 6:20–21: Happiness is mourning unrighteousness, rejoicing over forgiveness

In part 2 of our deep dive into Messiah Yeshua’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6:17-36), we explore the Beatitudes and discover how we can find true happiness through sorrow over life apart from the Creator and joy over Heaven’s Anointed One who heals the pain.

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Discussions Torah

Deuteronomy 29–30: Keep, do, prosper. It’s not as hard as we make it

Choosing life over death seems like an easy choice, but it can be hard for some people. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matt. 26:41; Mark 14:38).

In Moses’ third address to the second generation of Israel post-Egypt, recorded in Torah reading נִצָּבִים Nitzavim (“standing,” Deut. 29:9–30:20), he tells them (and us) they have a choice between life and death. He implores us to choose life.

We are also told that the Torah isn’t difficult, if it’s in your heart and in your mouth. Men make it difficult, but God doesn’t.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings

Luke 6:20-26: Sermon on the Mount vs. Sermon on the Plain, part 2: Beatitudes in Isaiah 61

The focus of Isaiah 61 is the status of the poor. Notice there are several similarities between that passage and Yeshua’s “happy are”/“woe to” discourse, commonly known as the Beatitudes.