Readings: Dec. 13, 2025

Starting after Sukkot 2024, Hallel Fellowship switched to a three-year cycle of Torah and parallel Bible readings (2024–2027), outlined by TorahResource. While there’s ancient evidence for a triennial cycle, a major benefit is to provide more time to mine more of Scripture for lessons.

Readings

• Exodus 18–20
• Isaiah 61:1–6
• Luke 4:16–30

Corresponding reading in 1-year cycle

Insights from this week’s readings

Exodus 18–20 frames God’s covenant with Israel by giving the Ten Words and practical instruction for justice and life under Adonai’s rule. Torah is covenant law.

Isaiah 61 promises anointed, Spirit-driven restoration — freedom for captives, healing for the brokenhearted, and vindication (a “year of the Lord’s favor”).

In Luke 4 Yeshua (Jesus) reads Isaiah 61 in the synagogue and — using the Septuagint (LXX) wording — declares the prophecy fulfilled, linking the Sinai covenant’s ethical demands with the Messianic arrival that brings liberation and restoration.

Together they show covenant law (Torah), prophetic hope (Isaiah), and its Messianic inauguration (Luke) as one unfolding covenant story: law sets the moral-linguistic framework, prophecy promises Spirit-anointed renewal, and the Messiah inaugurates it. (Bible Hub)

Luke’s quotation of Isaiah 61 follows typical early apostolic practice: he borrows the LXX wording (πνεῦμα, ἔχρισέν, εὐαγγελίσασθαι, ἄφεσιν) rather than the Hebrew text, so his listeners (Greek-reading synagogue audience) would hear Isaiah’s promise in the Hellenistic phrasing they knew — and when Yeshua declares “today this Scripture is fulfilled,” the LXX’s words make the claim both theologically precise and rhetorically direct.

In other words, LXX → Luke’s Greek = immediate continuity, and the old covenant (Torah/nomos + prophetic hope) finds its Messianic inauguration in Jesus. (Blue Letter Bible)

Key Hebrew and Greek terms

מָשַׁח / ἔχρισέν, χρίω — ‘anoint’

Hebrew: מָשַׁח māsháḥ (“to anoint”) — e.g., Isaiah 61:1 (Masoretic).

LXX (Isaiah 61:1): ἔχρισέν echrisén (“has anointed”). (Bible Hub)

NT usage: the noun Χριστός Christos (“Anointed One”) is the natural Greek equivalent of מָשִׁיחַ māshîaḥ (“Messiah”). Luke’s use of the LXX vocabulary connects Isaiah’s anointing language to Jesus’ identity. (See Isaiah LXX and Luke 4.) (Blue Letter Bible)

רוּחַ / πνεῦμα — ‘spirit’

Hebrew: רוּחַ rûaḥ (“spirit, wind, breath”) — Isaiah 61:1 “רוח … עלי” (the Spirit of the LORD is upon me).

LXX: πνεῦμα Κυρίου ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ pneuma Kyriou ep’ eme. (Bible Hub)

NT: Luke and the Gospels habitually use πνεῦμα for the Spirit; by quoting the LXX wording Luke highlights that Jesus’ ministry is pneuma-driven and fulfills Isaiah. (Greek Bible)

עָנִי / πτωχός — ‘the poor/meek‘

Hebrew: עָנִי ʿānî (“poor/humble”) appears in Isaiah.

LXX: translates as πτωχοῖς ptōchois (“the poor”).

NT: Luke cites εὐαγγελίσασθαι πτωχοῖς (to bring good news to the poor) — same LXX term, carried into the Gospel’s proclamation. (Bible Hub)

שְׁבוּיִם / αἰχμάλωτοι, ἄφεσις — ‘captives/prisoners, release’

Hebrew: words for freed/returning/captive (e.g., שָׁבוּי).

LXX: αἰχμαλώτοις aichmalōtois (“to captives”) and ἄφεσιν (áphesis, “release, forgiveness, liberty”) in Isaiah 61:1. (Blue Letter Bible)

NT: Luke preserves ἄφεσις language (see parallels in Luke/Acts and Paul) to evoke both liberation and forgiveness — the Mes­sianic “release” motif. (Bible Gateway)

תּוֹרָה / νόμος — ‘instruction, law’

Hebrew: תּוֹרָה Torah — central in Exodus 18–20 (Ten Words).

LXX frequently uses νόμος nomos (“law”) or other legal vocabulary to render Torah concepts; Exodus 18–20 in the LXX presents God’s instructions in Greek legal-ethical language. (Blue Letter Bible)

NT usage: The Gospels and Paul use νόμος in debates about the law; Luke’s quotation strategy shows continuity rather than replacement — Torah’s ethic is fulfilled and embodied in the Messianic act. (StudyLight.org)

צְדָקָה / δικαιοσύνη — ‘righteousness, justice‘

Hebrew: צְדָקָה (tsedaqah) — justice/righteousness (central prophetic theme of Isaiah). (Bible Hub)

LXX: often δικαιοσύνη (dikaiosynē). The NT reuses δικαιοσύνη in theological speech (Paul, Gospels) to speak of God’s right order and vindication. (Blue Letter Bible)

Lessons

• Continuity not replacement: Torah’s ethical frame (Exodus 18–20) remains the covenant language; Messiah’s coming (Isaiah 61; Luke 4) is not an overthrow but the Spirit-anointed fulfillment that restores and enables the covenant life. (Bible Hub)
• Spirit + Anointing = mission: The same vocabulary (רוּחַ → πνεῦμα; מָשַׁח → χρίω/Χριστός) links prophet, Torah, and Gospel: God’s Spirit anoints one to enact justice, mercy, and restoration. (Bible Hub)
• Saved life is social life: Isaiah’s list (poor, brokenhearted, captives) ties salvation to social justice (צדקה/tzedakah → δικαιοσύνη), a theme rooted in Sinai’s law and fulfilled in Messiah’s ministry. (Bible Hub)

Studies

From Sinai to Sabbath: How rediscovering sacred time can truly heal our fatigue (Exodus 18–20)

Jeff December 13, 2025

A newly released best-seller from a well-known yet for some a polarizing figure details his discovery of Sabbath rest. That has become a springboard for exploring with our fellow Christian brothers and sisters Shabbat’s profound spiritual gift. This study of Exodus 18–20 shares how Sabbath invites true renewal, not just recovery from exhaustion. Honoring Shabbat is part of Heaven’s framework for shaping healthy families and community, wise leadership, and deep relationship with God. True transformation comes through trust, obedience, and Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ), making Sabbath a living testimony to God’s goodness, holiness and enduring invitation to…

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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…

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

Hallel Fellowship January 27, 2024

Scripture likens people truly loyal to the Creator of Heaven and Earth to a bride. And the presentation of the Ten Commandments at Sinai is compared to the signing of a ketubah (wedding contract). It’s not by coincidence there are a number of parallels between the events at Sinai recorded in this week’s Torah reading — יִתְרוֹ Yitro (Jethro), covering Exodus 18:1–20:23 — and the Jewish wedding ceremony. Marriage is about transparency, devotion and loyalty, and that’s the testimony of the LORD in the Ten Words of Exodus 20.

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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.

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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)?

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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…

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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.

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