Month: September 2021

A person asked this week if we as Christians are only expected to obey the 10 Commandments or whether we are to be obedient to all of the commands in the Books of Moses, the Torah (which translates as “the instruction”).

In my study of the Book of Matthew this week, I read the following passage:
Matthew 14:34-36
34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

I also found a similar healing in Matthew 9:20-22
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Why did Jesus wear the tassels/fringe on his garment?
Deuteronomy 22:12 “You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of the garment with which you cover yourself.”
Numbers 15:37-41
37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. 39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow[a] after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord your God.”

Jesus is our Perfect Sacrifice – the Perfect Lamb for the atonement of our sins. Only if He kept ALL of the commands of God could He be perfect and able to sacrifice Himself to bring us forgiveness of our sins.
Wearing the fringe was a command of YHWH, the LORD as seen in the Scriptures above. Therefore, in perfect obedience to the Torah, Jesus wore the fringes as God had commanded.

John 13:13-16
13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant[a] is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 (Paul writes)
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”
1 John 2:6
6 “whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.”

Jesus is our example – as such should we not strive to do as He did? He obeyed the Torah perfectly. Obviously, we as humans fall very short of anything perfect, but wouldn’t it be a good idea to try?
While salvation is by grace alone, Deuteronomy 28 talks extensively about the blessings that come upon God’s people for obedience to the Torah – and the dreadful cursings that come upon them for disobedience. As believers, we claim to be of the family of God, ingrafted into His people. Would it not be wise to follow His instructions for how to live and receive His blessings and commendation?

The story of Saul and David prefigures in many ways the story of the conflict between Lucifer and Jesus, our Messiah.

Saul was chosen by God and was anointed by Samuel as king (1 Samuel 9:16,-17; 10:1). He was a beautiful man – more attractive and taller than any other man at the time (1 Samuel 9:2). He sinned against God (1 Samuel 13:8-14; 15:1-31), and God told Samuel to anoint David as king (1 Samuel 16:13). Even as God’s chosen and anointed king, David spent years in the wilderness being hunted and persecuted by Saul. Saul and his sons were finally killed in battle (! Samuel 31:1-6). David ascended the throne as king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:4), and then of all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-3).

Lucifer was the most beautiful of the angels. He was highly intelligent and powerful until he sinned against God and was thrown out of heaven (Revelation 12:9). Like David in the story of the kings of Israel, Jesus has been anointed the true King of the world, but His people have been “in the wilderness” being hunted and persecuted by the Adversary/satan for a long time (Revelation 21: 12, 17). Jesus will return, and He will wage war against the devil and his minions (Revelation 19:11-20:3), and He will be installed as the true King of this world (Revelation:19:15). God will have the mighty angel bind the devil (Revelation 20:1-3), and God will ultimately destroy the enemy, Satan, Himself in the eternal fire (Revelation 20:10).

Our Father is so faithful to reveal the nature of His plan for this world and for humanity in His Word, the Bible. He often uses the stories and people of the Old Testament to give His people a glimmer/foretaste of what He has planned. Saul/David and Lucifer/Jesus Messiah are an example of His goodness in revealing Himself and His plans to us.

Praise God that because of Yeshua’s sacrifice on the cross, there is now NO condemnation for us who are belong to the Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth! (Romans 8:1)

When I hurt or offend someone I love – my husband, Ben, for example – in order to restore right and loving relationship with him, I must come to him and ask for forgiveness for my offense. Asking for forgiveness is the beginning of restoring full relationship and full reconciliation.

How is my relationship with the LORD different? My sin (doing that which He has said is wrong) is an offense to Him. While I am no longer condemned, I must still acknowledge my failure in the light of what He says is sin versus right behavior. I’m not done, though. (Just as saying I’m sorry doesn’t really truly make things right between Ben and me when we offend or hurt each other). The next step is to turn away from whatever I have done to offend God and then to ask Him for forgiveness so that full loving relationship with Him is restored.

Praise God, that when I acknowledge my sin/offense against Him, and ask Him to forgive me, He is faithful to forgive me and to restore the fullness of my relationship with Him.