Yitro(Jethro)Ex./Sh’mot 18:1-20:23
Torah Portion: Yitro(Jethro)Ex./Sh’mot 18:1-20:23 Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6 Tonight we cover a Torah portion that is named for a non-Jew. This person is the father-in-law of Moshe. Also in this portion we have the giving of the Ten Commandments or the Ten Utterances. Both of these topics are extremely important to us to know how […]
Va’etchanan (I Pleaded) D’Varim (Deut.) 3:23-7:11
Torah Portion: Va’etchanan (I Pleaded)D’Varim(Deut.) 3:23-7:11
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:1-26
Today we read an epic Torah portion. We read again the Shema and the Ten Commandments. We also read a brief passage with high implications for the way we are to live a moral life in our day.
To begin with, I want us to look at Deut. 5:30. This verse tells us, “In all the way that the L-rd you G-d has commanded you, you shall walk.” I want to use this verse as a jumping off place for our study tonight. What does this verse say to us about our daily walk?
Balak-B’midbar/Numbers 22:2-25:9
Torah Portion: Balak B’midbar/Numbers 22:2-25:9
Today we study one of the most important Torah portions of the year. I am sure we are all familiar with this story from years past. I want us to take a fresh look at it from a perspective that is somewhat different. I pray I can adequately get my point across in this study.
The verses I would like to begin with are found in Numbers 23:8-9. I would like us to look at verse nine especially, “As I see them from the mountain tops, gaze upon them from the heights, Behold it is a people that dwells alone, not numbered among the nations.” I would like us to look at what this phrase meant when it was spoken and also what it means to us today.
B’chukkotai (By My Regulations) Vayikra/Leviticus 26:3-27:34
B’chukkotai(By My Regulations)Vayikra/Leviticus 26:3-27:34
Haftorah Reading: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
Even though we are unable to meet today I want to send you some thoughts on this week’s Torah portion. I would like to concentrate on an extremely important section of this Torah portion. It begins with these words, “If you walk in my statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out” Leviticus 26:3. Isn’t that statement a bit redundant? What is the difference between 1. walking in My statutes and 2. keeping the commandments and 3. carrying them out? I might add this question also applies to Yeshua’s commandments in the Messianic Scriptures.
Ki Tisa (When You Take) Exodus/Sh’mot 30:11-34:35
Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’varim (Deut) 26-29
Torah Portion: Ki Tavo (When You Come) D’varim (Deut) 26-29
Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 60:1-22
“When You Come In” is our Torah portion this week. It speaks of when Israel came into their inheritance and how they were to live their lives. It also covers the blessings and curses that would come as a result of how they lived each day. I would like to look at this Torah section in how it relates to us as G-d’s children who have come into our inheritance and what impact that should have on our lives daily.
Acharei Mot (After the death) & Kedoshim (Holy) (Leviticus) Vayikra 16-20
Torah Portion: Acharei Mot (After the death) & Kedoshim (Holy) (Leviticus) Vayikra 16-20
Haftorah Reading: Ezekiel 22:1-19 & 20:2-20
Tonight we read two Torah Sections again. These sections cover the laws governing Yom Kippur, the commandments dealing with inter-personal relationships, sexual sins and other issues that have to do with leading a holy life in our world today. Often we read these words and have difficulty seeing a connection to our life today in our modern enlightened society. I pray by the end of tonight we will be able to grasp what these two portions say to us personally.
Va’etchanan (I Pleaded) Deut. Devarim 3-7
Torah Portion: Va’etchanan (I Pleaded) Devarim (Deuteronomy) 3:23-7:11
HafTorah: Isaiah 40:1-26
Since we did not meet last week, I would like to say a few words about the last book of Torah. Deuteronomy comes from the Greek word meaning repetition of the Law. Remember, all the people to whom Moses was speaking had been children or were born during the 40 years in the desert. Here they hear the story again. They hear the commandments for themselves. Moses knows his death is close at hand so he sets about to give his last sermon to these who will be the ones to inherit the land He wants them to be well prepared to take their inheritance. They had grown up as free men and women, not as their parents, slaves to Pharaoh.
Shelach L’kha (Send on Your Behalf) Numbers 13-15
Torah Portion: Shelach L’Kha (Send on Your Behalf) Numbers 13-15
HafTorah: Joshua 2:1-24
This Torah portion begins with Moses sending out the 12 men to go into Canaan to check out the best way to approach taking the land that G-d had promised them. It ends with the commandment of tzitzit. As we examine this section I believe we can see a common thread going through out.
Acharei Mot & Kedoshim Lev 16-20
Torah Portion: Acharei Mot, Kedoshim,Vayikra Lev. 16:1-20:27
HafTorah: Ezekiel 22:1-19
Tonight we have read two sections of Torah. The first covers the ceremonial duties of the priests, the Day of Atonement and personal relationships, what is forbidden and what we can and can’t eat.
It leads directly into the second section of Holiness. This is the issue I want us to look at closely tonight. Holy – what makes something holy? It is separated out for service or use in the service to G-d, for example Sabbath. At the end of Sabbath we read a prayer and included in that prayer G-d is referred to as “Ha Mavdil” , “The One who Separates.” G-d separates things or people out for His service. We are separated out by our faith in Messiah. In Lev. 20:7-8 we read, “be holy.” We also read the same words in I Peter 1:13-16. What does it mean to be holy? If G-d has separated us to Himself how are we to be holy? How does how we live affect our holiness or does it? We are separated by our faith in Messiah. That faith has boundaries, things we can do, things we can’t do. When we cross those boundaries, think of a shepherd and his sheep. He builds a pen for them. As long as they stay within the boundaries of the pen they are safe from wolves and attacks but if they get out, cross over the boundaries, they are open to those things that can harm them. The boundaries are those guidelines set out in scripture for us to live our lives by daily. In Lev. Torah portions of today we see many of those boundaries and also in the New Testament we see boundaries set for us.