Lesson Nine (Chapter 19)
For Life, Follow Me
“… ‘Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d, my G-d…’”
– Ruth, Moabitess, great-grandmother of King David
Ruth 1:16b
“An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of HaShem; even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of HaShem forever.”
Deuteronomy 23:2
Introduction
- Last week we saw the model of “coming as a child”, and what true humility is.
- 1Peter 2:2; 5:5: Dependence upon G-d is the model of “child-like faith” – Submission is its Action, and Humility is its Clothing.
- This week we close Part 2 with a focus upon the relationship between the “Written Word”, and the “Living Word”.
Marriage
- Matt 19:1-3: Two Pharisee camps: Bet Shammai and Bet Hillel. Shammai – divorce for adultery only. Hillel – divorce for any “uncleaness”. With who will Bet Yeshua side?
- 19:4-6: Bet Yeshua – what is marriage? Two become one – no separating what is one.
- 19:7: Misreading of Deut 24:1 – no command for divorce, or procedure etc. Deut 24:1, “and it comes to pass” mistaken as a procedure for divorce.
- 19:8-9: Bet Yeshua – no procedure for divorce in Torah – only instructions regarding if it happens. Public discussion ends at this verse (Mark 10:10) – talmidim are surprised by the “severity” of Bet Yeshua’s halachah.
What Must I Do?
- 19:16: “Rich Young Ruler” – “What good thing must I do that I may have eternal life?”
- Judaism of the First Century believed that all Israel had a part in the “world to come”. Why ask this question? (hint: what is missing? John 17:3)
- 19:17: Enter into life [zoe] – “keep the commandments” (a hint with the “but One” phrase?) – the “good” intro shows He is not speaking of error-free “keeping”.
- 19:18? “Which ones?” Mark 10:21: “Yeshua, looking at him, loved him.”
- Listed in Matthew and Mark: what are often seen as “horizontal” commands – and a “hanger command” from Matt 22:39-40; Lev 19:18.
- Was Yeshua trying to trick him? e.g. “If you could really keep them, that would be enough”.
- Is Yeshua teaching salvation by works, or by man’s effort?
For Life… Follow Me
- Rom 10:3-5; Lev 18:5; Deut 32:47: Life and living in the Scriptures.
- “Blessed art Thou HaShem our G-d, King of the Universe, Who gave to us the Torah of truth and planted eternal life in our midst. Blessed art Thou HaShem, Giver of the Torah.”
- John 5:38-40; John 1:14: The Word, the Living Torah – in Him is life. The Written Word is a “picture” of Messiah – not simply a means to “heaven” but a description and revelation of a Person. Without the Person, there is no point in any of it.
- Matt 19:21; Matt 22:37-38: Enter the “vertical commands”: Love and follow. Fellowship and relationship with the Holy One!
- Matt 19:25-26: Fellowship with G-d is impossible if left up to man – but all things are possible with G-d.
- 19:28-29: In following Yeshua, the Living Torah, the Living Word, there is eternal life – and in the world to come – we will dwell with Him.
Summary
- The definition of a “man after G-d’s own heart” is the definition for each of those who truly seek G-d with all their heart:
“My servant David, who kept My commandments and who followed Me with all his heart, to do only what was right in My eyes.” 1Kings 14:8b
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of G-d and the faith of Yeshua.” Rev. 12:17
Chazak! Chazak! V’Nitchazeik!
Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!