Introduction - The Unveiled Face
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
John 5:38-39
Introduction
- A parable: a Museum.
- fo·ren·sic: Function: adjective; Etymology: Latin forensis public, forensic, from forum
- forum
belonging to, used in, or suitable to the courts or to public discussion and debate - Are the Scriptures providing mere forensic purposes for you? Are they a museum of facts or discussion points – or are the a “ballroom” where the Bridegroom has invited you to dance with Him?
The Bias for Forensic
- Col 2:6-17: Walk in Him. Active – because of what He did, we should respond (the dance?).
- Don’t fall for a philosophical approach (head knowledge). Don’t be confused by the traditions of men.
- NIV: vs 17: “these are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality however, is found in Christ.”
- NASB: vs 17: “things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ.”
- The bias of the translators is obvious: as if to say, the “dance” isn’t Messiah, so why would you want to participate in it?
- Messiah Yeshua is the Shadow-caster! The shadow is shaped like Him.
- A better translation recognizing the present tense, and the Greek conjunction de: “these are a shadow of things that are coming, and the Shadow-caster is Messiah.”
- The translators are afraid, as are many modern theologians, that the “uneducated” will assume that the ‘Old Testament’ is prescriptive, instead of their opinion: that it is merely descriptive.
The Unveiled Face
- 2Cor 3:1-4:4: Paul’s understanding of what showed on Moses’ face.
- The most common understanding of this passage does not fit with what the Torah describes. What is the “ministry of death” (vs 7) and the “ministry of condemnation” (vs 9)? Was Moses a deceitful charlatan as is often described by the misunderstanding of this passage?
- No.
Karan: the Visible Representation
- Ex 34:5-7: G-d revealed His character to Moses, in His thirteen attributes.
- 34:29: The result: Moses’ face “glowed”
- 34:30-35: The process and function of the “veil”:
- Moses would take off the veil and go into the Tent to speak to G-d.
- He would come out of the Tent and tell the people what G-d said.
- After which, he would put the veil on again until it was time to go into the Tent to speak to G-d again.
- What was the “glow”? The word is karan (kuf-resh-nun sofit). It literally means “horns” or “rays of light”. Pictographically, it shows the holiness of G-d, resting upon the head of a Mortal Man, Who is the Ultimate Son. What was showing on Moses’ face was the reflection of Messiah.
- Num 12:6-8: Moses spoke “face to face” with G-d. Moses saw His “form” [t’munah].
- lPs 17:15: “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness [t’munah].”
- Heb 11:24-27: “…he looked to the reward…seeing Him Who is invisible.”
The Unveiled Face - Correctly
- 2Cor 3:1-4:4: In light of what Exodus 34 says regarding the “veil” and the “glory” [karan] – how can this passage be more correctly be translated?
- vs 7, and 11: “passing away” = kategero = “rendered ineffective” in this case, “hidden from view”.
- vs 13: “end” = telos = “the goal” or “the purpose, the point” – compare to Romans 10:4. Messiah is the “Goal” of all Scripture.
- This passage is presenting us with the contrast, NOT of the ‘Old Testament Law’ vs. the ‘New Testament Grace’. It is giving us the contrast of seeing only rules and regulations (Laws) instead of seeing what the entire Bible is about: Messiah.
- Who is blinded when they read the ‘Old Testament’? Dispensationalists and Reconstructionists that only see what has ‘been abolished’ – who view the Scriptures forensically; and those on the other side who refuse to see Messiah Yeshua in every word and in every letter and space. The “ministry of death and condemnation” is not the Torah – it is unbelief – that is, not seeing His face in all of Scripture.
- When one turns to HaShem, the veil is taken away – if we are willing to gaze at Him, we will see Him.
Summary
- We must not approach any study of Scripture without considering 2Timothy 3:16-17, speaking specifically of the TaNaKh:
- “All Scripture… profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousnes”
- This study is about karan – seeing His form in the very words of Scripture. He is the Living Word, the Living Torah. The purpose is not to prove the Messiahship of Yeshua – it is to gaze upon Him, with the veil already taken away. To:
- “…we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of HaShem, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of HaShem.” 2Corinthians 3:18
- It is about ‘the Dance’. As we study, let’s dance with Him!