All That Is Required
by haRold Smith
a citizen of the Commonwealth (Ephesians 2:19)
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does YaHoVeH
require
of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim?" Micah 6:8
The secret to living in the Light of Spirit is no secret at all - it is
mishpat,
chesed,
and tsana' halak (click on highlighted words to view content).
Do justice, love kindness and mercy, walk humbly and guess what? You will live comfortably in
the Light.
Stop worrying about what YaHoVeH wants from you. Stop trying to figure out what comes next and just do what YaHoVeH says - do those three things that make up what is good to what is in front of you: mishpat, chesed and tsana' halak. The rest will follow. Light embraces these three - rejecting what is not of these.
One of the most important differences between our inherited Greek-Roman culture and the ancient Near-Eastern culture of the Hebrews is the understanding of "law." As we have discovered before,
law
(Greek nomos) for Romans is restriction; necessary for the smooth operation of society, but nevertheless is viewed as limitations on one's personal freedom. For Romans and Greeks, law is the opposite of freedom. Law demands compliance for the good of the many, but it necessarily stands opposed to individual desires. Not so in Hebraic thought. For the Hebrew, law (Torah)
is freedom!
Why? Because "law"
(Torah)
instructs me precisely how to live in accordance with the will of YaHoVeH. Therefore, it frees me from anxiety, confusion, concern, distraction and misdirection. I know what to do because YaHoVeH tells me what to do. I am free of all those questions that otherwise haunt me when I do not know for sure what to do. With this in mind, when YaHoVeH tells us what is required, He is not laying down restrictions - He is opening the road to freedom. He is telling us exactly what is needed in order to be at peace with and in alignment with
His Purposes.
Why, then, refuse His requirements and claim that His instructions for the Hebrew are not applicable today? Why select what fits cultural conveniences but leaves out
His Ten Wrods?
Where is it written that YaHoVeH changed His mind about what brings peace to the individual? Did He really tell Micah one thing and Sha'ul (the Hebrew apostle Paul) something else? If YaHoVeH gave instructions for freedom to His children for two thousand years before the Resurrection, do you really think He altered all those instructions after the Resurrection? Why would He try to change His Nature? What is required of us is straightforward - it has been clearly, carefully, concretely revealed. It has never changed as His Nature never changes. The three ways of scriptural greatness found in Micah 6:8 are also to be found in Yeshua's words:
to be a servant,
to teach Torah,
and to walk in humility.
So why do we grope around in darkness trying to find another answer?
"If it is the anointed priest who has incurred guilt,
so that blame falls upon the people..."
Leviticus 4:3
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One of the reasons why leadership is so terrifying is that if the
anointed priest
accidentally or unintentionally sins, there is a direct consequence to the people. The principle characteristic of a scriptural leader is reluctance because when the leader falls short, even unintentionally, all the assembly bears the consequences - bringing a greater judgment upon the leader
(James 3:1,
Matthew 23:13).
When you meet people who desire to lead, you would be wise to be wary of them until Spirit confirms who this person is. Those who want the task are more than likely to let ego and pride determine their choices. When that happens, the people suffer - sometimes greatly. Men and women marked by Spirit for leadership roles almost always wish they were not chosen for this very reason and, if they do find themselves in that position, most often tend to lead from behind, shunning the spotlight - as
Yeshua often did.
Therefore, the least in outward stature is considered the greatest in YaHoVeH's Kingdom
(Matthew 6:2-5).
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...a thief
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The English word thief used in the passage from
John 10:1-10
is translated from the Greek word
kleptes
which means "an embezzler, pilferer, one who abuses the confidence given to them for their own gain". The tradition handed down to us has been that it is the devil who is the one who has come to "steal, kill and destroy". However, Yeshua is ascribing these characteristics to men. These are men who do not care to instruct the sheep in the Way of hearing and knowing the Voice of Truth - yet, they have gained entry to the
sheepfold.
In Matthew 5:19,
the word translated as the English "breaks or disobeys" in most modern versions is the Greek verb
luo
which means "to release or untie, to annul." Yeshua is speaking to those who would annul,
to make void,
of no consequence the commandments of YaHoVeH.
Yeshua said that anyone who unties men from the obligations of YaHoVeH and teaches others to do this is treading on very thin ice. YaHoVeH does not forget or overlook His commandments. Are there thieves in the Kingdom? Yes, but, like the tares in the wheat field of
Matthew 13:24-30,
they will be gathered and removed.
Words mean things. To properly understand the words of scripture, we must always consider the context they are presented in, the context of the Hebrew perspective they are presented from and the audience they are presented to. The context that each of the following verses are spoken in is the resolution to this seeming contradiction of the least and the greatest. Briefly, there are two Greek words that are translated into the same English word "least". Speaking of John the Immerser in
Luke 7:28,
Yeshua is pointing to what is considered greatness comparatively among men. Here, it is the Greek word
mikros
which (according to Thayer's Greek Lexicon) has more to do with stature among men; whereas, in Matthew 5:19, the Greek word used is
elachistos,
having more to do with an excellence of spirit as is born out in the following verse of
Matthew 5:20.
The least commandment Yeshua refers to is found in
Deuteronomy 22:6-7.
The religious of Yeshua's day were constantly re-interpreting the Words to fit what they considered to be more convenient for them. Is it not the same with religious theology today? The
Shem Tov
Hebrew Matthew 5:19 says this person "shall be called a vain person in the kingdom...", one who is seeking to define his own righteousness rather than to abide by the righteousness of YaHoVeH - alluding to the least in
character of spirit
Yeshua says we must cultivate. Therefore, whoever "keeps and teaches" the Words of YaHoVeH shall be called great in His Kingdom.
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"He opened his mouth and began
to teach
them..." Matthew 5:2
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So who is it among us that is to be considered a teacher? Do you preside over a study of the scriptures - perhaps to your children or grandchildren or those in your household? Do you have a
Shabbat
group? Do you host a Torah study group? Then you are a teacher. But, most would answer, "No, I am not a teacher. I have not received the proper schooling to be a teacher. I'm just a participant" - but that attitude is not consistent with scripture. Before there were public schools, the older children of the household would teach the younger how to read, write and do arithmetic. The same is true of
leading younger disciples
we find ourselves involved with into the Way of Yeshua. To be a teacher is to take the time to give ourselves as a servant to others. Biblical leadership is not based on the charismatic, success, take-charge platform of current Christian culture. It is based on
sphere of influence
- and we all have influence. We all open our mouths to talk about YaHoVeH and His Son. Therefore, as seen in the article
the Ascension,
His followers are anointed even as Yeshua is anointed - we should teach what we know about YaHoVeH. And don't let thinking that you have to know everything about Him keep you from starting - nobody does. But, if we continue to
hunger and thirst
after His righteousness, He assures us that He will continue
to guide us
into all Truth. It is a life-time process.
The English word "teach" from
Matthew 5:2
above is translated from the Greek verb
didasko
which is about imparting theoretical and practical information for the development of a pupil. But this is not what the Hebraic perspective of teaching involves. The Hebrew word translated as the English "teach" in Deuteronomy 4:1 is
lamad
and is used to describe what is needed to bring about change in a person's life. To teach is to bring about a difference in behavior, a new perspective that results in observable adjustment. The goal is not the collection of information. The goal is making a difference in how one lives. Real teaching also changes the way we pray. Since a man who does not pray is on the road to becoming something
other than human,
prayer is the life-source of human existence. Teaching that does not affect our conversation with the Creator is simply information. It is not Hebraic instruction
(James 4:3).
Yeshua did not open his mouth to inform. He opened his mouth to provide lamad, life to the dying -
just as
His followers are called to do.
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a discussion of In All That Is Required
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"Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
on earth
as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
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???Questions???
Please feel free to email me at harold@hethathasanear.com.
While not claiming to have all
the answers, it would be an honor to partake with you of what Spirit is uncovering.
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